Young Sherlock was everything I expected. A young Sherlock with a brilliant mind. He does not quite fit into society.
It is a mystery filled with twists and turns. This time, we are not in London. We are in Oxford instead. Viewers are treated to both familiar and new faces from the Sherlock Holmes world.
This eight-part series aired on March 6.
The cast includes:
- Hero Fiennes Tiffin
- Dónal Finn
- Zine Tseng
- Joseph Fiennes
- Natascha McElhone
- Max Irons
- Colin Firth
- Numan Acar
- Holly Cattle
The show is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
It is inspired by the Young Sherlock Holmes book series by Andrew Lane. The books themselves are a pastiche of the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Facts About Sherlock
- Genre: Mystery, Crime, Drama
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Episodes: 8
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
What is Young Sherlock About?
In this series, we follow Sherlock Holmes. He is a brilliant but troublesome young man who has just been thrown out of jail due to his mischievous behaviour.
Fortunately, his older brother Mycroft Holmes steps in and secures him a job as a scout (servant) at University of Oxford.
Sherlock meets the intelligent and observant Sir Bucephalus Hodge, a professor in the science department and Mycroft’s employer.
He also encounters another student named James Moriarty. The two quickly form an unlikely connection.
However, things soon take a darker turn. Sherlock finds himself at the centre of a serious accusation, while a difficult mystery involving a Chinese princess engulfs the university. Sherlock desperately tries to clear his name and uncover the truth.
He is also haunted by memories of his past—particularly the tragic death of his sister, Beatrice Holmes.
Here’s my spoiler-free review of Young Sherlock
Hero Fiennes as Sherlock
I found Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes very well suited to the role. His mannerisms feel natural, and his performance is convincing from the start. In the first episode, when a major plot unfolds, he already shows strong detective instincts.
As a character, Sherlock has many layers, and Fiennes captures them well. His movements and expressions feel believable, and his presence on screen is engaging.
Even his dress sense fits the character, adding to the overall authenticity.
I also liked how he portrayed Sherlock’s tendency to overthink and his constant curiosity.
These traits came across clearly without feeling forced. His posh British accent remained consistent throughout, which helped ground the performance. Overall, it felt like a very believable and fitting role for him to play.
The plot was somewhat confusing at times
I did thoroughly enjoy the plot overall, and it managed to come together by the end.
However, it felt confusing at times. The involvement of Sir Bucephalus Hodge, along with everything surrounding Doctor Malik, was not always easy to follow.
After Sherlock Holmes solves the situation in which he is framed, I found myself wondering why he was still involved, especially as the story shifts to a larger and more dangerous plot.
The latter parts of the mystery did not seem to connect to him directly, well apart from the bits about his sister.
When he eventually uncovers the reason behind the princess sabotaging him, the story becomes more chaotic.
There are too many threads unraveling at once and it took a while for things to actually starts flowing and making sense.
The introduction of his father into the storyline feels like an attempt to tie him more closely to the plot, but it comes across as messy and random.
Overall, the plot feels overly complicated and not always entertaining.
The relationship between Sherlock and Beatrice
I enjoy a story that centres on family, and this series presents a clearly dysfunctional one. Despite that, there are touching moments that show genuine care between its members—apart from their selfish father, Silas Holmes.
It is also refreshing to see Sherlock Holmes explored beyond his genius. The show gives attention to his darker and more vulnerable sides, particularly his anxiety.
I also liked how Beatrice Holmes is portrayed. She shares many of Sherlock’s traits – rebellious, intelligent, and strong-minded.
The locations are stunning
Not only is Young Sherlock set in Oxford, but it also takes viewers to France and even Egypt.
The camera angles do the ancient scenes real justice.
I really like Dónal Finn as James Moriarty
For fans of Sherlock Holmes, we know that James is Sherlock’s arch-nemesis. But in this series, he’s portrayed as very loyal, which sets the story up well if it’s picked up for a second season.
We can begin to see where things might go wrong, and there’s already a hint that James has a sneaky side. Nonetheless, I think Dónal does an exceptional job bringing this well-known character to life.
I’ve also written about the Irish star and his breakthrough acting career.
