Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Watson season 1's two-part finale, "My Life's Work"!
After nearly becoming victims of the iconic villain, Peter Mark Kendall breaks down Adam and Stephens' fight for survival in the the Sherlock Holmes universe as Stephens and Adam Croft, identical twin brothers who work for Morris Chestnut's titular doctor at his new medical practice, the Holmes Clinic. Stephens works as the clinic's infectious disease specialist, while Adam works as the functional medical specialist, with their relationship strained for much of the season due to the latter dating the former's ex-fiancée.
The two-part Watson season 1 finale, entitled "My Life's Work", sees Stephens and Adam targeted by Randall Park's Moriarty in his newest grand scheme, becoming sick from a homegrown bioweapon that targets people via their DNA. With time running out, and only one vial of the cure for the disease, Watson chooses who to save with the flip of a coin, while he and his team race to find a second cure. This ultimately leads to them successfully manipulating Moriarty into making a cure for Stephens, but Watson elects to let Moriarty die in an effort to minimize future harm.
In honor of its airing, ScreenRant interviewed Peter Mark Kendall to discuss the Watson season 1 ending. The star reflected on his characters nearly meeting their ends in the finale, and how it will change their dynamic going forward, as well as Stephens' future relationships with Sasha and Ingrid, and when season 2 is set to begin filming on the Sherlock Holmes show.
Adam & Stephens' Near-Death Scenarios Made For An Interesting Dynamic Change Between Them
He Was Also Discovering Their Fates "As We Went"
ScreenRant: What did you think would be challenging about playing two characters that actually ended up being easier than you thought?
Peter Mark Kendall: It wasn't easier than I thought. [Chuckles] It was the appropriate amount of difficulty. I thought it was going to be really challenging in trying to be as specific and subtle and nuanced as I could of creating differences to make these people so clearly different, and thinking about that in of physically and wardrobe and the way that they move through the world. I think it has been the most fun acting challenge that I've ever had. It's so much to juggle in your mind, but also such a fun puzzle to solve every day.
Well, it really came to me too, because in the finale, you are wearing the same clothes. You're both lying in a hospital bed, you both have the same ailment. So how did you really separate those characters in your mind?
Peter Mark Kendall: I think there's such beautiful writing in that episode, and there's such beautiful writing that really shows their worldview, one being the kind of consistent pessimist, and the other one's always the optimist, and the way that they also kind of reverse their roles in that sense, too. I think that there's such beautiful growth for both characters, and it was really, really fun to have all of the things that I had all season long, in of clothing, in of hairstyle, in of wearing glasses, in of being able to move in a certain way, having that taken away completely and just being stationary. Lying in a bed made me really have to kind of lean on the language and the kind of way that these guys think and speak.
Do you enjoy playing one brother more than the other? It feels like I'm making you pick between your kids.
Peter Mark Kendall: You know what? When people ask me that, it changes from episode to episode. It's silly of me to say, but whoever has the coolest thing to do in a scene becomes my favorite, and it goes back and forth, because I kind of think of them as different parts of myself, so sometimes it's very cathartic and useful to have these two different parts of myself warring with each other or coming together.
Watson Season 2: Confirmation, Cast, Story & Everything We Know
CBS' modern Sherlock Holmes reimagining, Watson, delivers a medical drama twist, and now the series has been renewed for a second season.
Well, in the finale, they basically choose who gets to live by flipping. Did you know before reading the script that both of your characters were going to survive or were you kind of finding out as you went?
Peter Mark Kendall: I was finding out as we went. I think the shooting schedule for these shows is so demanding, and so tough, and so much comes down right to the wire. So, shooting an episode, and then while we're at work all getting the script for the next episode, and very, very quickly scrolling through your phone, you're like, "What happens? What happens? What happens?", because we're finding out just as we're getting these scripts. So, it's like reading the best novel of the world, because it's being written as you're reading it.
Adam also apologizes to Stephens for everything that happened with Lauren. As both Adam and Stephens, what was your take on the situation?
Peter Mark Kendall: I mean, what a sticky situation to be in that your twin brother is dating your ex, now engaged to your ex. I think that it was a really sweet moment of character growth for Adam to have a bit of an introspection, and look at the way that he's hurt his brother. Not intentionally, but to have that kind of self-awareness was a really fun thing to play.
Do you think that Stephens is still holding any kind of resentment, or has he let it go at this point in time?
Peter Mark Kendall: I think that he's let it go. I think that, especially given what they have been through, illness-wise and recovery-wise, he gets to have a moment of growth, too, and a moment of forgiveness.
Things Between Stephens & Sasha Are Going To Become Interesting
"...I Wonder If There's Also A Possibility For A Delay In That Gratification..."
There was also a kiss in the finale between Stephens and Sasha. What were your thoughts on how that confession came about? Were you surprised it happened earlier in the show? Did you kind of like the timing of it?
