ENOLA HOLMES 3 (NETFLIX) (2026)

SYNOPSIS: It will take a Holmes, to save a Holmes. The critically-acclaimed ‘Enola Holmes’ franchise has returned, taking Enola far from London, where personal and professional dreams collide on a case more tangled and treacherous than any she has faced before.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Although the hugely popular Netflix series Stranger Things has concluded its run, Millie Bobby Brown still has another successful franchise with the streamer — the Enola Holmes series, based on Nancy Springer’s collection of young adult mystery novels.

It has been four years since the last outing, and we find Enola about to marry the love of her life, Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), in Enola Holmes 3. However, the brilliant younger sister of the great detective Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) suddenly gets cold feet. It doesn’t help that John Watson (Himesh Patel) informs her that her older brother has been kidnapped.

Jack Thorne returns as screenwriter, while original director Harry Bradbeer has been replaced by Philip Barantini. Despite the change behind the camera, Enola Holmes 3 retains the quirky elements that made the previous films so enjoyable, including Enola’s frequent fourth-wall-breaking antics and the series’ playful spirit. However, this is a noticeably more mature outing than its predecessors, reflecting Brown’s own growth as an actress. This time, the lives of Enola’s loved ones especially her respected brother and her future mother-in-law (Hattie Morahan) are at stake, giving the story greater emotional weight.

That said, the whodunit element is less compelling and intricate than in the previous installments. It comes as little surprise that arch-nemesis Moriarty (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) is once again pulling the strings behind the chaos, as her return is revealed in the opening scene. Thorne’s attempt to weave in Malta’s colonial history under British rule is commendable, but the subplot lacks the depth and development needed to feel fully integrated into the main narrative. On the bright side, viewers invested in Enola and Tewkesbury’s relationship will appreciate that the film devotes more time to their romance.

Brown once again proves to be the heart of the series, bringing warmth, charm, and infectious energy to the title role. Louis Partridge also has considerably more to do this time around than simply looking dashing in period costumes, making Tewkesbury a more active participant in the story. Meanwhile, Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter, as the Holmes siblings’ delightfully eccentric mother, appear only sporadically in what amounts to extended cameos. It’s little wonder that Sam Claflin has yet to return as Mycroft Holmes after appearing only in the first film.

Despite its lavish on-location shoot in Malta, it takes more than beautiful scenery to keep the franchise fresh. While the ending clearly leaves the door open for another sequel, the series could benefit from a stronger mystery to keep audiences fully invested. Enola Holmes 3 remains an entertaining and watchable adventure, but it is ultimately the least engaging entry in the trilogy.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee