Watson introduced Morris Chesnut again to primetime in a model new approach early within the 2025 TV schedule, full with a post-NFL premiere to draw the largest CBS viewers attainable. That transfer clearly paid off for the physician/detective collection with a Sherlock Holmes twist, because the community hasn’t stored followers hanging till the finale about whether or not the drama can be again or dropped just like the case was for FBI: Worldwide and FBI: Most Needed.
Sure, Watson was renewed early for Season 2, and solid members Eve Harlow and Rochelle Aytes spoke with CinemaBlend in regards to the nice information… however all indicators point out that bother is on the way in which for the remaining episodes of Season 1.
The Stars Weigh In
CBS renewed Watson for Season 2 in late March, with the plan to return as a part of the 2025-2026 TV season. Contemplating that it wasn’t renewed similtaneously Justin Hartley’s Tracker, which is its accomplice within the Sunday primetime lineup, there have been seemingly causes to be a bit nervous in regards to the present’s future. Because it seems, any worries have been pointless, and the renewal announcement got here with the reveal that Watson averages 6.79 million viewers every week, in accordance with essentially the most present season-to-date knowledge from Nielsen on the time.
The common was undoubtedly helped by these among the many 18.7 million who tuned in for the post-AFC Championship premiere, but it surely additionally did fairly effectively amongst followers with a Paramount+ subscription. That first episode is the most-streamed scripted episode of all CBS Originals of the 2024-2025 TV season to date with 7 million.
So, once I spoke with Eve Harlow and Rochelle Aytes forward of the April 13 episode, which is known as “Take a Household Historical past” and focuses quite a bit on each characters, I needed to take the time to ask for his or her ideas on Watson‘s renewal with weeks nonetheless to go earlier than the finale airs in Might. Eve Harlow, who performs the neurologist Dr. Ingrid Derian with an strategy that may vary from unconventional to alarming, shared:
Oh my gosh, it was humorous. I bear in mind, I noticed the cellphone ring, and it was Craig [Sweeny], the showrunner. I choose up the cellphone and I used to be like, ‘Craig, you are calling. It is both dangerous information or excellent news.’ He was like, ‘It is secretive information for one more couple hours, however we acquired picked up.’ [laughs] It is humorous as a result of truly when he referred to as me, I used to be on my method to have lunch with one of many writers from the present, Anna [Mackey]. It was good timing. After which once I met her, I used to be like, ‘Second season! Woo!’ Very thrilling.
When a showrunner begins making calls within the spring, that may imply the destiny of a present has been determined! Happily, within the case of Watson this 12 months, the information was good and the Star Trek: Discovery vet was capable of have fun with one of many writers. Good timing on multiple entrance, I might say!
Rochelle Aytes, who has been busy elsewhere on CBS for a number of seasons as a part of the S.W.A.T. solid, shared her ideas. Because the actress enjoying medical director Dr. Mary Morstan, Aytes mentioned:
Oh, such reduction. I imply, each week we have been getting the numbers and there is stress over that, and also you attempt to simply let it go and never give it some thought, however after we acquired the information, it was only a blessing. Only a reduction to know that we will begin getting ready and interested by the subsequent.
Contemplating that S.W.A.T. has been cancelled thrice (and the most recent is anticipated to stay), is it any surprise that Rochelle Aytes considers it a “reduction” that Watson acquired such an early renewal? Once I famous to the actress that I hadn’t identified how nice the rankings averages have been till CBS’ renewal announcement, she responded:
I did not understand it both, as a result of they rely these streaming and I am not likely getting that info. So wow, lots of people are watching!
For Eve Harlow, Watson is her first enterprise again on community TV for the reason that finish of Fox’s short-lived drama Subsequent, additionally starring Mad Males‘s John Slattery. She has her personal tackle this present hitting huge with viewers:
That is proper. Individuals are watching. [laughs] No, it is very thrilling. The group of individuals behind this are very passionate and really invested, and all have their hearts in the appropriate place, and so it is cool to see that’s resonating, and that audiences are invested and watching. As a result of we’re all so invested. I am identical to, ‘Oh my god, you care as a lot as I care? Cool!’ It is at all times good to see when your work is impacting individuals.
The longer term is clearly shiny for the present’s longevity on CBS, with at the very least yet one more full season assured. It stays to be seen if the community will deliver it again earlier than the tip of the 12 months as a part of its fall TV lineup or maintain it as a midseason collection, however followers can look forward to the upcoming finale with out worrying an excessive amount of.
Hassle Is On The Means For The Workforce
In fact, wouldn’t it actually be Watson if there wasn’t one thing – or some individuals – to fret about forward of the finale? In any case, the present being assured to return again doesn’t suggest that each one the characters and positions will return as effectively, and “Take a Household Historical past” on April 13 brings Ingrid’s lies again to hang-out her whereas Mary bonds together with her ex over a tragedy.
Per CBS, the episode that airs only one week later can have a deal with for followers who’ve been having fun with Watson‘s twists on Sherlock Holmes lore, as Rachel Hayward has been solid to debut as Detective Lestrade in “The Man with the Alien Hand” on April 20. The logline reads:
Watson is thrown right into a detective case when he’s uncertain whether or not the affected person he’s treating for one of the uncommon illnesses on this planet, alien hand syndrome, is responsible of pushing his brother in entrance of a bus to his demise.
The mysteries that Watson and the group faces are sometimes contained throughout the physique and no matter is affecting the affected person of the week; the subsequent episode will evidently pit them in opposition to the thriller of whether or not or not their affected person can also be a assassin. “Alien hand syndrome” sounds proper up their regular alley, however a legal case is much less typical. That is certain to trigger bother, proper?
Properly, if not, we will rely on some problems from the next episode, referred to as “The Darkish Day Deduction” and airing on April 27. Randall Half returns as Moriarty, which I am trying ahead to as a fan of the present, but it surely’s a protected wager that the character is much less welcome to nearly all of Watson’s group. CBS’ episode description reveals:
Watson confronts a traumatic occasion from his Military days that also weighs closely on him when his Military veteran buddy’s spouse reaches out begging for assist when her husband is seemingly having a psychotic break. In the meantime, Shinwell is requested for one final favor by Moriarty.
Does “one final favor” bode effectively for Shinwell and his unlucky association with Moriarty? Properly, I for one am not going to take something with no consideration the place that character is worried, and there is nonetheless the query of what Moriarty has deliberate for Ingrid forward of the finale on Might 11.
Maintain tuning in to CBS on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET for brand new episodes of Watson Season 1, since we will all rely on way more than what the community gave away early through the episode descriptions. Plus, remember to verify again with CinemaBlend for extra from Rochelle Aytes and Eve Harlow in regards to the April 13 episode and what’s on the way in which subsequent.