Image Credit: Prime Video
Sherlock Holmes is a literary figure who has always been extremely popular in film and television. Often portrayed in a somewhat stereotypical manner, though never the same as before, the detective confirms the fascination he continues to exert on audiences and directors over the decades, demonstrating how interesting the character created by Arthur Conan Doyle still is to portray.
Guy Ritchie is one of the filmmakers fascinated by his charisma, and after the two films in 2009 and 2011 starring Robert Downey Jr. as the iconic detective, here comes a new, younger incarnation of the Baker Street resident. Young Sherlock, a TV series available from March 4 on Prime Video, is inspired by the novels of Andrew Lane and shows Holmes’ youthful adventures in a rigid and classist Oxford, where economic interests prevail over culture.
Guy Ritchie: a detective in Oxford
Sherlock is 19 years old and has ended up in prison while attempting to learn the noble—so to speak—art of pickpocketing. Fed up with his brother’s antics, Mycroft Holmes gets him out of jail and orders him to follow him to attend the prestigious University of Oxford. Sherlock, however, will not be going there as a student, but as a servant. Between carrying suitcases and cleaning rooms, the young budding detective will still find a way to get himself into trouble: after meeting his peer James Moriarty, he is unjustly accused of stealing a precious artifact carried by a mysterious princess from China. Amidst conspiracies, murders, and red herrings, the investigation takes unexpected turns, somehow involving a mystery linked to a tragic event in the Holmes family.
The unmistakable touch of Guy Ritchie
Young Sherlock is a series that attempts to remain within the young adult genre but, thankfully, ranges between mystery, action, and classic detective story dynamics with the mastery that Guy Ritchie accustomed us to in his two previous films: Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. This production, although episodic, has much in common with those titles: it shares their tone, spirit, choice of music, and the director’s unmistakable stylistic signature. The narrative takes on a frenetic pace that keeps the viewer hooked for every second, in a whirlwind of situations and plot twists that follow one another without pause. This escalation works perfectly in building the crescendo of a series that, in more than one moment, seeks to escape the serial logic that platforms increasingly seem to impose.
The chemistry between Sherlock and Moriarty
However, it is obviously the characters that really work: seeing a young and inexperienced Sherlock Holmes is certainly interesting, even if something of the original spirit of the mature character is inevitably lost. Hero Fiennes Tiffin portrays a budding detective who possesses only the embryonic traits written by Conan Doyle. His relationship with Dónal Finn‘s James Moriarty, however, is perfect: the two form a convincing and unstoppable duo, with an undeniable chemistry that jumps off the screen and draws the viewer in. The characterization of each character seems carefully crafted, even if some of the secondary roles have succumbed a little too much to stereotypes, which, however, are well suited to Ritchie’s typically over-the-top tone.
An irresistible choice of music
The director has always spoiled us with irresistible soundtracks, and for this series he chooses not to betray himself, offering a playlist that we are sure will become part of your daily listening. From Kasabian with their Days Are Forgotten, chosen as the opening track, to the iconic The Cure, passing through many other songs that give the series an absolutely captivating pop soul. Young Sherlock is therefore an entertaining product, suitable for a wide audience, capable of combining entertainment and reflection while maintaining that apparent lightness that we sometimes seem to need.
Conclusions
Guy Ritchie returns to the world of Baker Street with Young Sherlock, infusing the series with his unmistakable frenetic style and a rock and pop soundtrack. While touching on Young Adult themes, the show is convincing thanks to its fast pace, character writing, and excellent chemistry between the protagonists, especially between Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s budding detective and Dónal Finn’s young Moriarty. The result is a pure, entertaining, and visually appealing product that manages to escape the banality of the usual serial logic.
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