Jul 01, 2026 9:00am IST
‘Enola Holmes 3’ Review: Bigger Action, Smarter Romance And the Ultimate Battle of Wits
The game is officially afoot once more, and it is beautifully, brilliantly out of control. Since we first met them on the train in 2020, the undeniable spark between Enola Holmes and Lord Tewkesbury has been the beating heart of Netflix's hit mystery franchise. Now, three movies deep into their journey, “Enola Holmes 3” sees the duo growing up, stepping into new roles and navigating a bond that is anything but conventional. Far from your standard Victorian courtship, especially now that Enola is actually preparing to get married, their dynamic has matured into a brilliantly chaotic blend of razor-sharp banter, deep-rooted friendship and high-stakes detective work.
However, any wedding bells are quickly drowned out by a web of political blackmail, industrial sabotage and a string of cryptic riddles threatening to bring London to its knees. The stakes hit dangerously close to home when Sherlock Holmes is suddenly kidnapped, forcing Enola and Tewkesbury to lead a frantic rescue mission. On the surface, everything seems impossibly complicated, yet there is a brilliant push-and-pull effect at play. Director Philip Barantini cleverly ensures that no matter how knotted the conspiracy becomes, the emotional core remains entirely simple and grounded.
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At the center of it all is Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, who remains an absolute force of nature. There are plenty of those trademark, delightful moments where Millie stares directly into the camera, a beloved staple of the first two films that continues to perfectly bridge the gap between audience and detective. But Enola is growing up, and so is her arsenal. While her previous outings relied purely on hand-to-hand combat and raw physical strength, this time she adds tools and accessories to her armor, resulting in some of the franchise’s most exhilarating, heavy-duty action scenes.
Of course, she isn't fighting alone. The brilliance of Enola and Tewkesbury's (Louis Partridge) evolution lies in how intentionally they avoid the pitfalls of a typical on-screen romance. Their connection has always thrived on subtlety, built on an initial bond where simple companionship and a quiet kiss on the hand set the stage. The duo excels at saying everything while saying nothing at all, preserving a deep-rooted friendship before letting themselves fall in love. It brings an entirely fresh, highly nuanced texture to the screen that anchors the chaotic world around them beautifully.
That mutual evolution beautifully mirrors the old adage that in love, we become like our partners. Tewkesbury completely sheds his “lovable but useless” label here, stepping into a far more active, investigative role where his newfound deduction skills become vital to solving the case. Moving past his earlier, foppish nature, the character leverages his privileged and educational background to reveal a genuinely smart, highly useful detective in his own right. This academic glow-up leads to some hilarious, playful bickering over who is saving whom, culminating in a standout moment where Tewkesbury proudly wields a gun for the first time to bail Enola out.
Yet, despite the dazzling heroics, it is Sharon Duncan-Brewster’s Moriarty (Mira Troy) who steals the show. She is an absolute masterclass in intellectual villainy. She doesn't just match up to Sherlock Holmes, she proves to be more than an equal match, staying three steps ahead and setting intricate traps at every turn. Speaking of playing the smartest person in the room, while Sherlock and Enola maneuver through logic, Moriarty breaks the rules and thrives on trickery, creating a twisted, beautiful “bad romance.” This time, however, Moriarty has to up her game for both Enola and Sherlock, escalating the conflict into a phenomenal battle of wits that spills into spectacular, high-stakes physical confrontation.
Ultimately, “Enola Holmes 3” delivers exactly what you would want and expect from a premier detective mystery. It is a thrilling, fast-paced and utterly charming ride that honors its roots while letting its characters brilliantly evolve.
Enola Holmes 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
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