Sherlock Holmes vs Doctor Who: Who's More Iconic!?
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Both series center on an iconic hero, but there’s more to both of them than just a great protagonist: “who” will “lock” in a victory? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and in this installment of Versus, we’re comparing the “Sherlock Holmes” and “Doctor Who” franchises to see which is superior.
Round 1: Cultural Impact
The influence of Sherlock Holmes on popular culture and fiction as a whole is tremendous. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a person who hasn’t heard of Sherlock Holmes. The character’s fame is such that some people believe he was actually a real person. And, admit it, you’ve totally used his name as a quip when someone says something a liiiittle too obvious. The character and his stories have influenced countless fictional works since their creation, with the great detective even holding the Guinness World Record for “most portrayed movie character” in history. Though there were intellectual heroes before him, Sherlock is perhaps the most enduring and popular example of the archetype.
When compared to Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Who’s legacy is younger. At a little over fifty years old, the franchise has simply had less time to seep into the public consciousness. Despite its rough start, first airing in the midst of the coverage of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963, the show has gone from cult phenomenon to global obsession. The revival in 2005 skyrocketed the merchandise sales for the franchise, with Whovians buying every TARDIS blanket, Adipose plush and sonic screwdriver universal remote they could get their hands on. It’s had significant influence on much of British television, particularly sci-fi programs, and many of aspects, from its villains to its theme song, are considered iconic.
Though “Doctor Who” has undeniable influence, we’re giving this round to “Sherlock Holmes,” whose effects on the world are truly incalculable.
WINNER: Sherlock Holmes 1 / Doctor Who 0
Round 2: Stories
It may seem difficult to believe, but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle only wrote four Sherlock Holmes novels, along with 56 short stories. And, when it comes to Conan Doyle’s work, the devil’s in the details: his Holmes stories always involve little hints of how to solve the mystery, and in the end when it all comes together it’s an ingenious work of art. Whether he’s deciphering why a greedy stepfather would unleash a poisonous snake to off his stepdaughters, or how a redheaded pawnshop owner and a bank robbery are connected, Holmes’ process fascinates us at every step. Writers in all types of media have taken the character of Sherlock Holmes and run with him, putting him into some truly unusual situations. In fact, if the franchise has one weakness, it’s that there doesn’t seem to be any mystery he can’t solve!
“Doctor Who”’s influence is also enormous. Whether it’s being used an educational tool or inspiring science fiction franchises like “Alien,” these stories have proven the franchise’s staying power and value. The Doctor has gotten into and out of a LOT of scrapes since 1963, facing baddies like the Daleks, Cybermen, and The Master. Over the years, he has been given more and more of a backstory, with more attention being given to his origins on Gallifrey, as well as the Time War that makes him the mysterious and tortured figure we see in the revival. “Who” stories themselves can be incredibly varied as well, with many incorporating genres like action, mystery, and even romance. But, as much as the Doctor’s zany exploits excite us, sometimes the storylines this Time Lord is thrown into seem a little contrived.
While “Doctor Who” has an impressive number of quality stories, “Sherlock Holmes” has managed to fire the imaginations of countless people for twice as long; though who knows how far “Doctor Who” could go once it turns a hundred years old. This was a tough call, but in the end we have to give it to “Sherlock Holmes.”
WINNER: Sherlock Holmes 2 / Doctor Who 0
Round 3: Companions / Allies
Throughout the many adaptations of the character, Sherlock’s allies have remained pretty consistent: there’s Inspector Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, his elder brother Mycroft Holmes, and his best friend, biographer, and partner, Dr. John Watson. Though Sherlock often acts like a lone wolf, his friends definitely bring out the best in him, with Watson in particular sticking by his side to help motivate him. However, while they do get their own chances to shine in some interpretations of characters, Sherlock’s allies are usually relegated to emphasizing how clever Sherlock is.
In his travels through time and space, the Doctor has had many, many traveling companions, from humans, to aliens, to robot dogs. Like Holmes, the Doctor’s friends make him a better man, as they balance out his eccentricities and help stop him from going too far… Usually. Sure, sometimes it seems as though the Doctor’s companions are only there to make him look good, but don’t forget: they’re often given important roles in both the Doctor’s stories and in stories of their own, as several standout companions have received their own spinoffs. Just as fans tune in to see the Doctor, they also develop quite the attachment for those he brings around in his TARDIS.
Although Sherlock’s friends are iconic in their own way, the Doctor’s companions have managed to be there for him, and as a result they’re now considered every bit as heroic as he is.
