Upcoming Sherlock Holmes Show Has The Chance To Do A Much Better Version Of Sherlock Season 4s Infamous Eurus Story

The BBC series concluded the detective's story in 2017, but Sherlock's final season was poorly received by audiences, leading to many fans being relieved that the BBC's Sherlock might never be revived. Many of the season's shortcomings were a consequence of the addition of Eurus (Sian Brooke), whose introduction was deemed too far-fetched. Combined with the fabrication of Moriarty's long-awaited return, season 4 instead highlights numerous plot holes throughout the show with Sherlock and Eurus' relationship. The Sherlock & Daughter story already seems to promise an improved version, and the shift in dynamic to Sherlock adopting a parental role may be central to its success.

Sherlock & Daughter Has A Promising Family Aspect For Sherlock Holmes

A New Dynamic Is Refreshing In The Endless Adaptions Of Sherlock Holmes

Turning Sherlock Holmes into a father figure might seem like a radical step, but introducing such a bold new dynamic is exactly what's needed to make the character appealing. Throughout the franchise's history, Sherlock Holmes has had some essential ingredients. Aside from the brilliant detective himself, these include an array of beloved supporting characters, such as John Watson, Mycroft Holmes, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson. Introducing a daughter into the story is certainly a departure, but it also continues a long-established dynamic.

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It is because the introduction of a new family member is both an original spin and a play on the tried and tested formula that Sherlock & Daughter may well succeed. On the one hand, seeing Sherlock interact with a new character is exciting for fans craving something new. On the other, a daughter promises a similar mentorship role that Sherlock has had with many iterations of Watson – albeit with a familial twist. As a result, the innovation has the potential to strike exactly the right balance to entice audiences in.

Sherlock's Sibling Relationships Didn't Hit The Mark In BBC's Sherlock And Enola Holmes

The Sibling Relationships Were Mostly Underutilized In BBC's Sherlock And Enola Holmes

Sherlock Holmes having a sister, as seen in Sherlock season 4, is an extension of Conan Doyle's original novels, in which Sherlock famously has one brother — Mycroft Holmes. However, multiple iterations of the detective touch upon the concept of Holmes having a sister. The most famous examples are unquestionably the BBC series, Sherlock, as well as Netflix's film series, Enola Holmes. However, while both productions touch on the potential additional family relationships might have, these adaptations also overlook a lot of the premise's biggest strengths.

The BBC series came in for criticism for its inclusion of Eurus and the way it dealt with Mycroft's involvement in her return. The character felt increasingly implausible, especially given her total absence from the story until that point. Furthermore, a three-episode format meant introducing Eurus during the latter stages of Sherlock's final series did not adequately give her the scope to explore her relationship with the Holmes brothers. The result was an ineffectual plot that failed to meaningfully advance Holmes' character growth and provide a satisfying narrative payoff.

On the other hand, Enola Holmes was far better received by its intended audiences and praised for the inventive connection to the story's source material. Yet, Enola Holmes was considered a disappointing Sherlock movie because the detective himself was only a peripheral player. The performance relies upon what Henry Cavill explains as "a hidden warmth to this character," which significantly opposes the perception of Holmes that audiences are familiar with, and means that the relationship between the siblings did not feel genuine.

Sherlock & Daughter Is Not The Only Upcoming Sherlock Show

There Are Many More Sherlock Holmes Projects In The Works

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Aside from Sherlock & Daughter, there are several other notable Sherlock Holmes stories in development. Young Sherlock is an upcoming series by Guy Ritchie, who essentially disregarded any hope for Sherlock Holmes 3 with the announcement. Rather than concentrating its efforts on Conan Doyle's novels, this project will instead be inspired by Andy Lane's series of Young Sherlock Holmes books. The grounds of a prequel mean the new Sherlock project has a massive Watson problem to solve — as the detective's partner may be absent from the project altogether.

That being said, Holmes' associate is not entirely abandoned, and the character will be present in CBS' new Sherlock Holmes series Watson. The show will be the network's second series about the detective after Elementary, although there will be no connection between the two, and Holmes is not set to be the central focus on Watson. If Netflix's confirmation that Enola Holmes 3 is in development is anything to go by, the CBS series will be released before the streaming service's new movie. With countless upcoming Sherlock Holmes stories, there will be an abundance of options for audiences – including Sherlock & Daughter.

Character(s) Sherlock Holmes , Amelia , Moriarty

Seasons 1

Writers Brendan Foley , Micah Wright , Shelly Goldstein

Showrunner James Duff

Creator(s) Brendan Foley

Producers Dominic Barlow , James Duff , Brendan Foley , Ivan Dunleavy , Karine Martin , Peter Gerwe