Enola Holmes 2

Millie Bobbie Brown returns as fourth-wall-breaking detective extraordinaire Enola Holmes in this colourful yet poignant Netflix sequel. Taking place shortly after the events of the first film, the plot kicks off with Enola starting a detective agency of her own in the heart of London. It’s here her services are procured by a young factory worker named Bessie (Serrana Su-Ling Bliss) who tasks Enola with finding her missing sister. Meanwhile, Sherlock (Henry Cavill) is in the middle of his toughest case yet. However, a trail of intriguing clues suggests both cases may be connected and bigger than both suspected.

The game is afoot as Enola tracks down an array of leads which seem to only point to more questions. No detail, no matter how small, plays a crucial role in the investigation, which makes for an entertaining mystery with dozens of unexpected twists and turns. And when the answers are finally revealed, it makes for a satisfying conclusion to a conundrum that only the Holmes siblings could crack.

Leading the charge is Brown, who’s as energetically charismatic as the young detective as before. Joining her (alongside Cavil) are returning cast members Helena Bonham Carter, Susan Wokoma, Adeel Akhtar and Louis Partridge, who are a delight to see once again even if they don’t have as much to do this time around. They’re joined by David Thewlis as Superintendent Grail, who makes a magnificent addition to the incredible line-up.

With so much going on, however, not every element of the plot is given equal development. Much like Enola’s previous venture, the romance between her and Tewkesbury (Patridge) leaves a lot to be desired. Despite the warmth between the two actors, this subplot frequently gets in the way of more pressing matters. Likewise, an overabundance of plot details consequently leads to some pacing issues in the final act where an overstretched climax and conclusion stumble whilst joining the various dots together and setting up a potential new chapter.

It’s the surprising connection to real-life events, however, which provides an inspirational feminist message that’s in keeping with the broader talking points of the previous film. If viewers aren’t taken in by the enthralling mystery, they’ll be won over by Enola’s wit in a sequel which surpasses the original in every way.

Andrew Murray

Enola Holmes 2 is released on Netflix on 4^th November 2022.

Watch the trailer for Enola Holmes 2 here: