A fresh take on one of literature’s most legendary detectives is winning over streaming audiences, with Young Sherlock earning praise for its gripping mysteries, energetic storytelling and compelling performances. Developed by Guy Ritchie, the filmmaker behind Netflix’s The Gentlemen, the Amazon Prime Video series has been described by a television expert as a “must watch” with “zero boring episodes.”

Released in March 2026, the first season is now available to stream in full, giving viewers the chance to follow Sherlock Holmes long before he becomes the world-famous detective. With a second season already in production, the series appears to have established a promising future for its younger version of the iconic sleuth.

The show has also attracted attention in Wales, where several locations across South Wales feature in its filming, bringing a familiar British landscape to this reimagining of Sherlock Holmes’s early adventures.

A Young Sherlock Holmes Faces His First Major Mystery

Unlike traditional adaptations that portray Sherlock Holmes as an established master detective, Young Sherlock explores the formative years of the character at just 19 years old.

The story begins with a murder investigation at Oxford University, drawing Holmes into a mystery that challenges his developing investigative abilities. Along the way, he joins forces with James Moriarty, a companion who will eventually become his most formidable adversary.

Their early relationship offers a different perspective on two characters whose names are forever linked in detective fiction. As the investigation unfolds, the series explores Holmes’s evolution into the brilliant detective audiences know, while building a mystery around the experiences that shape his future.

The show draws inspiration from Andy Lane’s novels about Holmes’s younger years while incorporating elements of the classic stories created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This combination gives the series room to develop its own narrative while remaining connected to the enduring world of Sherlock Holmes.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin Leads an Impressive Cast

Hero Fiennes Tiffin takes on the central role of Sherlock Holmes, portraying the detective during a period when his intelligence and investigative instincts are still developing.

He is joined by Dónal Finn as James Moriarty, whose early connection with Holmes adds another layer to the story. The supporting cast includes several familiar names from film and television.

• Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes

• Dónal Finn as James Moriarty

• Zine Tseng as Xiao Wei

• Joseph Fiennes as Silas Holmes, Sherlock’s father

• Colin Firth as Sir Bucephalus Hodge

The combination of established performers and younger leads helps bring a new dimension to the familiar characters, while the series places their relationships alongside its central murder mystery.

Guy Ritchie Brings His Distinctive Style to Sherlock Holmes

The series was developed by Guy Ritchie, whose work includes the Netflix hit The Gentlemen and the crime-film classics Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.

Ritchie is also no stranger to Sherlock Holmes. He directed the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes and its 2011 sequel, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. John Watson. For Young Sherlock, he returned to the detective’s world, directing the first two episodes.

His involvement has helped establish the series’ energetic approach to mystery and adventure. Viewer responses have particularly highlighted its pace, wit and the chemistry between the leading actors, qualities that may appeal to audiences familiar with Ritchie’s earlier work.

South Wales Provides a Striking Backdrop

Although the story follows Sherlock Holmes through the world of Oxford and beyond, the production also brought its cameras to several locations in South Wales.

Filming took place at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, as well as in Monmouth, Bridgend and Margam Park near Port Talbot. Additional scenes were filmed in Bristol and Spain.

The Welsh locations form part of the production’s broader visual landscape, helping establish the period atmosphere surrounding Holmes’s early adventures.

The series’ connection to Wales has also drawn local attention, placing familiar locations within a major streaming production centred on one of the most recognisable characters in crime fiction.

Season 2 Is Already in Production

The first season of Young Sherlock consists of eight episodes, and a second season was commissioned in April 2026.

Filming for the new season has been spotted in Bristol and Italy, with its release anticipated in 2027.

The upcoming instalment will also introduce several notable additions to the cast. Game of Thrones stars Aidan Gillen and Indira Varma are joining the series, alongside Olivia Williams, known for The Crown, and Sophie Skelton from Outlander.

Their arrival adds further interest to the show’s next chapter, although further details about the second season’s storyline have not been outlined in the available report.

Viewers Praise the Series, Though Not Everyone Is Convinced

The positive response to Young Sherlock has extended beyond individual recommendations. The series holds an 84% critics’ score and an 83% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting a generally favourable reception.

TV expert Anubhuti Navin, who shares streaming recommendations through her Instagram account, The Watchlist Club, called the show a “must watch” and praised its consistency, declaring that it had “zero boring episodes.”

Audience reactions have highlighted the series’ combination of mystery, humour and forward momentum.

One viewer said the show was more entertaining than expected, acknowledging that it occasionally went over the top but praising its energy and the way the mystery maintained their interest.

Another reviewer praised the performances, direction and writing, noting that each episode deepened their curiosity about both the central cases and Holmes’s development into the legendary detective.

A third viewer focused on the chemistry between the lead actors, along with the pace and wit associated with Ritchie’s filmmaking style.

However, the response has not been universally enthusiastic. One viewer considered the mystery relatively straightforward and criticised the dark visual presentation, arguing that the lighting sometimes made it difficult to follow what was happening on screen.

Despite those reservations, the series has attracted enough positive attention to establish itself as a noteworthy addition to the crowded streaming landscape.

With eight episodes available, an established creative team behind the project and a second season on the way, Young Sherlock offers a new entry point into the world of the famous detective. For viewers curious about the experiences that shaped Sherlock Holmes before his rise to legendary status, the series presents a mystery-driven origin story with plenty of room to develop.