Young Sherlock

Guy Ritchie delivers a gripping non-linear story that feels like a perfect collaboration with one of the greatest stories ever told.

Young Sherlock can get a bit convoluted, but it’s a thoroughly modern origin story for the beloved character that zings with charm and Guy Ritchie’s trademark energy.

Though it's far from the most loyal adaptation, what Young Sherlock lacks in accuracy to the source material, it makes up for in pure entertainment. It's not fancy or pretentious; it's just having fun and takes you on the ride with it.

Being Ritchie, all this rollicks along, high on its own reimagining — and hats off to the natty suits — but at eight episodes it’s somewhat overstuffed. Things are so much more compelling in the smaller moments.

“Young Sherlock” is a fun ride, and it does some interesting things with its source material. By trying to become a blockbuster-sized globetrotting adventure, however, it loses focus and steam.

The evidence points less to a must-watch new Holmes chapter than to a handful of performers worth tracking from here. Unless you’re a casting agent, or a truly die-hard Sherlock Holmes completist determined to inspect every clue in the canon, there isn’t an especially convincing reason to open this case file.

This Sherlock is smart and periodically mopey, but he isn’t a compelling character on any level. .... The middle of the season isn’t just dumb, it’s dull and overextended. But then the show picks up again for the last two episodes, which hop around the globe, feature various twists and come close to salvaging the rest of the series.

I loved it Im a really big fan of the books and loved the other films made by Guy Ritchie so if you like them you'll love this

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

As the title proclaims, this is a look at the famed detective long before he was the noted character he became. It starts with him in jail and travels to Oxford where the adventures begin. While solving his first case, he befriends a student with the familiar name of Moriarty (who later becomes his nemesis). Their relationship solidifies with solving their first case together. Guy Ritchie started the series with his directing style, which includes snappy quips, quick editing and the inevitable untamed action. Hero Fiennes Tiffin holds the title role with a modest presence, while Dónal Finn, as Moriarty, has more pluck and polish. The series does jump around in story and style, ranging from lively adventure to darker drama. It’s also cute to see other things that will later become trademarks, like his deer stalker hat. While there are enjoyable elements, particularly the relationship of the duo, the show’s approach runs all over the place, which keeps it from being as exciting or innovative as it might have been. (Review based on 5 out of 8 one-hour eps)

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

So much potential eclipsed by pseudo feminist messaging at every turn. Costumes, sets, and atmosphere are too notch and really help to sell the world created here. Acting is a bit of a mixed bag with highlights being Natascha McElhone and Donal Finn. Personally, I found Fiennes Tiffin to be a bit of a miscast although he is a great actor. The most glaring issue and the reason I find myself struggling to finish the series is in the storytelling. Sherlock (although young) the genius of legend, is outwitted constantly by a nefarious female. Any time an action is to be taken to advance the plot, a woman is the catalyst. It seems such a dated issue to reduce everything to gender roles, but this series seems to go out of its way to make men appear as either bumbling fools or evil bumbling fools to the point of distraction.