10 Best Sherlock Characters
2. John Watson
When Martin Freeman was cast as Doctor John Watson, he was best known for his roles in Love Actually and The Office, and as such, he didn’t seem like the natural choice for Sherlock’s companion. Thankfully, Freeman excelled as Watson.
The best aspect of his performance was how authentically he was able to balance the subtle yet significant nuances of his character.
In the opening scenes of ‘A Study in Pink’, he came across as a quiet, troubled man with no sense of direction. Upon meeting Sherlock, however, he was quickly seduced by the world of crime and adventure.
Though he found a renewed sense of purpose alongside Sherlock, Watson’s arc during the show was by no means a wholly positive one. The emotional suffering he endured after Sherlock’s fake suicide and his wife’s death made him a deeply sympathetic character who was impossible not to root for.
In this sense, Watson was the most humane character in Sherlock. The burdens he bore and his desire to do good were at the heart of why Sherlock was such a successful show.