Watson, the latest drama inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, is now streaming in the UK. With a fresh take on an iconic set of novels, here’s what you need to know about this alternative medical drama.
The series follows John Watson (Morris Chestnut) as he seemingly retires from the life of crime-solving following the death of his close friend, Sherlock Holmes. As he moves from London to Pittsburgh, he opens his new medical practice.
Things change, however, when John is forced to confront his past as alarming evidence comes up, with archenemy Professor James Moriarty potentially still alive following his confrontation with the great detective.
After premiering in the US back in January, Watson has now finally arrived in the UK after the first two episodes were added to Sky and NOW. The next two instalments air on Monday 1 December on Sky Witness, so you’ll have to wait to binge the entire season.
Billed as a “modern take of one of history’s greatest detectives” (via CBS), the series is created by Craig Sweeny, with the supporting cast including Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall and Rochelle Aytes.
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The first season of the medical drama received a decidedly mixed response from professional critics, with Rotten Tomatoes currently reporting a middling approval rating of 50% from 18 reviews.
“Such escapism can have its pleasures. But it usually works better when the world we’re escaping to feels more consistently interesting than the one we’re leaving,” wrote The Hollywood Reporter.
“An extremely formulaic throwback lacking the biting wit that made House great,” opined AV Club, while USA Today was unimpressed as it wrote: “A patient-of-the-week drama gets crashed together with this half-hearted Sherlock mythology and the wheels fall right off.”
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Variety was more positive, however, writing: “With an endlessly charismatic Chestnut leading the charge, the addition of some much-needed backstories and a focus on medical mysteries and the people enduring them, Watson eventually finds more solid ground.”
Watson isn’t the only alternative take on Conan Doyle’s mysteries to be released in recent times, with French-language series Mademoiselle Holmes and period crime drama Sherlock & Daughter being made available in the UK this year.
Watson airs on Sky Witness while streaming on Sky Go and NOW.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.