Masterpiece Season 32 Episode 11 The Hound of the Baskervilles
- January 19, 2003
The Hound of the Baskervilles is the eleventh episode of Masterpiece season 32, and it is a thrilling adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Holmes mystery. The episode opens with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson receiving a visit from Dr. Mortimer, who seeks their help in investigating the mysterious death of his friend, Sir Charles Baskerville. The circumstances of Sir Charles's death are bizarre, and Dr. Mortimer fears that a curse placed upon the Baskerville family by a demonic hound may be responsible.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson quickly travel to Dartmoor, Devon, where the Baskerville family reside. They find that there is a pervasive sense of fear and superstition among the locals, who believe that the curse is real and that the demonic hound is roaming the moors. The two detectives set about investigating the circumstances of Sir Charles's death, looking for any clues that may suggest that it was not a natural occurrence.
As they investigate, Holmes and Watson meet a number of strange characters, including the mysterious Barrymore family, who are the caretakers of Baskerville Hall, and the beautiful and enigmatic Miss Stapleton, who lives nearby. The detectives begin to unravel a web of secrets and lies that surround the Baskerville family, and they come to suspect that Sir Charles may have been murdered.
The tension builds as the detectives delve deeper into the mystery, and they find themselves racing against time to solve the case before another tragedy occurs. The atmosphere is tense and eerie, with the vast, foggy moors providing the perfect backdrop for the tense and suspenseful story.
Throughout the episode, the acting is superb, with Martin Clunes giving a great performance as the eccentric and brilliant Sherlock Holmes. He is supported by a strong cast, including Richard E. Grant as Dr. Mortimer, and Denise Black and Ron Cook as the troubled and secretive Barrymores.
The production values of the episode are excellent, with the haunting and atmospheric music adding to the sense of dread and unease. The cinematography is also superb, capturing the stark beauty of the moors and emphasizing the isolation and danger of the landscape.
Overall, The Hound of the Baskervilles is an excellent episode of Masterpiece, and a faithful and gripping adaptation of the classic Sherlock Holmes story. It is a treat for fans of the character and the genre, and it offers a thrilling and suspenseful hour of television.