The Irregulars

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
The Irregulars Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Language, spooky visuals in teen Sherlock Holmes riff.

Netflix Drama 2021
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 14 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Irregulars is a mystery series that centers on a group of teens who help Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson with their cases in 19th-century London. Some of the images and plotlines may be too scary for young or sensitive viewers. A flock of ravens attacks a woman, and then her dead body is shown with bloody holes where her eyes used to be. Villains take up residence in spooky old buildings, and inhumanly tall shadowy figures loom large in nightmares. Sexual content includes references to "banging" and making "sweet love," a scene in which a character unwittingly engages a sex worker who offers to "relieve him," and sexual tension between characters; expect that tension to result in kissing and romantic complications. The diverse (in terms of race, ethnicity, class, and socioeconomic status) cast forms a chosen family that's deeply supportive of each other and works together to survive. Language is infrequent, but "s--t," "ass," "hell," and "prick" all make appearances, as does English slang like "piss off" and "slag." Some scenes take place in bars; characters drink ale.

Community Reviews

Melvin J.
Melvin J. Adult
March 28, 2023
age 18+

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
jonathonjaye
jonathonjaye Adult
January 28, 2022
age 15+

Hollywood Keeps Pushing the Boundaries

I recommended this series to the parents of my grandchildren based on episode 1. When I got to episode, 2, I had to contact them and tell them I could no longer recommend it. After experiencing the f-word, implications of teens sleeping together, a group of people dropping all their clothes (neck up), a naked butt, and a lot of s-words, I am done with this, and so is my family.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Sherlock Holmes may be great at deductive reasoning, but when a series of mysterious crimes plagues 19th century London, he needs THE IRREGULARS to help him flush out evildoers and show them crime does not pay. Bea (Thaddea Graham), her younger sister Jessie (Darcy Shaw), Spike (McKell David), and Billy (Jojo Macari) were once hapless orphans in the workhouse, but by banding together and using both wits and might, they've been able to scrape together enough money to live in a filthy basement apartment. But when Jessie begins having strange and terrifying visions, and the shadowy Dr. James Watson (Royce Pierreson) approaches Bea seeking help with a case, the foursome learn that London's wave of villainy and Jessie's otherworldly powers are connected somehow -- and they have to figure out how, and fast, or they're all in mortal danger.

Is It Any Good?

An appealing cast, a light horror-mystery vibe, period visuals, and a fresh spin on a much-explored literary figure keeps this show entertaining despite its hoary case-of-the-week setup. Sherlock Holmes stories have certainly been the basis for endless adaptations, both cinematic and televised, and the rip-roaring success of the Cumberbatch-as-Sherlock series is the obvious inspiration for a teen spin on the old-timey London detective narrative. Setting the action amongst a group of savvy street kids who help Watson and Holmes out with their inquiries is a brilliant idea, and it allows the viewer to see a dirtier, seamier side of 19th century London life than is typical for period dramas.

The young cast is easy to root for, too, especially Thaddea Graham's Bea, who's essentially the older sister/mom figure of the foursome who make up the found family The Irregulars centers on. Steely-eyed and fearless, she makes an excellent heroine to root for, focused on keeping her makeshift family housed and fed and reluctantly involving herself in Holmes' cases for cash rather than as an exciting intellectual diversion, as is often the case with Holmes. The Irregulars' frequent flirtations with horror movie imagery and plotlines is also fun: a villain who can call down ravens to do his murderous bidding? A mystical dream world with a spirit guide who helps solve mysteries? It's weird and it works, like The Irregulars itself.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the different genres The Irregulars fits into. Is it a mystery show? A teen soap opera? A supernatural drama? Does the mix of genres make this show more interesting, or less so?

  • Mysteries work well for episodic television, because it's easy to consider and solve a new case in each episode. What other examples can you name? Does this type of setup make a show predictable? Does it matter?

  • Families can talk about the appeal of supernatural stories like The Irregulars. Why do you think dark mystery series with a teen cast are popular right now? Do you enjoy stories that bring the impossible to life? Do they have any learning points, even though they're fantasy?

TV Details

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