Netflix’s Enola Holmes 3 Cast And Characters Guide

The latest chapter of Netflix’s Enola Holmes saga, titled “Enola Holmes 3” has finally been released, bringing yet another adventure featuring Sherlock’s genius, fourth wall breaking chatterbox of a sister. It is one of those rare Netflix IPs which has continually improved with each venture, and leaves fans craving for more. Compared to the previous instalments, “Enola Holmes 3” takes a more personal approach, as it brings the titular detective at one of the major crossroads of her life.   Colonial politics and representation of early feminism remain significant issues as is the case with the first two movies of the franchise as well. Tying everything together is the remarkable performance of Millie Bobby Brown in the lead, and due support from the rest of the cast. 

Enola Holmes Played By Millie Bobby Brown

One of the most talented young actors of the current generation, Millie Bobby Brown started her acting career with series like “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland,” “Intruders” etc. Her big break came with Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” where she played the iconic role of the psychic, Eleven. The global recognition she gained from this series helped Millie to get involved in popular ventures like Legendary’s “Monsterverse” movies, “Damsel,” “The Electric State” etc. Playing the role of Sherlock’s sister, Enola Holmes in the titular Netflix movie franchise has proven to be another significant milestone in Millie’s career, and in the course of the first two movies her performance has given the character an identity of her own. Confident, curious, perceptive and as intelligent as her famous elder brother, Enola is more emotionally responsive than Sherlock and in the latest venture she is ready to tie the knot with his beloved Tewkesbury. The narrative briefly focuses on Enola’s perennial struggle to fit in the high society, her individuality and aversion to patriarchal customs – which makes her not quite ‘lady’ like. Enola’s complex relationship with her family members, her fear with the Holmes legacy comes to surface as she appears conflicted whether marriage is going to take away her identity, or whether the Holmes legacy will keep her from having a conventional, happy love life. While Enola is already dealing with these issues, she must also untangle the mystery of Sherlock and her mother-in-law’s abduction in the hands of their archenemy, Moriarty – and this leads her to expose the colonial war crime conspiracies in the process. The mature, serious tone of the narrative charts Enola’s growth, making viewers realize how years of experience have made her wiser, but haven’t taken away her innate positivity and conscience. With Sherlock staying out of the picture through the majority of the movie, Enola ran a one-woman show in this third instalment, and Millie’s performance made viewers wish for dozens of these “Enola Holmes” titles in near future. 

Sherlock Holmes Played by Henry Cavill

British actor Henry Cavill began his acting journey with Kevin Reynolds’ adaptation of “The Count of Monte Cristo” and found moderate success with silver screen appearances in a variety of entries such as a musical “Red Riding Hood,” “Immortals,” “Blood Creek” etc. His shot to fame turned out to be portraying Superman in the DC Extended Universe, which brought him global popularity but also caused major turmoil throughout a part of his acting career. Cavill has appeared in popular small screen ventures like “Tudors”, “The Witcher”. In the “Enola Holmes” movie series, he portrays the role of Sherlock Holmes, the legendary detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Despite Cavill’s proper performance as the socially recluse, brilliant investigator, somehow, he doesn’t seem to be a natural fit in as the character. Perhaps because this version of Sherlock appears a bit more emotionally charged at times, and lacks the egotistical side to him. Through the course of three movies, Cavill’s Sherlock has grown as a person, has become more sentimental than one would expect him to be. In the latest release, Sherlock remains a captive in Moriarty’s hands for a prolonged period, but whatever little moments he shares with Enola and even while remaining absent, the bond and understanding between the siblings become quite perceivable. 

Dr. John Watson Played By Himesh Patel

British actor Himesh Patel has previously acted in popular series “EastEnders,” “Damned,” “Station Eleven” etc. When it comes to the silver screen, he has been part of movies like “Tenet,” “The Aeronauts,” “Don’t Look Up” etc. He plays the role of Dr. John Watson in the movie series, and during Sherlock’s absence, he acts as a temporary guide and mentor figure to Enola. There is a major blunder in Watson’s characterization- thanks to his Indian origin in this adaptation. When Tewkesbury appears to be distraught after learning his decorated late war hero father’s role in war crimes of stealing Afghan gold during the Anglo-Afghan war, Watson tries to comfort him. Watson reveals he became disillusioned with his own father whom he looked up to, after learning how much people of his native land suffered under British rule, and still his father held admiration for the crown. Strangely enough, the same Watson, who is so aware of colonial oppression in his motherland, acted surprised moments ago after learning about British war crimes, expecting honor from one of Tewkesbury senior’s former comrades. The makers, who want to make Hollywood coded interpretations of colonial conflicts, should make up their mind whether or not they want to commit to the truth or keep up a performative act for the sake of it. 

Moriarty Played By Sharon Duncan-Brewster

British actor Sharon Duncan-Brewster has previously acted in series like “EastEnders,” “Washington Black,” “Sex Education,” “Andor” etc, and in blockbuster movies like “Dune Part One,” “Rogue One” etc. In the movie series, she plays the role of Sherlock and Enola’s archenemy, the criminal mastermind Moriarty. Following her detainment in the second movie, Moriarty returns and threatens the lives of Holmes siblings to get her hands on the stolen Afghan gold. Moriarty shows she is considered as Sherlock’s equal, by luring Enola by dropping clues, to have her find the hidden stash of gold for her.  It might feel a bit weird as to why a notorious psychopath like Moriarty will limit herself with amassing wealth instead of cooking up more sinister ploys, but this version of Moriarty is different from the classic villain we remember. It can also be argued as to why the makers didn’t use Moriarty’s identity as a black woman to rewrite an origin linked with colonial oppression, given she is quite vocal about the horrors of British imperialism as shown in the movie. Perhaps, in upcoming installments, the writers will utilize that opportunity to make her more interesting. 

Miscellaneous Characters 

Aside from the main characters, “Enola Holmes 3” boasts of a solid supporting cast who did a great job with the roles they were given. Louis Partridge plays the role of Earnest  Tewkesbury, Enola’s supportive fiancé who goes through much emotional crisis through the movie and chooses to always be by his lover’s side. Helena Bonham Carter plays the role of Eudoria Holmes, activist mother of Sherlock, Mycroft and Enola who taught her daughter to become self-sufficient in the first place. Hattie Morahan plays the role of Lady Tewkesbury, mother of Enola’s lover, Earnest Tewkesbury. 

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