In the world of Young Sherlock, the deerstalker and pipe are punchlines of a high-energy, improvised evolution of the world’s most famous detective. While many iterations of Sherlock Holmes focus on the solitary genius, the new Prime Video series directed by Guy Ritchie breathes life into the character through a surprisingly collaborative, “Butch and Sundance” style partnership between a young Sherlock Holmes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and a young James Moriarty (Donal Finn).
“Never stopping short of the mark, making sure we sprint through the finish line, is something that Sherlock would appreciate.”Hero Fiennes Tiffin
The foundation of the show’s unique energy was laid early on by director Guy Ritchie, who established a “baptism by fire” atmosphere during the first two weeks of filming at Oxford University. For Tiffin, this meant learning to embrace the chaos of the moment. “Guy literally teaches you that, even with very little time, you can always improve the show [with] ideas that you have on the day,” Hero explained in an interview in London. This philosophy often resulted in the actors receiving three pages of fresh dialogue just ten minutes before the cameras rolled — a challenge that actually improves the performance, Hero says. “Even though your acting might not be as good because you’re still trying to find the words, you’d still go for that. It’s going to improve the scene.”
Finn echoed this sentiment, describing the shoot as “spontaneous” and “instinctual.” He noted that the early days were essential for establishing the “rhythm and vocabulary” of the duo’s relationship. This sense of play is perhaps most evident in an episode 3 scene, set in a hat shop, where the pair leaned into the comedy of their disguise. “We had the scene where we just knew the dynamic was […] these lads are looking for information, but they want to have fun while they’re doing it,” Finn recalls. In this scene, Moriarty begins a fabrication about a missing glove and a lost love, only for Sherlock to “capitalize on making him look a lot more soppy… as if he’s head over heels for this girl.”
This “one-upping” becomes a hallmark of their chemistry. Even when the stakes are high and the characters risk getting caught, they can’t help but “stick their necks out even further just to take the mick out of each other,” according to Hero. This competitive yet deep-seated bond was a deliberate choice by writer and showrunner Matthew Parkhill, who wanted to avoid the traditional “sidekick” trope. “I was always very conscious not to make Moriarty a Watson,” Parkhill notes. “I wanted to make sure these are two equal intellects… finding that bounce, the back-and-forth ‘tic-tac.'”
Beyond the scripted banter, the off-screen commitment between the two leads mirrored their characters’ dedication. Finn highlights a “mutual desire to make it as great as possible,” despite the relentless energy required over a seven-month shoot. Hero reciprocates this respect, noting Finn’s unwavering punctuality and support even on days he wasn’t filming. “Never stopping short of the mark, making sure we sprint through the finish line, is something that Sherlock would appreciate,” Hero says of his co-star. They tease one another, but they each appreciate what the other brought to the table.
“What I love about Mycroft, in contrast to Sherlock, is that he’s a believer in being an agent for change within the system […] they’re very useful counterbalances for each other. As frustrating as he finds Sherlock, there’s a deep, profound love and respectMax Irons
Off-screen, Hero — who garnered international fame starring in the After franchise — has found that the character’s “natural curiosity” has begun to rub off on him. When asked at the world premiere in London about playing detective in real life, he cheekily pointed to a recent success: “I lost my hotel room key earlier and found it very quickly. So, I mean, there’s that.” He finds joy in the intellectual gymnastics of the role, stating: “I’ve really enjoyed pretending to be much more intelligent than I am… ever since watching Sherlock and the depictions of those deductions, I kind of start to look around and go, ‘If someone’s got a bit of fur on their leg, they might have a small dog.'”
While Sherlock thrives on this playful anarchy, he is grounded by the presence of his brother Mycroft, played by Max Irons. In this version, Mycroft serves as a necessary, more calculated counterbalance to Sherlock’s raw energy. “What I love about Mycroft, in contrast to Sherlock, is that he’s a believer in being an agent for change within the system,” Irons explains. “I think they’re very useful counterbalances for each other. As frustrating as he finds Sherlock, there’s a deep, profound love and respect for his particular brand of intelligence, and he recognizes that he has to be guided and protected.”
The eight-episode series, which is now streaming on Prime Video, is well-executed in classic Guy Ritchie style — dripping with humour, energy, and a sharp wit that keeps viewers hooked across all eight episodes. Tiffin really brings his charm and his best young Sherlock impression to the role, while Finn proves to be a formidable screen partner and partner in crime. Together, the show rests on their very capable shoulders along with a stellar support cast: Joseph Fiennes, real-life uncle to Hero, plays his on-screen father, which adds to the dynamic; meanwhile, Colin Firth is entertaining as ever when he’s on screen, alongside Zine Tseng and Irons.
Young Sherlock presents a version of these iconic figures defined not by their future rivalry, but by their current brotherhood. As Finn puts it, while they are “dynamically opposed” characters, they recognize a lot of themselves in one another. Whether they are trading lines on a staircase or being “guided and protected” by the more systemic Mycroft, the core of the show remains the “good crack” between actors taking big swings at legendary roles.
Young Sherlock is now streaming on Prime Video.
FEATURE PHOTO COURTESY OF PRIME VIDEO AND AMAZON MGM STUDIOS.
