The 'Holmes Without Holmes' Problem
Every decade or so, network TV tries to reinvent Sherlock Holmes. Sometimes we get a masterpiece like the early seasons of the BBC’s Sherlock, and sometimes we get a solid, long-running comfort show like Elementary. Watson falls into a third, less desirable category: the 'brand-name spin-off that forgot the spark.'
By killing off Sherlock Holmes before the pilot even starts, the show puts a massive burden on Morris Chestnut to carry the entire investigative weight. Chestnut is great—he’s got the gravitas and the look—but the writing frequently lets him down. The medical cases feel like they were pulled from a 2005 episode of Grey's Anatomy, and the 'investigative' twists are often telegraphed miles away.
"There is no point to CBS's utterly stale procedural ‘Watson.’ It thinks it's clever but isn't." — Roger Ebert
For parents, the main draw here is the lack of 'prestige TV' baggage. There’s no excessive profanity, no gratuitous sex scenes, and the violence is mostly confined to the clinical setting of a hospital. It’s a 'safe' show, but safety shouldn't be confused with quality. If you're looking for something to put on in the background while you fold laundry, Watson is perfect. If you're looking for a show that will actually engage your kid's brain, keep looking.
If your family already finished Elementary and is looking for more Sherlockian vibes, this is a passable follow-up, but don't expect it to become your new favorite. It’s a weekly procedural that feels like it belongs in 2010, not 2026.