Sherlock and Pepper's Ghost

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

WARNING: THIS ENTRY HAS SPOILERS FOR “THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE”. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM READING THIS POST.

“Sherlock” released its Christmas special and while some people have a few bones to pick with it, others adored it. As for myself, I enjoyed the idea of seeing the initial Arthur Conan Doyle based Sherlock flash back and forth with the modern day Sherlock. It was a strange ending to be frank, but I believe it was the one section of the special where I heavily fangirled. No, no, not because of Moriarty in a wedding dress, but because of the Pepper’s Ghost trick.

The Pepper’s Ghost Trick was an illusion trick crafted in the Victorian era as a means of entertainment. However, the effect goes back to the 16^th century when a Neapolitan scientist, Giambattista della Porta first described the Pepper’s Ghost Trick as such:

“Let there be a chamber wherein no other light comes, unless by the door or window where the spectator looks in. Let the whole window or part of it be of glass, as we used to do to keep out the cold. But let one part be polished, that there may be a Looking-glass on bothe sides, whence the spectator must look in. For the rest do nothing. Let pictures be set over against this window, marble statues and suchlike. For what is without will seem to be within, and what is behind the spectator's back, he will think to be in the middle of the house, as far from the glass inward, as they stand from it outwardly, and clearly and certainly, that he will think he sees nothing but truth. But lest the skill should be known, let the part be made so where the ornament is, that the spectator may not see it, as above his head, that a pavement may come between above his head. And if an ingenious man do this, it is impossible that he should suppose that he is deceived” (Porta, 1658).

This description was later brought to life by Henry Dircks in 1862. Dircks had invented Dircksian Phantasmagoria wherein he created the Pepper’s Ghost trick. He attempted to sell his trick to theatres that rejected the offer because it would be too costly to rebuild the theatre to accommodate his idea. Later on, he was able to replicate his illusion with a booth at the Royal Polytechnic Institute of London where John Pepper saw it and was instantly spellbound. Pepper was able to reduce the complexity of Dircks’ idea so that it could easily be shown at theatres without a needed rebuild. Dircks signed all of his financial rights to Pepper who tried to give Dircks’ credit despite the ‘Pepper’ name sticking with the trick.

So why did I lose my head over this ancient illusion?

Because it’s a key feature in the Haunted Mansion.

Readers, I am a diehard Haunted Mansion fan and to see this effect used in “Sherlock” lifted my spirits.

For those of you who don’t know, the Haunted Mansion is a well-known ride in Disney parks, each having a varying theme save for Disneyland California Adventure (the original), Tokyosea, and Walt Disney World (the original’s duplicate). The Haunted Mansion opened its doors to the public in 1969 and utilized the trick in its iconic ballroom scene where “ghosts” twirl about on the floor. In actuality, they are nothing more than the result of Pepper’s Ghost Trick. Beneath the balcony there are a row of mirrors and light angled at a certain way. Alongside those mirrors are animatronics of spinning dancers whose image falls through the glass and appear as ethereal dancers. It’s a famous scene utilized in almost every Haunted Mansion (save for Mystic Manor) and to see it resurfaced in a show I adore is even more a reason to gush.

While Moffat probably didn’t include this trick as a nod to the Haunted Mansion, there’s a good chance he wrote it in because it was used during the Victorian era. It aided in solving the mystery despite Moriarty’s sudden abrupt appearance as the bride. Regardless, seeing the Pepper’s Ghost Trick utilized outside the Haunted Mansion and something I enjoy provided a wonderful moment of fangirling.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, what did you think of “The Abominable Bride”?

Are You Sherlocked?

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

It was just announced this week that the Sherlock Christmas special will take place in London during the 1800s aka the Victorian era. It will have everyone from Sherlock clad in the time period’s garments and completing their modern day tasks in a time when advanced technology was not available.

My initial reaction to this was pure elation for the fact that we don’t have to wait three plus years for something pertaining to Sherlock.  What followed next was a question of how exactly the cast of Sherlock managed to be transported to the 1800s. Naturally, my inner fangirl led me to believe that Moffat and Gatniss were finally doing a Wholock episode, but was immediately shot down by the fact that Moffat said it would never work. Of course then I figured that everyone in this new Victorian!Sherlock era is an ancestor to their modern day personas which could very well work.

But like any other writer and fan, research is needed to obtain any answer.

Moffat and Gatniss claim that this ninety minute special will have nothing to do with the original Sherlock series. Rather, they are doing a tribute to when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work was initially written in this specific time period.

The writers also claim that this special will include something everyone doesn’t suspect about John and Sherlock. Many fans hope that this surprise will be John and Sherlock engaging in a homosexual relationship. So far there have been no hints as to what this shocker will be, but the writers have confirmed that they have brought their cast to tears with what they have in store.

There was also talk about season 4 of Sherlock.

