The BEST episodes of Elementary season 1

Every episode of Elementary season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Elementary season 1!

Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare – a sober companion, Dr. Watson. A successful surgeon until she lost a patient and her license three years ago, Watson views her current job as another opportunity to help people, as well as paying a penance. Holmes resumes his work as a police consultant in New York City and Watson has no choice but to accompany her irascible new charge on his jobs. But Sherlock finds her medical background helpful, and Watson realizes she has a knack for playing investigator. With the mischievous Sherlock Holmes now running free in New York solving crimes, it’s simple deduction that he’s going to need someone to keep him grounded, and it’s elementary that it’s a job for Watson.

Last Updated: 11/8/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Heroine (2)
star
8.32
1952 votes

#1 - Heroine (2)

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/2013

As Sherlock reels at the reappearance of his former lover, Irene Adler, a series of flashbacks unravel the tumultuous events that led to his downfall into addiction. Sherlock and Joan once again find themselves in the crosshairs of the enigmatic Moriarty.

Directors: John Polson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Woman (1)
star
8.15
4350 votes

#2 - The Woman (1)

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/16/2013

As Sherlock reels at the reappearance of his former lover, Irene Adler, a series of flashbacks unravel the tumultuous events that led to his downfall into addiction. Sherlock and Joan once again find themselves in the crosshairs of the enigmatic Moriarty.

Directors: Seith Mann
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Risk Management
star
8.08
4799 votes

#3 - Risk Management

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/9/2013

Sherlock agrees to take a case from a man claiming to be Moriarty, hoping it will bring him closer to finding his nemesis. Meanwhile, Gregson encourages Joan to give up the dangerous line of work she has chosen and go back to being a sober companion.

Directors: Adam Davidson
Writer: Liz Friedman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
M.
star
7.99
5318 votes

#4 - M.

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2013

Sherlock is reunited with "M." a British criminal who appears to have followed Sherlock to New York. Meanwhile, Joan has reservations about leaving Sherlock and taking on a new client.

Directors: John Polson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Landmark Story
star
7.99
4689 votes

#5 - A Landmark Story

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/2/2013

Sherlock resumes his hunt for Moriarty when Sebastian Moran reveals that a man who was thought to be dead from a heart attack was actually on the list of intended victims from Moriarty.

Directors: Peter Werner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Deja Vu All Over Again
star
7.94
4798 votes

#6 - Deja Vu All Over Again

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/14/2013

Joan investigates her first solo case when a wife disappears. The missing woman left behind a tear-filled video that mentions a murder on a subway platform. While Joan searches for the vanished lady, Sherlock probes the murder.

Directors: Jerry Levine
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Snow Angels
star
7.86
4887 votes

#7 - Snow Angels

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/4/2013

Sherlock and Joan try to prevent the largest cash vault in the U.S. from being robbed during a deadly blizzard. Meanwhile, Holmes attempts to help a transgender woman who is recovering from her latest breakup.

Directors: Andrew Bernstein
Writer: Jason Tracey
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Details
star
7.85
4765 votes

#8 - Details

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/14/2013

Sherlock investigates what he believes will be an open-and-shut case after Detective Bell is attacked. However, the case takes an unexpected turn when the suspected assailant is found dead. Meanwhile, Sherlock encourages Joan to learn self-defense.

Directors: Sanaa Hamri
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Leviathan
star
7.84
5090 votes

#9 - The Leviathan

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/13/2012

Sherlock is called in to investigate when a supposedly uncrackable bank vault called “The Leviathan” is breached. Meanwhile, Joan is pleasantly surprised when Sherlock meets her family and defends her choice to become a sober companion.

Directors: Peter Werner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Child Predator
star
7.84
5454 votes

#10 - Child Predator

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/2012

Sherlock and Watson consult on a child abduction case involving a serial killer who is nicknamed "The Balloon Man," because he leaves a signature batch of balloons at each of his crime scenes.

Directors: Rod Holcomb
Writer: Peter Blake
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Deductionist
star
7.83
4836 votes

#11 - The Deductionist

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/3/2013

Sherlock pursues Martin Ennis, an unpredictable criminal, before he strikes again. During the investigation, Sherlock is forced to work alongside Kathryn Drummond, the FBI profiler who literally wrote the book on Ennis. Meanwhile, Watson faces eviction from her apartment.

