Canon Re-read: The Norwood Builder

[mightymads]

- NORW gives us a delightful insight into Holmes and Watson's post-Reichenbach relationship. Even if there was any bitterness from Watson's side which he doesn't mention, Holmes is forgiven pretty soon. Watson sells his practice, moves back to Baker Street, and basically lives as Holmes's kept man, since he isn't even allowed to publish new stories. Then, some time later, he finds out that it was Holmes who bought his practice. What a sweet domestic idyll! UPD. What if Holmes providing for Watson financially and making it unnecessary for Watson to work is Holmes’s way of apology to Watson? After so many hardships Watson can live in leasure and do whatever he pleases, even write stories (to publish them some time in the future).

- Holmes is such a drama queen in this story! He always is, but this is a finest example. He whines that there's nothing interesting in the news with Moriarty's being gone. However, when MacFarlane arrives, he reads out to Holmes a newspaper report. Holmes, you dolt, you didn't even bother to check out a fresh issue before complaining!

- Wonderful Victorian remedies: Holmes offers MacFarlane a cigarette as a sedative after deducing that MacFarlane is an asthmatic. Always gets me.

- Watson has mastered Holmes's method and can easily follow Holmes's reasoning without an explanation from Holmes. So glad that Granada does justice to that.

- Holmes relies on Watson if a mission is dangerous. Holmes needs Watson's company and moral support. This story is such a balm.

- The terrible murderer Bert Stevens, who tried to trick Holmes into clearing his name. I want to know more about that case!

- Holmes's unhealthy eating behaviour. Maybe Holmes physically can't eat when he is agitated/under a mental strain? Does he have a nervous stomach or some other kind of an eating disorder?

- That moment when Holmes sees the fingerprint which wasn't there the night before: "An extraordinary change had come over his face. It was writhing with inward merriment. His two eyes were shining like stars. It seemed to me that he was making desperate efforts to restrain a convulsive attack of laughter." That I'd like to see in an adaptation, pronto.

- Holmes's theatrical antics. That's a highlight of the story because yes, it would have been dull if Holmes had just told Lestrade where to find Oldacre. Oh no, the true master always knows how to make a superb show.

NORW is one of my favourite canon stories: the softness of Holmes and Watson's relationship, the ingenuity of the case. ACD didn't list it among his favourite ones, but that didn't prevent him from using the same gimmick in a Holmes novel, no less. Maybe it wasn't as effective in VALL, and Holmes's astuteness does more damage than good there, but the idea itself is so spectacular that ACD returned to it.
   

Comments

[oldshrewsburyian]

This has long been one of my favorite canon stories as well!

[mightymads]

Such a gem!

[rachelindeed]

I love The Norwood Builder too! Absolutely a favorite. And I think the Granada adaptation even improved on it by adding in the murder plot of the missing ex-sailor (if there is one major flaw in the short story, it's the idea that the bones of a rabbit would be mistaken for those of a full-grown man by the police).

The Granada adaptation is one of my 2 favorite episodes of that entire series (my other favorite is The Second Stain). Absolutely everything is firing on all cylinders, the rivalry with Lestrade is both hilarious and adds real tension to the tale, the Holmes and Watson breakfast scene is one of their most beautiful domestic moments, and all the guest actors pitch their performances perfectly (Mrs. Lexington is especially great!) The wonderful music is showcased in the silent scene where Holmes is pacing the upper rooms in silence, looking for the false wall. Plus the dramatic scene where they smoke Oldacre out is a pure delight -- the way Brett scolds the constables with "We can do better than that. *Full voices,* together on three. 1, 2, 3, FIIIIIIRRE!!!!" Ahahaha, I love it.

