There’s been a negative critical reaction to Sherlock Holmes spin-off Watson, a medical drama that sees Holmes’ assistant strike out on his own after the famous detective dies.
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Morris Chestnut (Boyz N The Hood) stars as John Watson, who opens a medical practice in Pittsburgh after Holmes is killed at the hands of his archnemesis, Moriarty, after they both fall to their death. Treating patients with strange and unidentifiable issues, he soon comes face-to-face with the past when he suspects Moriarty may still be alive.
The CBS show premiered in the US on Monday (January 26) and the pilot was met with reservations from critics. USA Today’s Kelly Lawler called it “Unhinged TV” and “utterly nonsensical and ridiculous” in the review.
Lawler explained: “The two parts of Watson don’t fit together. The medical procedural is fine, bland and perfectly standard CBS. But then a patient-of-the-week drama gets crashed together with this half-hearted Sherlock mythology and the wheels fall right off”.
‘Watson’ star Morris Chestnut (credit: John Nacion/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)
Variety’s Aramide Tinubu agreed in a review, saying: “The glaring issue with Watson is it’s being forced under the Sherlock Holmes tentpole” before adding the show “could’ve easily worked as a cut-and-dry medical mystery drama instead of trying to force a square peg in a round hole”.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han described the show as lacking identity. “Despite a promisingly goofy premise and the occasional gob-smacking narrative choice, the early instalments speak more to a series struggling to pick a lane than one that’s confident blazing a path of its own,” Han said.
Fans agreed online, with one fan posting on X (formerly Twitter): “So far the pilot for Watson is ehh. Just like other medical shows”. Another wrote: “The pilot for Watson unfortunately ran into some pitfalls that beset modern writing. It tried to cover too much ground to establish itself”.
So far the pilot for #Watson is ehh. Just like other medical shows. This is the #medical version of #CSI It’s giving me vibes of the show #BrilliantMinds on NBC. Watson will probably survive but Brilliant minds is more enjoyable as well as #StDenis . The real show is #ThePitt.
— Michael (@6animal9) January 27, 2025
The pilot for Watson unfortunately ran into some pitfalls that beset modern writing. It tried to cover too much ground to establish itself and through the course of the Pilot I could hear David Mamet’s post left on the doors of The Unit’s doors. Hopefully they can course correct. pic.twitter.com/B0gbgYhEQt
— SaneDrane (@SaneDrane) January 27, 2025
The show is the latest modern take on the Sherlock Holmes story, with past adaptations including American drama Elementary starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu, and the Enola Holmes film series with Millie Bobby Brown portraying the title role of the sister of Sherlock Holmes, played by Henry Cavill.
Benedict Cumberbatch famously playing the role in Sherlock from 2010-2017. Martin Freeman, who played Holmes in the series, has spoken about fan pressure making the show “not fun”, comments he later clarified as “out of context”.
The makers of the show also revealed who they would like to see play a female version of the character.
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