Is Guy Ritchie's Young Sherlock Series Linked To The Films With Robert Downey Jr?

It’s time to return to 221B Baker Street! This Wednesday, March 4, Prime Video dives into the imagination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with his series Young Sherlock (notre critique). Hero Fiennes puts on the costume under the guidance of designer Matthew Parkill and in front of Guy Ritchie’s camera.

With such a man in charge of development, it’s difficult not to make the link with the duology carried by Robert Downey Jr. The third film is still waiting, has the British filmmaker decided to take a detour into the past to make us wait? Should we see this new series as a prequel to Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows ?

Sherlock at Elementary

Young Sherlock does not directly adapt a Conan Doyle novel, it is inspired by a youth saga published in the 2010s. The Adventures of Young Sherlock Holmes by Andrew Lane follows the character when he is not yet a detective and while he is learning to develop his deduction skills.

The first novel follows the 14-year-old as he is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle for the school holidays. He investigates two mysterious deaths that seem to be somehow linked to a dark cloud that Sherlock saw.

The series does not directly adapt the events of the literary saga but borrows plots here and there. This was already the case in the cinematographic saga, Ritchie was working from a completely new investigation.

Return to the origins?

The idea with Young Sherlock is not to explore the origins of RDJ’s version but rather to question the events which made the detective such a singular character in English literature. Creator Matthew Parkhill explains:

“I’ve always been interested in what makes him the man we know. I’m sure I don’t know all the Sherlock Holmes adaptations, but I feel like we’re exploring new territory with this series. In the Barry Levinson film, he was already in a way the Sherlock Holmes we know. For me, with this series, we’re interested in the events that shaped him. He’s like that because of a dysfunctional family, because of a mourning…”

An impossible link

As for whether this new series will cultivate links with Guy Ritchie’s films, the answer is obviously no. From its first episode, Young Sherlock distances himself by summoning a character that the hero played by Robert Downey Jr does not know in his timeline.

He meets him for the first time in The Shadow Game when he unveils a major conspiracy. For his part, Young Sherlock invites the iconic James Moriarty to accompany the young adult in his first investigation.

The new Watson

Sherlock cannot evolve alone, that is common knowledge. For his exuberance to be obvious to readers and spectators, he needs a counterpoint. Watson not being available, it’s James Moriarty who sticks to it.

According to Dónal Finn, who lends his features to the character, their complicity is obvious. He explains to us that Moriarty and Sherlock are ultimately two sides of the same coin.

“His mother (Cordelia Holmes) says in the series that Sherlock has difficulty making friends, Moriarty is quite similar to him in that sense. He’s a bit of a fish out of water, being an Irishman in England.”

But now, if he willingly collaborates in these adventures, the spectators will expect the situation to get worse. The series will therefore be about preparing for a possible betrayal. Mythology would be nothing without their legendary rivalry,

However, spectators will expect the character to change his mind at one point or another. The entire series will have to be built on the prospect of betrayal in order to give rise to their legendary rivalry.

For Finn, that moment hasn’t come yet. “Their friendship is very important to him. I don’t think he’ll do anything to jeopardize that…yet.”

To find out what the new Sherlock and Moriarty have in store, head over now this Wednesday March 4 on Prime Video. All eight episodes of the first season were made available today. Season 2 has not been officially ordered, it will undoubtedly depend on the success of this first salvo.