Watson is an American medical drama television series created by Craig Sweeny for CBS. It premiered on January 26, 2025, and stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson, a physician running a clinic for rare diseases in Pittsburgh following the presumed death of Sherlock Holmes. This new adaptation blends medical mystery with psychological drama and interpersonal storytelling. Watson reimagines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic character in a modern context, exploring the emotional aftermath of Holmes’ death and Watson’s attempt to redefine his life and work. The series centers on the Holmes Clinic, where Watson and his team diagnose rare and often misunderstood medical cases.
In its first season, Watson follows a largely procedural format, with each episode introducing a new patient whose mysterious symptoms often mirror the doctors’ personal conflicts. The overarching narrative deals with grief, identity, and the complexities of human connection.
Watson’s team includes Dr. Mary Morstan (Aytes), a skilled diagnostician and Watson’s former spouse; Dr. Carmen Li (Rosalind Chao), the clinic’s pathologist; and Detective Lena Ortiz (Andrea Navedo), a recurring collaborator who brings medically adjacent cases to the team.
Throughout the series, Watson struggles with the loss of Holmes, whose presence is gradually reintroduced in Season 2 through flashbacks and new revelations, culminating in Robert Carlyle’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.
The bi representation in Watson primarily appears through the character of Dr. Mary Morstan, played by Rochelle Aytes. The series establishes Mary as Watson’s ex-wife and professional equal, a character who defies the traditional, often secondary role she held in previous Holmes adaptations. Her bisexuality is introduced organically and treated as an established facet of her identity rather than a defining plot twist.
Mary’s sexuality is first referenced in season 1, episode 5 (“Second Opinions”), when she recalls a past relationship during a conversation with Dr. Li. When Li teases her about her partner “Elise,” Mary clarifies, “She wasn’t a he,” adding that she doesn’t “put gender on heartbreak.” The exchange lasts less than a minute but sets an important precedent: the show treats Mary’s bisexuality as unremarkable and authentic.
This is revisited in episode 7 (“The Persistence of Memory”), when Elise appears as a patient at the Holmes Clinic. The episode intertwines medical mystery and emotional history, portraying Mary and Elise’s relationship with realism. Their interactions reflect the mature complexity of two women who once shared a life and must now navigate unresolved feelings under professional circumstances. The episode concludes with Mary supporting Elise through her diagnosis, suggesting lingering affection but no melodrama.
In season 2, episode 2 (“Hippocratic Ghosts”), Mary’s bisexuality is further normalized when she is shown on a date with a woman. The lighthearted sequence — interrupted by Watson, who arrives at the same restaurant by coincidence — plays as gentle humor rather than tension or moral commentary. The scene emphasizes mutual respect between the former spouses and signals Watson’s acceptance of Mary’s identity without awkwardness or discomfort.
Unlike many network portrayals, Watson integrates bisexual representation as part of character texture rather than as an issue-driven plot. Mary’s romantic history includes both men and women, and the show’s writing allows those relationships to coexist without contradiction. Her sexuality is consistent, stable, and free of tropes such as indecision or infidelity that have historically been used to stereotype bisexual characters.Beyond Mary, Watson occasionally engages with queer subtext through its depiction of the bond between Watson and Holmes. The series inherits a long cultural tradition of interpreting their relationship as emotionally and potentially romantically charged. In season 2, when Holmes (Robert Carlyle) reappears, their interactions reflect deep intimacy and dependence. While the show does not confirm romantic involvement, it acknowledges the interpretive history of the pair, allowing space for the audience to read beyond the context without overt denial.