If you’re a fan of the mystery genre, then chances are you’ve seen at least one rendition of Arthur Conan Doyle‘s crime-solving detective Sherlock Holmes onscreen. Whether it was the cold and calculating Benedict Cumberbatch in the TV series Sherlock, or Robert Downey Jr.‘s sarcastic Sherlock in the duology directed by Guy Ritchie, Sherlock Holmes has been played onscreen many times, and viewers aren’t sick of seeing it anytime soon.
In fact, Ritchie recently returned to Doyle’s iconic character in the Prime Video series Young Sherlock. Based on the young adult thriller novel series Young Sherlock Holmes by Andrew Lane, the eight-episode prequel series offers a new, fresh perspective on characters viewers know and love. Following a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes at Oxford University, long before he’s even heard of Baskerville or done any studies in scarlet, the series follows a foundational chapter into one of the genre’s biggest icons, as well as its biggest villains.
‘Young Sherlock’ Gives a Fresh Take on a Beloved Character
By following Sherlock Holmes in his teenage, coming-of-age years, Young Sherlock has a unique advantage. Instead of being compared to all the Sherlock Holmes of TV and movies’ past, the series establishes itself as other, as an innate prequel series, and, by doing so, gives star Hero Fiennes Tiffin the liberty to make his character his own. As Sherlock, Tiffin blends all the brilliance and expertise signature to Sherlock, while still developing who he is as a person. Per Therese Lacson in her review for Collider, Tiffin finds a new sweet spot for Sherlock in his performance. “He’s not nearly as cold as Benedict Cumberbatch, he’s not as erratic as Jonny Lee Miller, he’s obviously not as well-balanced or as mature as Henry Cavill, and he certainly can’t throw a punch like Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock,” she wrote.
Plus, by following such an iconic character at his beginning, the series gives viewers Sherlock’s origin story, and all the motivations, betrayals and murders that lead him to become a world-renowned detective in the future. The same can be said for Sherlock’s ruthless opponent, James Moriarty (Dónal Finn), who, in this show, is also a teenager who’s a few years before turning to the dark side. In fact, Sherlock and Moriarty are friends on the show, coming together to solve the crime at hand, and relying on each other as not only partners in crime but confidants too. “What makes Young Sherlock so compelling is this relationship between Moriarty and Sherlock,” Lacson stated in her review. “Rather than making them enemies from the start, their close friendship and the fact that Moriarty essentially almost becomes adopted into the Holmes family make his inevitable turn to evil all the more devastating.”
Guy Ritchie and the ‘Young Sherlock’ Cast Make for TV Magic
While the premise alone sets the series apart in the Sherlock Holmes universe, the series has also been welcomed by viewers and critics alike. Not only has the series snagged #1 on Prime Video worldwide in the streaming charts, but it’s also scored 84% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and 83% in the audience-led Popcorn Meter. Among the highlights is Ritchie’s signature electric style of directing, which keeps the audience entertained by the mystery and pace at a buzzy speed throughout. “The kinetic action scenes, staccato pace of dialogue, and frenetic camera that keeps us right in the thick of it all are all on display,” Lacson says of expert direction. “Ritchie’s pacing is perfect for this youthful version of Sherlock, and it slots perfectly into place with a story that keeps its characters on their toes.”
15 Shows To Watch if You Love ‘Sherlock’
The game is always afoot.
The direction is then only enhanced by the talented ensemble that makes up the cast. Tiffin delivers a “career-defining performance,” while his co-star Finn brings unbridled charm and charisma to his role as the soon-to-be villain. “It’s almost impossible to see the villain he might become, but Finn’s performance makes James come off as a trickster figure, an agent of chaos, and that’s the first crack we see in his otherwise wholesome persona,” Lacson wrote. To top off this stellar cast, Tiffin and Finn are joined byZine Tseng as visiting Chinese Princess Shou’an, Colin Firth as Oxford Professor Sir Bucephalus Hodge, Joseph Fiennes as Silas Holmes (Sherlock’s somewhat absent father), Max Irons as Mycroft Holmes,Natascha McElhone as Cordelia Holmes.
With all that said, Guy Ritchie’s new series Young Sherlock has quickly established itself as a must-watch on Prime Video. With an impressive cast, expert directing and a storyline that has fans seeing Doyle’s iconic character in a whole new light, this series is an all-around smash hit. And as it prepares itself for Season 2, potential is almost limitless.
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