Sherlock Holmesis one of the most fascinating characters in history, and there have been countless TV characters inspired by him. He is not exactly the kindest person in the room, but he is always the cleverest, which can make for great television drama. Conan Doyle’s detective views people and cases as puzzles, approaching them with logic and occasional ruthlessness, a trait that can also be found in some of thegreatest TV characters. Yet beneath his cold exterior, his loyalty runs deep, and he is unwavering in his pursuit of justice.
That tension between brilliance and humanity gives him a timeless allure found in theSherlock Holmes booksand has inspired a lot offamous TV showsover the years.Holmes’ multifaceted and eccentric nature has made him an inspirationfor a wide range of fictional characters. Whether openly or not, many legendary figures on TV and beyond share the traits that made the ingenious detective of Baker Street so popular. If you look closely you might recognize in them the distinctive genius and quirk of London’s most famous investigator.
10The Doctor
Doctor Who
A legendary figure traveling through time and space, The Doctor is a sci-fi hero whose mission is to liberate and help innocent people across the universe against evil forces. With unparalleled intellect, sharp curiosity, and relentless determination, The Doctor is a charismatic figure within and beyond the franchise, having defined British television since its conception.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s 15 Best Sherlock Holmes Stories
Arthur Conan Doyle created dozens of stories about Sherlock Holmes, with many still being studied and praised today for their clever storytelling.
Beyond his cultural significance,The Doctor shares Sherlock Holmes’ sharp mind and highly logical, calculated approach to solving problems. Unlike traditional heroes who fight their way out of trouble, The Doctor is a truth-seeker who mainly relies on his cunning and knowledge.
Cast
An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
Like our beloved detective,he is driven by a mix of curiosity and thrill. Beneath the surface, however, he is also ultimately led by a strong moral imperative. Additionally, The Doctor has been portrayed by different actors, and among them,the Eleventh Doctor appears to channel Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes.
9L
Death Note
One of the cleverest humans in the world,Death Note’s L is the ultimate detective, known for his brilliance and intellectual relentlessness. Despite being an antagonist to the main character of the story, he is one of the most beloved and popular anime characters L is an enigmatic presence whose groundbreaking skills turned him into a consulting detective.
L, like Sherlock, sees the world as a complex puzzle to solve, driven by an unyielding curiosity that pushes him to continuously challenge himself.
His battle of wits with Light almost mirrors Sherlock and Moriarty’s iconic rivalry. Although his deductive reasoning earns him international recognition and respect, L is also a profoundly lonely individual. His superior intelligence and eccentricities make him an outcast, much like Sherlock Holmes’ emotional isolation.
Death Note follows high school student Light Yagami, who discovers a mysterious notebook granting the power to kill anyone by writing their name in it. As Light uses the notebook to enact his own sense of justice, he attracts the attention of the enigmatic detective known as L, leading to a complex game of cat and mouse. This Japanese anime series explores themes of morality, power, and the consequences of absolute authority.
Both characters are often misunderstood, with their extraordinary abilities setting them apart from the rest of society. L, like Sherlock, sees the world as a complex puzzle to solve, driven by an unyielding curiosity that pushes him to continuously challenge himself. Despite his emotional detachment, L is guided by a strict moral code that may surpass Sherlock’s.
8Gregory House
House
Unlike many other heroes inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing, Gregory House is not a traditional detective, but a doctor. More precisely, the man works as a diagnostician. However,Hugh Laurie’s characteris an investigator at heart.He approaches each medical case as a mystery to unravel, connecting seemingly unrelated dots and recognizing significant patterns that his colleagues might miss.
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
Although in a completely different context, House also uses his analytical skills and extraordinary technical knowledge to save lives. However,he also echoes Holmes' emotional detachment and social isolation. Despite having friends who care for him and the respect of his peers, the doctor often finds himself at odds with those around him, pushing his loved ones away. His relationship with Wilson, a profoundly noble-hearted and kind man, mirrors Sherlock’s bond with Watson. Sadly, he also shares Holmes' struggle with addiction.
