“Sherlock” is a British crime drama television series based on the Sherlock Holmes detective stories created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The series premiered on BBC One on 25 July 2010. The first episode of the second season, titled “A Scandal in Belgravia”, aired on 1 January 2012. The episode was written by Steven Moffat and directed by Paul McGuigan.
In the episode, Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) investigate the case of Irene Adler (Lara Pulver), a dominatrix who has stolen compromising photos of the royal family. The episode was a critical and commercial success, receiving widespread praise for its writing, acting, and direction. It was also nominated for several awards, including a BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series.