The pilot episode of Watson stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson, who, six months after Sherlock Holmes' apparent death at the hands of Moriarty, has transitioned back into his medical career. Now the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders, Watson is trying to move on, but as the official synopsis hints, his past refuses to let him go. While Watson is eager to continue his work, the shadow of Moriarty still looms large, and the two are set to create their own chapter in a story that has captivated audiences for over a century. However, before that happens, the iconic Sherlock must first die—or at least, be thought to have died. Watson, the sole survivor of the fateful Holmes-Moriarty encounter, learns of this tragedy when Shinwell (Ritchie Coster) delivers the devastating news while Watson is recovering in the hospital.
Watson is billed as "a medical show with a strong investigative spine," blending medical drama with mystery-solving in a fresh take on the Sherlock Holmes legacy. Instead of focusing on crime, the show’s modernized Watson tackles medical mysteries. Throughout the series, Watson applies the detective skills he learned from Sherlock to unravel complex medical cases, which sets the show apart from typical hospital dramas.
Alongside Chestnut, the series features a talented ensemble cast, including Ritchie Coster (Tulsa King, Happy!), Eve Harlow (The Night Agent, The 100), Peter Mark Kendall (Strange Angel, Chicago Med), Inga Schlingmann (So Help Me Todd), and Rochelle Aytes (S.W.A.T.). The show is created by Craig Sweeny (Elementary), who serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Chestnut, Sallie Patrick, director Larry Teng, Shäron Moalem MD, PhD, Aaron Kaplan, and Brian Morewitz.
The pilot introduces Watson’s team of highly skilled doctors, who now manage the clinic Watson inherited from his best friend, Sherlock Holmes. Together with Sherlock’s former right-hand man, Shinwell Johnson, Watson leads them in solving medical mysteries. The episode’s case revolves around a woman suffering from hallucinations due to sleep deprivation, but the plot thickens when her cousin—who turns out to be her sister—presents with similar symptoms. While the premise is familiar to fans of medical dramas, Watson differentiates itself by infusing Sherlock Holmes-style detective work into the medical field. Watson insists that his patients need "detectives, not doctors," which causes some tension, as many of his colleagues are unfamiliar with the legendary detective.
Not to mention that Sherlock has his own medical issue - he suffered brain damage during the jump over the waterfall and is mixing prescription medicine to deal with it. How will the team react when they learn about this? Will they resign, will they have grown to respect him and stay to help? Is this storyline enough to keep the viewers engaged?
As the episode progresses, we also learn more about Watson’s personal life. He is estranged from his wife, who serves as the medical director at a local hospital, a result of his decision to leave her behind in pursuit of Sherlock and Moriarty. And in a surprising twist at the episode’s end, it's revealed that Moriarty may still be alive after all, and Shinwell is aiding him. Randall Park has been cast in the role of Moriarty, which raises some eyebrows given Park’s comedic background. Whether his casting proves effective will be something to watch as the series unfolds.
Morris Chestnut’s portrayal of John Watson is competent but not yet captivating, while Peter Mark Kendall deserves recognition for his challenging role as identical twin brothers in the series. Although the pilot failed to leave a strong impression, Watson has the potential to grow. Sherlock Holmes may make a return at some point, though his involvement is likely to be fleeting. For now, the show focuses on Watson, and while the premiere didn’t quite deliver the intrigue expected from a Sherlock Holmes spin-off, there’s hope that the season will pick up steam.
Watson will settle into its regular time slot on Sundays at 9/8c starting February 16. The series will also be available for streaming live on Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers, as well as on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers.
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