Warning: SPOILERS for Watson episode 1!

The recently premiered pilot for death of Sherlock Holmes, but it’s ultimately the survival of Sherlock’s nemesis Professor Moriarty that stands out as the most consequential reveal in the first episode. Not only does James Moriarty appear to have big plans for the city of Pittsburgh, but it looks like John Watson himself is set to play a major role in the villain’s dastardly plans.

Watson follows the titular doctor as he uses funding left by Sherlock’s estate to open a new clinic in which Watson investigates medical mysteries by employing Sherlock’s tried and true methods of deduction. The eccentricities Watson picked up from his long-time English friend cause many of the show’s cast of characters to doubt his methods. What's more, a brain injury he suffers when trying to prevent Sherlock’s demise at Reichenbach Falls sets the doctor up for betrayal. Now, Moriarty is using Watson’s own staff to set his schemes into motion.

Watson Creator Craig Sweeny's Comments Hint At Moriarty's Attempt At Bioterrorism

Moriarty's Theft Of DNA Samples Will Take Part In A Plot Sweeny Compares To Science Fiction

Randall Park's first appearance as Moriarty in Watson is marked by his meeting with former criminal Shinwell Johnson, a frequent informant of Sherlock's, delivering DNA samples stolen from Watson's new clinic. As a geneticist, this incarnation of John Watson likely has access to DNA samples of all kinds, but a recent Deadline interview with Watson creator Craig Sweeny hints that these particular DNA samples will help lay the foundation for Moriarty's ultimate plan.

"Moriarty has an ongoing plan to apply the work Watson is doing in his clinic, specifically the rare DNA that comes in from sick people all over the world, very much to his own ends. It’s a really shocking plan, entirely rooted in actual science, but that feels like science fiction when they know what he’s up to."

Although not stated explicitly, this statement certainly lends itself to the theory that Moriarty is planning an act of bioterrorism. This theory is strengthened by the beginning of the scene, in which Moriarty comments to Shinwell on Pittsburgh's vulnerability to "the mercy of non-existence." Moriarty outlines several ways in which Pittsburgh could be destroyed, notably ending with the possibility that "a germ may even write its name into history here." Not only does this strongly suggest bioterrorism, but it means that Watson would stand out from other Sherlock Holmes TV shows by potentially writing Moriarty's deadliest, most wide-reaching scheme ever.

How Watson's Brain Injury Could Help Moriarty Execute His Nefarious Plan

Watson Will Likely Become Moriarty's First Guinea Pig

Despite CBS largely billing Watson as a medical drama, Sweeny makes it clear that Moriarty's scheme will form the overarching story of the season. Since Sweeny also claims the series has no current plans to introduce Sherlock Holmes, this means that Watson will have to match wits with the Napoleon of crime on his own intellect alone. As if that weren’t harrowing enough, one plot point from the episode 2 preview suggests Watson’s abilities may be compromised when playing a more direct role in Moriarty’s plans than the mere theft of a few DNA samples.

The pilot establishes that Watson is currently experimenting with off-label drug cocktails to treat the injury he suffered at Reichenbach Falls. In order to keep his neurologist Ingrid in the dark about this, Watson's using Shinwell to acquire the drugs. As shown in the most recent preview for the Morris Chestnut series, this leads to one of Moriarty's associates instructing Shinwell to replace Watson's medications, resulting in seemingly debilitating medical complications.

Although possible this occurs in episode 2, the preview appears to showcase scenes from later in the season as well.

It's unclear what precisely Moriarty's motivations may be in replacing Watson's medications. Since Moriarty's plan seems to hinge on Watson's survival if he hopes to continue stealing DNA samples, it's unlikely that he's actually making an attempt on Watson's life. But as seen in some other Sherlock Holmes adaptations, the professor always has an ulterior motive. If he truly is planning an act of bioterrorism, Moriarty may be simply testing aspects of a new pathogen in stages without planning to do away with Watson just yet.

Who Else Could Moriarty Be Working With In Watson?

Shinwell Might Not Be Watson's Most Dangerous Betrayer

Ritchie Coster’s Shinwell may seem like a secondary antagonist for the time being, but his eventual redemption arc is all but guaranteed. Not only does he appear to harbor genuine affection for Watson, but Sweeny has also said that Shinwell is working with Moriarty against his will due to information Moriarty’s using against him. If Watson really wants to establish a strong villain from within the ranks of Watson’s staff, then having Eve Harlow’s Ingrid Derian begin working for Moriarty would make for a much better twist once Watson resumes normal scheduling on February 16.

The end of the episode 2 preview shows Moriarty confronting Ingrid with some mysterious information he’s gathered on her, and an alliance between the two could lead to formidable conflict moving forward. Not only is Ingrid the neurologist in charge of monitoring Watson’s recovery from his brain injury, but Watson himself notes in the Watson pilot that Ingrid reminds him of Moriarty because she’s extremely gifted yet also dishonest and self-serving. It’s also suggested that she may be clinically antisocial, making her the best candidate among Watson’s staff to share a playing field with as devious a villain as the professor.

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