Review: The Irregulars Eps 1 - 3

Well let's start by saying that this isn't Sherlock Holmes. Then we can start to enjoy it.

Believe me, this really helps. This is a supernatural, gothic series which maintains a tenuous grip on the world of Holmes by having alternative versions of the main characters featuring in it. Don't get me wrong, it's a lot of fun but if you are a fan of classic Holmes it helps to know that you're not going to find him here.

We have an enigmatic, and frankly dislikable Watson; a Holmes of whom, by episode three, we've only seen the feet and vomit of; a Mycroft who seems both benevolent and a wimp; and, finally, the Irregulars who are too old and devoid of their true leader - Wiggins.

This is a world best described as Warner Bros.' Holmes meets Penny Dreadful.

Chronologically it's all over the place. We have characters with a lot of 21st century dialogue, occasionally drowned out by totally anachronistic, loud and intrusive music (honestly, fire the composer) in a visually wonderful Victorian setting. Confused? So was I.

All that said, I'm really enjoying it, which surprises me as I love (and prefer) my Holmes in the classic mould. But, as I've said, this isn't classic Holmes, doesn't pretend to be, and that's probably why I'm enjoying it. If it pretended that it was doing anything other than anchoring itself to Holmes to draw in an audience that might otherwise have given it a miss I'd be annoyed. 

It's honest in its dishonesty.

These stories don't need Holmes or Watson to work (at least, not so far), they simply need an enigmatic character to involve the "kids" in the adventures. However, if they had gone down that route an audience would have been far from certain. Why take that risk when the Holmes name will guarantee you viewing figures - at least initially.

The plots so far are quite varied:

Episode 1 deals with vanishing babies leading to the enigmatic Dr. Watson coercing Bea, the leader of the Irregulars, into helping find out what happened to them.

Episode 2 brings us the case of children who are being visited by a tooth fairy who takes all their teeth.

Episode 3 deals with the investigation of a series of deaths linked to an Occult society.

So far they've all been fast paced, more than a little gory, and satisfying as stories.

Blue collar Billy (far right) and aristocratic Leo (far left). In the middle we have Jessie, Bea and Spike

Turning our attention to the Irregulars themselves; they are an engaging bunch but Billy is very irritating and the class clash between him and aristocratic Leo gets boring very quickly. If I had to drop one of them it would be Billy in a heartbeat. That's a criticism of the character rather than the actor who is clearly playing what he was given very well.

Bea is a great leader for the Irregulars and the sibling clashes with Jessie are played well. The overtly sexual nature of their conversations - mostly revolving around who Bea should "choose" out of Billy and Leo - seems irrelevant. Does the show really need this love (or lust) triangle? In my opinion it's a 'no' but I'm under no illusions that I'm probably not the target demographic.

There are some obvious parallels with the recent (and also Netflix produced) Enola Holmes but this is better. For a start there's no breaking of the fourth wall which got on my nerves more than I can express. This show also demonstrates that female characters can be strong, independent and equal without necessarily having to outwit or defeat male characters to prove that point.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and am glad it has already been renewed for a second.

UPDATE: We now know that the series has been cancelled. Go figure.

Written by Alistair Duncan Buy my books here
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