Although Robert Downey Jr.’sSherlock Holmesmovies might be great, anyone hoping to see his sidekick’s story after the main character’s death must check out CBS’s new proceduralWatson. Alongside Dracula, Sherlock Holmes is one of the most frequently rei-magined characters in the history of media. There are dozens of TV shows and hundreds of movies featuring the detective, and this means his legendary mysteries have been adapted into countless different contexts over the years. One memorable retelling is director Guy Ritchie’s twoSherlock Holmesmovies, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock and Jude Law as his sidekick, Dr. Watson.
Anyone who ever wanted to know what Watson did after the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes could do worse than checking out CBS’s proceduralWatson, which follows exactly this story. WhileWatson’s cast of charactersare interesting in their own right, the show’s nods to Sherlock Holmes lore are a pivotal part of its success. The series follows Morris Chestnut’s eponymous doctor, who returns to running a clinic for rare diseases after the death of his famous partner. AfterWatsonseason 1’s shocking ending, season 2 of the series seems set to incorporate even more of the original stories.
Watson Tells The Story Of John Watson After Sherlock Holmes' Death
Watson Follows The Aftermath of Sherlock’s Death
In terms of style and tone,Watsonis a contemporary of Ritchie’sSherlock Holmesmovies, albeit without their canon-shaking twist. At the end of 2011’s sequel,Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the director changed the ending of Moriarty and Holmes’ infamous fight at Reichenbach Falls by leaving the viewers with a hint that the antihero secretly survived this battle. However,Watsonseason 1 begins by confirming in no uncertain terms that Sherlock really is dead, and the show’s hero is his erstwhile sidekick.
The first outing of the procedural featured just enough of the character’s lore to remain unpredictable.
Anyone assuming that they know the story of the series thanks to its fidelity to the source material, however, will be let down. WhileWatsonseason 2’s Sherlock Holmes nodswill be plentiful according to the showrunner, the first outing of the procedural featured just enough of the character’s lore to remain unpredictable.Watsonseason 1 included major characters like Holmes’ nemesis Moriarty and his housekeeper Mrs. Hudson but changed their characterizations to make their roles in the show less obvious.
Watson Reinvents The Sherlock Holmes Lore
Familiar Characters Like Moriarty Appear Throughout Watson Season 1
Even viewers familiar with Sherlock Holmes stories won’t findWatsonparticularly predictablethanks to the many changes the show makes to its source material. Admittedly, Moriarty is still a major villain in the world of the series, but his plan and eventual fate are both major divergences from earlier adaptations. Similarly, no amount of familiarity with Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories would allow viewers to guess whereIngrid and Stephens’Watsonseason 1 relationshipis heading.
Since Watson is told from a different point of view but features many familiar aspects from the Sherlock Holmes mythos, the show feels like a fresh injection of life into a classic franchise. Prioritizing the perspective of Watson allows the series to center on a character who learned all he knows from Sherlock, but who feels more relatable than the famously offbeat, aloof super detective.
What To Expect From Watson Season 2
Watson Season 2 Will Introduce New Villains After Season 1’s Shock Ending
AfterWatsonseason 1’s shock ending, it is tough to predict where season 2 will take the show’s storyline. One thing that is certain is thatWatsonseason 2 will need a new major antagonistand might pluck one from Conan Doyle’s classic stories, reinventing the plot for the new millennium and updating its villains in the process.
The relationship between Adam and Stephens will only grow more complicated now that both twins survived to see season 2.
That said, the aftermath of the season 1 finale also means that season 2 will need to devote a lot of focus to its existing characters, too. Ingrid’s role in the show is a mystery after the finale’s events, while the relationship between Adam and Stephens will only grow more complicated now that both twins survived to see season 2. As such,Watsonseason 2 is no more predictable forSherlock Holmesfans than anyone else.
