cast of Watson consists of the protagonist's medical team, with neurologist Ingrid Derian (Eve Harlow), twin brothers Stephen and Adam Croft (Peter Mark Kendall), immunologist Sasha Lubbock (Inga Schlingmann), aide Shinwell Johnson (Ritchie Coster), and surgeon Mary Morstan (Rochelle Aytes).

Now, the Rotten Tomatoes for Watson has been revealed, confirming the show has received a 62% based on 13 reviews. This score signifies generally positive reviews, though with some critics offering mixed scores as well. The official Critics Consensus indicates the premise isn't a perfect fit for Sherlock Holmes, but that Chestnut's portrayal as the title character bolsters the show's quality.

What Watson's Generally Positive Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For The Show

The Sherlock Holmes Series Isn't For Everyone

While the fresh rating signals a good number of positive reviews for the show, it's also just three percent away from being rotten, signifying a number of reviews that are more negative. This is despite the series being created by Craig Sweeny, who previously worked on CBS' other Sherlock Holmes series Elementary, which sits at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. This drastic shift between the two shows emphasizes how the new premise isn't landing as well just yet, despite its general inspiration from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work.

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It's unclear what this means for the series moving forward, as its early premiere on Sunday, January 26 might not reflect the viewership numbers it gets when the series starts weekly. Season 1, episode 2 airs on February 16, meaning there will be some time before it's revealed how much the show's critical reception will impact its regular viewership. Since Chestnut's portrayal of Watson is getting praise, though, it seems his characterization will be the selling point of the show, which could supersede any of the storytelling flaws it has.

Our Take On Watson's Rotten Tomatoes Score

The Show Can Still Be A Success Based On Viewership

John Watson (Morris Chestnut) looking at a patient in Watson season 1, episode 1

Although Watson's debut Rotten Tomatoes score isn't as high as it could be, the series might still find success in consistent viewership when it starts airing weekly. Given its place as a Sherlock Holmes adaptation, there's certain expectations it may need to consider for the future, especially when it comes to how much it pulls from the source material. For now, though, its generally positive to mixed reactions means the score could impact the show in either a positive or negative way.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Watson - Poster

Your Rating

Watson
Release Date
January 26, 2025
Network
CBS
Showrunner
Craig Sweeny
  • Headshot Of Morris Chestnut
    Morris Chestnut
    Dr. John Watson
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Tommy O'Brien
    Zach

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Directors
Larry Teng
Writers
Craig Sweeny
Creator(s)
Craig Sweeny