Origin stories are a minefield. Most of them fall into this “prequel trap,” spending a lot of time checking off boxes that include stuff like how a famous character got his hat or coined his catchy catchphrase. In the end, they dedicate very little time, or in some cases, completely forget to tell a compelling story about the human beings involved. In what can only be considered a master stroke, Prime Video’s Young Sherlock managed to dodge all the usual pitfalls.
However, instead of giving us a fully-formed “superhero” from birth, Guy Ritchie and all the other geniuses involved served up a version of Sherlock that’s frankly a total mess. He’s young, scared, and winging it most of the time. You finally get to see all the messy years leading up to the legend’s birth. So what did Prime Video get right?
Sherlock’s First Mystery Is Personal, and That Changes Everything
First, it’s important to note that origin stories face a big challenge: explaining a character’s strengths or flaws without turning them into versions fans hate. This is especially true for Sherlock’s detached approach to crime-solving. The Sherlock most people know solves cases because he’s bored. It’s his most potent means of keeping his big brain from falling asleep. There are no real stakes or jeopardy involved.
In Young Sherlock, however, you’re watching a version of the world’s best detective (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) who’s solving a crime because he’s the prime suspect. And that’s a huge difference. Suddenly, it’s no longer about being the smartest guy in the room for the fun of it. Here, he’s making sure he’s the smartest guy in the room because the alternative is a life in prison. This change in priorities means that every time he figures out a clue, it’s not yet another one of his “magic tricks.” And here’s the kicker, he messes up a whole lot. Usually, as a result of overextending his own logic, trusting the wrong people, and walking into rooms that anyone with basic survival skills would avoid. Needless to say, that’s unlike anything we’ve come to know and expect from the seasoned master of deduction.
By the end of the season, there’s this sad realization that this is more than just a mystery. It’s the story of a kid learning that the world is a brutal place where the only way to survive requires him to become twice as smart as everyone else. In a nutshell, he doesn’t become cold and detached because he feels superior to everyone.
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‘Young Sherlock’ Turns Friendship Into The Most Dangerous Twist
Again, most origin stories feel obligated to bring in the famous sidekick immediately. And that move usually feels forced or breaks the timeline entirely. In Young Sherlock, the creators chose to swap out a young John Watson for a young James Moriarty.
And remarkably, they didn’t introduce him as the villain every Sherlock fan knows. Here, he’s Sherlock’s closest friend and ally. They hang out, rub minds, and just… figure out puzzles together. Dónal Finn plays him like your favorite uncle who tells funny stories at dinner. Charming. Normal. And if you didn’t already know it, you’d struggle to believe that this guy eventually became one of the biggest reasons Sherlock struggles to trust people. This choice makes the eventual fallout hurt more and keeps you glued to your screen. It’s not just professional rivalry but a knife in the back from someone he actually liked.
‘Young Sherlock’ Proves We Want To See Messy Humans Instead of Perfect Heroes
Ultimately, the idea of a perfect hero is somewhat boring. In fact, in this day and age, the quickest way to make an audience reach for their phones and commence a mindless social media scrolling is to give them a “perfect hero.” We’ve all seen the “Genius Sherlock” a thousand times. It stops being cute after a while, and Ritchie knows this considering the amount of times he’s directed Sherlock Holmes projects. That’s why this time we’re getting different version of Sherlock. Instead of a polished machine, you’re getting a teenager with too much adrenaline and zero impulse control. It helps a great deal that Tiffin plays him with a frantic energy that screams, “I have no idea if this plan will work.” And it completely fits that narrative of fans angling more for messy humans who get the living daylights kicked out of them by life and have to figure it out as they go.
Seeing them struggle doesn’t make them any less of a legend. It just makes them more relatable. Because you’re sitting there going, “This could be me,” giving audiences some stakes in the game.
Young Sherlock is up on Prime Video. Go meet the elite detective before he gets smart enough to be insufferable.
