TV Show review
March 4, 2026 · TV-14
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Young Sherlock is a mystery drama series about a nineteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes. He tries to solve his very first murder case at Oxford University. The series has noticeable girl power elements. It features a highly skilled Chinese princess who often outshines Sherlock in both fighting and smarts. The story also has anti-colonial themes because the main mystery is about British elites who destroyed an Asian village.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Young Sherlock.
Woke representation / casting
The show has Taiwanese actress Zine Tseng as a Chinese princess and assassin. She is a very skilled fighter and scholar. She outsmarts and beats up men. This feels like a girlboss trope. It feels a bit forced for a story set in 1870s England.
Woke political dialogue
The script does not have modern social justice words or political lectures. The characters speak in ways that fit the historical setting. There are only mild anti-colonial talks about British scientists destroying a Chinese village.
Identity-driven story themes
The main plot has an anti-colonial theme. The villains are British elites who destroyed an Asian village for weapon research. The female lead is also shown as a master detective who is much smarter and tougher than the young Sherlock.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The plot criticizes Western institutions. It shows the British government and Oxford professors as bad guys. They destroyed a Chinese village to make weapons. This fits the mystery genre but has strong themes of colonial guilt.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
The show takes a real historical Chinese princess and turns her into a Kung Fu assassin at Oxford. This change fits modern girl power tropes. Other changes like making Moriarty Sherlock's friend are just normal story changes.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Some viewers online complained about the show. They did not like the girlboss character who is superior to men. Others complained about anti-colonial themes. They felt the show portrayed British society as inherently bad.
Creator track record context
The main creators have a history of avoiding progressive political themes. Directors like Guy Ritchie and Tricia Brock focus on standard action and entertainment.
