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Sherlock meets ‘House’ in absurd drama

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2 days ago

January 29, 2025

In case you needed an ideal encapsulation of the chaotic state of TV in 2025, look no additional than CBS’ Sherlock Holmes-inspired procedural, “Watson.”

The brand new sequence, starring perennial community hunk Morris Chestnut, is totally nonsensical and ridiculous, and in addition acquainted sufficient to be by-product. It is one half “Home”: A medical thriller through which the place Chestnut’s Watson and a group of engaging younger docs diagnose perplexing sicknesses in a Pittsburgh clinic as a consequence of their collective eccentric genius. And then you definitely keep in mind that Chestnut is taking part in Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick, and your mind explodes a bit of bit.

The 2 components of “Watson” (premiering Sunday, 10 EST/PST, ★½ out of 4) do not match collectively. The medical procedural is ok, bland and completely commonplace CBS. However then a patient-of-the-week drama will get crashed along with this half-hearted Sherlock mythology and the wheels fall proper off.

It is ridiculous and form of humorous typically, particularly in the previous few minutes of the premiere, which go in a course you utterly count on however in a approach you actually do not see coming. It isn’t a contented marriage of two TV reveals, however relatively a nonconsensual cohabitation of two concepts with totally completely different tones and themes smoothed over by Chestnut’s soothing baritone. It should not work! Possibly it does, a few times? It is inconceivable to inform, even after watching six episodes as a result of it is so far and wide: A bunch of concepts thrown on the wall by producer Craig Sweeney (who mined Holmes territory in Jonny Lee Miller’s “Elementary”) and picked up by CBS as a result of why not? Rankings are down, essentially the most random reveals hit it large, so why not attempt Dr. Watson in Pittsburgh? They’ve already carried out “NCIS” in Australia.

How does Sherlock’s famed associate go from London to the Metal Metropolis, you ask? Nicely, Watson and his bestie had been residing it up in London, fixing instances and combating evil villain Moriarty till they wound up on the cliff of Reichenbach Falls (followers of Holmes will acknowledge the acquainted location). Three males went over the waterfall, however solely Watson was rescued. Now, with a debilitating bump on the top that in all probability ought to have barred him from training drugs, Watson returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh. And hey, Sherlock left him a bunch of cash and a plan to open a medical clinic specializing in diagnostic mysteries! So useful.

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Watson is assisted in his endeavor by fellow Sherlock affiliate Shinwell Johnson (Ritchie Coster), a strolling cockney stereotype, and a gaggle of hand-picked medical geniuses. Oh, and he will get a case or two referred by his ex-wife, Dr. Mary Morstan (Rochelle Aytes), who’s chief of the native prestigious hospital.

Yeah, that sounds rather a lot like Fox’s 2004-12 drama “Home,” from the injured genius detective physician to the ex as head of the hospital. (It additionally appears like Fox’s new drama “Doc,” which additionally options a health care provider with a traumatic mind damage and an ex on the prime of the hospital org chart). “Home” was a significantly better present than “Watson” is; the brand new present’s medical whodunits are form of boring and the group of helpers is distinctly unappealing. However the day (and the standard of the episode) is commonly saved by the sheer allure of Chestnut, who appears to be like and acts nothing like Martin Freeman or Jude Regulation or any Watsons you have seen earlier than. He is simply form of taking part in his swaggering, good-looking self and typically referencing his pal Sherlock.

When the present pivots into dissecting bits and items of Sherlockian mythology it turns into so ridiculous as to be laughable. With out spoiling the premiere’s large twist, I can solely say that this model of adaptation of the traditional Arthur Conan Doyle characters has been carried out with way more artistic success with the likes of “Sherlock” and “Elementary.” It seems that Sherlock is a reasonably pivotal a part of any Sherlock Holmes story!