Nearly a month after its first episode, Watson returns to its regular timeslot. Episode 2, titled “Redcoat,” starts with a gripping scene. An American Revolutionary War reenactor, Andrew Tanner (played by Damian O’Hare), returns home. As he enters, he finds someone inside.
The scene cuts to a gun pointed at his head. Before anything else is shown, the camera moves outside, and a gunshot is heard. This mysterious attack sets up the medical puzzle for this episode.
Watson Tackles Two Cases at Once
Before Dr. Watson (Morris Chestnut) investigates Andrew Tanner’s case, he challenges his medical team with another mystery. A young girl shows symptoms that look exactly like Uncombable Hair Syndrome (UHS). However, Watson encourages his team to think beyond the obvious. He wants them to search for other possible causes.
Dr. Lubbock (Inga Schlingmann) seems distracted. She aggressively pops balloons, which were meant to celebrate her engagement. However, her engagement to her boyfriend, Zack, did not happen. Despite her frustration, she and the Crofts (Peter Mark Kendall) suggest different diagnoses for the girl.
But in the end, Dr. Derian (Eve Harlow) confidently states that Watson had already figured out the diagnosis. The girl truly has Uncombable Hair Syndrome, and Watson was simply testing them.
Meanwhile, Andrew Tanner’s case is much more complicated. Watson’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Dr. Mary Marston (Rochelle Aytes), brings the case to the team. After being shot in the head, Andrew Tanner forgets who he is. He does not recognize his wife or child. Instead, he believes he is Patrick Ferguson, a Scotsman who fought for the British Army during the American Revolution—the very same historical figure he had been reenacting.
The team considers several possibilities. They discuss conditions like Foreign Accent Syndrome and trauma-induced delusions, but none explain Andrew’s full condition.
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Uncovering the Truth Behind Andrew Tanner’s Condition
Dr. Watson splits his team to gather more information. The Crofts look into Andrew’s social media to learn about his recent activities. Dr. Watson and Dr. Lubbock visit Andrew’s home to investigate the crime scene. Meanwhile, Dr. Derian searches for a neurosurgeon willing to operate on Andrew’s aneurysms.
As they dig deeper, the Crofts find that Andrew’s right hand has been shaking for some time. Dr. Watson and Dr. Lubbock make another discovery at the Tanner home. They realize there was a one-hour gap between the first bullet (which hit a clock) and the second bullet (which struck Andrew).
They also find a $20,000 bottle of whiskey had been opened. The person who drank it had shared six glasses with someone else. This leads Watson and Lubbock to an important conclusion—Andrew knew the person who shot him. The crime scene suggests he staged the break-in so that his wife and daughter would receive insurance money after his death.
The Crofts uncover another shocking detail. Andrew recently found out he has the genetic markers for Huntington’s Disease—a serious illness that causes a slow, painful decline. Watson now believes Andrew was trying to end his own life in a way that looked like a crime so his family would not suffer financially.
Watson shares his theory with Dr. Marston. However, there is no solid proof, so they cannot officially act on it. Instead of giving up, Watson takes a risk. He waits on the hospital roof, expecting Andrew to attempt another suicide. His instincts prove right. Andrew arrives, ready to jump. Watson stops him just in time.
Watson tries to convince Andrew to choose life. He opens up about his own mistakes, like leaving Mary to chase after Sherlock Holmes, which destroyed their marriage. However, Andrew is not moved by his words. Suddenly, Watson notices something unusual about Andrew’s eyes. Moments later, Andrew collapses, seizing violently as one of his aneurysms bursts.
Doctors place Andrew in a medically induced coma while they work to save him. After further testing, they make a surprising discovery. Andrew does not have Huntington’s Disease. His symptoms were actually caused by Wilson’s Disease, a treatable condition that mimics Huntington’s symptoms.
Watson tells Andrew the truth. He explains that Andrew has a real chance at a long, healthy life. Andrew finally drops the Patrick Ferguson act and decides to fight for his future.
Dr. Derian’s Troubled Past Comes to Light
From the beginning, Dr. Derian has been a tough presence in Watson’s life. She constantly challenges his decisions, yet she hides her own secrets. Early in the episode, Watson accuses her of avoiding him after he caught her in a lie. She nearly admits that the accusation upset her.
