Prime Video’s Young Sherlock Cast And Characters Guide

Irrespective of the tone and treatment, any adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, the legendary sleuth created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, draws the attention of global viewers in an instant. More than narrative intrigues, ardent Sherlock fans and readers like myself tend to focus on the characterization of the key players in Sherlock’s universe. In that context, Amazon Prime’s “Young Sherlock” is really interesting as it creates its own distinctive canon while tracing Sherlock’s journey to become the renowned greatest detective. Watson’s surprising absence is a bummer for sure, but it also presents the opportunity to explore Sherlock and Moriarty’s connection in a new dynamic as they are shown to be the best of friends.

Sherlock Holmes Played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin

Nephew of celebrated British actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes, young actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin got his big break with “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” in which he played the role of young Lord Voldemort. Viewers probably already know that his uncle, Ralph Fiennes portrayed the role of adult version of the same character. Fiennes eventually starred in the romantic movie series “After,” being cast in the lead role of Hardin Scott. In recent years the actor has diversified his range by acting in movies like “Woman King,” “The Silencing,” and “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” In “Young Sherlock,” he plays the role of Sherlock Holmes in his late teenage years and brings a new dimension to the character not previously seen. Fiennes’ Sherlock is not the eccentric, moody, temperamental genius we often associate the iconic private eye with. He is shown to be a wisecracking, sharp lad who struggles to socialize and is more sentimental than viewers could have possibly expected. Sherlock couldn’t process the childhood trauma of losing his sister, Beatrice, while being separated from his family and became a willful kleptomaniac while spending his time in boarding school.

Fiennes’ version of Sherlock is shown to be emotionally vulnerable, especially when it comes to family, making him prone to lapses in judgment. The family drama-oriented narrative of “Young Sherlock” actually molds the titular character to suit the young adult tone intended by the makers. What remains unchanged is Sherlock’s unshakable moral compass, courageous nature, and obsessive pursuit of justice. 

James Moriarty Played By Donal Finn

Irish actor Donal Finn has previously acted in small screen ventures like “SAS: Rogue Heroes,” “The Wheel of Time,” and “Hadestown,” to name a few. In “Young Sherlock,” he takes on the role of James Moriarty, the iconic criminal mastermind capable of countering Sherlock’s wit and considered his archenemy. Sherlock’s partnership with his future nemesis, Moriarty, is one of the unique aspects “Young Sherlock” focuses on, and even though Finn’s version of Moriarty has not fully realized his potential for evil just yet, the seeds of chaos and malice are present alright. Making Moriarty an Irishman was definitely an ingenious idea by the makers, as this allows viewers to form a sympathetic angle to him upon seeing how being subjected to British prejudice and mistreatment, normalized even in so-called esteemed educational institutions like Oxford, created a deep-seated hatred inside him. Compared to Sherlock, teenage Moriarty shows more telltale signifiers that match with the familiar version of the character. Moriarty undermines the human cost of any crisis, getting a kick out of treating everything as a game of wits to prove his intellectual superiority. Moriarty’s apathetic outlook towards the world and opportunistic mindset are highlighted pretty well in the series, and in all probability, the second season will see him fully embracing the darkness growing inside him. At the same time, Moriarty pushes Holmes to look beyond the veil of sentimentality when crime concerns his own family. There is unrevealed family trauma that affects Moriarty, which will probably be shown in the upcoming continuation. 

Xiao Wei, played by Zine Tseng

Taiwanese actor Zine Tseng made her debut with Netflix’s sci-fi drama, “3 Body Problem,” and took the small screen scene by storm thanks to her portrayal of Ye Wenjie. In her second major international project, i.e “Young Sherlock,” she plays the role of Xiao Wei, a well-versed, sharp Chinese martial artist who belongs to a tribe in Gansu province. In many ways, Xiao’s cunning intellect, fierceness, and chemistry with Sherlock should remind viewers of the sleuth’s iconic adversary Irene Adler. However, unlike Irene, Xiao is shown to be motivated by a greater purpose to get involved in the large-scale political conspiracy/serial killings, as she wants to avenge her late parents and tradesfolk by taking down the colonizer scholars who are responsible for killing them. It would have been great had Xiao’s personal life gained a bit more focus, given Tseng was amazing with the role. 

Silas Holmes, played by Joseph Fiennes

Acclaimed British actor Joseph Fiennes has amazed viewers and critics alike with his performance in historical literary movies such as “Shakespeare in Love,” “Elizabeth,” “Enemy at the Gates,” “The Merchant of Venice,” and many more. In the series, Joseph plays the role of Silas Holmes, father of Sherlock, Mycroft, and Beatrice, who is just portrayed as the epitome of evil, both in his professional and personal spheres. If gaslighting and manipulating his children and wife were not enough, Silas is also shown to be a death merchant/warmonger who profits by selling bioweapons and controlling the supply of deterrents as well. As Sherlock has to accept the bitter truth of his father’s true nature and come to terms with his horrid actions, it’s needless to say the complex relation dynamics allow for his growth both as a human being and an investigator. 

Mycroft Holmes, Played By Max Irons

English actor/model Max Irons has gained recognition thanks to his performance in movies like “Red Riding Hood,” “The White Queen,” and “Bitter Harvest,” to name a few. In the series, Irons plays the eldest of the Holmes siblings, Mycroft, and most of the time throughout the series he remains stuck in the role of being an exasperated elder brother struggling to control his unruly brother. To be honest, Mycroft’s characterization felt lacking, as in nowhere did it feel like Mycroft is actually more intelligent and smart compared to his younger brother like he is supposed to be. The last bit of plot twist, where Mycroft earns Silas’ trust only to turn on him, is pretty predictable and hardly adds any new dimension to the character.

Cordelia Holmes, played by Natascha McElhone

Renowned English actor Natascha McElhone found critical acclaim for her silver screen roles like “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” “Ronin,” “The Truman Show,” “Carmen,” “Solaris,” etc. In the series, she plays the role of Cordelia Holmes, a kind art enthusiast and mother to Sherlock, Mycroft, and Beatrice. Cordelia’s loving, adventurous nature and sharp mind have rubbed off on Sherlock, and her charming, endearing exuberance balances the grim nature of the narrative. Cordelia’s mistreatment at the hands of her husband and asylum authority is a grim reminder of how women were subjected to heinous cruelty while the privileged strata of white colonizers ironically boasted about their progressiveness. Surely viewers will like to see more of her if the series receives a continuation.

Miscellaneous Characters 

Aside from the main characters, the supporting cast of “Young Sherlock” were exceptional with their roles as well. Holly Cattle played the role of Sherlock and Mycroft’s sister, Beatrice Holmes. Colin Firth played the role of Bucephalus Hodge, chief supervisor of the nerve agent creation project. Scott Reid played the role of Inspector Lestrade. 

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