7Patrick Jane
The Mentalist
Patrick Jane, the consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, is a character whose intellect and observation skills have been clearlyinspired by Sherlock Holmes.Jane utilizes his exceptional ability to uncover mysteriesand bring criminals to justice. Unlike Sherlock, who relies on hard facts and a scientific approach, Jane also takes advantage of his previous experience as a fake medium, using his deceptive skills and knowledge of human psychology to read others' intentions.
The Mentalist is centered on a famous psychic, Patrick Jane, who reveals to the world that he is a fake in order to start working for the California Bureau of Investigation. But the motive for his new job is simply to find the man responsible for the death of his wife and daughter.
As Holmes finds his nemesis in the ruthless James Moriarty, the protagonist ofThe Mentalisthas his own formidable adversary: Red John. However, unlike Sherlock, who maintains an emotionally detached exterior and motivations, Jane is driven by a personal vendetta—the murder of his wife and daughter. This personal involvement, driven by the tragedy that fell upon his family, contrasts sharply with Sherlock’s more unprejudiced pursuit of justice.
6Carl Lightman
Lie To Me
Cal Lightman, the protagonist ofLie To Me, is a character whoseprofound knowledge of human behavior allows him to see through the liesand deception of any individual before him. Cal is the founder of The Lightman Association, an independent group that helps law enforcement through their expertise in applied psychology. His specialty is body language and microexpressions.
Lie to Me
Starring Tim Roth as Dr. Cal Lightman, Lie to Me explores Lightman and his associates as they use the study of applied psychology and body language to help solve crimes for local and federal law enforcement. The series explores Lightman’s work and personal life, as well as those of his colleagues.
Despite his brilliance,Ligthman is known, like Sherlock Holmes, for his emotional detachment, which makes him excellent at cold reading but not always the most empathetic person in the room. Both detectives have a remarkable ability to understand other people’s emotions on a surface level and, therefore, uncover complex truths about criminal cases. However, they are simultaneously incapable of fully connecting with individuals on a deeper emotional level, making them both isolated figures. However, unlike Sherlock, Cal’s professional journey is motivated by a personal tragedy.
5Hercule Poirot
Poirot
One of the most famous detectives in fiction, created by the brilliant pen of Agatha Christie and brought to the screen by several actors, Hercule Poirot could not be missing from this list considering he has also been on the small screen. Unlike many of his colleagues, he prefers to focus on detailed psychological exploration and analysis of his victims as well as the suspects, believing that understanding the human psyche is often more important than simply gathering evidence.
Poirot is a British television drama series centered on Agatha Christie’s famous detective, Hercule Poirot, portrayed by David Suchet. Running from 1989 to 2013, the series follows Poirot’s meticulous and methodical investigations into various criminal cases, showcasing his unparalleled deductive skills and brilliance.
His widespread recognition as an exceptional detective and ability to always stay a step ahead of his companions remind us of Sherlock Holmes in disguise. However, although both men always gather the same insights, in the end, their methods differ significantly. WhilePoirot investigates by examining the human psychology of those involved, Sherlock uses physical evidence to deduce the truth about them. Ultimately, both approaches reveal people’s nature and motivations, but their paths to these revelations are distinct.
4John Luther
Luther
John Luther is a highly complex and brilliant detective, played by Idris Elba. His investigative talent landed him a job as part of the London Metropolitan Police.Luther’s sharp mind helps him recognize clues his colleagues might otherwise miss. However, his supplementary ability to put himself in the shoes of seasoned criminals makes him a prodigy in his field but emotionally tortured in his personal life.
Modern-day Sherlock Holmes John Luther, played by Idris Elba, uses his brilliant detective skills to solve murder cases with the unlikely help of murderer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson). The BBC crime thriller aired for five seasons and continued with the 2023 feature film Luther: The Fallen Sun.
