Entertainment
Sherlock Holmes Just Made a Major Change to Its 139-Year-Old Formula
While detective shows aren’t exactly few and far between in streaming, every so often a show comes along that flips the genre on its head. That’s certainly the case for Prime Video’s Young Sherlock, which first premiered on March 4, 2026, and is already renewed for Season 2. The series, created and directed by Guy Ritchie, not only brings something new to the genre with a fast-paced, Victorian mystery, but puts its own spin on the iconic character Sherlock Holmes.
After all, unlike previous TV adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle‘s beloved detective, such as Sherlock and Elementary, Young Sherlock has him at a very young age, when his observational skills were still being crafted and his experience with crimes was just starting to scratch the surface. By doing so, the series tells the story of a genius before he even reaches genius level, and it’s a thrilling and innovative perspective that had viewers hooked from Episode 1.
‘Young Sherlock’ Biggest Spin Makes It a Standout
Among the best parts of having Young Sherlock follow a younger, more shapeable Sherlock Holmes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) is the fact that the show follows him without his trusty sidekick, John Watson. While Watson is very much a character in both Sherlock and Elementary, played by Martin Freeman and Lucy Liu, respectively, Young Sherlock follows a period before they first met. Instead, the series has Sherlock join forces with his soon-to-be nemesis, James Moriarty (Dónal Finn). Together, young Sherlock and Moriarty are not only new friends, coming together to solve the crime at hand, but rely on each other as not only partners in crime, but confidants too.
“What makes Young Sherlock so compelling is this relationship between Moriarty and Sherlock,” Therese Lacson wrote in her review for Collider. “Rather than making them enemies from the start, their close friendship and the fact that Moriarty essentially almost becomes adopted into the Holmes family make his inevitable turn to evil all the more devastating.” By doing so, watching Young Sherlock is not only an entertaining ride for the mysteries themselves, but almost like watching a pot of water slowly come to a boil: you know exactly what’s coming, but you can’t look away.
‘Young Sherlock’ Was Beloved By Viewers and Critics Alike
Since its premiere, the series has received a warm reception from viewers and critics alike. Not only did the series reach over 45 million viewers in the first 28 days, per Deadline, and is ranked among the top 10 Prime Original Seasons all-time, but it also scored 84% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, and 83% in the audience-led Popcorn Meter. Among the highlights, of course, is how Tiffin’s Sherlock sets itself apart from previous iterations. “One of the best series of the year with an amazingly fresh take on Sherlock Holmes with a career-defining performance from Hero Fiennes Tiffin,” wrote one review on the review aggregator. “This is a different look at a character that audiences know all too well, and, instead of being derivative, Young Sherlock finds the necessary spark to sustain itself outside the shadow of any existing adaptation,” echoed another review.
After so much success, Young Sherlock received the green light for Season 2. Per Deadline, the sophomore season kicked off filming in late May in Palermo, Italy, with executive producer Ritchie directing the first episode. In addition to the returning cast, Season 2 will also see new faces, including new series regulars Olivia Williams (Dune: Prophecy), Sophie Skelton (Outlander), Indira Varma (The Night Manager) and Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones).
With all that said, Prime Video’s Young Sherlock has quickly established itself as a must-watch series on the platform giant. By taking a character fans know and love, and showing a new, younger side of him, the series is not only entertaining, but offers a glimpse into a lesser-known chapter in his life. Plus, with a brand-new dynamic between Sherlock and Moriarty, the series became all the more nail-biting. With Season 2 officially underway, here’s hoping the series continues to expand on the TV magic it created with Season 1.
- Release Date
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March 4, 2026
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Matthew Parkhill
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