Picture Credits- Domain
“If you want these nightmares to stop, then you must remember what you thought was madness in power.”
-The Linen Man
Set in the times of Victorian London, the show talks about a group of teenagers and a prince, hired by Dr. John Watson (Sherlock’s partner in crime) to investigate certain strange incidents that have been happening in the town.
If you’re going in thinking this is one of the many adventures involving Sherlock Holmes, I must warn you that it isn’t a one hundred percent a Sherlock Holmes adventure. Although juvenile at times, the show stands up to your expectations.
Introduction
Name of the Show - The Irregulars
Created By - Tom Bidwell
Genre - Crime Drama
Language - English
Synopsis - Spoiler Alert!
A group of young teenagers are hired by John Watson, Sherlock’s famous sidekick from Doyle’s famous books to investigate crimes of the supernatural kind, that have been taking place all over London. One of the teenagers, Jessie is gifted and has these strange nightmares which are hard to explain.
Together they uncover many secrets that run wild in the streets of London and one such secret takes them back to the infamous Sherlock Holmes and something he and his comrades did, fifteen years ago.
About the Creator
Picture Credit- Domain
Tom Bidwell is a screenwriter from Leyland, Lancashire, UK. He is a product of the BBC Writers Academy and was nominated for an Oscar for his live action short-film “Wish 143”. He wrote the popular TV adaptation “My Mad Fat Diary” of the book by Rae Earl.
Apart from The Irregulars and My Mad Fat Diary, Bidwell has also written the screenplay for another show called Watership Down that came out in 2018.
About the Show
A group of four teenagers Bea, Jessie, Billy and Spike who live together are hired by John Watson to investigate a series of supernatural crimes which have been taking place in London.
From the disappearance of infants, to the thievery of people’s teeth and body parts and a set of murder staged like tarot cards, mysterious crimes have been taking place in the city and so Watson hires these teenagers to uncover the secrets behind these crimes.
Bea meets Leo, who is actually the Prince but hides his reality to be a part of the group. Meanwhile Watson struggles with keeping track of Sherlock, who has now become a drunkard and a drug-addict.
Bea and the others have their inhibitions about the doctor and so they begin to gather more information about him while simultaneously solving the cases. Jessie struggles with nightmares but soon discovers a Linen Man in her dreams who tells her that she is an Ipsissimus like him and saves her again and again from the monsters in her dreams.
Bea soon discovers that her sister Jessie and her are somehow closely related to the Baker Street gentlemen and Bea tracks down Sherlock and interrogates him.
She discovers that Sherlock married their mother and is actually Jessie’s father. Jessie struggles with her nightmares and soon discovers that the Linen Man was actually using her to gain more power.
Together they are able to kill the Linen Man and with Sherlock’s help Bea and Jessie meet their mom once again but have to give her up to save the world. Sherlock accompanies his beloved and leaves Watson alone.
Leopold’s and Bea’s romance dies as Leopold has to fulfill his princely duties and leaves. The streets of London return back to a normal and the Irregulars celebrate.
Themes Involved
The main theme of the show is that of crime and the supernatural. The crimes that torment the streets of London have no natural explanation. The portrayal of John Watson, a mysterious, secretive man, running errands and meeting strange people also adds to the sinister elements of the show.
Sherlock Holmes is presented as a failing, drug- addict and not the brilliant detective and probably this is what separates the show from other Holmes and Watson stories. Also the love that Watson ahs for Holmes has been hinted towards homosexuality, which is a first.
Famous Quotes
“Maybe we don’t need to do the invisible present thing.”
“You’re like a racist against posh people.”
“When you’ve spent a lifetime fighting demons, you get to learn how to spot an angel.”
“Don’t play a game of remembrance if there’s things you’ve tried to forget.”
The Bottom Line
The Irregulars is a fresh show for someone that enjoys watching shows and movies with elements of the gothic genre. It has monsters and murders and strange supernatural beings. It is not a Sherlock Holmes adventure in its entirety.
Holmes and Watson just lie in the backdrop of the story, helping the group of teenagers become the new Irregulars. Like I said earlier, it is not a show you would enjoy if you are not into the gothic genre but if you are, The Irregulars is a treat for you.
My Ratings for the Show - 3 on 5
Written By - Sakshi Singh
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