Directors: John Polson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Possibility Two
star
7.82
4465 votes

#12 - Possibility Two

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/21/2013

Sherlock investigates a case involving a wealthy philanthropist who believes his incurable illness was given to him on purpose. Meanwhile, Sherlock tries to teach Joan his deductive skills by sending her to a suspicious dry cleaning establishment.

Directors: Seith Mann
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Giant Gun, Filled with Drugs
star
7.76
4972 votes

#13 - A Giant Gun, Filled with Drugs

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/7/2013

When Sherlock's ex-drug dealer, Rhys, comes around for help, Watson is concerned about Sherlock's sobriety after Rhys implies that Sherlock on drugs made a better detective.

Directors: Guy Ferland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Rat Race
star
7.74
5363 votes

#14 - The Rat Race

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/2012

Even though he despises bankers, Holmes agrees to consult on a case involving the death of a Wall Street executive who appears to have overdosed on heroin. Meanwhile, with Holmes’ encouragement, Watson tries to re-enter the dating scene.

Writer: Craig Sweeny
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
You Do It to Yourself
star
7.74
5074 votes

#15 - You Do It to Yourself

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/6/2012

Sherlock uses his trademark deductive reasoning skills to find the killer of a college professor, Watson gets a call from a former lover who needs her help.

Directors: Phil Abraham
Writer: Peter Blake
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Red Team
star
7.73
4862 votes

#16 - The Red Team

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/31/2013

While on suspension from the NYPD, Sherlock investigates a suspicious hit-and-run accident involving a conspiracy theorist. Meanwhile, Watson tries to broker peace between Sherlock and Gregson.

Directors: Christine Moore
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lesser Evils
star
7.73
5200 votes

#17 - Lesser Evils

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/2012

Sherlock tries to determine who has been killing weak and terminal patients at a hospital, making it look like they died of natural causes. Meanwhile, Sherlock learns more about Joan’s decision to walk away from her surgical career.

Directors: Colin Bucksey
Writer: Liz Friedman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dirty Laundry
star
7.73
5112 votes

#18 - Dirty Laundry

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/3/2013

Sherlock and Joan investigate the murder of the general manager of a high-end Manhattan hotel whose body is found inside an industrial laundry machine. Meanwhile, since Joan’s time with Sherlock is almost up, he offers her an apprenticeship.

Directors: John David Coles
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dead Man's Switch
star
7.71
4710 votes

#19 - Dead Man's Switch

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/25/2013

Sherlock and Joan hunt for the accomplice of a murdered blackmailer who targeted families of rape victims. Meanwhile, Sherlock resists celebrating his first year of sobriety.

Directors: Larry Teng
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Long Fuse
star
7.69
5067 votes

#20 - The Long Fuse

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/29/2012

While investigating an explosion that kills two people, Sherlock discovers a crime that’s been lying dormant for years. Meanwhile, Watson encourages Sherlock to finally pick a sponsor.

Directors: Andrew Bernstein
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
One Way to Get Off
star
7.69
5188 votes

#21 - One Way to Get Off

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/2012

Sherlock assists with a double homicide that has the same M.O. as a series of murders that took place 13 years ago. Meanwhile, after being frozen out by Sherlock, Watson visits his old rehab center in order to learn more about the mysterious man in her care.

Directors: Seith Mann
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Flight Risk
star
7.66
5362 votes

#22 - Flight Risk

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2012

Sherlock tries to prove that one of the people whose body was found in the wreckage of a small plane crash was actually killed before the plane went down. Meanwhile, Watson tries to convince Sherlock to meet with his elusive father.

Directors: David Platt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
While You Were Sleeping
star
7.66
6040 votes

#23 - While You Were Sleeping

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/2012

Sherlock uses his powers of deduction to consult on the murder of a young man who is shot upon entering his apartment. Meanwhile, Watson has dinner with her ex-boyfriend, Ty Morstan.

Directors: John David Coles
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.65
7048 votes

#24 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/2012

Detective Sherlock Holmes, along with his sober companion, Dr. Joan Watson, uses his uncanny ability to read people and analyze crimes to assist the NYPD on some of their more difficult cases. In the season premiere, Holmes consults on a home invasion that resulted in murder.

Directors: Michael Cuesta
Writer: Rob Doherty
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV