'Enola Holmes 3' Review
- Connor Petrey
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
Release Date: 07/01/26 [Netflix]
Genre: Action. Adventure. Comedy. Crime. Drama. Mystery.
MPAA: Rated PG13.
Distributor: Netflix.
The Verdict: A Maybe
Enola Holmes 3 is a Holmes mystery through and through with a love story tying the pieces of the narrative threads together. The third installment of the series finds Sherlock kidnapped by a mysterious figure on the day of Enola’s wedding, and she must put everything aside to find him. While maintaining the fourth wall breaks, whimsy, and world-building, the plot has seemingly hit a creative blockade, going back to basics with its villainous arc.
Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Himesh Patel, Helena Bonham Carter, and Louis Partridge all return for this new installment, continuing their growth in this world that author Nancy Springer built off of the astounding work of Conan Arthur Doyle.
There’s a new director behind the lens this time around, with Philip Barantini taking over the reins after directing the entirety of Adolescence. Enola Holmes 3 may not have the lasting long shots of that series, but it does have some thrilling action surrounding the engulfing mystery (accompanied by the familiar editing flair of the series).
I must admit I had my resistance to this film series as a long-time Sherlock Holmes fan, but Millie Bobby Brown fully embodies the character of Enola, and the characters I’ve known for a majority of my life are just as strong here as in any other worthy adaptation. Cavill is brilliant as Holmes even in his limited capacity, and Patel is a great portrayal of Dr. Watson. Moriarty is a mixed bag, as is always the case when you compare to such perfection as Andrew Scott… It's difficult to overcome such a high bar, and it’s not the fault of Duncan-Brewster at all, as she’s clearly chewing the scenery.
While not quite generating the magically fluent energy of the original two films, this third entry is still a fun adventure that lacks a bit of the Holmes charm and instead makes the mystery a front for a treasure hunt. The characters remain largely intact, and this possible conclusion to the series ends on a high enough note that fans should be pleased with how this love story comes to its natural terminus.
