Watson Season 1 Episode 10 Review: The Man with the Alien Hand

On Watson Season 1 Episode 10, “The Man with the Alien Hand,” medicine is again only the entry point for some fairly straightforward detective work—one that brings in a familiar name in a new way.

Cameron claims he has “alien hand syndrome”. Considering he wants to have the appendage amputated and once throws hydrochloric acid on himself, it’s easy to believe him. Just as some progress is being made, his “hand” throws his brother Damien in front of a bus.

At first, Watson tries to defend his patient to a local authority—one Detective Lestrade, a perceptive older woman on the force. But the fact both brothers were set to inherit a fortune of millions makes the case more suspicious.

Cameron all but confesses under the protection of his diagnosis. (The symptom is real, as is another condition that makes him act impulsively) He’s gone as far as to pay a graduate student to burn himself with acid so he’ll know what to do.

It seems he can’t be charged, but he’ll still get his comeuppance. His father shared the impulsive condition and fathered dozens of children who are all now heirs themselves. And when the grad student offers to testify, he gets arrested anyway.

Even more sobering is the continuation of Ingrid’s story. She keeps getting photos of her father’s bones, and her nerves catch Sasha’s attention. She’s eventually pushed into a tearful confession about the man’s abuse and how she stopped it forever.

For two episodes in a row, a clinical diagnosis is just the entry to fairly straightforward crime solving. Is Watson risking becoming too much like other Holmes adaptations? Possibly—but then, this isn’t even the first adaptation to use the angle of a medical setting.

Because this is such a packed genre, being able to tell a story effectively matters more than whether that story is .unique. And I have to admit that Cameron’s dedication to his bit is rather remarkable (in a horrific and murderous way, of course)

Whether it’s believable us up for debate, but here the series can lean back into its central theme.  The Holmes clinic has bene created specifically to take in the most unusual cases it can find. We should expect to find the most unusual crimes, too.

From this initial introduction, I’m also very on board with the take on Detective Lestrade. Female representation is always important, but I’m even happier that she’s good at her job, rightfully calling Watson out for being blinded by Cameron’s lies.

Maly adaptations make their version of this character almost comical; at best desperate and at worst incompetent for the sake of making their own Holmes and/or Watson look good. But our doctor needs more allies, and he seems to have found one in her.

The complexity again leaves us with little time among the main characters, and that’s almost entirely dedicated to what Ingrid now faces. It’s both unnerving and heartbreaking to see her stoic mask finally crumble, though I love Sasha stepping up for her.

What is it all going to mean for the last two episodes of their season? Considering their earlier confrontation, we can be almost certain both that Moriarty is the one harassing her via text and that he’s about to go much further with the truth.

With only two episodes left in the season, things are going to come to a head very quickly. And if Moriarty’s planning to possibly pin down one of Dr. Watson’s associates for murder, I’m very concerned what could be in store for the man himself.

---

What did you think of this episode of Watson? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

Critic Rating:

Audience Rating:

 

Watson airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.

Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!