Missing 'Sherlock'? Here's What You Should Watch Next...

John Watson: Sherlock, one more word and you will not need morphine.

Sherlock Holmes: You were a doctor who went to war.

Sherlock Holmes (continuing): You’re a man who couldn’t stay in the suburbs for more than a month without storming a crack den, beating up a junkie.

Sherlock Holmes (rambling on): Your best friend is a sociopath who solves crimes as an alternative to getting high.

Sherlock Holmes (after a long pause): That’s me, by the way (grins and waves his hand)

…

Have you ever heard of Sherlock Holmes and his rather hard-to-miss pipe with capital P?

Or his “ride-or-die bitch” Dr Watson?

Or better yet…

Conspiracy theories, murder cases and a good dose of British sense of humour?

You see..

If you’re an incorrigible die-hard 'Sherlock' fan, you’ve come to the right place!

The good news is…

If you're looking for intelligent TV series similar to Sherlock on Netflix, we're here to help!

Get ready as you’re about to play a detective today.

You’re about to put yourself in Sherlock Holmes’ shoes and throw his signature hat on. You’ll also decipher the enigma surrounding the mystical properties very few thrillers possess that make them nearly as addictive as the British TV series, 'Sherlock' before you expertly add them to "My List" on Netflix.

But more on that in just a moment…

“Beg you, pardon, my dear Watson? How come are there still mere mortals who are yet to be thrilled about… other thrillers and don't know what to watch next after getting officially hooked on my series?”

If Sherlock Holmes was a real person rather than a fictional character he'd have risen from the dead. With his pipe largely intact, to get to the bottom of the notorious conspiracy theories behind what makes thrillers, such as 'Sherlock' so highly and undeniably addictive…

All backed up by forensic science and logical reasoning.

Not only that.

He would have left the rotten confines of his coffin visibly outraged by the ignorance of fervent thriller critics (who in our humble opinion didn't know any better, right?)

Now, if you've never heard of and are yet to become acquainted with Sherlock, his cronies and his rather enormous omni-present pipe the chances are you are either:

A). illiterate

B). under the age of one

C). flew over the cuckoo’s nest (read: in a psychiatric institution under medical supervision)

Now, that we have established that you, dear reader, are neither, let’s unravel the grim and gritty conspiracy theory behind what makes 'Sherlock' so highly and psychologically addictive before we add a new intelligent TV series to the list.

You know…

If you have been on this planet for more than two minutes, the chances are you have heard of Sherlock Holmes and his vagabond life full of adventures (we’d be gobsmacked if you didn’t!)

But before we can reveal who the main suspect on our next best to watch on Netflix's list is and answer your burning question:

"What to watch next if you're missing 'Sherlock' and experience abandonment issues? "...

Let’s take you on a journey in a time capsule first where we catapult ourselves back into the late 19th century…

Arthur Conan Doyle in his countless novels and short stories created an incredibly intriguing character well-loved by millions.

Now, did you know that the trials and tribulations of the most famous fictional private detective ever created are just as enthralling today as they were back in 1887?

(We didn’t either!)

Is it hardly surprising that over the course of a hundred plus year history various film directors attempted to (just like many before them), capture the spirit and the cultural heritage of the detective’s legacy in a screen adaptation?

Undoubtedly, with over 10mln viewers each episode attracted, the BBC series from 2010 seems to have achieved the unimaginable - something that many film directors struggled to attain for years.

The production depicts a rather modern take on the novel – all based on the original version of the book which existed as early as back in the 19th century. The scene is set in one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world – London, where the viewer is catapulted back into a time machine of the typical British architecture.

Now, just imagine as you neatly perch on a flowery blood-stained sofa, slowly and carefully rest your leather boots on carefully dusted carpets looking for specs of hair that give away precious cues… Evidence of a crime scene.