It is this combination of brilliant and in-depth insight into the darker aspect of humanity, coupled with the emotional turmoil it brings, that, upon looking closely, draws a parallel to the hero of Conan Doyle. Like with Sherlock, Luther’s intelligence can sometimes become a burden to him and the people who surround him. However, his emotional involvement is often more intense than that of Holmes, causing him to be more openly vulnerable to the seemingly cold, calculated detective of Baker Street.
3The Professor
Money Heist
The most intelligent criminal mastermind in all of Spain, The Professor, might appear like the polar opposite of Sherlock’s heroic figure, but if you look closely, the two share way more similarities than differences.The Professor is the ultimate hero ofMoney Heist, a genius who spends his life meticulously planning and executing the perfect heist. He is driven by a desire for justice against a system that failed to protect him and his father.
The Spanish heist drama Money Heist (La Casa de Papel), transformed into a global phenomenon by Netflix in 2017, follows a group of criminals as they execute a complex plan to rob the Royal Mint of Spain and the Bank of Spain. Created by Locked Up director Alex Pina, Money Heist is one of Netflix’s biggest international hits that influenced pop culture with its iconic Salvador Dalí masks and Bella Ciao hymn.
Although his personally motivated choices and more planned-out strategic approach differ from Sherlock’s reactive and constantly evolving style, the two share outstanding improvisational skills and a talent for disguising themselves.They both prove to be quick thinkerscapable of using their intellect to adapt to any challenging situation they end up in. Even though Sherlock works within the law, in another life, there is little doubt he could have been an excellent criminal.
2Laszlo Kreizler
The Alienist
The Alienistis, unfortunately, an underrated TV series set in 19th-century New York City. However, the story and the characters are worth exploring. One of the most intriguing figures in the show, Laszlo Kreizler, clearly has a deep connection to the legendary Sherlock Holmes.
Like Sherlock, the NY investigator is a highly observant, detail-oriented, and extremely intelligent individual, whose approach is deeply rooted in scientific knowledge.
Laszlo is an alienist, or as we would say now,a criminal psychologist who studies the pathologies of the mind to solve murder cases. Like Sherlock, the NY investigator is a highly observant, detail-oriented, and extremely intelligent individual, whose approach is deeply rooted in scientific knowledge.
Set in New York in 1896, The Alienist follows police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt as he enlists criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, newspaper illustrator John Moore, and secretary Sara Howard to investigate a series of murders targeting male prostitutes.
Both characters are remarkably competent in their field, but their abilities often prompt them to be overly arrogant and therefore unlikable to most people. Nevertheless, while Sherlock’s method is more physical and based on clear evidence, Laszlo looks at the intricacies of the human psyche to connect the seemingly unrelated dots of his cases.
1Robert Goren
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Among the many brilliant detectives of theLaw & Orderfranchise, one stands out for his exceptional, almost disturbingly so, ability to solve the most harrowing cases.Robert Goren is an investigator for the New York City Police Department, whose unconventional, often emotionally unsettling methods set him apart from his colleagues.
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His unorthodox approach, combined with unmatched brilliance, enables him to always get to the heart of the most complex mysteries.His ability to read people and situations mirrors Sherlock’s skillat analyzing his surroundings and deducing the underlying truths that others might overlook.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is a crime drama television series that focuses on the investigation and prosecution of crimes from the perspective of the detectives. The show follows the NYPD’s Major Case Squad as they delve into the motives and psyches of criminals, exploring the complexities of the human mind.
Unsurprisingly, the character was openly inspired by the famous hero created by Arthur Conan Doyle. However, Goren appears to be more emotionally in tune with his cases, while Sherlock tends to see the people involved as soulless pieces of a puzzle he wants to solve. Both men are pioneers in their respective fields, and this often leads to their isolation.
