Entertainment
Every Sherlock Holmes TV Show of the 21st Century, Ranked
We already know that Sherlock Holmes is the most portrayed literary character on screen, but it’s not just about adapting Sherlock for television or film; many mystery shows are inspired by the world’s greatest detective. And while we love adaptations and variations, it’s always the best when artists tap into the source material for new inspiration.
The 21st century has been particularly kind to the master detective because he’s been the lead of many series: from prestige BBC dramas and network procedurals to Japanese adaptations and supernatural twists. Modern television has reinvented Holmes for every possible audience, turning the character into a cultural phenomenon and gaining devoted cult followings across the globe. Here is every modern Sherlock Holmes TV show.
7
‘The Irregulars’ (2021)
The Irregulars is a show you’ve likely not heard of because it was cancelled almost as soon as it landed on streaming, having no chance of ever getting traction. It’s loosely related to Sherlock Holmes because it follows the characters from Arthur Conan Doyle‘s stories who assist Sherlock rather than himself. The Baker Street Irregulars are usually orphans living in the streets who serve as Sherlock’s eyes and ears across London; there are variations of the Irregulars across adaptations, with even the most recent series, Young Sherlock, paying homage to them. However, a show about them alone wasn’t enough to win over wider audiences.
The Irregulars is set in Victorian London and has a supernatural twist; it shifts focus from Sherlock himself to a gang of street kids who take direct instructions from Dr. Watson while Sherlock Holmes remains drug-addled and reclusive. The Irregulars are tasked with investigating occult crimes that threaten the city, reimagining them as the true heroes, with Sherlock appearing as a broken, secondary figure hiding in the shadows. While the show has supporters who appreciate the supernatural twist, it ranks last among modern adaptations for failing to satisfy either Holmes purists or newcomers looking for a reliable entry point into that whole universe.
6
‘Miss Sherlock’ (2018)
Japanese adaptations of Western shows are rare, but adapting Sherlock was expected in some way; the detective is the most famous literary character within the mystery/crime genre, and any show or film that wants to go along the same lines will undoubtedly look and feel like Sherlock. Yuko Takeuchi stars as the first female version of Sherlock Holmes, and she delivers a memorable performance as the eccentric detective, bringing a distinct energy and warmth to the role. The show has eight episodes, and it’s unsure whether there were meant to be more since Takeuchi died in 2020.
Miss Sherlock is set in modern-day Tokyo and flips the classic dynamic of Sherlock and Watson by introducing Sara Shelly “Sherlock” Futaba (Takeuchi), an eccentric police consultant whose deductive abilities make her the go-to investigator for impossible cases. She works on cases with her roommate, Dr. Wato Tachibana (Shihori Kanjiya), who, in the series, returns from her volunteer doctor’s work in Syria. Each episode presents a mystery that tests the growing bond between the two women while cleverly solving cases in a stylish and glamorous series. For those seeking a fresh cultural perspective on Holmes, Miss Sherlock is a genuine gem.
5
‘Watson’ (2025–Present)
If you genuinely missed network versions of a Sherlock Holmes story, well, it seems so did CBS, because the same team that created Elementary has also decided to create the series called Watson, starring Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson. It’s essentially a medical procedural first and a Holmes adaptation second, leaning more toward House than Elementary. Watson becomes the protagonist, following the events of Doyle’s short story The Final Problem, which was meant to be Sherlock’s last (until Doyle was convinced to revive him and write more). In The Final Problem, Sherlock apparently dies at the Reichenbach Falls together with his nemesis, James Moriarty.
Watson is set six months after Sherlock Holmes’ apparent death and follows Dr. John Watson (Chestnut) returning to medicine by opening a clinic in Pittsburgh dedicated to treating patients with rare and undiagnosed disorders. Surrounded by a team of young specialists, including a neurologist who suspects she’s a sociopath and identical twins who are infectious disease experts, Watson investigates medical mysteries while getting evidence that Sherlock (Robert Carlyle) and Moriarty (Randall Park) may still be around. Watson is great, particularly when it focuses on its characters, and Morris Chestnut is greatly enjoyable. Watson has a 50% Rotten Tomatoes score, but its second season is currently airing on CBS.
4
‘Sherlock & Daughter’ (2025–Present)
In a wild turn of events, Sherlock Holmes, in a brand-new rendition, has a long-lost daughter; how has no one thought of this before? A long-lost relative or child is definitely a way to refresh and amp up source material, even if it’s slightly predictable and even cliché. Yet, when you learn David Thewlis portrays Sherlock, it’s more than redeemable—it warrants a watch. He delivers Sherlock in ways he rarely appears, diving into the role naturally and with tremendous ease. His chemistry with Blu Hunt, who plays his daughter, is pretty heartwarming, and while he might be typical Sherlock—standoffish and cold at the beginning—his demeanor shifts, and we see an interesting character.
