5 Exciting Ways ‘Young Sherlock’ Reimagines The Iconic Detective

If there’s one iconic fictional character that audiences think they know, it’s Sherlock Holmes. After all, he holds the record for the most portrayed literary character in film and TV with over 250 adaptations. Just his name alone conjures a clear image: razor-sharp wit, cool detachment, and a genius that leaves no stone unturned. 

From Basil Rathbone’s classic portrayal and Robert Downey Jr.’s suave modern interpretation to Benedict Cumberbatch’s prickly savant, each generation has reshaped the great detective for its time.

But if there’s ever a show that can reimagine the brilliant mind in a totally new light, it’s Prime Video’s cunning new series, Young Sherlock. Unlike other adaptations that portray the detective well into his sleuthing years, Young Sherlock charts the origin story of the world’s greatest detective at the beginning of his legend. From visionary director Guy Ritchie, the series is an irreverent, action-packed mystery that follows Sherlock’s early days, never before seen. 

When a charismatic, youthfully defiant Sherlock Holmes meets none other than James Moriarty, he finds himself dragged into a murder investigation that threatens his liberty. Sherlock’s first-ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy, culminating in an explosive showdown that alters the course of his life forever. Unfolding in a vibrant Victorian England and adventuring abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.

Ahead, discover five thrilling ways Prime Video’s Young Sherlock is reimagining the iconic detective on screen. 

A LOOK AT SHERLOCK’S PAST

For all the complexity that Sherlock possesses, from his unpredictable mood swings to his friendship with Dr Watson, there is still so much we don’t actually know about him. What was his childhood like? How did he hone his powerful skills of deductive reasoning? What shaped his moral compass? Despite some 56 short stories and four novels, author Arthur Conan Doyle did not go into Sherlock’s backstory in any depth, leaving that to readers to fill in the gaps—until now. 

Showrunner and writer Matthew Parkhill calls it “a blank page”, where the team could really delve into Sherlock’s early days and explore the people and events that shape him into the character we all know and love. The series will go into uncharted territory that other adaptations have not touched upon, such as a closer and more intimate look at the eccentric Holmes family and Sherlock’s turbulent adolescent years. 

IN HIS CHAOTIC GOOD ERA

Stepping into the shoes of the iconic detective is no easy task, but rising star Hero Fiennes Tiffin is up for the challenge. The actor has proven he’s both an action star in the making (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and the upcoming survival thriller Above The Below) and romantic lead (After film franchise and Picture This).

Unlike most iterations of the British detective, Hero’s Sherlock isn’t as put-together and sure of himself. In Young Sherlock, he’s a version audiences have never quite seen before. He’s rough around the edges, curious, impulsive. He gets in trouble with the police, skips classes, and disobeys his family. He shows streaks of brilliance yet flounders as he learns how to improve his deduction skills. In this coming-of-age series, Hero lends his youthful charms and boyish confidence, which adds an interesting layer to the complex character.

A COMPLICATED FRIENDSHIP

If Sherlock represents the absolute of good and justice, James Moriarty is the antithesis of that as the embodiment of evil and chaos. The iconic rivalry between Sherlock and Moriarty has been portrayed countless times, but none have explored the backstory of the criminal mastermind who is the only equal to Sherlock’s genius. 

In Young Sherlock, Dónal Finn will portray an untapped version of Moriarty for fans who have longed for a deeper backstory. In an adaptation never seen onscreen, audiences will follow Moriarty as a student in Oxford, developing a strong kinship with Sherlock, and the murderous transgressions that will take him down a different path. Exploring the genesis of these characters and what forged their personalities will be vital to how it sets into motion where Doyle’s works begin.

A FAMILY OF SECRETS

Another aspect that doesn’t nearly get the attention it deserves in most Sherlock Holmes adaptations is an exploration into the Holmes family dynamic. They’re an extraordinary, talented family, yet it is rare for audiences to see all of the members under one roof. Young Sherlock brings together these incredible dynamics, conflicts, and differences in a wonderfully intriguing psychological look at the nuclear family. “At the heart of the show is the story of Sherlock’s family and how that helped mould him into the person he became,” said Parkhill in a press statement.

But like the crimes Sherlock investigates, not everything is as it seems. While the family cares for one another, they’re also full of secrets, lies, and twists. Cordelia’s mother has returned from the asylum after the death of their sister, Beatrice, while their father, Silas, tries to hold the family together. At the core, there’s Sherlock and Mycroft’s contentious relationship as brothers bound by love and trauma. Emotions are high, and loyalties are tested. “You don’t know who’s on whose side for quite a long time. It keeps you guessing, building suspense and tension,” shares Natascha McElhone, who plays Cordelia. 

A PERIOD PIECE THAT TRANSPORT YOU BACK

If there’s anything you can expect from a Guy Ritchie feature, it’s style and scale. In Young Sherlock, the locations are just as much characters as its inhabitants, feeling alive and tangible. Production designer Tom Burton, costume designer Jany Temime, and the team paid close attention to period accuracy to recreate 1800s Victorian England, but also didn’t feel burdened with the standard Sherlock world to envision something new and fresh.

Most of the show was shot on location, particularly in Oxford, South Wales, and the South of England, rather than studio builds. Historic places were used, such as the picturesque Merthyr Mawr Country Estate and village as Sherlock’s family home, giving the action-adventure series a real layered sense of place and mystery. 

Meanwhile, fabrics and materials were extensively researched to bring to life typical 1870s Victorian fashion with a modern twist, from tailored men’s suits to contemporary silhouettes. The result is a sprawling and immersive show that transports audiences back to Victorian London from the comfort of their couch. 

All eight episodes of Young Sherlock are available to stream exclusively on Prime Video.

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