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Sherlock meets ‘House’ in absurd drama

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2 days ago

January 29, 2025

In the event you wished 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 likewise acquainted sufficient to be spinoff. It is one half “Home”: A medical thriller through which the place Chestnut’s Watson and a workforce of enticing younger docs diagnose perplexing sicknesses in a Pittsburgh clinic on account of their collective eccentric genius. And then you definately do not forget that Chestnut is enjoying Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick, and your mind explodes just a little bit.

The 2 elements of “Watson” (premiering Sunday, 10 EST/PST, ★½ out of 4) do not match collectively. The medical procedural is okay, bland and completely normal 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 couple of minutes of the premiere, which go in a route you fully count on however in a means you definitely do not see coming. It isn’t a contented marriage of two TV exhibits, however relatively a nonconsensual cohabitation of two concepts with fully completely different tones and themes smoothed over by Chestnut’s soothing baritone. It should not work! Perhaps it does, a few times? It is unimaginable to inform, even after watching six episodes as a result of it is so in every single place: 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 exhibits hit it huge, so why not strive Dr. Watson in Pittsburgh? They’ve already completed “NCIS” in Australia.

How does Sherlock’s famed associate go from London to the Metal Metropolis, you ask? Properly, Watson and his bestie have been dwelling it up in London, fixing circumstances 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 pinnacle that in all probability ought to have barred him from training medication, 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 bunch 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 so much like Fox’s 2004-12 drama “Home,” from the injured genius detective physician to the ex as head of the hospital. (It additionally seems like Fox’s new drama “Doc,” which additionally options a physician with a traumatic mind harm and an ex on the prime of the hospital org chart). “Home” was a a lot better present than “Watson” is; the brand new present’s medical whodunits are form of boring and the workforce of helpers is distinctly unappealing. However the day (and the standard of the episode) is usually saved by the sheer appeal of Chestnut, who appears and acts nothing like Martin Freeman or Jude Regulation or any Watsons you have seen earlier than. He is simply form of enjoying 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 huge twist, I can solely say that this type of adaptation of the basic Arthur Conan Doyle characters has been completed with way more inventive success with the likes of “Sherlock” and “Elementary.” It seems that Sherlock is a fairly pivotal a part of any Sherlock Holmes story!