Netflix's The Irregulars has taken a small aspect of the greater Sherlock Holmes canon and given it an origin story, focusing on the group of vagrant children the super sleuth often employed in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories to act as his spies and errand runners. With the popularity of cinematic adaptations of Sherlock Holmes canon (such as Sherlock Holmes or Enola Holmes), the world's consulting detective has been explored in great detail, leaving room for his lesser-known associates.
While The Irregulars show does offer an intriguing peek into another aspect of Holmes' life and the people around him, some longtime fans may find it too dissimilar to what they know of the detective's adventures to fully engage. In some ways, the show is one of the best interpretations of Conan Doyle's work, but there are other Holmes series that shouldn't be discounted.
Best: It's Not Just About Sherlock Holmes
By not focusing entirely on the world's greatest consulting detective, the series isn't confined to the narratives of his 56 stories and four novels. The Irregulars is able to survive without being under his shadow, defining its own unique voice while keeping his presence (and Watson's) as a sort of guiding framework to experiment within.
The Baker Street Irregulars only appeared in three stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so their very own series allows their character origins to be explored in a way that wasn't possible in the original source material.
Alternative: Sherlock
One of the most popular incarnations of the Holmes canon, BBC's Sherlock places Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective in a modern setting. Dr. John Watson is a veteran of a recent conflict in Afghanistan, and he rooms with the eccentric Holmes while he's consulting for Scotland Yard.
The two become immediately embroiled in mysteries, and as they find their footing as uneasy friends, they operate as a team of investigators out of the Baker Street flat. Familiar characters from canon, like Holmes' nemesis Moriarity and love interest Irene Adler are also given contemporary interpretations, but it's the exploration of the bond between the two men, one which is at times harmed by Holmes' brusque — if brilliant — idiosyncrasies, that is the core of the series.
Best: It Focuses On All-New Adventures
Many other authors have picked up Holmes' mantle to continue preserving one of literature's most famous figures, so it's only fitting a new series examine other adventures he might have gone on at a certain period of his life.
By focusing on a time when he isn't as famous or as important, in many ways regarded as a "has-been" in the throes of tragedy and loss, longtime fans can examine a different side of him as he navigates the peculiarities of new cases.
Alternative: Elementary
Another contemporary adaptation of Conan Doyle's famous sleuth, those fascinated by the more visceral sides of Holmes' life will be intrigued to find that in Elementary he's fled London after a stint in rehab in favor of setting up residence in Manhattan. Dr. Joan Watson is not only the person who joins him in solving crimes but helps keep him sober.
It's of note that both characters are flawed (Watson had her medical license revoked for losing a patient), and they learn to rely on each other as a means to forgive each other of past falls from grace. They work as consultants for the NYPD and crack some of their most perplexing cases.
Best: It Has Compelling Characters
The Irregulars boasts a motley crew of eccentric personalities, especially its main protagonists. Beatrice the de facto leader is spunky and tough, her sister Jessica is foul-mouthed and creative, their friends Billy and Spike are boorish and chatty, and the shy newcomer Leo is brainy (if cautious).
Besides the impish young misfits, they have a variety of fascinating allies — including Sherlock Holmes and his brother Mycroft — and enemies. From plague doctors to vengeful botanists to intriguing figures like the Linen Man, there are unexpectedly delightful characters in every nook and cranny of London.
Alternative: The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes
Prior to modern interpretations The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes, which aired from 1984-1994, was considered the definitive series chronicling the many escapades of Sherlock Holmes. It took place in Victorian London, portrayed Holmes as energetic and dynamic, and Watson as a competent companion (rather than oafish, as in some cinematic interpretations).
42 of the 56 cases written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were filmed for the series, providing faithful adaptations of his work in exacting detail. His clients range from royalty to those close to rags, and he's often called upon by Inspector Lestrade to assist Scotland Yard with their own cases.
Best: Supernatural And Creative
The series is exponentially more steeped in the supernatural than the usual Holmes canon, and by that token, it's allowed to be more creative with its storylines. Unencumbered by the parameters of reality or historical accuracy, it takes its own inventive liberties.
Its Sherlock Holmes is a more Bohemian, vibrant, and artistic person, fond of long velvet frocks, wearing his hair in long ponytails, and sporting a hoop earring. He faces dark forces of evil intent on pulling London into the netherworld, seemingly drawing on much more of the occult that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle enjoyed when he wasn't writing about Holmes.
Alternative: Sherlock Holmes In The 22nd Century
While there have been several modern versions of Sherlock Holmes adventures, there's only one set in the far future, and that's Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century. The animated series, which only ran for 2 seasons in the late '90s, had an inventive premise that had Holmes resurrected to stop a cloned Professor Moriarity from reinstating criminal acts into a crime-free future.
Though he didn't have his trusty friend Dr. John Watson in the flesh, his companion's consciousness was programmed into an android to help him solve Moriarty's crimes. Despite a far-fetched premise, the show found clever ways to reinvent Sherlock Holmes for a new generation, and was praised during its run for its imaginative storylines.
Best: Diversity And Representation
Unlike some versions of the canon, which focus primarily on areas of interest to someone of Holmes' wealth, privilege, and status, The Irregulars shows another side of London and presents a different kind of life. The Irregulars live in the slums, Leo flits back and forth between the streets and the palace, and every sort of Londoner is highlighted.
There are many more female characters in positions of import than in a typical Holmes novel (where women tend to occupy roles as clients or housekeepers), and more people of color help to guarantee much more representation than could be found in Conan Doyle's work. There are also quite a few discussions of classism, a topic which normally isn't touched upon in the Holmes canon.
Alternative: Young Sherlock: The Mystery Of The Manor House
For any fans curious about what a young Sherlock Holmes was up to when he was the same age as the Baker Street Irregulars, they need look no further than Young Sherlock: The Mystery of the Manor House, an early '80s drama that follows Holmes in his teenage years.
The case unfolds over a single season, serving as a miniseries in which Holmes uses his fledgling detective skills to help investigate bizarre circumstances at a haunted manor. Just a few years later, Steven Spielberg would produce the movie Young Sherlock Holmes about the detective's collegiate years.