When the British resisted an end to the Opium Wars with China, they brought to their world a host of terrible results. The opium den became a fixture in the poorer streets of London and other cities and there was an open toleration. Even citizens, mostly me, found recreation in attendance of these places (this was true of prostitution and child neglect as well). The poor were victimized for economic reasons. In this episode, Watson is engaged by a young wife to find and bring home her husband, who has probably fallen into this habit. As he investigates, he finds his friend Holmes disguised, attending one of the worst of these places. He tells Watson he is on a case. They move forward in pursuit of clues as to the whereabouts of this man and at one point assume him dead. This is a story of persistence and faith. What it doesn't address is the ultimate price of all this. We sometimes speculate in amusement about Holmes cocaine use and Watson's seven percent solution. We are of a different time and place; hence, we cannot totally judge a culture on its terms. This is certainly unique among the original canon and very engaging.