As the episode progresses, viewers see more of her habit of lying. She tries to convince a skilled neurosurgeon, Brodie “BDE” Davis Emerson (Jared Canfield), to operate on Andrew. However, Emerson quickly sees through her lies, making her visibly uncomfortable.
A bigger revelation comes when Watson suggests another surgeon—Dr. Isaac Niles (Hampton Fluker). Derian immediately reacts defensively. She does not want to ask for his help. Niles, now working in Johnstown, is hesitant too. He believes Derian ruined his career.
Years ago, Niles and Derian were in the same medical program. They went out to celebrate passing a difficult exam. That night, someone reported a drunk driver who matched Niles’ description. Even though he insists he was not drinking, the report damaged his reputation. He lost his scholarships, went into debt, was arrested, and struggled to find work after graduating.
Niles strongly believes Derian orchestrated the whole thing to eliminate her competition. His accusations make sense, especially when Derian avoids directly answering his questions. She tries to manipulate the situation, using charm instead of honesty.
At the end of the episode, Dr. Marston offers Niles a job at the hospital, but he declines. He warns her that Dr. Derian is extremely dangerous.
Moriarty’s Influence Grows in Watson’s Life
One of the biggest twists in Watson’s first episode was the revelation that Moriarty (Randall Park) is alive and plotting against Watson.
In Episode 2, Watson asks his trusted ally, Shinwell Johnson (Ritchie Coster), to refill a prescription for him. However, Moriarty’s people interfere. A pharmaceutical representative, Porsche (Sofie Kane), is actually one of Moriarty’s allies.
She gives Shinwell a task—switch Watson’s pills with a drug chosen by Moriarty. Shinwell hesitates, but he follows through.
Later, another doctor, Stephens, sees Shinwell in Watson’s office. He does not confront him, but his suspicion is clear. This will likely play a big role in the future, as Watson unknowingly takes Moriarty’s drug.
Watson and Marston’s Relationship Remains the Heart of the Show
Despite all the medical cases and mysteries, the relationship between Watson and his ex-wife, Dr. Marston, remains the most interesting part of the show.
Throughout the episode, Watson becomes distracted by a name on Mary’s schedule—“Gummi.” He assumes this means she is dating someone new. At the end of the episode, he tells Mary that he will no longer pry into her personal life. She finds his concern amusing and offers to have lunch with him. However, Watson declines because he has a meeting with Human Resources.
Surprisingly, his HR meeting solves the mystery of “Gummi.” The HR director reveals that her own nickname is “Gummi,” and Mary was simply having lunch with her friend.
Watson’s lingering attachment to Mary suggests he still hopes for reconciliation. The series hints that their story may not be over yet.
What’s Next for Watson?
Episode 2 of Watson, titled “Redcoat,” delivers a gripping mix of medical drama, psychological intrigue, and personal conflicts. The case of Andrew Tanner takes unexpected turns, as what seemed like a bizarre case of mistaken identity is ultimately revealed to be a desperate attempt at financial security.
Watson’s sharp instincts save Andrew’s life, leading to the shocking revelation that he does not have Huntington’s Disease but instead suffers from the treatable Wilson’s Disease. This storyline showcases Watson’s brilliant deductive skills and his ability to see beyond the obvious.
Meanwhile, Dr. Derian’s past comes back to haunt her. Her former colleague, Dr. Isaac Niles, exposes disturbing secrets about her past, suggesting she may have ruined his career. Her manipulative nature and questionable ethics add an intriguing layer to her character, setting up possible conflicts for the future.
Moriarty’s presence looms over the episode, as Shinwell is forced to betray Watson by switching his medication. As Watson unknowingly takes the altered prescription, the stakes rise, making it clear that Moriarty’s plan is far from over.
With strong character development, medical mysteries, and a growing sense of danger, Watson continues to build an engaging and suspenseful narrative that promises even more twists in the episodes ahead.
The episode ends on a suspenseful note. Shinwell watches as Watson unknowingly takes the drug switched by Moriarty’s team.
The effects of this medication remain unknown, but one thing is certain—Moriarty’s plan is in motion, and Watson is right in the middle of it. You can watch new episodes of Watson every Sunday at 9 PM ET/PT on CBS and on Paramount+ the next day.
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