Lesser-known Holmes sibling Enola is back for the Netflix sequel Enola Holmes 2, and the reviews are now in. But will the follow-up prove to be as popular as its predecessor? Well, let’s find out…

Beginning with Ian Sandwell of Digital Spy, Enola Holmes 2 is every bit as good as the first outing. Awarding the sequel a hugely impressive 4/5, while the critic did find fault with the sudden emphasis on world-building, Enola Holmes 2 ultimately “does everything a good sequel should.”

Next up is Collider’s Arezou Amin, who also found Enola Holmes 2 to be an extremely rewarding movie experience. Giving the sequel a perfect A grade, praising the twists, turns, set pieces, and performances.

“Otherwise, Enola Holmes 2 does everything a good sequel should. It doesn’t just rest on the formula, but builds on it to expand the world and right some wrongs of the predecessor. There are still flaws and slight improvements to be made, but it’s a winning return for Millie Bobby Brown’s sleuth. The game is afoot, and we’re looking forward to playing.”

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The Times’ Ed Potton meanwhile also awards Enola Holmes 2 a 4/5, heaping praise on lead star Millie Bobby Brown.

“At just over two hours long, Enola Holmes 2 is tightly paced, leaving just enough breathing room for the characters to thrive and do what they do best. It is a film with a lot of moving parts, but not so many that the audience will lose track, and in that way, is a film deserving of a rewatch — or several.”

“Enola is a slightly hammy role that requires Brown to deploy her full arsenal of pouts, frowns and arched eyebrows, which she does with relish. There is much clever clue-spotting and plenty of action as she beats up heavies and is pursued down alleyways by bungling bobbies.”

Enola Holmes 2 Sees Millie Bobby Brown & Henry Cavill Return as the Sherlock Siblings

     Netflix

Some reactions to Enola Holmes 2 are a little more middling, with Paul Bradshaw of NME giving the movie a 3/5. Though they still found plenty to enjoy.

Benjamin Lee of The Guardian echoes many of these sentiments, criticizing Enola Holmes 2 for leaning too heavily into action sequences.

“Fizzing along nicely, even as it tips the two-hour mark, Enola Holmes 2 fits the mould it broke two years ago with a twisty murder mystery that’s well worth solving. A nice end credit sting sets the story up for a bigger part three, and a mid-point reveal suggests Enola’s new cases might start tangling with her brother’s, but it’ll be a shame if the real hero finds herself stepping out of the spotlight. Two films in, Enola is far more interesting than most on-screen Sherlocks have been in years.”

Finally, Lovia Gyarkye of THR calls Enola Holmes 2 “serviceable” despite being too over-stuffed and not exploring thoroughly enough the more interesting elements.

“It too often feels as if the thrill of watching a mystery get solved is deemed too pedestrian or too small and so there’s a patronizing tendency to cushion with less involving action scenes, brawn prioritized over brain. After Enola uses her skills as a fighter to get out of a dicey situation, a character asks “Why ever would she do that?” as if echoing one’s own sentiment. In a period where the whodunnit has been successfully resurrected, surely audiences aren’t quite so elementary.”

Enola Holmes 2 is scheduled to be released on November 4, 2022, by Netflix. Time will tell whether it will be as popular as the first movie.

“Enola Holmes 2‘s shortcomings don’t wreck the film — it’s a serviceable sequel — but the tension between the topics the film tackles and the soft-pedaled approach is one that hopefully won’t haunt future projects.”