Netflix's The Irregulars wants you to know that this is not your normal Sherlock Holmes story. For once, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary fictional detective isn't the star of the show, and he's struggling to showcase the impressive detective chops of those earlier iterations. For Henry Lloyd-Hughes, the latest incumbent to take on the role of Sherlock, there's one main reason behind this baiting and switch to the new Netflix series. “This version of Sherlock is a case of all the elements of his legend that we're used to being shattered,” Lloyd-Hughes tells us. “On this show, it's a journey to put them together and see what the rebuilt version really looks like. Once we do, we can think about how the man or myth has done more good than harm or vice versa. "Sherlock is not the only individual struggling with his legacy in The Irregulars. Dr. John Watson, Holmes' faithful companion and often the voice of reason for the iconic duo, finds himself unable to comprehend how his life turned out. "I wanted to make him a world-weary man, who's lived and traveled and had to adapt to everything," says Royce Pierreson, who plays Watson. "He's constantly trying to run from his past, but the mistakes he's made they're still with him. When you see Holmes and Watson here, I think there will be an expectation on the part of the fans. Normally we see them as rounded figures, almost perfect, but they are broken, older men clinging to an idea of what they were .
Gangs of london
(Image credit: Matt Squire/Netflix) If Sherlock and Dr. Watson aren't the heroes of the play, who is? Advance the Irregulars, a group of street-smart teenagers led by matriarchal Bea (Thaddea Graham) who live in the shadow of 221B Baker Street. The group lives hand in hand until a chance meeting with Watson sees them begin solving crimes with a paranormal twist. As Bea and her adoptive family delve deeper into each investigation, they discover that the entire world is threatened by supernatural forces that not even Holmes and Watson can stop. The Irregulars is based on the gang of street kids that sometimes appear in the Sherlock stories, but that's where the similarities end. Like Holmes and Watson, they took creative liberties with the Netflix version of the group. Gone is the gang of white boys led by Wiggins and, in their place, a more contemporary group in their approach to casting. It may be a show set in the Victorian era, where gender disparity and racism were rife, but that's not the theme of the series, which is to its credit. "Representation of any kind is important," says Graham. “But seeing these two female characters up close, with their sisterly bond, is lovely because you don't get to see it much. It was an honor to have the opportunity to represent this. We have these strong characters regardless of their gender and I hope it becomes the norm and not in this monumental or revolutionary moment.
Supernatural surprises
(Image credit: Netflix / Matt Squire) As surreal as it may seem to base a Sherlock production on the occult and mystical arts, it's not such a far-fetched idea. Conan Doyle has retained a longstanding interest in the paranormal and spiritualism, so making a TV show with horror and otherworldly elements was not difficult for the cast of the show to grasp. “It was like we were exploring a whole new world,” Lloyd-Hughes explained. "You think, 'What if you take the world of Stranger Things, Doctor Who and literary icons and put them together?' I don't think we ever had to hold back in fear of Sherlock Holmes or the period theater rules we had to adhere to, and it was really liberating.The Irregulars has an overarching narrative that spanned its first season, but there were also opportunities for independent storytelling in each episode.Inspired by TV shows like The X-Files and movies like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, each episode features a unique villain that the gang must try to stop, even though there's a valid reason. behind turning to the dark side. "I think all bad guys are good, but their evil comes from a very real place like grief or loss," says Harrison Osterfield, who plays Leo on the show. where they come from and why they are on this dark path. You want to find out what made them come closer and connect with the spirit world, and I think there is a very emotional attraction there."
The devil is in the details
(Image credit: Netflix/Matt Squire) Bea, Leo, and the rest of the gang aren't just dealing with physical monsters, though. Like Holmes and Watson, the gang spends the series coming to terms with their own inner demons. Billy (JoJo Macari) grapples with a toxic masculinity born of his childhood, while Leo, who, initially unknown to other gang members, is heir to the English throne, struggles to balance his two very different lives.
These issues end up bleeding as the series moves on to other major issues. Class privileges, missing father figures, and ultimately finding your place in the world are issues each character grapples with to some degree. For Osterfield, giving these real-world themes as much screen time was just as important as the show's paranormal elements, and giving a nod to Sherlock adaptations of the past.
"Tom Bidwell wrote some incredible dialogue that makes you think about these things," he says. "I had never really considered the question before but, reading the script, you say to yourself: 'These are really important points that you have to talk about every day. It's been a privilege to have these discussions about class disparity and bring it to life on screen.
"I don't think I realized how strong these characters were when I auditioned," adds Graham. “When I read the part I had, I was like, 'This is a great story about a group of friends,' then I got the full script and I was like, 'Oh, turns out there's a lot more going on here.' . The topics are pretty heavy and we cover a lot of things throughout the series. It was a true honor to be a part. The Irregulars is a non-canon entry into the Sherlock universe, so while Netflix has already lightened up a second season, don't expect its characters to appear in future novels or other adaptations. The series may not lean as much on the works of Conan Doyle as other iterations of the characters, but that doesn't mean it can't have a place in the larger world of Sherlock. If anything, Lloyd-Hughes says, The Irregulars allows fans and the TV show itself to reflect on the character's legacy and add something entirely new to the Sherlock mythos.
“There's a great scene with me and Royce where we reflect on the good old days,” he says. “There's a real truth to that, and the nostalgic yearning they have is what I think will be the window for the audience. Ultimately, they also reflect on their past. In a weird way, it's meta because our versions also reflect his legacy. “They are such different characters even though they are called Sherlock and Watson,” adds Pierreson. “Seeing their genie come out from time to time and then drop it for all the demons that devour them is great. We get to dig into the psyche of these guys and I think it creates a whole different dynamic than people have seen before.