Sherlock: Scandal in Belgravia

This episode was based on "A Scandal In Bohemia", which was the first short story featuring Sherlock Holmes. The most important aspect of this story is that Sherlock finds himself fascinated by a woman. In the short story, he is hired to steal the compromising photographs Irene has taken of herself and the King. In the episode, the photos are of herself and the princess. (we assume, we know it is of a female in the royal family) Sherlock uses similar means to lure her to reveal the photos whereabouts. In the short short, she then proceeds to trick Sherlock, keep the photos, and this is the end of the story.

In the TV episode, this is only the beginning, as Irene Adler has on her "cameraphone" an incriminating email. Sherlock is able to decipher it, and stumbles upon a "flight of the dead". The British government is going to crash a plane, simply so certain terrorist cells believe they have bombed said plane. But all the passengers on the flight are already dead. Apparently this is not the first time the British government pulled such a trick.

I like how the BBC has made these mysteries so much "bigger". Some of the Sherlock stories are almost dull in how minor the action is.