Many TV shows have featured Sherlock Holmes, each with its own take on the famous detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle. While Holmes consistently appears on television, ranging from traditional Victorian stories to modern updates, the BBC’s Sherlock stands out. Its clever writing and brilliant acting combined to create what many consider the best Sherlock Holmes series ever made.
When the show Sherlock ended in 2017, it left a big gap in television. Many other versions of Sherlock Holmes stories have come out since then, but none have quite captured the same appeal. Whether these adaptations stuck closely to the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle or offered a fresh take, they all fell short when compared to Sherlock. However, after nine years, it seems Young Sherlock has finally changed that.
Created with Guy Ritchie, the Prime Video series Young Sherlock explores the early days of Sherlock Holmes (played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin) while he’s a student at Oxford. After receiving strong reviews – an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes – the show has been renewed for a second season. Though it’s just getting started, Young Sherlock feels like a worthy addition to the Sherlock Holmes universe, finally living up to the standard set by the beloved Sherlock series.
BBC’s Sherlock Finally Has A Spiritual Successor
Many consider the series Sherlock to be the gold standard for modern adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and most subsequent shows haven’t quite measured up. However, Young Sherlock has surprisingly achieved a similar level of quality. What’s remarkable is that it does so by completely reimagining the familiar story – much like Sherlock did – by showing us Sherlock Holmes as a young man before he became the famous detective. This fresh take allows Young Sherlock to stand out as one of the best adaptations since the popular BBC series.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin delivers a compelling performance as Sherlock Holmes, showing his natural intelligence right away. However, the series smartly doesn’t present him as the perfect detective we expect. While he’s already good at solving puzzles, his skills are still developing. He’s also prone to acting on instinct and is in the process of becoming the calm, brilliant figure he’s known for later in life. This makes each mystery feel more important – every case helps him grow as a character.
This new take on Sherlock Holmes is reminiscent of Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal in the BBC series Sherlock. Like that version, this one shows Holmes as a skilled detective who also struggles with personal issues. Over the course of Sherlock, viewers watched his character grow emotionally while still embracing his quirky and confident personality. Young Sherlock strives for the same blend, giving equal weight to both the mysteries Holmes investigates and his own development as a person.
Similar to the original Sherlock, Young Sherlock recognizes the importance of maintaining the mystery surrounding Sherlock Holmes. Instead of just retelling well-known cases, the show focuses on developing the character behind the famous detective. This approach gives Young Sherlock a unique direction, going beyond a simple adaptation of Conan Doyle’s work and finally feeling like a worthy follow-up to Sherlock.
Young Sherlock Reveals An Inarguable Truth About Sherlock Holmes
While the first season of Young Sherlock is promising, it needs to consistently deliver strong stories and character development over several seasons to truly compare to the original Sherlock. Thankfully, Prime Video has renewed the show for a second season, giving it the opportunity to do just that. The show’s initial success also highlights the enduring appeal and versatility of the Sherlock Holmes character itself.
Even over 130 years after his first appearance, Sherlock Holmes remains a popular figure, inspiring countless new stories. He’s officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the most adapted literary character ever, and the series Young Sherlock is a perfect example of his enduring appeal. Holmes is uniquely suited for both television and film because his adventures are often self-contained mysteries, ideal for individual episodes, but also allow for the development of a complex, ongoing story. Each investigation provides a satisfying mystery, while still giving creators the freedom to reimagine the character of Holmes in fresh and exciting ways.
Several other recent takes on the Sherlock Holmes stories show just how flexible the character is. The BBC’s Sherlock updated Holmes for modern London, while CBS’s Elementary reimagined him in contemporary New York. And in 2021, The Irregulars offered a unique twist, focusing on a group of street children in 19th-century London who assist Holmes and Watson.
The new show Young Sherlock is a hit, and it’s a safe bet we’ll keep seeing Sherlock Holmes shows for years to come. Each generation finds something new to explore within the stories, which is why so many adaptations are made. However, most don’t stand the test of time. While Sherlock remains the gold standard, Young Sherlock is the first series in nearly a decade that feels like it could become a classic alongside it.
2026-07-19 23:09