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Apr 29, 2016 By Hays Davis Web Exclusive

In real life, Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle was a believer in Spiritualism, while his friend, the escape artist Harry Houdini, was a fervent crusader against it—a clash that ultimately destroyed their friendship. As the pair teams up as crime-solvers in the new series Houdini & Doyle, the show focuses on this difference as a tool to provide each man with a unique perspective, resulting in nothing more negative than some friendly friction.

When a death at a Magdalene Laundry institution is blamed on a ghost, Houdini (Michael Weston) and Doyle (Stephen Mangan) talk Scotland Yard into letting them investigate, and low-ranking constable Adelaide Stratton (Rebecca Liddiard) is assigned to join them. The tone throughout is lively, with Houdini and Doyle regularly engaged in verbal sparring or creative clue-sifting, and with Stratton, the trio finds a pleasing dynamic.

While historians may struggle with these early-century equivalents to rock stars as busy sleuths, Houdini’s unshakably scientific stance can be refreshing, and it’s entirely possible that the real Houdini and Doyle would have loved this-while they were still friends. (www.fox.com/houdinianddoyle)

Author rating: 7/10