While not much has been said, it has been rumored for a long time that Tom Hiddleston may join Sherlock in the series as one of the elder Holmes brothers.  In the new season, we’ll be seeing more of Sherlock’s family so naturally they would want someone as equally handsome as Sherlock to be his brother.

It’s also rumored that Irene Adler may return, but Janine and her friends are definitely returning. Apparently Sherlock likes Janine and knows he can rely on her for a social function should he ever need a date for one.  There’s also the inevitable truth that Mary will die sooner or later, just like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote, but she won’t be dying in season 4.  Moriarty is also set to make a comeback, but to do what no one knows.

While there are no certain story lines or release dates as of yet, Sherlock season 4 will follow the 2015 Christmas special. There will also be many more seasons to come for Sherlock, with Benedict Cumberbatch wanting to pursue this series into old age.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you liked it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what are you excited to see for Sherlock? 

Steampunk to Go

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

As a gamer I’ve played different types of games, but always found my way back to hidden object games. Hidden object games are a nostalgic part of my life that still carry with me to this day. What I love even more is when the game incorporates elements I adore, like Steampunk.

Steampunk is a popular topic revolving around Victorian elements, distinct fashion, steam powered devices, clockwork, and metalwork.  With its fame on the Internet, the trend is now seeping its way into movies, literature, and now, even video games.

I’ve had the pleasure to play my first Steampunk hidden object game on the Ipod.  Entitled Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink, the hidden object game oozed with Steampunk based on the character designs, their outfits, modes of transportation, and even a mechanical crow that accompanies you.  Your objective is to free your friend (Dr.Ink) from the evil clutches of Barber Engineer, a wealthy general who is causing massive earthquakes for the town of Hochwald.

The casual mode could easily be completed in one hour with the help of Hint and Skip features. Advanced and Expert took a little longer, with the elimination and slower recharge of those two features. It’s a fun little game with great graphics produced by Big Fish Games for $2.99 and is available on most mobile devices. They are currently working on a sequel for the game simply titled Clockwork Tales II. There is no word of when it will be released.

I give this game an 8 out of 10, because I wish the casual mode lasted a little longer. I usually play hidden object games on casual and find that they’re more than just an hour. Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink had the shortest casual mode gameplay I’ve ever seen and I honestly wish it was a little longer, if not as long as the other modes.

Thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, reblog, and/or critique.

So tell me, do you enjoy hidden object games? If so, what’s your favorite one?

Something Old, Something New

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

We live in an updated, modern society where we can obtain information at a mere touch, where solar energy is powering our buildings, and where robots are cooking our food. We are constantly being informed of new technological tools in the works that will aid us with our daily lives. Every day we are discovering new ways to embrace the future and all its modified, minimized glory.

Yet despite our evolution, why do we still love things from the past?

Image from eliteauction.com

3. Thought Provoking

The past is a time that we only know about through movies, education, stories, and many other formats. It’s a strange thing that we can’t physically visit (unless we have a Tardis or DeLorean), but only examine and wonder.  We have artifacts from the past in museums and in antique stores. While we are familiar with some of the objects’ functions, others we are not. This allows us to tap into our imaginations and question how the item worked, what it was used for, why was it used, and compare it to something we have in our modern time to help understand it better. By asking these questions we exercise our minds, attempting to discover the item’s purpose, and create a story (or many stories) for something unique and old.

2. Aesthetic

Artifacts are so different from what we have now. Today’s music players are slim and small, offering us the ability to take music with us wherever we go. In the past there were gramophones and record players and but today, they are rendered obsolete. However, we are spellbound by their rustic charm. The same goes for clothing; every day we are reinventing fashion to fit our modern tastes, but we are wonderstruck by the fictional Steampunk eras, corsets from the Victorian times, the intricate detail of the Edo era, the flashing glamour of the roaring 20s, and so many other decades.  People are even pleased over how an antique tea set appears as opposed to a modern day tea set. These items have an alluring appearance that goes against the sleek, modern aesthetic. We are drawn to these artifacts and are awed by the beauty of the past.

1. Nostalgia

But of course, we have our own past. The things we grew up with that when remembered have a sentimental feel. We still cling to these objects for the comfort they give us and to remind us of better days. There are people who use items from the past to immerse themselves in some blissful memories as opposed to using the updated version of that item (ex.: using vinyl records and record players over mp3s and ipods). We’ve even created a day of the week (Throwback Thursday (#tbt)) to celebrate toys we’ve had from the 90s, music from the 80s, and so many other things from the past that we still adore to this day.

The past is a gorgeous, mysterious thing that people attempt to understand on a day to day basis. It takes days, months, and even years to fully comprehend the past, but it only takes a mere moment to enjoy it.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you have any feedback or want to share it or review it, feel free to do so.

So tell me, what is a sentimental item from your past?