The six-part series already looks like a must-watch titleContent cannot be displayed without consent
An upcoming Netflix crime drama that is based on a remarkable true story could be your next binge and first one of the new year.
The new six-part series titled Blind Sherlock, is set to make its debut in January 2026. It is a Dutch production and should appeal to fans who have already enjoyed Amsterdam Empire.
According to the synopsis, the series is set in Rotterdam, where drug crime is causing havoc with rival gangs taking part in escalating violence. Police set up a dedicated unit to tackle the ongoing problem which will utilise the tactic of wire tapping to try and uncover the dangerous criminals.
One person who signs up for this specialised unit is Roman Mertens, who is blind. He joins despite doubts within the force. However, his blindness soon becomes a clear asset.
Roman is able to pick up details others easily miss. He recognises patterns in conversations, connects clues his colleagues overlook and manages to break cases that seemed completely stuck. However, the work turns out to be far more dangerous than he imagined.
It is based on a remarkable true story(Image: Netflix)
The showrunner behind the new series, Kristof Hoefkens has explained the inspiration for the series came from a remarkable true story. It began with a newspaper article he just could not forget about.
He explained: “Many years ago, I worked as a journalist when a colleague wrote a story about Sacha Van Loo, a blind civilian who was working for the wiretapping unit of the police. It stuck with me.
“My co-writer Maarten Goffin and I decided to go talk to him. Sacha turned out to be intriguing, intelligent, talented and funny. Having a blind lead character in a police investigation was exactly the creative twist we were looking for in a cop show.”
The real Van Loo worked for more than a decade as part of an actual wiretapping unit and helped solve hundreds of cases. His remarkable work drew international attention and now forms the foundation of the series. ABC News reported in 2009 that authorities actually hired six blind people as part of the department.
Van Loo told the publication at the time: “I have been trained in echo location. I can hear the way a sound bounces off a wall or another object. I use this ability in everyday life. I just kept on doing it for my work.”
It is a Dutch crime thriller(Image: Netflix)
While he was also able to identify accents and dialects, he confessed: “When I hear people saying I am the blind Sherlock Holmes, it makes me laugh. All we do is an administrative job.”
Apparently, the makers of the show hope that Blind Sherlock will rise above standard police drama due to its fresh modern take, with its main character sitting between Sherlock Holmes and Daredevil. They also hope to offer a positive portrayal of disability, where the hero turns blindness into a superpower.
Blind Sherlock is streaming on Netflix from January 23.