There have been over 250 on-screen adaptations of Sherlock. That’s a pretty insane number, and one that has earned him a Guinness World Record for the most portrayed literary human character. So when I first heard that Prime Video was making “Young Sherlock,” a new series that focuses on the character’s younger years, I wasn’t as thrilled. There have been so many that the hype, for me, had faded for this piece of work. But after watching it, I ended up being pleasantly surprised.
- Rating: 4/5 stars
- Verdict: "Young Sherlock” is a fast-paced, clever mystery-drama that has plenty of action, suspense and humor. Guy Ritchie’s kinetic direction, the inventive mind palace sequences, and the evolving dynamic between Sherlock and Moriarty keep the story engaging. Though not as serious as other adaptations, it delivers eight episodes of thoroughly entertaining, twist-filled fun.
- Where to watch: "Young Sherlock" is streaming on Prime Video
“Young Sherlock” comes across as a thrilling, fresh take on a familiar world, unafraid to stray from a strict adaptation, yet faithful enough that the added elements feel entirely welcome. Based on the popular young adult book series "Young Sherlock Holmes" by author Andrew Lane, this series might not reach the heights of the Robert Downey Jr. movies, but it’s still thoroughly enjoyable.
While not the most faithful adaptation, “Young Sherlock” more than compensates for its departures from the source material with sheer entertainment value. If you need something fun and charming to stream this week, here’s why Young Sherlock deserves to be on your Prime Video watchlist.
What is ‘Young Sherlock’ about?
In 1870s Victorian England, 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) is sent by his older brother, Mycroft Holmes (Max Irons), to Oxford University to reform his unruly behavior after a brush with petty crime. At Oxford, he befriends brilliant student James Moriarty (Dónal Finn) and meets Chinese Princess Gulun Shou’an (Zine Tseng), a visiting scholar and martial artist.
When a prized scientific artifact is stolen and a murder occurs on campus, Holmes becomes the prime suspect and his freedom is at stake. He and Moriarty team up to solve the crime and clear his name. The case takes them beyond England and uncovers a globe-trotting conspiracy tied to Sherlock’s past, setting him on the path to becoming the legendary detective he will be.
‘Young Sherlock’ is a fresh take on a familiar detective
Directed and executive-produced by Guy Ritchie, “Young Sherlock” is pretty much everything you’d want from a fun mystery-drama. The series opens with Sherlock being his charming self (except this time, he’s in the middle of a prison brawl). When his brother once again comes to bail him out, the teen is sent to Oxford University, not as a student but under strict supervision to straighten himself out and “correct his behavior.” The opening had me slightly worried it might lean too cheesy, but surprisingly, the tone settles into something that works well for the mystery.
From there, the opening episodes don’t dwell too much on Sherlock’s current behavior and instead shift focus to the central conflict: A mysterious scroll belonging to Princess Gulun Shou’an goes missing. As the mystery begins to unfold, the wider conspiracy driving the story becomes one of the show’s most gripping elements. This is where Ritchie’s direction really works, especially with the high-energy action sequences, funny dialogue and restless, kinetic camerawork, which place the audience squarely in the middle of the chaos.
“Young Sherlock” is made even better by the use of the “mind palace,” a mental technique he uses to store and retrieve vast amounts of information with precision. The series visualizes it as a detailed internal space whenever he reconstructs a scene, allowing us to follow his thought process in real time. It becomes even more compelling when Moriarty steps inside that space with him, working through the details side by side. Watching their dynamic evolve in this way is particularly interesting, especially knowing that Moriarty will eventually become Sherlock’s arch-nemesis.
From Oxford to the Holmes manor (and even across the English Channel into Europe), showrunner Matthew Parkhill fits an impressive amount into just eight episodes. At its core is a gripping mystery that initially appears straightforward, only to gradually unfold into something far more intricate, pulling the story into an increasingly tangled spiral. “Young Sherlock” might not feel as serious as other adaptations, but it’s a bloody good time.
Stream "Young Sherlock" on Prime Video now
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