You’ve seen Sherlock Holmes a thousand times. He’s the guy in the deerstalker cap, the pipe-chomping genius who makes everyone else feel like a total idiot. But CBS decided to flip the script. Their new show, Watson, isn't about the detective. It’s about the doctor left behind. And honestly? It’s about time.
The show kicked off in early 2025, and it basically asks: What does John Watson do when Sherlock isn't around to hog the spotlight? He goes back to being a doctor. Specifically, he runs a clinic for rare disorders in Pittsburgh. But who stars in Watson is the real reason people are sticking around past the first episode.
Morris Chestnut as the "Doc-tective"
First off, let’s talk about the lead. Morris Chestnut stars as Dr. John Watson. If you recognize him, it’s probably from Rosewood or The Resident. The guy knows his way around a stethoscope.
But this version of Watson is different. He’s grieving. Sherlock is dead (supposedly), and Watson is dealing with a traumatic brain injury from the same incident that killed his partner. He’s using "Sherlock-style" deduction, but he’s applying it to medical mysteries. Think House M.D. but with a much nicer protagonist. Chestnut plays him with this weary, brilliant edge that makes the character feel human rather than just a sidekick finally getting his due.
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The Supporting Cast: Who Else is in the Clinic?
A show like this lives or dies by the ensemble. You can't just have one guy staring at petri dishes for an hour. The "doc-tectives" at the Holmes Clinic are a weird, talented bunch.
- Eve Harlow plays Dr. Ingrid Derian. She’s an aloof neurologist. If you saw her in The Night Agent, you know she does "mysterious and slightly terrifying" very well. Her character has a shaky relationship with the rest of the team because she’s, well, a bit of a loner.
- Peter Mark Kendall is doing double duty. He plays identical twins, Stephens and Adam Croft. One’s a workaholic from Johns Hopkins; the other is a chatty guy from Boston University. Oh, and Adam is dating Stephens' ex-fiancée. Talk about awkward break room vibes.
- Inga Schlingmann is Dr. Sasha Lubbock. She’s the specialist in immunology and rheumatology. She’s got this great back-story—born in China, raised in Dallas, and carries a Texan accent that catches people off guard.
- Rochelle Aytes plays Mary Morstan. In the original books, Mary was Watson's wife. Here? She’s a high-powered surgeon and the clinic’s medical director. They’re also in the middle of a messy divorce. It adds a layer of "real life" to the show that most procedurals ignore.
The Villains and Voice Roles
You can't have a Watson story without a Moriarty. For a while, the show kept the casting under wraps, but we now know Randall Park is the man behind the criminal mastermind. It’s a bit of a pivot for Park, who we usually see in comedies, but he brings a chilling, calculated vibe to James Moriarty.
Then there’s the big twist. Even though Sherlock is dead, he’s still "in" the show. Matt Berry—yes, the guy from What We Do in the Shadows—provides the voice of Sherlock Holmes. He appears as an auditory hallucination in Watson’s head. It’s a genius move because it keeps the Holmes/Watson dynamic alive without actually bringing Sherlock back to life (at least, not right away).
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Why the Cast Works
Most medical dramas feel like they’re made in a factory. Watson feels different because the cast has actual chemistry. Ritchie Coster plays Shinwell Johnson, a former criminal from London who acts as the clinic's administrative aide. He’s the bridge between Watson’s old life and his new one.
The show also pulls in heavy hitters for guest spots. We’ve seen Whoopie Van Raam as Irene Adler and Vincent Gale as Mycroft Holmes. In Season 2, they even brought in Clarke Peters (from The Wire) to play Watson’s estranged father, Hamish.
What Most People Get Wrong
People expected this to be a direct sequel to Elementary. It’s not. It’s its own thing. While Craig Sweeny (the creator) worked on Elementary, this is a fresh start. It’s more interested in the science of medicine than the science of a crime scene.
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The show focuses heavily on rare diseases. If you’re a fan of medical mysteries, you’ll dig the way they use deductive reasoning to solve things that shouldn't be solvable. But really, it’s the relationship between Watson and his team—and the lingering shadow of Sherlock—that keeps it grounded.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the series or keep up with the cast, here is what you need to do:
- Watch the Premiere First: The pilot episode, which aired after the 2025 AFC Championship, sets up the "Sherlock is dead" mystery and the brain injury subplot that defines Watson's character.
- Track the Guest Stars: The show loves the original Conan Doyle lore. Keep an eye out for names like Lestrade and Adler; they usually signify a major plot shift.
- Follow the Producers: Since Morris Chestnut is also an Executive Producer, he often shares behind-the-scenes looks at the "Holmes Clinic" sets on his social media.
- Check the Schedule: New episodes typically air Sunday nights on CBS and stream on Paramount+ the next day.
The show has already been renewed for a second season, so the mystery of whether Sherlock is actually dead—and what Moriarty is really planning—isn't going anywhere soon.