I get that not every episode has a mystery or case of the week worth raving about. But I truly expected more from the Watson mid-season finale for Season 2. And it’s not like my expectations are coming out of nowhere. We recently had an episode with someone with a bomb threatening the main cast and we had the Croft’s almost dying in Season 1. This show knows how to take risks. But Watson Season 2 Episode 10 “Never Been CRISPR’d” felt like it could have fit anywhere within the season. And that’s a problem.
TV shows have fallen into this rhythm where they’re either A) playing it safe or B) they didn’t expect this episode to be the mid-season finale. But I’m only a humble viewer. Everyone at Watson knows the industry. They’re held to a different standard than I am. And when we enter into this silent TV contract where you provide me the episodes and I watch your shows, you’re supposed to deliver moments where I’m going to be itching to watch more of Watson Season 2. Right now, I’m not there.
And it’s not like we didn’t get some cliffhanger material in the mid-season finale for Watson Season 2.
On one hand we have Ingrid’s situationship from therapy escalating his stalking of Sasha. That’s why he wasn’t butthurt over Ingrid not wanting to sleep together anymore. He has his sights set on somebody else because to him, he already conquered Ingrid. So why not conquer somebody else on this illustrious team? Because I’ve seen build up like this before. This is him setting the stage to be her comfort or, because she already has comfort in Stephens, a kidnapping which the situationship will be instrumental in solving their problems. He’s a red flag. There’s also the fact that Sasha challenged him. And if there’s anything a narcissist likes, it’s taking someone down that challenges them or sees them for who they are.
While that’s going on, you have John coming to the realization that Mary is the one. But when he went to go and see her, she was already locking lips with someone else. She has seemingly moved on. But let’s not forget the fact that John is also dating someone who just came back, who he saw yesterday, and who he solved the mystery with her and her son just last week. He’s also seemingly moved on. Nevertheless, John has clocked his feelings and he was going to do something about it.
Both of these revelations are good little season moments. But they don’t feel like mid-season finale material. Of course Mary is going to feel something for John when the actual confrontation looming over them happens. You don’t work together and then have your hands shaking as he hands over his speech for you receiving an award, without feeling something. But if they were going to throw this into the mid-season finale, it needed to be bigger. It needed to be someone he knew or someone so far left field that it shakes the entire show.
If you slap on top everything that’s happening with Sherlock, and it feels like Watson Season 2 Episode 10 is over stuffed with what feels like half completed projects that you’re supposed to turn in for your final grade in the fall. And again, I’m just a reviewer. I don’t know how Hollywood runs when it comes to the ins-and-outs of day to day studio life. But I’ve watched enough TV where I expected a mid-season finale that was going to make me whip out my phone and add the mid-season premiere date to my phone because I need to know what happens next. And I’m going to return to Watson. I like the show. But I wish Watson would work a little bit more on making me love the show by taking risks.
And right now, they’re playing it safe.
Additional thoughts about Never Been CRISPR’d:
- Adam and Ingrid are also giving begrudging siblings. And I kind of like it.
- Also good on Ingrid for finding herself comfortable enough to talk to Adam.
- Ohhhh I was also thinking that Watson should’ve had Sherlock in that room with Mary.
- Not kissing of course.
- But what if Sherlock came to Mary earlier? Because he knew something was wrong with him?
- We can even go further back. What if Sherlock came to Mary in Season 1 and Mary knew that Sherlock was alive while John was suffering?
- YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF ANGST THAT WOULD’VE BEEN?!
- DIABOLICAL.
- Now that’s how you do a mid-season finale.
- Also, this possible kidnapping from Ingrid’s situationship, it should’ve happened already.
- Watch out Sasha!
Watson returns March 1, 2026 on CBS.