The new series “Young Sherlock” on Amazon Prime offers a new and different take on the classic literary detective Sherlock Holmes. “Young Sherlock” is a historical murder mystery set at Oxford University in 1871 that showcases the origin story of Sherlock and his adventures. 

This eight-episode series opens up with a 19-year-old Sherlock arriving at Oxford for a new job. He is known for his rebellious ways and has already built a reputation for himself. 

Soon after he has settled in at the university, a murder takes place and all of the evidence points towards Sherlock. While trying to clear his name, Sherlock starts using careful observation, logical deduction and attention to detail, methods which later define how brilliant a detective he was. 

The series highlights Sherlock’s partnership with James Moriarty, who originally played Sherlock’s enemy in Arthur Conan Doyle’s original writings. What started as an uneasy friendship turned into a partnership for solving crimes. 

The series does start slowly by trying to build its mystery, but this is done intentionally as the writers work hard at introducing all the characters and multiple storylines. However, as the series goes on, the plot becomes more engaging as unexpected twists and turns are introduced.

Overall, I’d give the series four out of five stars. “Young Sherlock” does a great job portraying the early years of the legendary detective’s life. While it might not be the best at portraying the classic Sherlock Holmes style, the series showcases engaging mystery, lots of twists to keep the viewer engaged and great character development. If you’re a fan of detective dramas, this show is definitely worth watching.