Millie Bobby Brown Shines in ‘Enola Holmes 3’, but Netflix’s Detective Franchise Is Running Out of Gas

“Millie Bobby Brown is back as the clever detective in ‘Enola Holmes 3’, delivering yet another winning performance. But the third film struggles to match the spark that made the first two movies such crowd-pleasers.”

Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes’ franchise returns with another mystery, this time putting Millie Bobby Brown front and center as Sherlock’s brilliant younger sister. Brown remains the glue holding everything together, yet early reviews suggest ‘Enola Holmes 3’ takes a more somber approach to its mystery—one that doesn’t quite capture the humor and energy fans loved about the first two outings.

New director Philip Barantini, stepping in for Harry Bradbeer, steers the film toward darker territory. The mystery unfolds largely in Malta and kicks off with Enola planning her wedding to Lord Tewkesbury. That all changes when her brother Sherlock vanishes without a trace.

What follows is a globe-trotting investigation steeped in political intrigue and family secrets. The film tackles weightier material, sure, but critics say the serious tone weighs down the adventure that originally made the series tick.

The film’s saving grace? Brown herself. She’s as charming and commanding as ever, bringing wit and grit to Enola’s latest case. Her scenes with Henry Cavill’s Sherlock and Louis Partridge’s Tewkesbury produce some of the movie’s best moments, with their chemistry still crackling despite the more somber atmosphere.

Here’s where things fall apart: the central case just doesn’t deliver. While the film flirts with big ideas about colonialism, family, and identity, none of it goes deep enough to stick. The action feels toned down, the mystery plays out predictably, and the whole affair comes across as smaller and less ambitious than what came before. Critics are calling it watchable but largely forgettable.

Two successful films in, ‘Enola Holmes 3’ suggests the series may be running on fumes. The story lacks the creativity and youthful energy that made the original movies stand out. It’s entertaining enough, but it’s not breaking new ground.

‘Enola Holmes 3’ works because Brown is so good at what she does, but the film doesn’t fully deliver on the promise of the earlier chapters. With a heavier mood, a less gripping mystery, and a slower burn overall, this sequel is decent but uneven.

Die-hard fans will want to check it out, especially with the familiar faces returning. Just don’t expect the same magic that made you fall for Enola in the first place.