The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984 Season 1 Episode 1 A Scandal in Bohemia

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a classic British television series that first aired in 1984. The show is based on the beloved detective stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and stars Jeremy Brett as the titular character, Sherlock Holmes. The first episode of the first season is called "A Scandal in Bohemia."

The episode opens with Dr. John Watson (played by David Burke) visiting Sherlock Holmes in his iconic 221B Baker Street flat. Watson is surprised to find Sherlock disheveled and covered in dust, with a bunch of letters strewn across his desk. Holmes explains that he's been obsessively working on a case involving a wealthy American named Mr. Godfrey Norton, who is set to marry the King of Bohemia's ex-mistress, Irene Adler. The King is desperate to retrieve a compromising photograph that Adler possesses, as he fears it will ruin his upcoming marriage to a noblewoman.

Holmes tells Watson that Adler is incredibly clever and cunning, and that she'll be a formidable opponent in the upcoming battle of wits. However, Holmes is confident that he's the only one who can solve the case. He tells Watson that Adler is due to leave England imminently, and that he plans to confront her before she does.

The bulk of the episode revolves around Sherlock's various attempts to retrieve the photograph from Irene Adler. He poses as a priest, a street musician, and even a plumber in order to gain access to her house. However, Adler proves to be just as clever as Holmes anticipated, and she eludes him each time.

Things come to a head when Adler tricks Holmes into unwittingly revealing his true feelings for her. She manages to elude him once again, but leaves behind a note warning him to stay out of her affairs. Despite this, Holmes is thrilled by the encounter, and tells Watson that Adler is the only woman who has ever outwitted him.

The episode ends with a devastated King of Bohemia coming to Holmes for help once again. He tells Holmes that Adler has obtained the photograph, and that she plans to show it to his future wife unless he pays her an exorbitant sum of money. Holmes puts together a plan to retrieve the photograph at Adler's opera performance that evening. In a tense and thrilling sequence, Holmes and Watson successfully retrieve the photograph, but Adler manages to evade them once again.

The episode concludes with Holmes telling Watson that Adler has escaped to America, but that he's still thinking about her. He reveals that her intelligence and tenacity have made a profound impression on him, and that he considers her to be a worthy adversary. The two sleuths share a moment of camaraderie and mutual admiration, and the episode comes to a close.

Overall, "A Scandal in Bohemia" is a riveting and engaging introduction to the world of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. With its clever writing, witty dialogue, and exciting plot twists, it sets the stage for a series that would go on to become a beloved classic of British television.