This article contains spoilers for Enola Holmes 2.Sherlock has yet to meet Dr. Watson.
All this changes in Enola Holmes 2's post-credits scene, which finally introduces its new version of Dr. John Watson. Over the course of the film, Enola realizes she shouldn't be alone, and she recognizes that her brother needs friends around him too - specifically, she concludes, he needs a roommate. Enola books an appointment to meet with Sherlock on Thursday at 4.00pm, but she doesn't actually turn up. Instead, she sends a potential roommate, Dr. Watson, lying to him and telling him Sherlock is looking for someone else to move in to 221B Baker Street.
Who Plays Dr. John Watson In Enola Holmes 2's End-Credits
Enola Holmes' version of Dr. Watson is played by British actor and writer Himesh Patel, best known for a long-standing role in EastEnders, although viewers may also recognize him from Damned, Station Eleven, and The Luminaries. Dr. Watson played a major role in the Enola Holmes books, so Patel will likely be a major ing character going forward. Enola Holmes 2's credits reveal Watson will indeed become Sherlock's companion, and there's even a subscription that probably nods to the Strand Magazine, where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories were published as though written by Holmes' friend.
How Watson Is Different In Enola Holmes 2's Post-Credits Scene
Enola Holmes' Dr. Watson will have a very different relationship with Sherlock Holmes, however. In Conan Doyle's stories, Watson had no idea what he was getting into when he moved in with Sherlock. In fact, he began to view his strange roommate as something of a mystery, and only gradually learned the truth, that he was living with the man who considers himself the world's first private detective. Henry Cavill's Sherlock Holmes has already won fame and acclaim in his world, however, meaning this Watson can be under no illusions that he's rooming with an ordinary man. Himesh Patel's Watson must be even more adventurous than the one Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote.
What John Watson's Introduction Means For Enola Holmes 3
Enola Holmes 2's post-credits scene seems like an MCU-style teaser setting up the franchise's future, with Dr. Watson presumably becoming a key player. The decision to cast Himesh Patel for the role is particularly interesting, though, because Watson is traditionally seen as a reader/viewer surrogate in Sherlock Holmes franchises. Enola is much more relatable than Sherlock, of course, ensuring these films already have a human element to them - especially given she has her own Watson figure, Lord Tewkesbury, who's also her love interest. It seems more perspectives are being introduced into the story.
The Enola Holmes films tap into real-world social change in Victorian London; Enola Holmes discussed the Great Reform Bill, and Enola Holmes 2 built up to the 1888 Matchgirls' Strike. So far, the franchise has tended to focus on Victorian attitudes towards women, but the introduction of Patel's Watson may mean future films can explore race as well. This would make for some exciting and unusual stories, because - as noted by journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge in her book Why I've Stopped Talking To White People About Race - education on racism in Britain tends to open with William Wilberforce's role in opposing the trans-Atlantic slave trade, before jumping straight to the American Civil Rights Movement. It would be exciting to see Enola Holmes 3 shine a light on parts of British history that tend to be overlooked.
Netflix is yet to officially confirm Enola Holmes 3, but even Millie Bobby Brown was surprised at Enola Holmes' success, and the sequel has met with similar levels of critical acclaim. Enola Holmes 2's post-credits scene seems to indicate the writers and producers already have plans for the future, and it seems certain Dr. John Watson will be a major part of those plans. Hopefully it won't be long before there's some more concrete news about this franchise going forwards.
Enola Holmes 2 is streaming now on Netflix.
