A Study in Scarlet - Part One
Evaluation and Summary
Sherlock & Co. marks its third anniversary with an ambitious 10-part adaptation of "A Study in Scarlet," the classic Conan Doyle tale that introduced Holmes and Watson. Part One sets up a mystery that extends far beyond what Sherlock believed was a closed case—a killer is now being tracked across the globe. The episode features Paul Waggott as Dr. Watson and Harry Attwell as Sherlock Holmes, supported by a cast including Marta da Silva, Kelly Burke, and others. Written by Joel Emery and directed by Adam Jarrell, the production promises the podcast's characteristic audio drama treatment with sound design and editing by Jarrell. The show notes hint at a darker tone than typical anniversary fare, with the creator noting there's "not a great deal to celebrate," suggesting a grim or troubling narrative ahead. The episode contains swearing and references to violence and psychological distress. The podcast is based on Conan Doyle's original works and is produced by Goalhanger Podcasts. Listeners can access ad-free early episodes and transcripts via Patreon, and the show maintains active social media presence across Twitter, BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. A new merchandise store (sherlockwear.com) is promoted alongside the episode.
Verdict: A promising anniversary installment with established production quality and an intriguing premise, but limited evidence in the show notes about whether the writing, performance, and pacing actually deliver on the ambitious 10-part structure.
Fiction rubric
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Writing n/a
No script excerpts or dialogue samples provided; cannot assess dialogue quality or narrative structure from show notes alone.
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Performance and production n/a
Cast list provided but no information about acting quality, voice work, or production execution; cannot judge from credits alone.
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Plot momentum n/a
Setup described (reopened case, global pursuit) suggests forward momentum, but no actual plot details or pacing information available to assess.
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Substance 3/5 33%
Promises a 10-part deep dive into a classic mystery with global scope, suggesting substantial content, though show notes offer minimal detail about actual substance delivered.
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Delivers on its title 4/5 33%
Title promises "A Study in Scarlet" adaptation; show notes confirm this is a Conan Doyle-based mystery with the expected setup, though the global killer angle suggests expansion beyond the original.
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Value for time 3/5 33%
39-minute episode as part one of ten suggests reasonable pacing for an audio drama, though no information about actual pacing or filler.
Worth it if you're a fan of the Sherlock & Co. podcast or enjoy audio drama adaptations of classic detective fiction with a darker, contemporary twist.
Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.