We are all very much aware of the legendary Sherlock Holmes. And now Guy Ritchie’s ‘Young Sherlock‘ is putting a fresh spin on a character audiences think they already know. Instead of jumping straight into the master detective, the series gives us a sneak peek into a younger, rougher Sherlock, who’s still figuring himself out and learning through missteps.
Now, one of the most intriguing elements teased by the cast and creators is how some of the relationships influence this new take on Sherlock. As the story rewinds the clock, it’ll be interesting to see if this new take will work with long-time fans or not.
A Reckless Beginning For ‘Young Sherlock’
‘Young Sherlock‘ opens with a very different version of Sherlock Holmes, who lands himself in jail after stealing wallets. He doesn’t do it for the money; he does it simply to see if he can. That reckless curiosity tends to be a major part of his character. Fortunately, his brother Mycroft steps in before things spiral further. He even arranges a low-level job for him at Oxford in hopes of keeping him out of trouble.
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However, Oxford doesn’t try to dominate Sherlock’s restless mind. Instead, while settling into his new surroundings, he gets pulled into a murder case that slowly grows more serious. As a result, the investigation soon expands into a much larger, globe-spanning mystery.
At the same time, the series makes room for Sherlock’s personal life. While he continues chasing answers, we get to see a sneak peek of his relationship with his father, Silias, in the background. It’s the first time we get to see a softer side of Sherlock apart from his wit and confidence. As the story moves forward, family connections become even more important.
A Friendship That Changes Everything
The most surprising part of ‘Young Sherlock‘ comes with James Moriarty. Instead of clashing right away, Sherlock and Moriarty meet at Oxford and actually become friends. This came as a surprise. Parkhill explained that he always wondered how two people who later became such intense enemies could understand each other so well, and felt that kind of connection had to start somewhere.
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Parkhill teased that viewers are really watching two origin stories unfold side by side. He added that Moriarty also finds himself in serious trouble, and neither man would become who they is without meeting the other. Hero admitted that, as a fan of the original stories, he struggled a bit with seeing Sherlock and Moriarty get along. He joked that part of him wanted them to stop being friends already. Still, he said that slow build is what makes the show enjoyable.
While the show plays with new ideas, it still keeps classic Sherlock fans in mind. Parkhill said viewers will spot plenty of familiar touches, including a young Inspector Lestrade, early versions of Sherlock’s famous sayings, and the origin of his iconic deerstalker hat. ‘Young Sherlock‘ arrives on Prime Video in March, and fans will get a fresh look at how one legendary rivalry may have started as something very different.
