Enola Holmes 2 was super exciting to watch. If you watched the first part then I bet you would understand why I went for part two as soon as it came out. Watching Millie Bobby Brown is quite delightful. Watching her thread the paths between being a teenager in her time and pushing the bounds of independence is thrilling. A girl who should be in finishing school but instead fashioned for a different kind of life, now working to sustain a failing detective agency.
I could write a hundred think pieces from it and I think I should have a go at it. I'm a bit confused in this moment on what exactly to focus on. There are different dynamics of the society portrayed in this film with many ways I could dissect some of the most significant scenes to savor the essence of this brilliant piece of work.
The attention to details is impressive, typical of a film about detectives and crime solving.
According to Enola's mother, there is only one rule to being a detective: 'pull every loose end'. It is also key to enjoying the film and perhaps every work of art. And by extension life in general. Every detail matters, as all it takes is one little action to trigger a huge reaction, one little resistance to result in an industrial action. This brings me to where I want to focus on for today.
Although the focus of the film is on obviously on Miss Holmes and maybe, the unexpected villain. But, my star for the night is the little girl - Bessie. She found Enola and gave her the purpose that led to the mastermind that was this piece of mystery work. I'll try not to tell but show you just enough. Bessie is a match girl, she worked in the match making factor with her sister who is now missing. Go figure. She found Enola in her bout - to - shut down shop to help her find her sister.
Enola shook Bessie's hand and took the job. With that came several threads, each one a piece of a puzzle, the kind that is in your face but totally out of your sight. Pulling these ends lead to the exposure of a criminal activity which then resulted in an industrial action.
We humans are conditioned to want more, to want better and have the most out of life. Everyday of our lives contains series of revolutions, in our words, actions, inactions and decisions.
Bessie made an attempt to find her sister, following an address in some old news paper, she found Enola. She didn't give up; se did her best to provide help and information to help Enola's investigation. She is brilliant and bold. She knew there had to be more to her sister's disappearance so she sought help.
Turned out there was more at stake, there lives at stake; the kind that requires someone to do something or a crime of hate and negligence will continue to be done to the affected underprivileged people. There were powers at play, tools already ready to wielded to shutting up the trouble makers, the ones who dare to speak up and call for accountability.
It had to be them or no one else because nobody cares about poor people and their struggles. They are expected to show gratitude and commitment to the sources that pays for their sustenance, even if it kills them. Among the many things poor people lack, on top of that list is options. So, they suck up it until someone becomes too uncomfortable accompanied by the courage to lose everything, love, life or both.
One thing about having a voice is if you don't use your voice to carve your own part, you'll end up listening to and following the voices of others. This isn't a bad thing and said voices can often be in our favor because we all want the same things at the end of the day. You just need to find the voices that speak your language, communicating to and in favor of your needs at the time.
Enola's mother Eudora Holmes did say: "You find your allies, work with them and you will become more of who you are."
Eventually there was a win for the girls who worked at the industry. But, with every win comes the beginning of another game or fight. Raising your voice and having some freedom is great but what happens next? What happens after you turn your back on the system or walk away from it. There was tension in the room when a choice was presented to the match girls, a choice to join the revolution rather become the revolution. It wasn't an easy choice as there was another voice in the room, a voice of better reasoning perhaps, reminding them of their odds.
The room was cold, the was fear and uncertainty. That is always an interesting momemnt among the crowd. And in situations like that, no one wants to be a scapegoat. Next thing we know is someone starts stomping their feel, reckoning others to join. There, the scapegoat, it was Bessie. She was the bravest in that moment, aside the champion who was fashionably standing on the table having given her freedom speech, which was great. by the way.
As seen at the end of the show:
Though I would say first ever recorded western industrial action take by women for women.
Well, my reasons for saying that is obvious. We all know what Western mainstream media can do to history and how it is recorded. Women, since the beginning of time have been fighting, always been at the other end of some oppression.
Every woman in the world is being oppressed by one fraction of the society or another. Hence, why we have been fighting for a long time. Definitely, there are stories we do not hear of, histories that I would say do not belong on paper. Women in other parts of the world with their own freedom stories. I would disagree with that generalization.
Anyways, 10/10. Go see Enola Holmes 2. I sincerely hope I haven't given too much away. Thank you for reading.
Story by Harry Bradeer and Jack Thorne, based upon the Enola Holmes Mysteries' Book Series By Nancy Springer.
Also co produced by Millie Bobby Brown, the star actress.
Images and quotes are screenshots from Netflix and collaged on Canva.
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