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'Enola Holmes 2' success is no mystery

Henry Cavill, Millie Bobby Brown and Louis Partridge appear in Netflix's "Enola Holmes 2," proving once again how much a strong cast can lend to a movie's success. – Photo by Netflix / Twitter

In 2020, Netflix’s "Enola Holmes" was a hit among crowds because it not only injected a feminist spirit into some iconic, established characters but it also pleased audiences with a mystery in the form of a teen British comedy. Its sequel is no different — perhaps it's even better. The story is taken up a notch with "Enola Holmes 2," which is your classic, lightweight 1800s detective movie.

Even though we don't always know what's going on, the film's seemingly loose ends always tie themselves up. The addition of jiu-jitsu fights, history lessons, a love story and, of course, feminism make the movie truly delightful. "Enola Holmes 2" is here to teach us something, and it’s up to you to decide what you want to take away from it. Regardless of what you choose, you’re definitely going to have a good time doing it. 

Right after solving her first case and finding her purpose, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) decides to open her own detective agency in London. Unfortunately for the youngest Holmes, being a teenage girl with no reputation or experience makes it difficult for her to get cases.

The new detective is about to shut down her business when a little girl named Bessie comes to her asking for help to find her missing sister, Sarah Chapman (Hannah Dodd). Enola accepts the job, not knowing that it's far more than just a missing-person case. Sarah was being persecuted by the police for theft and blackmail, and the case leads Enola to find a dead body.

If you think that’s already a lot, we haven’t even gotten to the bottom of it. The film also features returning characters like Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) and Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter).

While the first movie was all about being independent and finding your own purpose in life, the sequel focuses on a different message — you’re your better self when you aren't alone. Every time Enola got close to solving the case, it was due to someone else’s help, and every time she worked in tandem with someone, things turned out for the better.

After Enola realizes how much power people can have when they stick together, she uses it to her advantage. We can see that being emphasized by the film's representation of the 1888 matchgirls strike, a demonstration held by women and teenage girls working at the Bryant & May match factory in Greater London.

The protests were successful in changing working conditions and increasing pay for women in England. "Enola Holmes 2" does a good job representing the story and proving that by sticking together, one can bring a lot of change.

Besides giving us a history lesson, one of the most noticeable differences between the first movie and this sequel is that we get a more in-depth glimpse into the mysterious life of Sherlock. Not only do we peek inside 221B Baker Street in all its glorious mess but we also get into the mind and struggles of the world’s most famous detective, which turn out to be more normal than one would think.

A desperate Sherlock is stuck in a government corruption case with no leads, and he only manages to get by when he admits he needs help, reinforcing the idea that one cannot thrive alone. He ends up discovering that his sister’s case is connected with his own, proving to be far more complex and dangerous than either party expected. Sherlock’s increased participation in this movie is much appreciated, especially since it involves Cavill’s amazing performance as the iconic detective. 

Some other great things from "Enola Holmes 2" that are worth mentioning are the presence of the iconic Bonham Carter, girls beating up guys over and over again and the attempt toward more ethnic and racial representation than in the first movie. Overall, this movie is worth watching even if you have never heard of Enola or Sherlock Holmes, and if you don’t find it as good as I did, at least you got an entertaining history lesson out of it. 


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