The CW’s latest attempt at relevancy is a Sherlock series
Fargo's David Thewlis is playing the popular fictional detective in a new The CW drama
TV News Sherlock
It’s safe to say The CW’s heydey is way, way behind us. At one point a decade ago, the network was thriving with its array of superhero dramas (Arrow, The Flash, Legends Of Tomorrow, and Supergirl), inventive originals (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Jane The Virgin), and wild YA fare (Riverdale, The 100, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl). Long before that, the network was at its peak with hits from its UPN/WB past like Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, and Supernatural. The name-dropping is for a reason; what exactly does it have to show for itself now?
Well, in its current Nextstar era, The CW has famously pivoted to Jesus, it features a ton of golf, magic, FBOY Island, and some middling Canadian exports. It’s not The CW we know and love. Although there are a couple of underrated gems like All American and its spin-off, it doesn’t look like the network has enough trust in it to give it the marketing love it deserves. And so, their newest ray of hope comes from something, or rather someone familiar. IP for the win, as always, huh?
At the winter 2024 Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, The CW announced its latest venture: Sherlock & Daughter. The series features Fargo and Harry Potter star David Thewlis as the famous fictional detective who resides at 221B Baker Street.
The show features Sherlock in a weird stage as he’s unable to solve a complex mystery that puts his loved ones at risk. Everything changes when his supposed daughter enters his life. Amelia (Blu Hunt) is an American whose mother dies unexpectedly and she learns she might be Sherlock’s spawn. Despite wildly different personalities, the duo teams up to crack a global conspiracy theory. And where there’s a Sherlock, there’s a Moriarty. Batwoman’s Dougray Scott will play his legendary nemesis.
Who knows if Sherlock & Daughter will lead to The CW’s second (third?) coming, but there’s some optimism here—sue us!—because TV is used to pretty good adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels. They include the Benedict Cumberbatch-led Sherlock and CBS’ long-running procedural, Elementary. The actual lesson to be learned here as Nexstar fishes for success is that perhaps TV companies should be owned and run by people who care for/love the platform.
Anyway, Sherlock & Daughter is created, written, and executive produced by Brendan Foley, and the writers include Micah War Dog Wright and Shelly Goldstein. To match the theme, The CW also announced at TCA it has picked up two game shows, Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble. Yes, they’re based on the board games. Yes, we can laugh a little. Finally, All American returns for season six on April 1, and Jared Padalecki’s Walker season four on April 3.
Sherlock & Daughter, meanwhile, is slated for 2025.
21 Comments
Weird, I thought the CW knew its niche and has remained reliably and moderately successful in it since they called it the WB.
New owners learned that the CW audience skews older, so they ditched most of their traditional CW-style shows.
New owners apparently paid no attention to streaming views or Netflix residuals, because reading is for dweebs
But what residuals would Nexstar/The CW be getting from Netflix? Those go to the companies that make the show, not the one that has a limited license to broadcast it.
I suppose not understanding those kinds of things is why they don’t let me run a networkI would just make more seasons of Legends of Tomorrow until the whole thing burned down.
Yes the CW skews older, but that meant they were watching the shows that were currently on! Granny wanted her Riverdale apparently. Not the nonsense they are airing now that is “aimed” at the older crowd.
I know. It makes no sense.
Jonny Lee Miller was the best Shirlock ever, and I still miss the opening sequence of Elementary with the rolling glass ball. Beat that, CW.
That show was my absolute favorite portrayal of the character.
Sure, but only if this is a lead in to a new Legends of Tomorrow Crossover. No Waverider, no sell.
ticked off that Superman and Lois won’t come until the fall but at the very least that would mean, hopefully, the vfx, is not shoddy.
Gotta see the end of Supes vs. Bizarroday on the moon!
guarantee you we won’t due to those budget cuts. They are really cutting it close to Legacy’s premire. My guess they’re going to burn through the season fast. 2 hour premire weekly drop and then 2 hour finale for 8 weeks in sept.
Yeah if they don’t continue that in the opening episode I am not watching the rest of the season. I already hate the drama part and only watch it because the Supermanning is fucking top notch.
They should have never of cancelled Legends of Tomorrow.
Yeah it was picking back up and Faisan was absolutely perfect for Booster Gold!
Gee I wonder if Sherlock will be portrayed as a complete asshole to everyone around him but noone ever punches him in the face for it.
Knox Harrington? The video artist?
At this point the only Sherlock show I would watch is a revival of Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century. If 90’s X-Men can get a continuation, surely this could too.
You forgot another great take on Sherlock, a little show called House MD on Fox…