It’s no secret thatSherlockand Guy Ritchie’sSherlock Holmesmovies dominated the 2010s, each offering their own stylish, charismatic takes on the legendary detective - but there was another, more grounded, and deeply underrated version of Sherlock Holmes quietly solving crimes at the same time. For many fans, Benedict Cumberbatch’s brilliant but emotionally distant sleuth inSherlockbecame the definitive modern interpretation. Others still prefer Robert Downey Jr.’s eccentric, action-driven take from Guy Ritchie’s explosive 2009 filmSherlock Holmesand its sequel,A Game of Shadows. Both portrayals reimagined Holmes in captivating, if radically different, ways, helping to reignite mainstream interest in the character.
However, Cumberbatch and Downey Jr. weren’t the only ones tostep into Holmes’ iconic shoesin the 2010s. While the BBC’sSherlockwas a global sensation and the RDJ-led films were box office hits, another version of the character was quietly building a fanbase across seven seasons. Anchored by a performance that blended intellect, vulnerability, and evolution, this overlooked take gave fans a radically different - and arguably more human - Sherlock Holmes. There’s no doubt that the decade gave us several incredible adaptations of the detective, but when it comes to the most underrated version of Sherlock Holmes,Elementarydeserves far more credit than it usually gets.
Johnny Lee Miller Is The Most Underrated Sherlock Holmes Of The 2010s
Johnny Lee Miller Gave Sherlock Holmes His Most Emotionally Complex TV Portrayal Yet
From 2012 to 2019,Elementaryreimagined Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective as a recovering drug addict working with the NYPD, and actor Johnny Lee Miller brought a raw, emotionally nuanced performance playingSherlock Holmes across all 7 seasons. The CBS show stood out by combining the structure of a weekly mystery-of-the-week format with deeply serialized character development.
Miller’s Sherlock was every bit the brilliant, detail-obsessed sleuth fans expected, but his version also wrestled with guilt, trauma, and addiction in ways no other version had explored so deeply.Elementarybegins with Sherlock Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller)relocating from London to New York City after a stint in rehab. He’s assigned a sober companion, Joan Watson (Lucy Liu), who eventually becomes his investigative partner.
That small shift -making Watson a woman- immediately setElementaryapart from bothSherlockand the Guy Ritchie films, but the show did much more than gender-swap a character. It used the Holmes-Watson dynamic toexplore themes of trust, codependency, and healing, all while staying true to the spirit of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories.
What made Miller’s portrayal of this underrated version of Sherlock Holmes, so compelling was its consistent emotional evolution. Unlike Benedict Cumberbatch’s Holmes, who often remained emotionally detached,Miller’s detective was in a constant state of growth. Over seven seasons, viewers saw Sherlock develop meaningful relationships, confront his past, and gradually allow himself to feel empathy and remorse.
Elementarydidn’t treat his emotional breakthroughs as anomalies; they were part of his journey toward becoming a better person - and a better detective. Johnny Lee Miller’s performance struck a rare balance: it honored theclassic quirks of Sherlock Holmes (his obsession with logic, his disregard for social niceties), while rooting the character in a more grounded, human world. It was an interpretation that may have flown under the radar for many fans of the detective, but it’s one of the most rewarding and emotionally rich takes to date.
Elementary Was A Sleeper Hit That Got Sherlock Holmes Right
Elementary Quietly Delivered One Of The Most Faithful Modern Sherlock Holmes Adaptations
WhileSherlockdazzled audiences with its slick visuals and puzzle-box plots,Elementaryfocused more on character development and the slow, methodical unraveling of mysteries. It didn’t have the same pop culture cachet as the BBC seriesor the Guy Ritchie films, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t get Sherlock Holmes right - in fact,Elementarymay have captured the essence of Doyle’s detective more accurately than its higher-profile counterparts.
Elementarydidn’t rely on bombastic action or flashy twists. Instead, it embraced a more grounded approach,rooted in the quiet intelligence and tireless persistence that define Sherlock Holmes at his core. Each episode offered self-contained mysteries that paid homage to the detective’s literary roots, while also slowly building an overarching narrative that deepened over time.
It depicted an underrated version of Sherlock Holmes who didn’t just solve crimes - he grew as a person.
From recurring adversaries like Moriarty (played withchilling brilliance by Natalie Dormer) to thoughtful reinterpretations of canon elements,Elementaryconsistently honored its source material.More importantly, it depicted an underrated version of Sherlock Holmes who didn’t just solve crimes - he grew as a person.
