New 4-Part Sherlock Holmes-Esque Crime Series Is Dominating Streaming

Published Oct 2, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.

A new, four-part crime series that feels like Sherlock Holmes has become a dominant force on streaming, just one week after its initial release. There have been a multitude of Sherlock Holmes movies and TV shows in recent years that have made a strong impression on audiences around the world. This includes everything from Prime Video's prequel series Young Sherlock, co-developed by Guy Ritchie and Peter Harness, and Netflix's Enola Holmes movies, which see Henry Cavill take on the role of Sherlock. However, some projects have merely been inspired by the great detective.

Such is the case with The Final Problem, a Netflix show that pulls inspiration from the likes of Holmes and Agatha Christie novels. The four-part miniseries follows a group of people stranded on an island in the 1950s, one of whom, Basil, is a retired actor famous for playing Sherlock Holmes onscreen. He's soon tasked with a real-world murder mystery after someone in the island's hotel is found dead, leading to a thorough and twisted investigation. The show has earned generally positive reviews from critics despite having no Rotten Tomatoes score at the time of writing.

Netflix Has Another Hit Crime Series With The Final Problem

But what is clear as of writing is that The Final Problem has become a major success on Netflix, earning a high place amongst the platform's Top 10 within its first week of release. According to data from October 2, 2026, the Sherlock Holmes-like mystery TV show is Number 6 worldwide on the streaming service. This includes earning a Number 1 spot in eight different countries around the world: Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, and Uruguay.

The series' success isn't too surprising, given Netflix's track record of seeing mystery-focused TV shows earn high viewership across its history. From miniseries adaptations of Harlan Coben's novels, to the more young adult focus of series like Outer Banks and The Midnight Club, there have been plenty of TV shows across the genre that have succeeded. However, The Final Problem is unique because of how much inspiration it pulls from Holmes, and how well it manages to craft a compelling mystery in the process.

How The Final Problem Is Like Sherlock Holmes

The Final Problem very directly embraces its Sherlock Holmes inspiration, especially because of its main protagonist, who has a history with the character. It's this connection that makes the mystery feel deeper, with the main character attempting to use his knowledge of the great detective to emulate him in his investigation. This leads to a number of references for eagle-eyed viewers to catch, while also putting the uniqueness of its mystery front-and-center. It may borrow from the detective's stories, but it grows into its own by the end.

With the series making such a strong, positive first impression during its first week on Netflix, it seems like it's only just the start for its overall popularity. Its meta approach coupled with a familiar story format for fans of the mystery genre make The Final Problem the perfect solution for anyone seeking out a compelling mystery show. It's short, too, making quick use of its Sherlock Holmes inspiration while leaving a lasting impression in the process.