Sometimes, learning that there’s strength in numbers comes with a challenging lesson. The road to uncovering that specific understanding isn’t easy today, let alone in Victorian England. Enola Holmes 2 beautifully pushes the titular character farther in her career, but it’s not an easy route to learn that there’s strength in leaning on others.
A woman’s voice matters. It matters today, yesterday, and it will matter in the future. But at some point, women didn’t have a say, let alone a vote. In attempting to make changes, the world chastised them more than it offered support. Although it is inspired by true events, Enola Holmes 2 doesn’t try to be an overt history lesson; instead, it thoughtfully (and gorgeously) celebrates the detail that there’s strength in vulnerability and asking for help.
The final scene, which features the group of young women unanimously walking out of the factory, thus brilliantly brings the words, “Find your allies, work with them, and you will become more of who you are, ” to life.
Although the evidence of phosphorous killing the girls is destroyed, Sarah (Hannah Dodd), Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), and Bessie (Serrana Su-Ling Bliss) successfully convince the women to follow their lead in walking out. What makes this so special, however? The scene frames the moment with plenty of apprehensions at first, and rightfully so, as many of the women have families they’re working for, but it later authenticates the detail that raising one’s voice matters. This isn’t a decision that’ll solely impact the girls in this room and everyone who knows them, but it’ll also affect those who come after them.
It’s a powerful message in exhibiting that there’s strength in numbers, but simultaneously, there’s absolutely nothing wrong in finding allies. As Enola’s mother tells her, she will become a better version of herself if she allows her heart to be in the company of others. “You will do well on your own, Enola, but with others, you will be magnificent,” she specifically says. “You speak with one voice, and you will make more noise than you can ever imagine,” Eudoria later notes. And when one voice becomes the noise necessary to kickstart change, it’s concrete proof of the fact that human beings are better together than they are apart.
Independence is good, but a lighter works alongside a match to create a fire. When the women all walk out together, they authenticate the detail that changes are possible when the noise is unanimous. They clarify that even if no one walked out with them, the three would still be incredibly powerful because they took a chance to work together, opening their hearts and minds to the possibility of doing better.
Often, films like this want to parade around independence to showcase that women are stronger when they can conquer things on their own. But strength doesn’t come from loneliness; it comes from persistence. There’s power in the decision to do something, but actions make the thoughts a reality. And in every way where it matters, strength comes from accepting that vulnerability is bravery.
Sarah needed to allow herself to be vulnerable enough to stand on the table and raise her voice. Bessie needed to be vulnerable enough to stomp the stick and cause communication. And to be a good detective, Enola must care about the people she’s trying to protect. At the end of the day, fighting the good fight toward becoming better and stronger requires leaning on others. It requires holding someone’s hand to work through something together instead of shutting one’s heart off from everything to appear more resilient.
In this final Enola Holmes 2 scene, resilience is unveiled through all the women and their decision to choose the route they’re willing to take to improve the lives of others. And it’s a pretty brilliant message to leave viewers with as a reminder that a solid community can do wonders together.
Enola Holmes 2 is now streaming on Netflix.