CBS’ Watson Quietly Confirmed It’s More Sci-Fi Than Fans Realized

by

The show Watson offers a fresh take on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories. It breaks from tradition in several ways, like being set in Pittsburgh and giving John Watson a background in genetics, as portrayed by Morris Chestnut. While some adaptations try to make Holmes more realistic, Watson leans into science fiction and fantasy. A prime example is the allegorical storytelling in Season 2, Episode 3, “Expletive Deleted,” which is something only the sci-fi genre could achieve.

As a movie and TV buff, I’ve always been fascinated by Sherlock Holmes and Watson. They’ve stuck around for so long, and honestly, the world Sir Arthur Conan Doyle built feels like the original shared universe – you see echoes of it in everything from superheroes to sci-fi adventures. What’s really cool is that, unlike characters like Spock or Krypto, Holmes and Watson are totally public domain, meaning anyone can play with them. That opens the door for storytellers like Sweeny to really experiment and reimagine these icons. They’re not just doing straight-up ‘whodunits’ anymore; they’re using the Holmes framework to tackle all sorts of mysteries – even ones inside the human body. It’s neat how they’ve made Watson almost become Sherlock, using everything he learned to solve problems. And let’s be real, most of us aren’t medical experts, so whether all the science is 100% accurate isn’t the point. The mysteries aren’t about catching criminals; they’re unfolding within people, and that’s a really interesting twist.

Like House, Watson Is a Medical Show More About Mystery Than Accuracy

Though best known as Sherlock Holmes’s companion, Dr. John Watson is essentially reimagined as Dr. Gregory House – an American doctor with a similar personality and a slight limp. Like Holmes, House is brilliant and uses vast knowledge to diagnose rare and unusual illnesses. Watson, also a capable doctor, applies the same sharp deduction skills he learned from Holmes, focusing those skills on genetics – a field where his colleagues aren’t as specialized. This expertise not only explains his success but also subtly hides his deductive reasoning. The story isn’t about if Watson will solve the medical puzzle, but rather how.

Across town from Watson’s University Hospital of Pittsburgh, Dr. Robby Robinavitch, portrayed by Noah Wylie, works at the also-fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The show stands out from other medical dramas due to its remarkable accuracy. It pays close attention to medical terminology, procedures, and even the small details of hospital life, which adds to the dramatic tension. While medical cases are important, Watson uses them as a starting point to explore the characters’ personal stories. Dr. John, his colleagues, and Shinwell Johnson, a former driver now studying to be a nurse, often connect with patients on a deeper, more personal level – something that wouldn’t be possible at The Pitt.

Many versions of Sherlock Holmes closely follow the original character created by Conan Doyle, often portraying him as brilliant at solving mysteries but lacking in emotional understanding. This is where John Watson comes in – he serves as the human, empathetic counterpoint that Sherlock actually hears. Watson’s strength lies in his ability to connect with others, though this can sometimes be a vulnerability. There are instances where his people skills, rather than medical expertise, were crucial to saving someone’s life. While long-running stories often show how John influences Sherlock, it’s more accurate to say that Watson transformed from an emotionally aware companion into Holmes’s most valuable protégé.

Watson’s Unbelievable Medical Mystery Is Sci-Fi and a Vehicle for Allegory

The show “Expletive Deleted” follows Max Bowers, a thirty-something woman who has a rare medical condition causing her to appear as a child. While young actress Ava Anton delivers a strong performance, often using censored swearing as part of the character, the condition itself is entirely fictional. Even the experienced doctors at the UHOP clinic haven’t encountered anything similar. Ultimately, the explanation—a little-known gene—feels unsatisfying because it’s obscure and unfamiliar to most viewers.

The heart of the story isn’t about Max’s medical case, but about how Watson impacts her life personally. While Watson is as dedicated to solving mysteries as Sherlock, his role here is different. He doesn’t just diagnose and treat; he truly heals his patients. Initially, Max’s situation seems comical, but viewers focused on realism find little to laugh about. Some fans were so critical of the story’s details that they missed the deeper meaning. Though Max’s condition appears absurd at first, we quickly understand how incredibly lonely and hopeless she feels. Separate from her physical aging, Max believes she has cancer and has lost the will to live, refusing any help.

Similar to the frustrations surrounding access to sickle-cell treatments, the show subtly explores how the healthcare system lets people down. Watson learns that Max grew up in a remote area with limited access to hospitals and specialists. While Max’s illness is fictional, the lack of medical care in rural areas is a real problem. People in these areas suffer because they can’t get the help they need. But Max also represents those whose symptoms are dismissed or not taken seriously by doctors, who may not have the time or resources to properly investigate. These patients are often treated as if they’re imagining things. Instead of inventing a fantastical cure, the episode ends with Watson assuring Max that she’s not the only one experiencing these difficulties.

The Pitt Aims for Realism, But Watson’s Healing Philosophy Doesn’t Suffer From Inaccuracy

Good medical dramas need to balance realism with compelling storytelling. While shows like The Pitt benefit from strong visuals and accurate details, they sometimes take creative liberties for dramatic effect. When done well, viewers understand these exaggerations are in service of a better story. Ultimately, fiction isn’t about strict accuracy – it’s about using imagination to reveal deeper truths. The Pitt achieves this within a believable world, and even shows like Watson, which venture further into science fiction, can still explore profound truths – their ‘lies’ simply make those truths more impactful.

The team at the Sherlock Holmes Clinic at UHOP doesn’t just handle emergencies; they focus on long-term healing. While saving lives in critical moments is vital – like determining if Max had cancer or what caused her illness – Watson realized medical treatment alone wasn’t enough. Max had been failed by the healthcare system, and the team had to rebuild her hope. As Mister Rogers, a fellow Pittsburgher, believed, being able to talk about a problem is the first step to solving it. Uncovering the truth behind Max’s condition simply gave Watson and Max the words they needed to address the deeper issues.

While Watson can sometimes seem eccentric, a trait inherited from his Sherlock Holmes inspiration, the creators of the CBS series aren’t focused on creating flawlessly realistic medical cases. Instead, these mysteries serve as opportunities for Watson to demonstrate his skills and prove himself to Holmes. Ultimately, what truly makes John Watson heroic is his dedication to improving people’s lives after he’s helped solve a problem.

You can watch Watson on Paramount+. New episodes air Mondays at 10 PM Eastern time on CBS.

Read More

2025-11-10 23:07