Les mystères de Londres

Pretty good show,entertaining even if not factual. Houdini was married by 1894 and didn't meet Doyle until much later. It's sort of like watching a live version of Scooby Doo. What seems like supernatural causes turns out to be the equivalent of a a guy in a rubber mask with just a hint of doubt that maybe something really strange could be going on. Sets are a little too nice for London at the turn of the century. Modern music is often used in scenes but somehow it works. Cotumes are pretty good. The characters are likable and the acting is generally very good. I especially like that they did not make the chief inspector a total buffoon as it first seemed.

The drama opens in 1901 London , shortly after the publication of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Great Boer War . At the turn of the 20th century the Metropolitan Police were overwhelmed with bizarre cases so they turned to outsiders including Houdini and Doyle , who collaborated with New Scotland Yard on some unsolved and inexplicable crimes . Then the world-famous magician Harry Houdini (Michael Weston) and a legendary detective writer Arthur Conan Doyle (Stephen Mangan) join forces to carry out a fundamental mission : Catching killers , a main issue that is elementary to them . Houdini and Doyle become involved in the investigation of several mysterious deaths . Along the way they are supported by an intelligent female cop , Adelaide Stratton (Rebecca Liddiard) , Scotland Yard's first woman constable . As they investigate several cases , such as : The death of a murdered nun at a convent ; as protagonists get involved when a boy claims he is the reincarnation of a man whom he says Belworth murdered ; as they find out an issue about a faith healer who appears to have a great power when a heckler drops dead at one of the healer's public sessions ; the death of a motorcar entrepreneur that is initially attributed to a mysterious dark demon ; when the housemaid of Doyle's old friend Bram Stoker is murdered with a stake through the heart , suspicions arise that Stoker may either be the killer or a vampire ; when the duo confronting a travelling medium who uses her powers to help the local police find a missing girl ; when they find a murderous poltergeist in Canada, encountering Thomas Edison and when a young man wakes up naked in a burned out circle claiming that his wife was kidnapped by aliens . And , finally , the trio investigate a small town where almost everyone died simultaneously with no visible cause.

Exciting and charming series formed by 10 episodes , one season , it premiered on ITV in the United Kingdom March 2016 and in which Houdini/Michael Weston and Doyle/Stephen Mangan form a sympathetic and attractive couple . It is in fact true that Arthur Conan Doyle was friend for some time with Harry Houdini . In fact they attempted to discover fakes , false mediums , frauds Spiritualist psychics , scheming clairvoyants and Houdini was really convinced that Spiritualist mediums employed trickery . Although Arthur Conan became convinced that Houdini himself has supernatural powers , but Harry was apparently unable to convince Doyle that his feats were simply illusions , leading to a bitter public falling out between the two . The series relies on the different , opposite characters , as Harry Houdini is a rational skeptic and atheist whereas Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle is a believer in the paranormal and supernatural . They argue over whether the causes are natural or supernatural , and often bet on the cause , which causes their police liaison , Constable Adelaide Stratton/Rebecca Liddiard , some embarrassment and angry . Furthermore , in the series appears a lot of notorious secondary players , such as : Tim McInnerny , Diana Quick , Nathan Stewart , Laura Fraser , Ewen Bremmer as Sherlock Holmes , Louise Delamere : real-life wife to Stephen Mangan , and Paul Ritter as Bram Stoker and James Flett as Doyle's father , among others. The series was well set and shot on stages at The Space Project in Manchester . The series originally created by David Hoselton and David N. Titcher was well directed by Stephen Hopkins , Robert Lieberman , Jeff Renfroe , Edward Bazalgette and Daniel O'Hara .

I think I watched all the available episodes to me in the span of a couple days. My favorite murder mystery show was canceled just a month ago and this show really brought me back to my happy place. Episodes 7 and 8 of the season were incredibly entertaining and yet also heartbreaking with a focus on the family dynamics of Doyle and Houdini. All of the scenes are nicely shot and the musical accompaniment to the episodes matched the mood and theme of the show but also stood out as more than just background music. I really hope the show gets renewed, even though I probably won't get to see a second season in the U.S. until next May. Whatever will I do until then? Read, I guess. ;)

If you watch this show, don't think too much into it. Yes, it's been done before. Yes, it's basically just ripping off the real Houdini and Doyle.

BUT it's cute and quirky. I happened to start watching it because there was nothing better on TV, and I'm glad I did. The script is pretty good. The dialogue is a little too modern, I think, but come on, it's a detective show with Houdini. Can't expect it to be accurate.

What it is is fun. So neat to watch a reimagining of the time period. And there is a great deal of chemistry between the actors. I felt immersed in the story. Would definitely recommend if you want to have a laugh and appreciate imaginative story lines.

I was in free fall after the brilliant first season of Lucifer ended, only to be replaced with what looked like a Sherlock knock-off about Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini. What?

The first episode was a bit jarring, to be sure. Just kind of silly and ephemeral. You know? I know nothing about Harry Houdini. I do know a little about Conan Doyle because I've read all of his Sherlock stories. I didn't quite get it at first.

I thought the pilot odd and quirky. It kind of reminded me of the Murdoch Mysteries because it felt so "light weight" -- all air, no substance. But then... the show started to grow on me. I continued watching it and I started to appreciate the writing -- especially the snarky Houdini (he's given some of the best lines, dissing Canadians and bigots, for example, but really Doyle and Adeleide have great lines, too). Both the actor who plays Houdini and the actor who plays Doyle take their roles seriously and do a great job -- no matter that the premise itself is just kind of goofy.

And, in fact, it seems all of the people involved in making this show take their jobs seriously. It's quite good on many different levels, including the production values as well as the writing and acting.

I set my DVR.

And then we had episode four -- Spring-Heel'd Jack -- and I sat up and took notice. Now this is really quite good. The main mystery was excellent. There are some continuing subplots that are compelling. I was appreciating the characters more and more. There really seems to be chemistry between the three leads. And they are not one-dimensional but fairly interesting individuals.

This isn't great TV, but it is far more entertaining to watch than stupid reality shows. And I believe there's lots of promise here.

I keep thinking here at the end of ten episodes what's the use of writing this review if Fox is just going to cancel the show after the first season. But, hey. At least I am taking a stand. I really don't have anything terribly negative to say about it. The show falls into that amazing category of re-imagined fiction -- Robin Hood, Dracula, The Musketeers, Hannibal... they are really fun. And this show is fun. The TV version of comfort food. What could be better during a blisteringly hot summer?