Twists and turns. Unexpected betrayals. Impulsive decisions. Witty remarks. Budding teenage romance. All of these thrilling qualities are included in Enola Holmes 2, starring Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes.

The feisty, impulsive and intelligent younger sister to the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes was first introduced to the world on Sept. 23, 2020, through the Netflix Original Enola Holmes. On Nov. 4, 2022, Enola returned to the big screen, on yet another—possibly more dangerous—adventure.

I watched this movie a couple of days after it came out and was thoroughly impressed. I wasn’t the only one. Enola Holmes 2 hit number one in the charts for Netflix UK.

The first movie gave me very high expectations, with its unforgettable characters, character development, plot and underlying themes. With the remarkable original movie, I was worried that it would easily outshine any other sequels that were produced. To my satisfaction, it did not.

This movie does a remarkable job of keeping the original charm of its characters while still allowing these characters to develop and acquire a deeper emotional relationship with the audience. Specifically, I really enjoyed watching Lord Tewksbury express himself with his newfound confidence and fight alongside Enola and Sherlock for what’s right. I think the new depth to his character made the movie that much more interesting.

Tewksbury is not the only character going through development. This is also unexpectedly seen in Enola Holmes- fiery, passionate, and firm in her morals. Her character development was unexpected to me because it involved her stepping back from her independent habits, and accepting help from others. While I didn’t expect it, I am very glad that her character evolution was incorporated into the movie. This is an important thing for the audience to hear because it normalizes asking for help. She begins to let people in, and allows them to help her. She realizes that the ability to ask for help doesn’t make her weak.

This is also demonstrated in Enola’s budding romance with Lord Tewksbury. While their relationship is controversial, I personally think that the small addition of romance thickened the plot for the better and gave Enola someone to trust and work alongside. I really enjoyed the development that Tewksbury’s character was given, and he had more depth than an archetypal love interest. This allows his character to add to the plot.

We usually see Enola alone- her name is even an anagram for “alone”- in the same way, that we frequently see her brother Sherlock Holmes alone. Loneliness seems to take a toll on her brother, which he directly tells Enola after seeing her slip into his isolated lifestyle that he regrets. I really enjoyed this scene because it was one of the few times Sherlock stepped into a more vulnerable, brotherly role. This was not only heartwarming, but it provided helpful advice to the viewers. I think this moment where Sherlock approves of Tewksbury highlights the two important overarching themes of the movie: independence does not have to result in loneliness and life is better alongside loved ones.

The nods to other pieces of literature and history were a really nice touch. The original “Sherlock Holmes” series references added a layer to the movie and were fun to spot. I also really enjoyed that the plot was based on a real story from the Women’s Rights Movement- Sarah Chapman and the labor strike that she organized in 1888. This specific women’s rights story is not very frequently talked about, and I’m glad they could call attention to a real-life hero.

This movie carries a lot of deeper meaning and historical significance while still having an entertaining and action-packed plot. Enola Holmes 2 is a must-watch.

It is currently available on Netflix across 93 countries.