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.
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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.