Johnny Lee Miller’s Holmes wasn’t just the smartest guy in the room; he was someone trying to rebuild his life. His drug addiction wasn’t a quirky footnote, either. It was central to his identity, and the show treated it with respect and realism. Therelationship between Sherlock and Joan Watson became the emotional backboneof the series, transforming from reluctant partnership into a bond that rivaled any Holmes-Watson pairing on screen.
The show never tried to be flashy. It succeeded by being consistent, intelligent, and quietly profound. Over time,Elementarybuilt a loyal followingof viewers who appreciated its slow-burn storytelling and character-driven drama. It may never have reached the pop culture saturation ofSherlock, butElementarycarved out its own place in the Holmes canon - one that deserves far more recognition, especially for its underrated version of Sherlock Holmes.
How Johnny Lee Miller’s Sherlock Was Different From Cumberbatch And Downey Jr.
Each Sherlock Brought Something Unique, But Johnny Lee Miller’s Version Stood Alone
Every modern version of Sherlock Holmes seems to bring something unique to the character, and Johnny Lee Miller inElementaryis no exception.Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmeswas emotionally stunted, brilliant to a fault, and addicted to the thrill of solving puzzles. Robert Downey Jr.’s take leaned heavily into the eccentricity and action-hero flair of Holmes, complete with slow-motion deductions and bare-knuckle brawls. Johnny Lee Miller’s portrayal, meanwhile, was more introspective, grounded, and - crucially - evolving.
Thatevolution is what setsElementaryapartfrom other adaptations and makes it a standout in the conversation about the most underrated version of Sherlock Holmes. WhereSherlockoften framed its protagonist as an untouchable genius,Elementaryexplored Sherlock’s vulnerability.
Miller’s Holmes openly struggled with substance abuse and emotional isolation, and the show wasn’t afraid to dig into the messy consequences of those struggles. Hewasn’t a perfect detectivewho wowed with every deduction; he was a man rebuilding his life, inch by inch. That made his brilliance feel earned, not just inevitable.
UnlikeRobert Downey Jr.’s Holmes, who thrived in cinematic chaos and fast-paced action, Miller’s detective lived in a world closer to reality. He collaborated with law enforcement, relied on legwork and observation, and embraced technology in ways that felt contemporary without being flashy. Even the tone ofElementaryreflected this - it was less about spectacle and more about substance.
Crucially, Miller’s version of Holmes didn’t just tolerate emotional connections; he cultivated them. His relationship with Joan Watson wasn’t romantic, but it was deeply intimate and emotionally rich. That dynamic stood in contrast to the often aloof interactions between Cumberbatch’s Holmes and Martin Freeman’s Watson, or the banter-heavy partnership between Downey Jr. and Jude Law. InElementary,Sherlock Holmes wasn’t above feelings- he learned to understand them, manage them, and, eventually, embrace them.
All three actors delivered memorable performances, each bringing a different facet of the detective to life. However, when it comes to the bestmodern version of Sherlock Holmes, Johnny Lee Miller’s interpretation inElementarydeserves a place in the conversation - not as an alternative, but as one of the best.
Sherlock
Cast
In this incarnation of Sherlock from creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman assume the roles of Sherlock and Watson as they establish their partnership and begin solving strange mysteries throughout the U.K. and beyond. Set in a more 2010’s modern setting, Sherlock’s eccentric and complex nature is accentuated as he solves seemingly supernatural crimes with unparalleled intellect while struggling to connect with others on a human level. Meanwhile, Watson blogs the stories summarizing their cases while building a strained but caring friendship with his new partner.
Sherlock Holmes
Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes adapts the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with an all-star Hollywood cast. Set in 1890, Sherlock Holmes follows the eccentric but brilliant detective Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr.) and his partner Watson (Jude Law) as they solve various mysteries around Victorian London. Teaming up with former adversary Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), the detectives find themselves pitted against the villainous Lord Henry Blackwood (Mark Strong) as he attempts to gain control of Britain.
Elementary
A modern retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, Elementary is set in New York City and details the adventures of Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) who becomes partner to the consulting detective Sherlock Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) after first being assigned as his sober companion. Set up a procedural crime drama, the series includes multiple references to the original Holmes stories, often with surprising twists. Aidan Quinn and John Micahel Hill also star as Thomas Gregson and Marcus Bell, with John Noble as a notable guest star.
