the audience applauded

Good movie but grossly overrated

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

It's the start of the 20th century London. Harry Houdini (Michael Weston) is a cynic and a famous performer. Arthur Conan Doyle (Stephen Mangan) is the famed writer of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. They are best of friends and opposite in philosophy. They collaborate to investigate cases with supernatural aspects. The police is dismissive and assigns them the first female constable Adelaide Stratton (Rebecca Liddiard) as their liaison.I really like the relationship between the men and with Adelaide. I like all three actors. This should work better. The production is inferior. The lighting is too bright. It doesn't have the feel. I also don't like going to the new world in the last couple of episodes. It doesn't fit. It would have been better if they go to Scotland. The bromance is great but everything else is a step below.

Honestly, this show is not supposed to make sense. It's suppose to entertain the view, and that's exactly what it does. Houdini and Doyle, send a time before ours, is really a great show. It's great entertainment for the family. I love the suspense, and their mysteries with a paranormal slant. I like American Houdini paired with proper Doyle. I admit that I do hid behind a cushion from time to time, so there is sufficient thrills. I like that is all wraps up in a hour. I also love how all the characters seem to know each other, that Houdini knows great inventors in America, and Doyle knows famous authors in England. I like that both men are likable. It's not a pretentious show. I feel that it can last as long as Murdoch mysteries, if done right. So far, great first season.

The best way to describe this series is X-files meets Downton Abbey. Personally, I'm a fan of stories that mix history in fiction, so perhaps I'm bias in its favor, but there are several aspects of this series which are successful.The show's premise is actually fairly straight forward. The characters of Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle team up with a plucky female detective from Scotland Yard in order to solve a series of cases. Naturally, each of mysteries have what appear to be some element of the supernatural. Most of the stories also touch on the personal struggles of the two leads, so watching from the beginning will enhance your ability to to follow and enjoy each episodes.What really makes this series are the actors. In addition to having really talented leads, the cast is strong overall. Perhaps it's just me, but I am sick to death of reality TV and hackneyed sit-coms. Consequently, getting to watch actors who actually know how to act is, for me, more valuable than ever.Another thing that makes this very enjoyable to watch is its visual appeal. The costumes and set designs are very well done and, even if not always historically accurate, evocative of a romantic and bygone era.The stories themselves are fast-paced and fairly intricate by today's standards. They also blend fantasy and reality in a way that's pretty darn appealing.Although billed as a mini-series, if this show doesn't get a second run it will be a shame. It's charming, beautiful, and very watchable.

I've just got to the end of the first series and I'm really hoping there's going to be more.When I started to watch this I wasn't expecting great things. In actual fact I only watched because of 2 things, I love Conan Doyle and Stephen was good as Dirk Gently.I quickly have become a fan of this great show. The writing is superb and the sets and costumes are well done but not so elaborate they detract from the characters or the stories. I love the way the characters are written and the actors play them very well. I particularly found Houdini cast extremely well with many complex layers to the personality showing through. Stephens portrayal of Doyle was also admirable with the nods to the techniques and skills that he used to create his character Sherlock giving the fans the homage they craved.I will say if you are watching this series then please try not to see it as a Sherlock or a Penny Dreadful show. It is basically a murder mystery encompassing characters that are able to give it an entertaining twist. Take it with fresh eyes and enjoy it for the excellent show it is.