Peter Mark Kendall: I thought it was really cool. I haven't been watching the episodes, but from what I hear and what I've read, there's been really cool subtle hints at something brewing between these two, and to have a life-or-death scenario, like we have in the finale, be the catalyst for people to speak their truths to kind of say what they've been feeling. I thought that was a really cool way to tell that story, and especially when one person becomes comatose, maybe it's easier to. Now or never kind of situation.
So where do you hope they go next? Do you see them trying to navigate a relationship? Are they starting slow? What are your personal hopes for these characters?
Peter Mark Kendall: I don't know that I have a personal hope. I think that whatever tells the best story, I think it could go either way, and I think that would certainly be an interesting new dynamic to have a couple among the fellows, and how that would change the group dynamic as we solve cases. But I wonder if there's also a possibility for a delay in that gratification, or maybe it doesn't happen at all. I think that our writers, and showrunner Craig, are just so brilliant at keeping the audience guessing, and keeping us as actors guessing, which can be a real feat.
Wait, what about Porsche? Are they still together?
Peter Mark Kendall: No, I think that was episode 5 or 6, something like that. But Porsche, I think that Stephens kind of left that where it was. Probably no since.
Stephens & Ingrid's Dynamic Won't Be Straightforward After Her Relationship With Moriarty
"...I'm Hoping That There's Some Kind Of Way For Him To Forgive..."
Something that really surprised me is that he told Ingrid that he can't work with her anymore after what happened. As if she was expecting him to be like, "We're cool, we're cool." Do you think he'll ever forgive her?
Peter Mark Kendall: I don't know. I think part of the show, and part of what Watson has been teaching these fellows, is to understand and appreciate the really gray areas of life, and the nuance of things, and that right and wrong isn't always a very easy thing to decide. So, I'm hoping that there's some kind of way for him to forgive, but also not forget.
What's interesting too, is that Ingrid really doesn't care what anybody thinks of her, but when he asked her to leave and said, "I can't work with you," it seemed like she listened. So what do you think that says about their relationship that she would abide by his request?
Peter Mark Kendall: I think, for most of the season, Stephens has been terrified of Ingrid. So, I think it's just because she's a tough person to get along with, but I think that shows some cool growth with Stephens to have the confidence or the will to say that. And we'll see what happens, if that's the end of their relationship, or maybe that's just the beginning of their relationship.
Kendall Is Saddened By Moriarty's Death For 1 Key Reason
"Big Surprise For Me."
We also want to talk about the giant kind of shocker. Moriarty is dead. Did you see that coming? Were you surprised by the way that it came about?
Peter Mark Kendall: Oh man, I did not see that coming. I was a little bummed, because I didn't really get to act with Randall Park at all, just the two of us. It was always in a group scene or anything like that. So I was like, "Oh man, I'm not going to have the chance anymore." Well, maybe on something else, but certainly not in this show. Big surprise for me.
Season 2 Will Be Kicking Off Filming Soon
Kendall Also Has A Few Hopes For The Stories To Come Next Season
I know you've already been renewed for season 2. Do you have a filming window? Do you know when you might start back up again?
Peter Mark Kendall: I believe that we start sometime mid-to-late June shooting. I'm not sure about when that would air, or anything like that, but I can't wait to get started.
Well then, lastly, is there a storyline or anything with any of the characters that you would like to see happen in the second season?
Peter Mark Kendall: We need more of Sauce, the dog, the three-legged dog, who is just the sweetest. Anytime that there was an animal on set, everyone just kind of flipped out, and that was really, really fun. But seriously, I don't know. I would love to see more interaction with Shinwell and the fellows, and Dr. Mary Morstan and the fellows, and us getting to see patients too. I think that's a really fun thing that we haven't really gotten to explore very much yet.
More About Watson
WATSON takes place six months after the death of the titular character’s friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty. The show stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson who resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. Watson’s old life isn’t done with him, though – Moriarty and Watson are set to write their own chapter of a story that has fascinated audiences for more than a century. Watson is a medical show with a strong investigative spine, featuring a modern version of one of history’s greatest detectives as he turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries.
Check out our previous Watson season 1 interviews with:
- Eve Harlow (Episode 9 post-mortem)
- Rochelle Aytes (Episode 9 post-mortem)
- Showrunner Craig Sweeney (Episode 12 post-mortem)
- Showrunner Craig Sweeney (Episode 13 post-mortem)
All of Watson season 1 is available to stream on Paramount+ now.
Watson is a drama mystery series based on the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A year after the death of his partner, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson returns to his old life as a physician.
- Directors
- Larry Teng
- Writers
- Craig Sweeny
- Main Genre
- Mystery
- Creator(s)
- Craig Sweeny
- Producers
- Morris Chestnut, Aaron Kaplan
- Seasons
- 1
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