Sherlock & Daughter is set in 1896 London, and it introduces Amelia Rojas (Hunt), a young Native American woman who arrives at 221B Baker Street and claims Sherlock Holmes (Thewlis) as her father. Sherlock is already dealing with a devastating mystery that occurred just days before—Watson (Seán Duggan) and Mrs. Hudson’s (Mary O’Driscoll) kidnapping—so he reluctantly accepts Amelia as an assistant, allowing her to investigate cases he has been forbidden from handling. Together, they uncover a plot involving a shadowy crime syndicate, the disappearance of the American ambassador’s daughter, and, eventually, Holmes’ nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Dougray Scott). The possible daughter is a fun and welcome twist because of the performances in the series, making Sherlock & Daughter a truly entertaining romp.
3
‘Sherlock’ (2010–2017)
Sherlock is a cultural phenomenon that has an immeasurable cultural impact: it made Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman global stars, gave Andrew Scott a career boost, and sparked a wave of Sherlock-like shows that followed the same high-concept thread of intelligent, twisty storytelling. The writing by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat is relentless and clever, packing each episode with more plot than most shows manage in a season. Despite reaching heights of immortality in modern canon, Sherlock becomes slightly overstuffed in later episodes, reaching for conclusions that feel out of the blue and more for shock value; some parts haven’t aged as well, though the series overall is great.
Sherlock follows consulting detective Sherlock Holmes (Cumberbatch) and his flatmate and partner John Watson (Freeman) as they solve impossible cases that baffle Scotland Yard. Over the course of 13 episodes (including a special), the show reimagines Holmes for the 21st century, complete with text message overlays, rapid-fire deduction scenes, and a queer-coded Moriarty arc that dominated pop culture worldwide. Cumberbatch and Freeman’s chemistry is the stuff of television legend, encapsulating the spirit of the initial collaboration, and the show is a great gateway into the modern world of Sherlock Holmes.
2
‘Elementary’ (2012–2019)
Elementary is genuinely a triumph of modern Sherlock adaptations, which, of course, didn’t go without its own set of doubts and controversy. Firstly, setting Sherlock in NYC and then introducing a female Watson was enough for hardcore fans to boycott, but Lucy Liu isn’t just anyone. Her Watson is just as brilliant and intuitive, which even Sherlock acknowledges in the series. Jonny Lee Miller thrills as Sherlock, too, showing a human and flawed side unlike many other actors have. The show holds a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and maintains quality across seven seasons, serving as an ideal murder mystery that is also basically a Sherlock Holmes story.
After a fall from grace in London, a recovering addict, Sherlock Holmes, moves to New York City, where his father forces him to live with a sober companion—former surgeon Dr. Joan Watson. Together, they consult the NYPD on impossible cases, gradually building one of television’s most compelling platonic partnerships across seven seasons and 154 episodes. This is what constitutes a slow burn, indeed, since rare TV shows have as many seasons and episodes today; for those who do prefer this kind of pace and solid, continuous character development over flashy set pieces, Elementary is the best possible version of Sherlock Holmes you can wish for.
1
‘Young Sherlock’ (2026–Present)
Young Sherlock is fresh in our minds and might not be exactly what we expect out of a classic Sherlock story, but isn’t that good? It is, in all respects, a typical Guy Ritchie show and a perfect companion to his equally tongue-in-cheek and kinetic Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr. Young Sherlock pays attention to the source material without being an over-the-top Ritchie thing. It also introduces the first-ever genuinely likable Moriarty, and Dónal Finn will be very difficult to dislike if the show continues, and we get to see his nemesis arc.
Young Sherlock serves as an origin series, following a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) as a genius troublemaker given a menial job at Oxford University by his older brother Mycroft (Max Irons). There he meets James Moriarty (Finn), a fellow brilliant outsider, and Princess Shou’an (Zine Tseng), whose stolen precious scrolls draw them into a murder investigation that expands into a globe-trotting conspiracy. Whether you consider Young Sherlock just dumb fun and unlike any other Sherlock venture, you’ll likely enjoy Elementary or a rewatch of Sherlock a lot more—and that’s perfectly OK. Young Sherlock still has a mind palace, a complete lack of fighting skills, and incredible humanity that makes him sympathetic and likable enough to want to watch him evolve, and that is just as great.
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