2. John Watson
For years Nigel Bruce was the definitive companion to Holmes on film, bumbling behind Basil Rathbone, spouting exposition and bellowing Great Scott at each deduction. Watson though is more than just a clumsy sidekick whose only function is to make Holmes look good and Martin Freemans superb John proves this. A ladies man, a battle hardened solder, he is an equal to Sherlock and, in a way other Watsons would never do, gets to shout him down for being a dick! True, he still does a good line in superlatives when astounded at his flatmates genius but this is one Watson who takes no shit from Sherlock!