This is an episode that surpasses the original Conan-Doyle story. Not to diminish the master's work, it's just that the screenwriter took the original, extrapolated from it, and gave us a lovely holiday story. This, of course, has to do with the disappearance of a monumentally expensive gem that has passed through many hands and, ultimately, down the gullet of a Christmas goose. The joy comes from the classic efforts of the characters to retrieve the stolen article and the lengths to which they will go. We are caught up in the thing because we don't want anyone hurt and we want so badly for the family man to come out on top. The term "wild goose chase" was invented for this episode which unfolds nicely. One thing I enjoyed about the Holmes stories is that the crime isn't always murder. There is frequently a humorous side (often at Watson's expense) that probably made the stories more endearing to the readers. The chaotic nature of the story, the initial hopelessness, and, finally, joy, are what make "The Blue Carbuncle" worth the effort. As usual, Jeremy Brett and David Burke are splendid as are the cast of character actors that pass through this.