Right now, The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes is on Britbox Apple TV Channel and several other platforms, sitting at 8/10 on TMDB. Consistently well-regarded, and easy to understand why once you start watching. The procedural format can be hit and miss at this level of ambition, but The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes handles it with more confidence than most. The 11 viewer ratings on TMDB are not an accident — shows that sustain that level of engagement across their run have earned it. 2 seasons gives the story room to breathe and the characters room to develop. Get it started on Britbox Apple TV Channel and see why so many viewers already have strong opinions about it.

Originally commissioned by ITV1, The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes quickly became exactly the kind of show that viewers rearrange their evenings for. An anthology series produced by Thames Television, comprised of short mystery, suspense or crime adaptations featuring, as the title suggests, detectives who were literary contemporaries of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. The series ran for 2 seasons (1971–1973), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry episodes where the mystery takes a breath — The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes passes that test consistently. The consistency across the run is what elevates it — not every episode is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Perfect for viewers who think they have already seen all the great crime dramas. The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes is the one that tends to prove them wrong. The writing earns its twists rather than manufacturing them, and the result is a show where the resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary. Fans of Alfred Hitchcock Presents will recognise the tonal balance between tension and character work. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. If you are going to commit to one procedural this month, make it this one.