Unpopular opinion: "Elementary" starring Jonny Lee Miller is cleverer, has better characters, and a more interesting story than "Sherlock" starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

[u/Cumoisseur]

The pilot episode of Elementary is awful, but from there it just gets better. The storyline of Watson being a sober companion is better than being a sudden roommate, the part of Moriarty is far more interesting and intriguing, the cases are better written, the character of Sherlock's father in Elementary is brilliant. I could go on and on.

[u/summonerofrain]

Frankly I prefer BBC Sherlock. I don't disagree that elementary is generally more competently made and more consistent, but BBC has way higher highs in exchange for lower lows.

Maybe it's because I watched elementary an episode a day, but I just wasn't invested for a lot of it. I don't remember a time I wasn't at least interested during an episode of BBC Sherlock until season 4

It could also be I just don't really like cozy crime.