Chris Connor reviews Prime Video’s action mystery series Young Sherlock…
There have been many iterations of Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective Sherlock Holmes both on the big and small screens, from Basil Rathbone to Peter Cushing and Benedict Cumberbatch. The most successful big screen version of late has been Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law’s Victorian-set escapades as Holmes and Watson, directed by Guy Ritchie. While fans still wait for the long-gestating third instalment in the film series, Guy Ritchie returns to the world of the iconic Private Detective with Young Sherlock. This Sherlock (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) is rough around the edges and hasn’t quite honed his world-famous sleuthing abilities.
Ritchie’s influence is clear from the get-go as we find Sherlock being dragged from prison and sent to Oxford by his brother Mycroft (Max Irons), perhaps not for the educational reasons he would hope. From there, we begin to see the foundations of the man he will go on to become. The casting choices for a young Holmes, Mycroft and Moriarty don’t necessarily sync up with the latter depictions in the films, with Downey Jr.’s Holmes, speaking almost in a whisper, while Fiennes Tiffin’s is more brash and loud. Likewise, some continuity is questionable, although the series is not intended as a direct prequel as such, also taking inspiration from Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes book series.
What stops the show from going off the rails is the fun interplay between Holmes and his future arch-nemesis Moriarty (Dónal Finn). The pair share fine chemistry, and the frenetic energy is watchable. Even if it is not doing anything the films didn’t, it is a welcome return to the world and will fill the gap for fans.
There are shades of Peaky Blinders, SAS Rogue Heroes, and other Steven Knight projects with some of the action and soundtrack choices. The main theme Days Are Forgotten by Kasabian, with plenty of other indie rock needle drops throughout. This does lend it a different flavour to the films and a freewheeling energy.
Young Sherlock is an uneven, if enjoyable, extension of this corner of Conan Doyle’s work. The charisma of the leads does a lot of heavy lifting, as does Ritchie’s trademark flourishes as director. It never feels overly stale in spite of the numerous takes on this character and his origins that we’ve seen over the years. There is certainly plenty of room between this Sherlock and his older self for Ritchie to play with should the series prove a hit.
Chris Connor
