WATSON is a medical show with a strong investigative spine, featuring a modern version of one of history’s greatest detectives as he turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries. WATSON takes place six months after the death of the titular character’s friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty. Dr. John Watson resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. Watson’s old life isn’t done with him, though — Moriarty and Watson are set to write their own chapter of a story that has fascinated audiences for more than a century.
What We Thought:
I’ll be honest I had no idea there was yet another take on Dr. Watson from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes Universe until Watson: Season One arrived on DVD at my house. I guess it aired on CBS from January until May of this year and was picked up for another season. It stars Morris Chestnut as the titular character and this DVD set features 4 discs and all 13 episodes of Season 1.
The series isn’t connected to any other previous versions and the story starts after the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty. Dr. Watson wakes up in a Swiss hospital after he jumps into water to unsuccessfully save his friend Sherlock. He moves to Pittsburgh to open a clinic and the show sort of becomes like House in that he starts dealing with patients with odd issues. Through the season he learns Moriarty is still alive and always watching him.
Episodes include an entrepreneur with a bullet lodged in his brain after an attempted murder or so he claims, a comedian falls to the stage while performing, a patient dealing with a rare case of sickle cell anemia, a cam girl collapses during one of her live streams, a librarian has a condition that makes her memory reset every few minutes, a woman claims her son is an offspring of Sherlock, Moriarty infects one of Watson’s team.
I’ve watched a lot of versions of Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson whether it is movies or TV shows. I’d say Watson is closer to the show Elementary than it is Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock series. It is Americanized since it’s on CBS just like Elementary, but I do like that Moriarty plays the hidden figure throughout the series. If you liked Elementary you’ll like it, but if you are expecting something like Robert Downey Jr’s. Sherlock Holmes films or similar to Cumberbatch’s show you’ll be disappointed.
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