The original post: /r/television by /u/mysteriousnaive1207 on 2026-04-11 14:05:19+00:00.
So I just finished binge-watching Young Sherlock, and honestly I have mixed feelings.
The biggest issue for me was the lack of real deductions. When you hear “Sherlock,” you expect those insane, layered observations. But here, most of it felt pretty basic. It leaned more into plot and action than actual deduction. At times, it just felt like a regular detective drama.
What made this worse is how the show tried to present Sherlock’s intelligence. Instead of showing his genius through clever deductions, the show mostly just tells us. Characters keep saying things like “Sherlock is better at deduction than Moriarty,” but we rarely see that gap in a meaningful way.
Even Moriarty ends up feeling similar to Sherlock in terms of thinking ability. Sometimes he just completes Sherlock’s sentences or reaches similar conclusions. So instead of a true battle of minds, it feels surface level. It feels like we are being told they are brilliant rather than actually experiencing it.
That really takes away from the depth of both characters.
That said, it was entertaining. The setting, action, and overall old-era vibe were refreshing, and I did enjoy that part.
The family drama had potential, especially with Beatrice, Sherlock’s younger sister. But emotionally, it did not fully land for me. The show tries to channel Sherlock’s trauma through her storyline, but it feels rushed and a bit disconnected.
The only place where the emotion truly worked was through their mother. Her performance genuinely made the grief feel real. That was the one part that hit.
Beatrice’s role in the story, especially toward the end, felt hurried. The emotional payoff did not feel fully earned.
Mycroft was a highlight. His dynamic with Sherlock felt natural and added some warmth to the show.
Moriarty had a strong introduction, and I liked the idea of exploring his psychology. But after that, he did not evolve much. Again, it felt more told than shown.
Overall, the show feels like it wants to be about genius level deduction and deep emotional storytelling, but ends up leaning more into action and surface level writing.
What do you all think? Did it work for you emotionally or intellectually, or did you feel the same disconnect? I am open to different perspectives and would love to discuss.