When it comes to being a generational icon, Millie Bobby Brown is basically Gen Z's Emma Watson. The Stranger Things star is not only smart and stunning, but as an actor, she's becoming known for selecting projects that highlight strong female leads — and that have A+ dialogue. Her Netflix movie Enola Holmes is perfect proof of this. The film, which dropped on Netflix on Sept. 23, 2020, is a feel-good emblem of female empowerment and humor. These quotes from Netflix's Enola Holmes are not only full of girl power and political insight, but they are also surprisingly relevant in modern times, considering this is a period piece, after all.
In case you somehow missed the hype, Enola Holmes is a Netflix film (and potential movie series) based on the books by Nancy Springer about Sherlock Holmes' little sister, Enola, who turns out to be quite the great detective herself. The film follows The Case of the Missing Marquess, the first of six Enola Holmes Mysteries novels.
In the film, Enola sets out to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance. She's also attempting to avoid her brothers, Mycroft (Sam Claflin) and Sherlock (Henry Cavill), who want to send her to finishing school. Along the way, she and her fellow characters deliver some truly stellar dialogue — some of which is just as on point in the movie's time period of 1884 as it is in the present day. So, grab a quill and ink, because you’ll want to take notes so you can remember these quotes the next time you're in need of an epic statement.
You always know you're in for a treat when Enola breaks the fourth wall, but when she dresses like a widow to go to Viscount Tewksbury's (Louis Partridge) house undercover, she realizes she might have overdone the whole disguise thing. If you've ever shown up to an event way overdressed, you can def relate.
It's no secret Enola isn't about that finishing school life, and Tewksbury attempts to help save her from a fate of curtsying and cotillioning. Still, Enola's the main brains behind the operation, and her clever quote nods to Tewksbury's assistance while hilariously highlighting the fact that she still did most of the legwork. Use this quote the next time you carry the majority of a group project on your shoulders.
As someone who relentlessly cries during commercials, I've had my fair share of moments when I was called emotional. This line is so great because it's actually first said to Enola by Sherlock (which is annoying), but she memorably dishes the quote back to him when he gets worked up in Miss Harrison's Finishing School.
It's the perfect line to utter when someone who normally rags on you for your feelings gets heated. No, it probably won't help things, but it'll feel pretty damn good to say.
While Enola is fast-thinking and brilliant, her plans don't always pan out perfectly. After she gets caught helping Tewksbury, she has to keep coming up with new "phases" of her plan, and since things keep changing, she loses track of what phase she's actually on. Anyone who lived through 2020 can relate to this comical quote, since the unprecedented year kept everyone on their toes.
Just like in 1884, uneducated voters of the present can shape the future in a scary way, which is why knowledge is the most powerful weapon in the fight for equality. As the United States continues to face injustice, information is the most valuable asset.
If you're a fan of dismantling the patriarchy, you need to add this Enola Holmes quote to your arsenal ASAP. When she's trying to hide from her brothers, she knows the best way to go unnoticed is to look exactly how they least expect her to look: as a "lady."
Raise your hand if you ever felt personally victimized by the coronavirus quarantine. Few lines ring truer than Enola's response to Miss Harrison (Fiona Shaw) when she rebels against the idea of attending finishing school. Since everyone is now very used to sitting at home, Enola's witty comeback is basically the tagline of quar life.
Eudoria Holmes (played by the wondrous Helena Bonham Carter) is the definition of a free spirit. She raised Enola to be her own person and follow her own path, no matter the ripples she causes. The next time you're facing a scary reality or deciding your next move, remember Eudoria's words.
As the more understanding brother in the Holmes family, Sherlock has compassion for his younger sister's zest for life, something Mycroft doesn't get as much. One of Sherlock's best lines in the film is a good reminder that no matter what the world around you is doing, you have the option to either give in or rebel against it.
*Drops mic.* The next time a friend and family member says they ~don't like to talk about politics~ or their vote doesn't matter, throw this fire quote back at them and watch their jaw hit the floor.
Whichever quote resonates with you, the next time you feel your strength waning, channel your inner Millie Bobby Brown/Enola Holmes for a dose of wit and kick-ass confidence.
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