A Clever Sherlock Prequel: Lot No. 249

The Unlikely Meeting of Characters

In this year's installment of the BBC TV series A Ghost Story for Christmas, Kit Harington takes on the role of Abercrombie Smith, an Oxford medical student, in the 2023 episode titled Lot No. 249. The episode is based on the short story of the same name by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the renowned author of Sherlock Holmes.

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Lot No. 249 tells the gothic mystery of Smith's quest to help fellow student Edward Bellingham, an expert on ancient Egyptian artifacts, who appears to have fallen into a trance after acquiring a sarcophagus and mummy. The storyline takes a surprising turn as Harington's character encounters a pre-Baker Street Sherlock Holmes, connecting two seemingly unrelated tales in a clever and unexpected manner.

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A Pre-Baker Street Sherlock

Lot No. 249 features Harington's character, Abercrombie Smith, seeking help from a character known only as 'The Friend' in the credits, who is portrayed by John Heffernan. This 'no-nonsense sort of fellow' is revealed to be a younger Sherlock Holmes, a favorite character of director Mark Gatiss, who co-created the series Sherlock.

Mark Gatiss and Benedict Cumberbatch in suits in Sherlock Season 4

The subtle hints and details, such as The Friend's use of Sherlock's iconic pipe and his expressed plan to move to an apartment on Baker Street, establish this individual as a younger version of Doyle's famous detective protagonist. This unique portrayal provides further context to the early years of Sherlock Holmes, offering a fresh perspective on the character.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock outside 221B in the deerstalker hat

Setting Up a Future Series

While Lot No. 249 may be a one-off episode, the clever Easter egg of a pre-Baker Street Sherlock has sparked speculation about the potential for a future series. The intriguing portrayal of a younger Sherlock, far removed from the modern adaptations, opens up a world of opportunities for further exploration of the character.

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This unique version of Sherlock Holmes, combined with the idea of the protagonist of another of Doyle's mysteries seeking help from Holmes, presents an exciting premise for a prequel series. The episode's evident appreciation for the character of Sherlock Holmes raises the possibility of a future series that delves into the early career of the consulting detective, offering a fresh take on the beloved literary character.

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