CBS’ New Detective Show Tells The Major Story BBC’s Sherlock Skipped Over

BBC’s Sherlock was utterly iconic and revolutionized the way stories about Sherlock Holmes are told, but it skipped over one fascinating story that the new CBS show is about to tackle. Sherlock Holmes was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for his 1887 novel A Study in Scarlet and went on to be a British institution and the ultimate fictional detective. Sherlock modernized the story for the screen in 2010 and CBS’ Elementary did the same in 2012. Now, CBS is bringing Watson to screens, which is Elementary’s perfect spiritual sequel, and it may fill in some of Sherlock’s blanks.

Sherlock featured the inimitable Benedict Cumberbatch in its titular role, while British favorite Martin Freeman put in a legendary turn as Sherlock’s companion, Dr. John Watson. Not long after, Elementary served the world a female Watson in the form of Lucy Liu’s Dr. Joan Watson. But in 2025, CBS is bringing another Conan Doyle show to viewers, and this Watson will be played by Morris Chestnut. Watson may reveal how Sherlock Holmes dies, and in doing so, it may be able to finally tell a story that BBC’s Sherlock should have told long ago.

CBS’ Watson Series Is All About What John Watson Does After Sherlock Fakes His Death

Morris Chestnut’s Watson Will Be Grieving Sherlock Holmes

Watson will start airing on January 26, 2025, and it will tell the story of what happens to John Watson after Sherlock Holmes dies, which is something that Sherlock didn’t cover in detail. Watson will launch into its regular schedule after the first episode and will delight in bringing a whole new version of a modernized John to the table. Watson will be tackling his own detective story in this series, which centers on Sherlock’s assistant. This unprecedented glimpse into the traditionally sidelined character promises to expose how Sherlock’s death impacted Watson, which the BBC drama should have touched on more.

CBS’ Watson Show Begins Exactly Where BBC’s Sherlock Started Losing Its Magic

Watson Will Cover A Key Part Of Sherlock Holmes Myth

Watson will pick up where the high point of Sherlock left off. Sherlock got great reviews and a hugely positive audience reception in its first three seasons, but experienced some pitfalls from then on. The show tried to get funnier, which didn’t always work, with meta jokes that sometimes failed to make the most of the show’s legendary premise. Andrew Scott was unforgettable as Moriarty in Sherlock. Perhaps too unforgettable, as the show was not the same without him from season 4 onwards. Watson will pick up the slack, beginning at this point in Conan Doyle’s lore.

Related

Sherlock Season 4’s Best Scene Is A Sad Reminder Of Where The BBC Show Went Wrong

Sherlock season 4 was the show’s weakest, and one of its best moments proves where the BBC series went wrong following two great first seasons.

Telling the story of Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick from what would be the start of Sherlock season 4, Watson has already teased Moriarty’s presence, which is exciting. The new CBS show will take place during an absolutely classic Sherlock Holmes story, and one that the BBC Sherlock show adapted in season 3. Holmes faked his own death in the last episode of Sherlock season 3, “The Reichenbach Fall,” but failed to really explain it or show the aftermath in season 4. Watson could do this while bringing Moriarty back in a more substantial way than Sherlock ever managed to.

TV Show

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

Watson is a drama mystery series based on the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A year after the death of his partner, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson returns to his old life as a physician. However, his life is uprooted once more when Sherlock’s old nemesis and killer, Moriarty, returns. 

Release Date

January 26, 2025

Cast

Morris Chestnut

Character(s)

Dr. John Watson

Creator(s)

Craig Sweeny

Producers

Morris Chestnut
, Aaron Kaplan

Seasons

1

Writers

Craig Sweeny

Directors

Larry Teng

Showrunner

Craig Sweeny

Expand