Enola Holmes 3 Starts Streaming July 1 on Netflix as Philip Barantini Takes Over

Q: Has Sherlock's expanded role overshadowed Enola, turning her own movie into 'The Sherlock Show'?

Partly yes: several critics say *Enola Holmes 3* lets Sherlock’s orbit grow so large that Enola’s story feels diluted, though not everyone agrees it becomes outright “The Sherlock Show.” The strongest case for that criticism is in the film’s structure. Sherlock’s kidnapping is the inciting incident, and the expanded use of Sherlock-world figures such as Dr. Watson and Moriarty broadens the franchise toward a more traditional Holmes ensemble. Some reviews explicitly argue that this makes Enola “fade” and that the movie starts to feel too invested in Sherlock’s mythos for a series meant to center his sister. That said, the evidence is mixed. Other coverage stresses that Sherlock is still more catalyst than lead: Enola remains the protagonist, drives the investigation, breaks the fourth wall, and the film spends substantial time on her identity, independence, and relationship with Tewkesbury. Henry Cavill’s Sherlock is still often described as a mentor or supporting presence rather than the dominant star. What seems clearer from the reviews is that the bigger problem is not simply Sherlock’s screen time, but the film’s execution. Critics were more consistently frustrated by the flatter tone, the simplistic mystery, and the weaker deductions, which made Enola seem less sharp than before. In that sense, the feeling of “The Sherlock Show” may stem as much from Enola being underwritten as from Sherlock being overused.

3 articles · Updated · IndieWire · Jun 30

July 1 marks the Netflix debut of “Enola Holmes 3,” with Millie Bobby Brown returning as Enola in the franchise’s third film over 6 years.
Philip Barantini replaces Harry Bradbeer as director, bringing a darker, more grown-up tone to a Malta-set mystery involving Sherlock’s kidnapping, a canceled wedding and war-crimes intrigue.
The review says Brown remains well cast, but Jack Thorne’s script and the film’s clue-solving feel flatter and more mechanical than the series’ earlier, more exuberant entries.
That shift leaves the sequel struggling to balance heavier themes with the franchise’s youthful charm, raising questions about where Netflix takes Enola next.

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Can the Enola Holmes franchise solve its own identity crisis after the third film's critical failure?

Why did a 'grown-up' Enola Holmes feature a mystery that critics found far too elementary?

Has Sherlock's expanded role overshadowed Enola, turning her own movie into 'The Sherlock Show'?

Enola Holmes 3 Starts Streaming July 1 on Netflix as Philip Barantini Takes Over

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