You then expertly zoom in with your prying eagle’s eyes holding a magnifying glass scanning every little detail of wallpapers dotting the very many walls of the old semi-detached terraced houses in search of evidence (Are you there yet?)

Now, close your eyes.

You are being thrown back into modern-day London.

Just imagine as you stroll down the streets of the capital city – you look all around you as the camera zooms in on places of national interest that hold a lot of meaning – the pride of the British nation.

And the effervescent, ever-penetrating murder clues.

Evidence brings us to Benedict Cumberbatch, the main suspect.

The series stars Cumberbatch as the main character, a private detective Sherlock who, almost completely unnoticed, effortlessly captivates the hearts of many unsuspecting viewers with stunning accuracy – committing the perfect crime – hooking you, mesmerizing you and instantly drawing you in with his impeccable acting skills. Before you know it, it’s too late –you are addicted to the series (And your girlfriend already hates you with a passion!)

Sherlock works with his partner, a war doctor, Watson, whose down-to-earth approach many times aided Sherlock in solving seemingly unsolvable crimes.

In other words, Dr Watson is Sherlock’s inseparable companion.

The two characters complement each other and leave no stone unturned to demystify the obscure. No case is ever left unsolved by this potent duo.

If you fell in love with the story about a bright private detective who doesn’t mince his words and has no care in the world about other people’s feelings, you'll inevitably fall in love with the Korean production from 2017, titled “Stranger”.

You're in for a treat...

The thriller tells a story about a prosecutor Si-mok Hwan who undergoes a brain operation as a child. The rather controversial surgery proves to be a success. The medical procedure maximises his perception skills but just as miraculously robs him of his ability to experience emotions.

The main character attempts to resolve a complicated corruption case in a prosecutor’s office. Si-mok is a bold and assertive character who strives to achieve his goals at any cost. He has no hidden agenda, no empathy and absolutely no interest in anyone.

He takes calculated risks with a single-minded determination and merely sees others as a means to an end. To his aid comes a policewoman Yeo-jin Han who brightens up the heavy load he carries on his shoulders and brings a fair dose of humour into his life.

This is not where similarities between the main characters end.

Both the British detective and the Korean persecutor are devoid of any higher emotion - empathy is as foreign to them as trying to read a map in a non-English speaking country… In essence, they are made of the same cloth - they misinterpret other people’s reactions, misunderstand and misjudge other people’s feelings. They seem to be oblivious to the interest from the opposite gender - their co-workers - who they treat like an object.

Yet, their victims, the women, don’t seem to take notice and continue to be hopelessly infatuated and gaze at them starry-eyed only to be met with a blank stare.

Both Sherlock and Si-mok are highly intelligent and well-respected in their field. Their colleagues look up to them, they’re also surprisingly well-liked despite their rather obvious and often problematic disposition. Their genius minds are incapable of processing often complex human emotions.

It is fair to say that both the detective and prosecutor are highly-functioning psychopaths. They invariably ignore other people’s feelings, and completely disregard positions of authority or social norms.

The feeling of trepidation is alien to them.

Both characters come across as bold, but not because they manage their fears so well but because they simply do not know the taste of panic - it is an emotion foreign to them. Analytical mind, which characterises both heroes against evil forces, is their secret weapon of destruction.

They’re devoid of almost all human emotions. This in turn allows them to inevitably solve some of the toughest and most complicated criminal cases ever. With stunning accuracy.

British series is rich in unpredictable twists and turns. Viewers are instantly hooked in, not knowing what awaits them just around the corner. Thought-provoking screenwriting means we’re sucked into all the drama and consume every episode at warp speed.

The Korean series is not far behind.

“Stranger” tells the story of a complicated political climate and “under-the-table” prosecutor’s office deals that never see the daylight. Get distracted for a split second and you’re running the risk of missing out precious clues and completely missing the plot.

It pays to… pay attention (pun intended!)

“Sherlock's" intriguing twists and turns make us watch like a hawk and demand just as much laser-focus, inhumane-like due diligence that even Dr Watson himself wouldn’t frown upon.

