Prime Video’s Sherlock Show Officially Brings Back A Controversial Part Of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Series

Young Sherlock‘s most compelling character also created the show’s biggest problem, an issue that similarly plagued Benedict Cumberbatch’s adaptation. Prime Video’s Young Sherlock introduces viewers to a version of Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective they’ve never seen before. This version, portrayed by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, is youthful, less cold and distant, a troublemaker with a welcome sense of fun and charm.

This Sherlock is also much more reliant on his friends and family, as he learns to harness his deductive skills in real time and solve mysteries on the fly. He hopes to help his mother, Cordelia Holmes (Natascha McElhone), deal with the death of his sister Bea, follow a string of attacks and murders at Oxford University, and unravel the suspiciously coincidental return of his father, Silas Holmes (Joseph Fiennes) — all of which ends up being neatly connected, of course.

Surprisingly, the person who turns out to be the most helpful during this grand, Guy Ritchie-style adventure is classic Sherlock’s age-old enemy, James Moriarty (Dónal Finn), who likewise takes on a wholly different role in Young Sherlock as the amateur sleuth’s closest friend and confidante. Therein lies the problem, though. This version of the budding criminal mastermind is almost too intriguing, the same way Andrew Scott’s portrayal of Moriarty was in the BBC’s Sherlock.

James Moriarty Is The Real Star Of Young Sherlock Season 1

In a show titled Young Sherlock, surely, Fiennes Tiffin’s character should be the star. In truth, though, Dónal Finn’s interpretation of James Moriarty is so self-assured and charismatic that he ends up eclipsing Sherlock in almost every scene they share. He’s dangerously cunning, flirty, and adventurous. He’s intellectually gifted and just as eager as Sherlock to prove himself. He’s also devastatingly loyal, and his genuine friendship with Sherlock is one of the most interesting aspects of Young Sherlock‘s reimagining of Conan Doyle’s original work.

Similarly, when Sherlock first introduced Scott’s Moriarty in the iconic episode “The Great Game,” the character quickly became one of the show’s most influential and popular aspects. Though Finn’s and Scott’s interpretations of Moriarty are very different, both share a magnetic, dramatic flair, making it all too easy to become immersed in Moriarty’s world, rather than Sherlock’s. A great villain can make or break a story, and Scott’s Moriarty definitely delivered.

The problem is arguably even worse in Young Sherlock, though. Benedict Cumberbatch could hold his own against Andrew Scott, largely because Scott only appeared in the show to stir up trouble on occasion. Fiennes Tiffin, meanwhile, has to share the spotlight with Finn throughout all eight episodes. It’s so much easier to compare the two characters when they’re essentially on the same side, and this creates an issue for the show.

When they’re obvious enemies, the audience is essentially forced to acknowledge Sherlock Holmes as the story’s true hero. Moriarty’s conspiracies and traps are undeniably twisted, and viewers and/or readers want Sherlock to deduce his way out of them. There should always be another mystery to solve, after all.

Conan Doyle was forced to bring Holmes back to life after readers became outraged over the detective’s death (orchestrated by Moriarty) in The Final Problem, first published by The Strand Magazine in 1893. According to the BBC, 20,000 people canceled their Strand subscriptions in the wake of Holmes’ sudden demise.

In Young Sherlock‘s case, however, Sherlock and Moriarty’s friendship puts them on an equal playing field. When this version of James is so much more fun to watch than his counterpart, why would the audience root for Sherlock? There’s another, equally deserving hero on screen, one they’re much less familiar with than his friend with the painfully posh accent. At this point, a hypothetical show titled Young Moriarty is a much more enticing prospect.

Young Sherlock’s Season 1 Finale Sets Up A More Familiar Relationship For Holmes And Moriarty

In the last few episodes of Young Sherlock, Moriarty’s thirst for power and games becomes clear. While he helps Sherlock and Co. take down Silas’ dastardly chemical operation, he keeps a little piece of it for himself, driving a wedge between himself and his friend. This sets up a more familiar dynamic for the intrepid pair in a potential second season (which has yet to be confirmed, though a recent Young Sherlock report claimed that the creative team was in the “early stages of prep.”)

As Holmes begins to suspect that Moriarty wants more than he can offer him, they’ll be pushed into their more traditional roles of Hero vs. Villain. This likely shift might finally give Fiennes Tiffin’s Sherlock the upper hand, but it also presents another problem. Having Sherlock and James be actual friends is one of the strongest aspects of Young Sherlock. Will the show still be as fun to watch if they’re at each other’s throats, rather than heroically defusing bombs?

Yes, their season 1 dynamic adds undeniable new depth to their century-long rivalry, but the show may not feel as fresh and exciting. Their story as enemies can really only end one way. Sherlock will eventually beat Moriarty, though it may take some time, and even involve a resurrection or two. The writers have painted themselves into a corner. After all, it’s unlikely that James Moriarty will ever be victorious in a story titled Young Sherlock.

All episodes of Young Sherlock are streaming now, only on Prime Video.