‘Watson’ Review: CBS’ Sherlock-Inspired Medical Drama Is Definitely No ‘House’

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Initially, CBS‘s “Watson” may seem reminiscent of another series set in Pittsburgh this month, titled “The Pitt,” which revolves around a doctor grappling with the loss of his closest friend and mentor.

Perhaps it bears a resemblance to Fox‘s recent film, Doc, as both share an unusual plotline: a doctor returning to work at a hospital, managed by a former love who is the chief of medicine, after suffering a traumatic brain injury and still harboring feelings for them.

Or in another way…

This story seems reminiscent of Fox‘s recent production, Doc, as both narratives share an uncommon theme: a physician, who has a past with the hospital‘s chief of medicine and has recently suffered a traumatic brain injury, resumes work at the same hospital.

Or even…

The storyline seems to have a similar feel to Fox‘s recent film, Doc, because both involve a doctor returning to their ex–lover‘s hospital after a brain injury and resuming work. This hospital, of course, is led by the same chief of medicine.

If you delve deeper, you‘ll also recognize a significant resemblance to Fox‘s “House,” the primetime TV series inspired by Sherlock Holmes and centered on a genius yet unconventional doctor who solves complex medical cases with the help of a talented, youthful team.

Or even simpler:

Go back a bit, and you‘ll see that it‘s similar to Fox‘s “House,” a show about a brilliant, eccentric doctor solving medical mysteries with a group of attractive young assistants, inspired by Sherlock Holmes.

Initially, Watson didn‘t resemble itself in the first five episodes, as it wasn‘t clear what its identity was supposed to be. Despite an intriguing quirky concept and surprising plot twists, the early seasons seemed more like a show trying to decide on a direction than one that was certain about its unique path.

The title suggests that instead of Sherlock Holmes, this series focuses on his longtime companion, John Watson, portrayed by Morris Chestnut. In essence, this John Watson embodies traits similar to those typically associated with Sherlock Holmes: aloof but compassionate, principled yet frustratingly obstinate, and undeniably intelligent, often praised for his genius. The creator, Craig Sweeny, who has previously worked on “Elementary,” a more successful modern adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes stories on CBS, makes this comparison overt. A character named Shinwell, played by Ritchie Coster, who represents the stereotypical tough Londoner with a Cockney accent and was once Sherlock‘s assistant, now refers to Watson as his “Sherlock.

In the initial scene, it appears that Sherlock has met his demise during a chase, which leads to him, Watson, and their enigmatic adversary Moriarty falling off a waterfall. The sole survivor, Watson decides to revert to his original profession, medicine. With funds bequeathed to him by his late mentor, Watson establishes a state–of–the–art clinic focusing on genetics and unusual illnesses. Overseeing this venture is Mary (played by Rochelle Aytes), the wife he‘s yet to fully sever ties with.

However, Moriarty, whose existence remains hidden from Watson, continues to work against him covertly and mysteriously. The unexpected appearance of Moriarty in the show‘s finale suggests that the series might be aiming for a different tone, as it seems more comedic or offbeat compared to the previously straight–faced drama. Despite this intriguing twist, Moriarty has not made another appearance since then, leaving viewers uncertain about the future direction of the show.

The characters who appear less frequently don‘t leave a strong impact. Among Watson‘s team, there are identical twins named Adam and Stephens; Peter Mark Kendall portrays both, and he delivers a decent performance as the athletic and extroverted Adam, but his portrayal of the introverted Stephens is so exaggerated that it seems more like a serial killer. However, the truly cold–hearted one is Ingrid (played by Eve Harlow), who is a compulsive liar and ruthless manipulator. Interestingly, Watson starts to show a softer side of Ingrid by the fourth or fifth episode.

Sasha (Inga Schlingmann), once an adoptee from China and now a beloved Texan, is portrayed as the kind character in this narrative. Along with the other characters, she ponders if Watson selected her to serve as a real–life example of nature versus nurture debate. This could potentially be intriguing, but unfortunately, this theme doesn‘t seem to be further explored beyond the initial hour.

Regarding Watson, much energy is invested in explaining his past, yet his character traits are less clearly defined. At times, he appears charmingly gruff, reckless, or envious, but at other times, these traits raise concerns. The distinction between these two types of behavior will be evident as other characters express their worries about Watson‘s unusual behavior, not because you‘ll understand him well enough to recognize normal versus abnormal behaviors. Interestingly, Watson‘s blandly likable demeanor could potentially work against him, as the focus seems more on making us like him rather than fully understanding him.

In my gaming perspective, Watson tends to portray its main character‘s actions as valiant, sometimes bordering on excessive heroism. True to its source material, it presents some complex medical puzzles – the funniest one being about a Revolutionary War reenactor who, after suffering a head injury, genuinely believes he has transformed into the Scottish general he was cosplaying. However, what stands out most is Watson‘s portrayal of the protagonist as a relentless moral crusader. This is evident even when he steps over clear boundaries, such as administering an unorthodox and certainly illegal treatment to cure a persistent illness.

His thought process is that genuine immorality lies in allowing technicalities such as “patent laws,” bureaucratic obstacles, and the absence of clinical trials to hinder the alleviation of someone‘s suffering. While his argument could be valid, the boldness with which he presents it showcases a type of character that is reminiscent of what one might encounter in the series Dr. Death. However, it‘s worth noting that the storyline in Watson, being as it is set in a charmingly uncomplicated world, seems to suggest that a forceful letter could potentially reverse a decades–old verdict on behalf of a patient‘s relative.

The show Watson, it seems, struggles to decide whether it‘s a suspenseful adventure, a touching medical drama, a peculiar mystery, or a critique of the flawed healthcare system. It‘s unsure how to merge these diverse elements into a unified narrative. What it is confident about, however, is that it aims to be a show you enjoy for its smart and noble protagonist solving problems and saving the day, rather than for its realistic portrayal of the world. While this type of escapism can offer enjoyment, it tends to work better when the alternate universe seems more captivating than the one we‘re departing from.

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2025-01-26 19:29