In both productions, you get to draw your own conclusions and get to the bottom of each case as you admire the masterful genius of the analytical brains of Sherlock and Si-mok.

The plot is fast and intriguing enough to keep you glued to a TV screen for hours.

Those frequent trips to the loo (one beer too many, right?) can be extremely unforgiving if you turn your head away even for a split second, missing out all those precious cues. All this means is that, unlike the two psychopaths in the series, we’re experiencing a high dose of emotions.

Both series surpass our genre expectations in every conceivable way.

The series depicts both culture and location. London is being shown with great detail, making for an excellent advertisement of the city itself and the British heritage. Watching the series is like being brought straight on the riverbanks of Thames as we stroll down with main characters the many streets dotting the city, admiring London’s rich history.

It’s also one of the very many reasons why “Stranger” is just as highly intoxicating.

The series is set in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

What we see on the screen leaves absolutely no doubt. Seoul is just as culturally and architecturally rich as London. Yet, unlike the British capital, Seoul's modern flair almost seeps through the screen.

Cutting-edge architecture, technology or transport depict everyday life of the South Korean upper class. As much as the British culture is widely understood, the Korean still has an air of enigma around it, especially for those living on the old continent, Europe.

In Si-mok’s world “staying in your lane”, an almost inconceivable politeness and servitude are values that are held in high regard.

Film producers meticulously pay attention to every detail to give us a glimpse into the British and South Korean heritage. While both series are set worlds apart, their sense of humour transcends all cultural or language barriers.

British self-deprecating sense of humour often entails belittling one’s accomplishments and the ability to laugh at your own shortcomings. Sherlock is the polar opposite of that. He’s confident, knows his worth and mocks and tirelessly teases his companion rather than despise of himself.

Sherlock treats Dr Watson like an object to air his thoughts which inevitably helps him uncover the underlying truth.

Si-mok, like most reserved introverts, stays in his head a lot. If we followed carefully enough, he allegedly smiled a whole ONE time in the first series (our insiders tell us even Victoria Beckman, who is often accused of never lifting the corners of her mouth, grins more frequently!). Korean sense of humour is more subdued, most certainly not “right in your face”, and verges on satire- cautious, just like the main character.

If you are a die-hard fan of the British crime thriller, “Sherlock”, aka self-confessed TV series addict with psychopathic and anti-social tendencies (Hey, let’s be honest, you’d much rather cancel all your plans than miss the next episode, right?)…

Then the Korean legal thriller will most definitely tick off all the right boxes and result in that all-too-familiar “butterflies in the stomach” feeling.

All nicely topped with a healthy dose of popcorn to munch on when watching all those nerve-wrecking unexpected twists and turns.

“Sherlock, one more word and you will not need morphine”…, we can almost hear the disgruntled Dr Watson in the background.

Dear Watson, who needs morphine when you have “Stranger” and “Sherlock” to cater to your ever-demanding thriller tastes, huh? (Pssst! The only addictions we advocate for are film addictions!)

What if the only “high” you ever need are high-quality thrillers?

Knowing Holmes’s extremely compulsive and addictive nature we can almost bet even Sherlock himself would not remain impartial to “Stranger”…

If you are no stranger to… “Stranger” (pun intended!) then Sherlock is just as likely to become your “ride-or-die bitch” too, more than worth cancelling those nights out with mates or those few -and-far-in-between “girls only” sleepovers.

Both film productions are a deep-dive into two completely different and unparalleled cultural backgrounds, set worlds apart - out-of-the-box, ambitious and thought-provoking – each series leaves you spellbound and hungry for more long after the very last bit of popcorn is gone.

We know. We tried.

P.S. In the next series we will cover “What to do if your best friend is a sociopath who routinely watches British and Korean crime thrillers as an alternative to getting high…” but that’s a topic for another discussion.