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Elementary

Elementary

New Holmes. New Watson. New York.

2012–2019Ended7 seasons154 episodes~60 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

A modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare - a sober companion, Dr. Watson.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Elementary?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Elementary streaming on Hulu, Prime Video and The Roku Channel (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

Free

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Elementary?

Elementary earns 5 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Standout acting.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Elementary worth watching?

Elementary's Midcredits score is the 87th percentile of all shows, from 130K ratings across 2 sources. 87% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

87th percentile

Better received than 87% of shows

84th percentile among Action86th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)81st
Approval (how many liked it)88th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

78 /100

81st percentile of all shows

80th percentile among Action79th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

87% liked it

88th percentile of all shows

83rd percentile among Action86th percentile among 2010s
87% rated it 7–1013% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

128K ratings across platforms

96th percentile among Action99th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A modern, character-driven detective procedural that reinterprets Holmes and Watson with a distinct American identity.

Fans praised

  • Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu's grounded, committed performances
  • Modern NYC setting feels refreshing and distinct from other adaptations
  • Witty dialogue and smart mystery plotting across episodes

Detractors panned

  • Diverges from source material, frustrating Holmes purists
  • Predictable mystery plots and formulaic structure
  • Overly serialized with subplots that drag and distract

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

Miller and Liu praised as charming and multi-dimensional; detractors find cast miscast

CharactersDivisive75

Holmes' complexity and Watson's agency celebrated; some find supporting roles underdeveloped

DialogueDivisive75

Clever, witty exchanges; fans love the verbal sparring, detractors find it forced

OriginalityDivisive70

Fresh NYC setting and female Watson; some see it as gimmicky

AtmosphereDivisive70

Modern NYC grounded and immersive; detractors miss Victorian tone

Plot and storyDivisive65

Smart episodic mysteries but increasingly predictable and serialized

Emotional impact65

Holmes' addiction and friendships resonate; occasional melodrama

PacingDivisive60

Generally well-paced; later seasons criticized for dragging storylines

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 13 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 5 points apart
  • Critics vs users 8 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Episodes

7 seasons

Season 7 · 2019 · 13 episodes · 8.0 average across 13 rated episodes

  • S7E1

    The Further Adventures

    May 23, 201943 minTMDB rating 8.0
  • S7E2

    Gutshot

    May 30, 201943 minTMDB rating 8.2
  • S7E3

    The Price of Admission

    Jun 6, 201943 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S7E4

    Red Light, Green Light

    Jun 13, 201943 minTMDB rating 7.8
  • S7E5

    Into the Woods

    Jun 20, 201940 minTMDB rating 8.0
  • S7E6

    Command: Delete

    Jun 27, 201943 minTMDB rating 7.9

Watch experience

What is Elementary like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ContemplativeTenseWarm
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
WarmWry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show plays its material straight, balancing detective work with character drama, and treats its characters with warmth despite the darkness of the cases.
The rideThe series maintains a consistent blend of contemplative character moments and moderate tension from the cases, with an underlying warmth in the central relationship.
StructureEach episode follows a conventional three-act structure with a case introduced, investigated, and solved.
Episode formatEach episode presents a self-contained NYPD case, but these are interwoven with season-long arcs involving Moriarty, Holmes's past, and his family.
Season formatEach season features a distinct overarching arc (e.g., Moriarty's identity, Holmes's father, Kitty Winter's storyline) while maintaining the same core cast and setting.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe show balances clever mysteries with character warmth, leaving viewers satisfied and hopeful about the duo's progress.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe typical episode presents a murder case that Holmes and Watson solve through deduction, fitting the predator subtype of overcoming_the_monster.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% (this title) · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

FriendshipIdentityAddiction · under 1% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on the evolving friendship between Holmes and Watson, while also exploring Holmes's struggle with addiction and his changing sense of self.
StanceThe show celebrates the power of friendship and redemption, with cases and personal arcs framed as opportunities for growth and connection.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
SettingPresent-day New York City, centering on the NYPD and Holmes's brownstone

Content guide

Is Elementary okay for kids?

TV-14

Elementary is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (61/100), sexual content at mild (34/100), language at mild (34/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (45/100) and frightening material at moderate (45/100). Overall it is heavier than 48% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 22 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada14+
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • France10
  • Ireland12
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Austria12
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK12
  • IndiaU
  • LTN-7
  • MexicoAA
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway12
  • PhilippinesG
  • Portugal12AP
  • SingaporeNC16
  • Spain12
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 38% of all showsHeavier than 48% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 65%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 41%
Profanity
Mild
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 34%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 72%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 46%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence. Everything else sits at or below what TV-14 shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Elementary have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Elementary?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Jonny Lee Miller
as Sherlock Holmes
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Lucy Liu
as Dr. Joan Watson
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Aidan Quinn
as Captain Thomas Gregson
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jon Michael Hill
as Detective Marcus Bell
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jordan Gelber
as Dr. Eugene Hawes
John Noble
as Mr. Morland Holmes
Ophelia Lovibond
as Kitty Winter
Nelsan Ellis
as Shinwell Johnson
Ato Essandoh
as Alfredo Llamosa
Tim Guinee
as NSA Agent McNally
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.

More like this

What are shows like Elementary?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Elementary include Castle (2009), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) and Unforgettable (2011).

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623 other shows share the rarest tag below, relationship: odd couple. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.