Sherlock Holmes might not be science-fiction, but as one of the most iconic and influential British characters ever, it’s hard not to be excited when a new version comes along. Especially if it tries to explore the characters differently, such as changing the setting from Victorian London to the present day.
The incredibly successful Sherlock set the standard for a "modern take on Holmes and Watson". But we also had CBS’s Elementary. While I admit I was initially skeptical of the show, it offered a surprisingly entertaining take on Holmes and Watson that stood out on its own terms.
So when I heard that CBS were making another show inspired by Holmes – this time, without the titular detective – I was cautiously optimistic. Sadly, based on the opening episode at least, Watson has a long way to go before matching Sherlock or Elementary in terms of quality.
After Reichenbach
The premise of Watson is simple. It begins with Watson in charge of the "Holmes Clinic" in Pittsburgh, investigating unusual medical cases. It also takes place one year after Holmes’s apparent death by battling criminal mastermind Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls.
Honestly, this is a pretty great way to tell a story focused on Watson. Any Holmes fan knows that, while writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fully intended to kill Holmes off at Reichenbach Falls in “The Final Problem”, he also had to bring him back from the dead due to the character’s enduring popularity.
So Watson gives us the chance to see how the doctor copes without Holmes. It also leaves us wondering two things: first, how Holmes will return, and second, who will eventually be cast in the iconic role.
House-lite
But so far, based on the first episode, at least, the show isn’t quite living up to the promise of its idea. Right now, (and I’ve read enough reviews already to know I’m not being original here, but it has to be said), it’s heavily inspired by House. You’ve got the genius main character leading a team of intelligent people helping to solve difficult medical cases. And I can see why the writers picked that format, especially with the clear influence that Sherlock Holmes had on House.
However, what made House so successful wasn’t just the medical cases – it was the character himself. Thanks to great character writing and Hugh Laurie’s brilliant performance, House was a great leading character to watch. He was an absolute jerk, of course, but that’s what made him so entertaining.
This version of Watson, though? Morris Chestnut does his best, but right now, the character is completely failing to stand out. He’s neither eccentric nor a jerk. He might have his issues, but he’s not a compelling character to watch at this point.
Also, it has to be said that the first episode lacked intrigue. One thing I enjoyed about both the original stories and the best Holmes adaptations is that the stories gave us great puzzling mysteries that grabbed your attention. House was successful at replicating the same level of intrigue in a medical setting. Sadly, Watson has yet to do the same.
The wrong genre
It could be argued that it’s a result of making a show about Watson without Holmes in the first place. After all, Watson is supposed to someone average, the ordinary person whose eyes we see Holmes through.
But that’s a very basic take on the idea of Watson. I think a series focused on Watson living without Holmes could work extremely well. A show that saw him try to solve cases and perhaps make mistakes. But it also could remember that he was a soldier, and so what he lacks in intelligence (at least, compared to Holmes), he makes up for in action. Honestly, something closer to The Equalizer than House might be a better fit for the character.
Admittedly, this is just the pilot episode, and there are very few shows where the best episode is the first. So this could have the potential to improve over time. As a fan of both Holmes and Watson, I certainly hope so.