Like all good cases associated with the family Holmes, there’s always another mystery to solve — and it’s always one that’s more consequential, weirder, and more dangerous than the last. And in Enola Holmes 2, with Sherlock’s much cooler little sister back to investigate another case, the film cracks the code on the ever-dreaded sequel conundrum.
Based on author Nancy Springer’s popular book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries, the film sees the creative team of Enola Holmes reunite, with director Harry Bradbeer returning for another run alongside Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials) on the screenplay. It’s no accident Enola’s Fleabag-style fourth-wall breaking works so well in these films; Bradbeer directed many episodes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s smash series, after all.
With two Holmeses in the field, Enola Holmes 2 hinges on dual mysteries like the first film — two compelling and well-crafted cases that intertwine as the film rolls on. Having cracked the case of her missing mother in the first film, Enola has opened her very own detective agency and is attempting to escape brother Sherlock’s shadow at the beginning of this sequel. But this is society in Victorian England, so our heroine is underestimated by all potential clients for being a) sister to the already-famous Detective Holmes and b) female. (Thorne’s script all but spits the words at you: “But you’re a girl!”) Enola’s not the only one overlooked, however, as she picks up a case of a missing woman whose disappearance might not have made it through the door of 221B Baker Street.
Holmes sweet Holmes
Credit: Alex Bailey / Netflix
Millie Bobby Brown’s impeccable comedic timing and flustered Fleabag energy once again make her the perfect choice for Sherlock’s headstrong sister stomping her own path. Whether watching Enola enthusiastically pitch being flatmates to a deadpan Sherlock, whinge about unfairness with a mouthful of cake just as her crush walks by, or violate social decorum by daring to speak to a young man without a chaperone, Brown’s energy and talent never falters. Only Brown could storm out of a bathroom in an evening gown proclaiming, “Don’t touch the ginger cake, it plays hopscotch with your bowels!” with such hilarious elegance. She even makes the film’s version of a ”I bet you’re wondering how I ended up here” introduction work.
Though the sequel spends slightly less time driving home Enola’s rebellion against social decorum, the script still leans on several moments (like her unchaperoned ball conversation) to expose hypocritical gendered rules. In general, however, she’s allowed to crack on with things and focus on the plight of less privileged women. Enola is a highly intelligent, independent young woman who has been brought up by her feminist mother learning skills beyond those traditionally associated with her gender — but this time, the film makes somewhat less of a binary point out of the “not like the other girls” trope, an unfortunate pitfall examined by Alexis Nedd in her Mashable review for Enola Holmes. And one thing’s for sure, with Sam Claflin’s misogynist ol’ Mycroft omitted this time around, there’s more time for solid sibling banter and investigation team-ups with Enola’s far cooler brother, Sherlock.
Credit: Alex Bailey / Netflix
Henry Cavill‘s Sherlock plays a more substantial and way more fun role in the sequel, spending significant time within the famous walls of 221B Baker Street and solving his latest case. When he’s not bickering with his equally stubborn sibling and offering unsolicited life advice, Cavill gets to lean into the Sherlockery of it all, musing over his very own yarn wall and piecing clues together. Unlike his somewhat limited role in the first film, which saw a very serious, uppity Sherlock far removed from the chaotic creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the sequel makes (very light) attempts to rough up Sherlock’s poised image, with Thorne and Bradbeer including moments of silly drunkenness and light warnings to his sister to not “turn into me.” It’s not the tormented, unraveling Mind Palace Sherlock of Benedict Cumberbatch by a long shot, but it’s at least a little more playful and closer to the original.
The pair find themselves with brand-new adversaries, including a gravely creepy David Thewlis as the crooked superintendent Grail. Helena Bonham Carter returns as Enola and Sherlock’s explosives-loving mum Eudoria, who blows up pillar boxes as a nod to the suffragette movement she was part of in the first film.
Credit: Alex Bailey / Netflix
Enola’s big-time crush is back, and the Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether, is now a high-flying society man about town. He’s making change in the House of Lords but still pining for his beloved detective, and Louis Partridge’s nervously sweet energy remains quietly endearing. How Brown and Partridge make a dance lesson next to a toilet look romantic is down to their chemistry and talent.
Susan Wokoma is once again infuriatingly underused as Edith, Enola’s former combat teacher, who gets one big action scene. Meanwhile, the talented Sharon Duncan-Brewster is quietly powerful as the underestimated Mira Troy, while Adeel Akhtar tries to uphold the law reprising his role as Lestrade.
Credit: Alex Bailey / Netflix
Taking a page from the history books
Where the first film glossed over aspects of Victorian life including gender and class politics, the sequel makes it the centre of Enola’s investigation as she pieces together the clues from the disappearance of Sarah Chapman — a character played by an actor I won’t spoil, as it’s part of the mystery. Enola’s latest case sees her recruited by Sarah’s sister, Bessie (a delightful Serrana Su-Ling Bliss), and it leads her through Victorian London’s lively music halls and the grand ballrooms of that society’s upper echelons. But more importantly, the case reveals a deadly conspiracy afoot in London’s brutal factories, where working-class women held little power against greedy male managers more than willing to put their workers in harm’s way to save a buck.
It’s here that Thorne and Bradbeer introduce a historical figure into their mystery; knowing the history behind this character does comprise a bit of a spoiler, so proceed with caution.
Sarah Chapman was a key organiser of the Matchgirls Strike at the Bryant and May factory in Bow, London, in 1888. Women and teenage girls working in the match factory protested the poor working conditions, which included not only low pay and long working hours but the severe health dangers of working with white phosphorus — including a painful condition dubbed “phossy jaw.” According to The Matchgirls Memorial, a nonprofit organization raising awareness about the strike, the action contributed to the formation and growth of the labour movement in England and made a significant impact on gender equality in the workplace. (The use of white phosphorous in matches has since been banned.) At the close of the film, onscreen text explains the strike was “the first ever industrial action taken by women for women. It improved their working conditions forever.”
Will there be an Enola Holmes 3?
With the final moments of Enola Holmes 2 setting the board for another film (the mid-credits scene! I won’t say a thing!) and plenty of source material in Springer’s series, we’re sure to see more cases march through the door of both Enola and Sherlock’s respective detective agencies. The original film’s foundations allow Enola to fly through this whimsical, though often dark and poignant, sequel that sees our detective siblings gloriously teaming up, while Sherlock manages to get out of his capable sister’s way.
This sequel, my dear reader, is elementary.