WINNER: Sherlock Holmes 2 / Doctor Who 1
Round 4: Villains
In all his years time solving mysteries, Sherlock Holmes has apprehended plenty of murderers and other criminals. His most recurring nemesis, at least outside of Conan Doyle’s stories, is Professor James Moriarty, but other memorable foes are marksman Colonel Sebastian Moran, blackmailer Charles Augustus Milverton and femme fatale Irene Adler… though they have a complicated relationship. Sherlock’s best enemies challenge his prodigious deductive skills. Fortunately, the master sleuth has got a select few friends to help him when his talents come up short, or when his lack of social skills might otherwise hold him back.
The “Doctor Who” rogues gallery is positively massive and its members have threatened planets, civilizations, and even reality itself. Everyone’s favorite wayward Time Lord has faced everything from insane computers, to power-hungry businessmen, to entire alien races. However, the Doctor’s most ardent foes include the genocidal Daleks, the emotionless Cybermen, and the Master, who is the Doctor’s Moriarty. The Doctor’s enemies are a mainstay in the franchise, because they fire the imagination as much as the main hero does and have helped turn “Doctor Who” into the franchise it is today.
While both sets of villains are iconic to their franchises, we feel that the greater threat posed by the Doctor’s foes, along with their greater numbers and impact on the Whoniverse, secures them this victory.
WINNER: Sherlock Holmes 2 / Doctor Who 2
Round 5: Hero
Sherlock Holmes may be the template for the modern detective, but he’s so much more than just an archetype. Though his personality can vary somewhat depending on the adaptation, Sherlock is generally a brilliant – if socially disinclined – man, whose intelligence often leaves him separated from other people… except for his beloved Watson. Sherlock’s extraordinary sleuthing skills and his difficulties interacting with society have made him a perennially fascinating character, as he has demonstrated that someone can still be a hero, even if they aren’t what most people consider “normal.”
To keep things fresh year after year, “Doctor Who” has successfully incorporated re-casting their main hero as a plot point. As a Time Lord, the Doctor is a two-hearted alien whose personality shifts with every regeneration, changing his face, as well as his fashion sense. This has allowed many different sides of the character to be explored. He’s displayed everything from warmth and kindness to cold fury – sometimes even within the same episode. In general however, the Doctor is a courageous, unpredictable, and eccentric protagonist, whose greatest strength is his ability to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence, and to fulfill the promise of his chosen moniker: he just wants to make people better.
Sherlock Holmes has been an influential character for well over a century, but during that time the detective has rarely shown us anything new. Because he’s proven himself to be a well-rounded protagonist that is constantly evolving and showing us something new, we have to award this round – and therefore the contest – to the Doctor.
Round 1: Cultural Impact
The influence of Sherlock Holmes on popular culture and fiction as a whole is tremendous. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a person who hasn’t heard of Sherlock Holmes. The character’s fame is such that some people believe he was actually a real person. And, admit it, you’ve totally used his name as a quip when someone says something a liiiittle too obvious. The character and his stories have influenced countless fictional works since their creation, with the great detective even holding the Guinness World Record for “most portrayed movie character” in history. Though there were intellectual heroes before him, Sherlock is perhaps the most enduring and popular example of the archetype.
When compared to Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Who’s legacy is younger. At a little over fifty years old, the franchise has simply had less time to seep into the public consciousness. Despite its rough start, first airing in the midst of the coverage of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963, the show has gone from cult phenomenon to global obsession. The revival in 2005 skyrocketed the merchandise sales for the franchise, with Whovians buying every TARDIS blanket, Adipose plush and sonic screwdriver universal remote they could get their hands on. It’s had significant influence on much of British television, particularly sci-fi programs, and many of aspects, from its villains to its theme song, are considered iconic.
Though “Doctor Who” has undeniable influence, we’re giving this round to “Sherlock Holmes,” whose effects on the world are truly incalculable.
WINNER: Sherlock Holmes 1 / Doctor Who 0
Round 2: Stories
It may seem difficult to believe, but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle only wrote four Sherlock Holmes novels, along with 56 short stories. And, when it comes to Conan Doyle’s work, the devil’s in the details: his Holmes stories always involve little hints of how to solve the mystery, and in the end when it all comes together it’s an ingenious work of art. Whether he’s deciphering why a greedy stepfather would unleash a poisonous snake to off his stepdaughters, or how a redheaded pawnshop owner and a bank robbery are connected, Holmes’ process fascinates us at every step. Writers in all types of media have taken the character of Sherlock Holmes and run with him, putting him into some truly unusual situations. In fact, if the franchise has one weakness, it’s that there doesn’t seem to be any mystery he can’t solve!
