AceShowbiz - Young Sherlock has made a remarkable debut on Prime Video, surpassing the audience and critic scores of the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes films directed by Guy Ritchie. Since premiering on March 4, 2026, the series has achieved an audience score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, outpacing both of Ritchie's previous Sherlock Holmes movies, which each held a 77% audience rating.

This new series marks Guy Ritchie's return to the Sherlock Holmes franchise nearly 15 years after directing the original two films featuring Robert Downey Jr. as the iconic detective and Jude Law as Dr. John Watson. In the interim, Ritchie worked on other projects like the live-action Aladdin and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. For Young Sherlock, he has taken on dual roles as executive producer and director of two episodes, signaling a significant re-engagement with the beloved character.

The critical response has been notably positive, with the show's critics' score reaching 84%, which also surpasses the Rotten Tomatoes critics' ratings of the earlier films (70% for Sherlock Holmes (2009) and 60% for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)). Critics have praised the series for its energetic pace and fresh approach to the detective's origin story. The dynamic chemistry between Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who plays Sherlock Holmes, and Dónal Finn as James Moriarty has garnered particular attention, portraying the iconic rivalry as a friendship forged during their university days.

The series takes place at Oxford University, focusing on a young Sherlock who finds himself falsely accused of murder. This predicament propels him into uncovering a vast conspiracy, providing a new narrative angle that diverges from the classic tales of Arthur Conan Doyle. It is important to note that Young Sherlock is based on a novel series by Andrew Lane, presenting a pastiche rather than a direct adaptation of Doyle's original stories.

Despite the enthusiasm, some critics have expressed reservations, suggesting that the series lacks the traditional essence of Conan Doyle's work. Nonetheless, this adaptation joins a growing list of modern reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes, which often explore different stages of his life or place him in unique settings. For example, the acclaimed BBC series starring Benedict Cumberbatch reimagined Sherlock in a contemporary context, earning high praise for its first three seasons, though its final season received mixed reviews with a 54% critics' score and a 46% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Although there have been ongoing conversations about a potential third Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey Jr., no filming or release date has been announced yet. Downey’s wife, Susan Downey, has confirmed that interest remains in making a third film, but with Downey Jr.’s commitments to upcoming Avengers projects, the future of the movie franchise remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Young Sherlock offers Guy Ritchie a fresh platform to revisit the character, even though the series is not canonically connected to the original films.

All eight episodes of Young Sherlock are currently available to stream on Prime Video. The show's favorable reception from both critics and audiences suggests that a second season is likely, as viewers continue to engage with this inventive take on the young detective’s formative years.

Young Sherlock is helmed by showrunner Matthew Parkhill and features Zine Tseng as Princess Gulun Shou’an alongside the leads. Its success highlights the enduring appeal of Sherlock Holmes as a cultural icon while opening new storytelling possibilities within the franchise.