The end of another broadcast season is upon us, and with it comes the two-part finale of CBS’ Watson, airing May 4 and May 11 at 9 p.m. ET. Morris Chestnut stars as the titular character, who resumes his medical career after the death of his friend and partner, Sherlock Holmes. While Watson focuses on curing rare disorders alongside his team, Sherlock’s nemesis, Moriarty, has been quietly plotting the doctor’s downfall. The most recent installment sees Shinwell released from Moriarty’s services after eleven episodes of betrayal and blackmailing.
Rather than continuing to use Watson’s trusty assistant against him, the villain takes a more hands-on approach and attacks his team directly. He tampers with Lauren’s lipstick, which she puts on before kissing Adam in episode 11’s final moments. What exactly was done to the cosmetic remains unknown, but one thing is certain: it’s not good. Titled, “Your Life’s Work, Part 1,” the official synopsis for season 1, episode 12 reads: “When part of the team falls ill after becoming targets of a sinister plot, it becomes an all-hands-on-deck situation to save them before it’s too late.”
RelatedNew images from Watson season 1 reveal a first look at John’s new love interest, who is set to be introduced in the upcoming two-part season finale.
I chatted with showrunner Craig Sweeny about that foreboding kiss, Moriarty’s plans for Ingrid, and what else to expect from the climactic two-part season finale of Watson.
The Watson Finale Centers Around What’s Been Done To Adam
ScreenRant: Episode 11 ends with Adam kissing Lauren, unaware that her lipstick has been tampered with. Can we expect to find out what’s been done to him when we jump into the first part of the finale?
Craig Sweeny: I think it’s fair to say that the story of what’s been done to him is the story of the finale. I don’t think you get the whole answer to that immediately, but you definitely understand that it is an attack on Adam from Moriarty’s camp and that it’s going to have some huge and far-reaching side effects on both Adam and the people around him.
Moriarty knows what Ingrid did to her father. How is that going to come into play in these final episodes?
Craig Sweeny: I think that Moriarty’s knowledge of what Ingrid did is useful to him, both practically and from the perspective of what he thinks he knows about Ingrid’s character. Practically, it’s leverage that he can exercise and try to get her to do what he wants, his bidding.
We’ll definitely see that play out, but I think more importantly, and probably more interestingly, even though the first part is interesting too, but it is also feeds into Moriarty’s assessment of Ingrid. The initial question that Watson posed about Ingrid was, “Is she like Holmes or is she like Moriarty?” And we’re starting to see where Moriarty comes down, and we will have to see if events prove that assessment right or wrong.
Not Everyone May Survive The Watson Season Finale
“Who survives to tell the tale is an open question, and who’s still speaking to each other at the end of it all?”
Ingrid opens up to Sasha about what she did. Would you say that she’s earned Ingrid’s trust over the course of the season?
Craig Sweeny: I would say, if anyone in the world has earned Ingrid’s trust, it’s Sasha, and maybe a little bit of Watson as well. But the unique dynamic that’s developed between Sasha and Ingrid has been so fun to write. It has emerged from we, the writers, responding to what we see between the performers on screen.
It’s an example of what’s great about writing a broadcast television show in that you get to see the episodes and then write to what’s working and what’s not, as opposed to writing all the scripts beforehand. I think that if you believe that Ingrid could trust anybody, and that to me is an open question, then she does trust Sasha.
Shinwell has been released from his service, but is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Craig Sweeny: I found it very unsettling to watch that scene. I think if you work for Moriarty, and suddenly he no longer finds you useful, that’s a very bad place to be.
Without giving too much away, what else should fans prepare for in this two-part finale?
Craig Sweeny: I love this two-part finale. I think you’re going to see every relationship that we’ve built up and that, hopefully, the fans have become invested in, gets tested in a huge way. And the question that dominates the finale is what emerges intact from all that we’ve built in season 1. Who survives to tell the tale is an open question, and who’s still speaking to each other at the end of it all?
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About Watson Season 1 On CBS
A Medical Show With A Strong Investigative Spine
Watson takes place six months after the death of the titular character’s friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty. The show stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson who resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. Watson’s old life isn’t done with him, though – Moriarty and Watson are set to write their own chapter of a story that has fascinated audiences for more than a century.
Check out our other Watson interviews:
Watson airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS and is available to stream next-day on Paramount+.
Release Date
January 26, 2025
Watson is a drama mystery series based on the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A year after the death of his partner, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson returns to his old life as a physician.