“Doctor Who”’s influence is also enormous. Whether it’s being used an educational tool or inspiring science fiction franchises like “Alien,” these stories have proven the franchise’s staying power and value. The Doctor has gotten into and out of a LOT of scrapes since 1963, facing baddies like the Daleks, Cybermen, and The Master. Over the years, he has been given more and more of a backstory, with more attention being given to his origins on Gallifrey, as well as the Time War that makes him the mysterious and tortured figure we see in the revival. “Who” stories themselves can be incredibly varied as well, with many incorporating genres like action, mystery, and even romance. But, as much as the Doctor’s zany exploits excite us, sometimes the storylines this Time Lord is thrown into seem a little contrived.
While “Doctor Who” has an impressive number of quality stories, “Sherlock Holmes” has managed to fire the imaginations of countless people for twice as long; though who knows how far “Doctor Who” could go once it turns a hundred years old. This was a tough call, but in the end we have to give it to “Sherlock Holmes.”
WINNER: Sherlock Holmes 2 / Doctor Who 0
Round 3: Companions / Allies
Throughout the many adaptations of the character, Sherlock’s allies have remained pretty consistent: there’s Inspector Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, his elder brother Mycroft Holmes, and his best friend, biographer, and partner, Dr. John Watson. Though Sherlock often acts like a lone wolf, his friends definitely bring out the best in him, with Watson in particular sticking by his side to help motivate him. However, while they do get their own chances to shine in some interpretations of characters, Sherlock’s allies are usually relegated to emphasizing how clever Sherlock is.
In his travels through time and space, the Doctor has had many, many traveling companions, from humans, to aliens, to robot dogs. Like Holmes, the Doctor’s friends make him a better man, as they balance out his eccentricities and help stop him from going too far… Usually. Sure, sometimes it seems as though the Doctor’s companions are only there to make him look good, but don’t forget: they’re often given important roles in both the Doctor’s stories and in stories of their own, as several standout companions have received their own spinoffs. Just as fans tune in to see the Doctor, they also develop quite the attachment for those he brings around in his TARDIS.
Although Sherlock’s friends are iconic in their own way, the Doctor’s companions have managed to be there for him, and as a result they’re now considered every bit as heroic as he is.
WINNER: Sherlock Holmes 2 / Doctor Who 1
Round 4: Villains
In all his years time solving mysteries, Sherlock Holmes has apprehended plenty of murderers and other criminals. His most recurring nemesis, at least outside of Conan Doyle’s stories, is Professor James Moriarty, but other memorable foes are marksman Colonel Sebastian Moran, blackmailer Charles Augustus Milverton and femme fatale Irene Adler… though they have a complicated relationship. Sherlock’s best enemies challenge his prodigious deductive skills. Fortunately, the master sleuth has got a select few friends to help him when his talents come up short, or when his lack of social skills might otherwise hold him back.
The “Doctor Who” rogues gallery is positively massive and its members have threatened planets, civilizations, and even reality itself. Everyone’s favorite wayward Time Lord has faced everything from insane computers, to power-hungry businessmen, to entire alien races. However, the Doctor’s most ardent foes include the genocidal Daleks, the emotionless Cybermen, and the Master, who is the Doctor’s Moriarty. The Doctor’s enemies are a mainstay in the franchise, because they fire the imagination as much as the main hero does and have helped turn “Doctor Who” into the franchise it is today.
While both sets of villains are iconic to their franchises, we feel that the greater threat posed by the Doctor’s foes, along with their greater numbers and impact on the Whoniverse, secures them this victory.
WINNER: Sherlock Holmes 2 / Doctor Who 2
Round 5: Hero
Sherlock Holmes may be the template for the modern detective, but he’s so much more than just an archetype. Though his personality can vary somewhat depending on the adaptation, Sherlock is generally a brilliant – if socially disinclined – man, whose intelligence often leaves him separated from other people… except for his beloved Watson. Sherlock’s extraordinary sleuthing skills and his difficulties interacting with society have made him a perennially fascinating character, as he has demonstrated that someone can still be a hero, even if they aren’t what most people consider “normal.”
To keep things fresh year after year, “Doctor Who” has successfully incorporated re-casting their main hero as a plot point. As a Time Lord, the Doctor is a two-hearted alien whose personality shifts with every regeneration, changing his face, as well as his fashion sense. This has allowed many different sides of the character to be explored. He’s displayed everything from warmth and kindness to cold fury – sometimes even within the same episode. In general however, the Doctor is a courageous, unpredictable, and eccentric protagonist, whose greatest strength is his ability to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence, and to fulfill the promise of his chosen moniker: he just wants to make people better.
Sherlock Holmes has been an influential character for well over a century, but during that time the detective has rarely shown us anything new. Because he’s proven himself to be a well-rounded protagonist that is constantly evolving and showing us something new, we have to award this round – and therefore the contest – to the Doctor.
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