Also, Colin Jeavons always walks the complicated line of Lestrade's character so well. He's obnoxious in his pride and determination to score off Holmes throughout the case, but the moment he understands that he was wrong and that Holmes has averted a terrible miscarriage of justice, his attitude changes completely! You can see that he would NEVER want to actually hurt an innocent person and that he's furious at Oldacre for trying to use him and the police as his weapons of revenge. I just love the anger and disdain with which he dismisses Oldacre, and his unhesitating willingness to eat his words and thank Holmes both for saving the client and for saving him from what would have been a botched investigation. I think the episode gave Lestrade a little more integrity and dignity than the story did, and showed that beneath the performative condescension that runs both ways in their relationship, Holmes and Lestrade actually rather like each other.

[mightymads]

The Granada adaptation of this episode is beautiful on so many levels. They made Holmes's character deeper by adding insecurity and vulnerability. Watson's support is vital to Holmes. Watson knows what to do when Holmes is in a fragile state. The way they actually investigate together and Watson playing an active part in it. And Colin Jeavons, of course. It's A+ casting. He really matches the Canon description of Lestrade, and this adaptation doesn't portray Lestrade as a buffoon like many others do.

[luthienberen]

-Holmes buying Watson's practice through a distant cousin is absolutely terrific, sweet and makes me laugh. I wonder how Watson felt when he first found out? Typically we have Watson referring to Holmes' "cold and proud nature"...directly after mentioning Holmes bought his practice. 🤔 Yes Watson, that's not exactly convincing unless you ignore everything else (as some adaptions do unfortunately).

-Gosh yes, Holmes truly is a drama Queen here! And woe to the people of London that Moriarty is gone...not! If I was Watson I would have remarked causally on detectives having sufficient fun with Moriarty that another wasn't required 😉

Holmes, you dolt, you didn't even bother to check out a fresh issue before complaining!

😂 Super mightymads!


-Ah Victorian remedies. It is a reminder of the bizarre conjunction of men like Lister developing infection control whilst cigarettes and poisonous medicines were sold...such as cough syrups with laudanum!

-I completely agree with you and everyone, Granada did this story justice, one of the best adaptations I think, though not my favourite story.

-The connection between Holmes and Watson is beautiful here, and Doyle certainly let it shine.

-I do wonder whether Holmes suffered from a nervous disposition, which along with his habits of not eating or sleeping could hardly aid his normal eating habits.

-Holmes' reaction is perfect. I do like how Brett captured the moment x

-How Holmes revealed the culprit suited his character and fitted the deceptions in the story!

-Also love Lestrade's respect for Holmes with not a glimmer of anger at being overturned, all he cared about was that an innocent life was almost lost, but Holmes saved them from such a dreadful misapprehension.

Whilst this isn't my favourite story, I agree with your reasoning for loving it. The case gave us a marvellously strong Watson-Holmes connection very much needed after Empty House. 🙂

I also do like how Granada added the hobo line, because Doyle...you were a medical doctor! I certainly hope no real doctor would mistake a rabbit for a human?

[mightymads]

I think Watson was pleased (knowing that Holmes could show his affection in sometimes creepy ways), otherwise why would he mention it with such fondness?

Yes, to his credit, Lestrade is not a sore loser. He accepts any bad feelings that he is wrong without when he is proven to be so. Not everyone is like that, and that's certainly his merit.

Doyle didn't care XD Only he could poke fun of the brain fever cliche in one of his medical stories and then proceed to use it in Holmes stories. Or perhaps it's Watson-the-unreliable-narrator again? "If ever you write an account, Watson, you can make rabbits serve your turn." It doesn't mean that they thought it to be rabbits. Watson just says it was a convenient explanation. And yay Granada for fixing it!

[luthienberen]

I definitely agree Watson was pleased :-) Maybe there is some fanfic that deals with Watson’s discovery.

Lestrade's reaction was wonderful and granted much merit to his character. I think Granada developed his character and relationship with Holmes well.

Doyle certainly didn't care ;) It does make for amusing headcanons though! Watson the unreliable narrator is the only consistent thread that makes sense I think.