6 Detective Shows Influenced By BBC’s Sherlock: From Hannibal To Bosch

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The BBC’s Sherlock is a standout modern take on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, and it was so successful that many other detective shows attempted to follow in its footsteps. Sherlock Holmes is one of the most beloved characters in literature, and his adventures have been retold across various media for decades, often with unique and imaginative twists.

Created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, Sherlock updated the classic stories of Sherlock Holmes and his companions by setting them in present-day London. The show cleverly adapted the original cases to fit contemporary issues and technology. While the first two seasons were highly successful, the quality noticeably decreased in the final two seasons.

Despite its controversial finale, Sherlock remains a truly exceptional detective series and has had a significant impact on television. Numerous crime shows that followed have clearly been inspired by the BBC’s Sherlock, though each ultimately found its own success.

Hannibal

Created by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is a chilling TV series based on the characters from Thomas Harris’ Hannibal books. The show centers on Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), an FBI profiler with a unique ability, who is brought in by Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne), the head of the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences unit, to help catch a dangerous serial killer.

The investigation overwhelms Graham, leading Crawford to assign him to work with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen). Unbeknownst to everyone, Lecter is a secretly dangerous serial killer and cannibal. While seemingly helping the FBI, Lecter subtly manipulates the investigation, and surprisingly, develops a close connection with Graham, who possesses a unique ability to understand even the most horrific criminals.

While Hannibal and Sherlock are quite different, the contrasting personalities and histories of Graham and Lecter are a dark reflection of the Holmes and Watson dynamic. Hannibal is significantly more disturbing than Sherlock, making it a good choice for viewers who enjoy unsettling content.

True Detective

Credit: MovieStillsDB

True Detective is a crime drama series where each season tells a completely new story with a different cast. Season one featured Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, season two starred Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, and Taylor Kitsch, season three was led by Mahershala Ali and Carmen Ejogo, and the most recent season stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis.

Each season of True Detective features a new case and set of detectives. Season one centers on detectives Rust Cohle and Marty Hart solving a strange murder in 1995. Season two follows three detectives working together to investigate crimes linked to a politician’s death. Season three focuses on a detective’s investigation into the disappearance of two children, while season four revolves around two detectives trying to find eight missing men.

Throughout its run, True Detective’s detective pairings have often echoed the dynamic between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Beyond that, the show’s focus on complex, unsettling, and thought-provoking crimes clearly draws inspiration from Sherlock. However, True Detective didn’t simply copy Sherlock; it became a critically acclaimed series in its own right and is now considered one of the greatest TV shows ever made.

Watson

Ed Araquel / ©CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

The TV show Watson is a recent take on the characters from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. Created by Craig Sweeny, the series blends medical drama with mystery and crime, centering around Dr. John Watson, played by Morris Chestnut. The show picks up a year after Sherlock Holmes is believed to have died fighting Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls.

Following Holmes’ disappearance, Watson returns to being a doctor and establishes the Holmes Clinic, specializing in unusual and mysterious medical cases. But life isn’t calm for Watson without his friend. He’s forced to revisit old traumas when clues emerge suggesting Moriarty might still be alive – and potentially revealing that Holmes is also still out there.

The BBC’s Sherlock clearly influenced Watson, which is another recent TV series based on the characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle, but this one centers on Watson’s perspective. Unlike Sherlock, Watson delves into what Watson’s life was like during the years when Holmes pretended to be dead. This offers a fresh take on the character, and the show’s blend of different genres helps it stand out.

The Irregulars

The Irregulars is a TV series created by Tom Bidwell that blends adventure, crime, and drama. Inspired by characters from the stories of Conan Doyle, it’s set in Victorian London and follows a group of teenagers who help John Watson (played by Royce Pierreson) investigate mysterious and supernatural crimes.

The series also follows the search for Sherlock Holmes (Henry Lloyd-Hughes). It’s inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Baker Street Irregulars – a network of street children Holmes used to gather information. These resourceful kids would run errands and investigate leads for the detective, who valued their intelligence and ability to access places others couldn’t.

Despite showing promise as a fresh take on the Sherlock Holmes universe, The Irregulars was unfortunately canceled after only one season. While clearly inspired by Sherlock, the show shifted the focus from Holmes and Watson’s partnership to the stories of Holmes’s overlooked young assistants, presenting their adventures with a darker edge.

Bosch

As a total detective show fan, I’ve been really hooked on Bosch lately – it’s definitely one of the best to come out in the last few years, especially if you liked the more recent take on Sherlock. It’s based on Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch books, and follows Detective Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver. What’s cool is his backstory – he’s a former Army Special Forces guy and a veteran who served in both the Gulf War and Afghanistan, which really adds a layer to his character.

Bosch is a detective who follows the rules, but he’s also independent and often bends them, which sets him apart and sometimes causes problems. Beyond solving murder cases, he constantly battles corruption within the police force and navigates challenges in his personal life.

The show Bosch was very well-received by both critics and viewers, leading to two spin-off series: Bosch: Legacy and Ballard. Unlike Sherlock Holmes and Watson, Bosch doesn’t work with a consistent partner; instead, the character of Sherlock Holmes seems to have inspired Bosch’s own approach to detective work.

The TV show Bosch features a detective, Harry Bosch, who, like Sherlock Holmes, is incredibly smart but also has a challenging personality and isn’t afraid to break the rules to get the job done. Both detectives struggle with following orders and have a main rival – for Bosch, that’s Raynard Waits. However, it was Bosch’s unique qualities that ultimately made the show a success.

Elementary

When people think of detective shows inspired by Sherlock, Elementary is often the first that comes to mind, and it arguably attempted to fill the void left by the original. Created by Robert Doherty, Elementary updates the classic Sherlock Holmes stories for a modern audience, but with a few key differences. The show reimagines Holmes (played by Jonny Lee Miller) as a recovering addict who has relocated to New York after experiencing a downfall in London and completing a stint in rehab.

Holmes moves to Manhattan, but his father insists he have a sober companion, Dr. Joan Watson, played by Lucy Liu. Watson is a former surgeon who lost a patient, and she takes the job of keeping Holmes on track. As Holmes starts consulting for the New York City police, Watson gradually becomes his partner and learns from him.

Similar to how Sherlock updated the classic detective for a new audience, Elementary did the same, but with a more consistently high quality of writing. Over its seven seasons, the show was well-received by both critics and viewers. While it didn’t reach the same level of fame as the BBC’s Sherlock, many found Elementary to be a superior series.

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2025-11-01 03:03