Sherlock Holmes Returns in 'Watson' Season 2 Episode

The sleuth and Dr. John Watson's best friend supposedly faked his death, but is he real or a hallucination?

Mar. 10, 2026 at 1:50pm

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In the upcoming March 29 episode of the CBS series 'Watson,' Sherlock Holmes (Robert Carlyle) returns to help Watson (Morris Chestnut) and the team crack unsolved cases in Pittsburgh. However, there have been questions about whether Sherlock is real or just a figment of Watson's imagination, as he has yet to interact with anyone else. The episode will offer more clues about Sherlock's status.

Why it matters

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic literary and television characters of all time, so his return in 'Watson' is a highly anticipated event for fans of the show and the character. The mystery around whether Sherlock is real or a hallucination adds an intriguing layer of suspense and raises questions about Watson's mental state and the nature of reality within the show's universe.

The details

In the episode titled 'A Third Act Surprise,' Watson and his team race to save the life of a young woman who needs a kidney donation. Meanwhile, Sherlock returns to help them crack unsolved cases in Pittsburgh. Photos from the episode show Sherlock at the Holmes clinic and seemingly interacting with Detective Lestrade (Rachel Hayward), who is also returning. Last season, Watson had become concerned about Sherlock's behavior, leading to theories that Sherlock may not be real and could be a brain tumor-induced hallucination.

  • The 'Watson' episode featuring Sherlock Holmes' return will air on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The players

Sherlock Holmes

A brilliant detective who supposedly faked his own death prior to the events of the 'Watson' series, but whose true nature remains a mystery.

Dr. John Watson

Sherlock Holmes' best friend and the protagonist of the 'Watson' series, who is grappling with questions about whether Sherlock is real or a hallucination.

Detective Lestrade

A police detective who is returning in the upcoming 'Watson' episode and appears to be interacting with Sherlock Holmes.

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What they’re saying

“His behavior is growing more and more concerning to Watson. I think obviously if you look back at what's been there, it would be reasonable to say that character has never been seen by anybody else, but there are also clues that indicate that he may be real.”

— Craig Sweeny, Executive Producer (TV Insider)

What’s next

Fans will have to tune in to the March 29 episode of 'Watson' to see if Sherlock Holmes is truly real or just a figment of Watson's imagination.

The takeaway

The return of Sherlock Holmes in 'Watson' is a highly anticipated event that will shed light on the nature of the character's existence and the state of Watson's mental health. The mystery surrounding Sherlock's status adds an intriguing layer of suspense to the show and will leave viewers eager to see how the storyline unfolds.