Elementary (TV series)

CBS's modern New York Holmes, with Lucy Liu as Joan Watson.

Elementary is an American procedural comedy-drama television series that updated Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes for the present day, created by Robert Doherty and aired on CBS for seven seasons from September 27, 2012, to August 15, 2019.

Quick Facts

Genre

Comedy drama
Crime drama
Mystery
Procedural

Creator

Robert Doherty

Based on

The works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Starring

Jonny Lee Miller
Lucy Liu
Jon Michael Hill
Aidan Quinn
John Noble
Nelsan Ellis
Desmond Harrington
James Frain

Composer

Sean Callery

Country

United States

Language

English

Location

New York, United States

Facts from the source article.

Background

Jonny Lee Miller plays Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu plays Dr. Joan Watson across 154 episodes, set and filmed mainly in New York City. Holmes, a recovering drug addict and former consultant to Scotland Yard, moves to Manhattan after rehabilitation and assists the New York City Police Department in solving crimes.

His wealthy father hires Watson, a former surgeon, as his sober companion. She finds she has a talent for investigation and becomes first his apprentice and later his professional partner. Holmes's indifference to police procedure leads to conflict with Captain Thomas Gregson, played by Aidan Quinn, and Jon Michael Hill plays Detective Marcus Bell.

The series also follows Holmes's conflict with his nemesis and former lover Jamie Moriarty, played by Natalie Dormer, while Rhys Ifans plays his brother Mycroft Holmes and John Noble plays his father Morland Holmes.

Before it premiered the show drew some criticism for following so closely on the BBC's modern adaptation Sherlock, but it was well received by critics, who praised the performances, the writing and its novel approach to Conan Doyle's stories.