When the first Enola Holmes dropped on Netflix back in 2020, people were mostly buzzing about Millie Bobby Brown’s fourth-wall breaks or Henry Cavill’s suspiciously buff Sherlock. But if you look closer, the actual engine of the family drama wasn't the detective work. It was Sam Claflin.
Playing Mycroft Holmes, Claflin took a character usually portrayed as a lazy, brilliant government drone and turned him into a sharp, mustache-twirling obstacle for his sister. He was the guy we loved to hate. Then, Enola Holmes 2 came around and... nothing. He was just gone. No cameo, no mention in a telegram, just a gaping Mycroft-sized hole in the sequel.
What Sam Claflin Brought to the Holmes Family
In the books by Nancy Springer, Mycroft is basically a mountain of a man who barely moves. Sam Claflin didn't do that. Honestly, he went the opposite direction. He gave us a Mycroft who was tight-knit, conservative, and genuinely annoyed by his family’s "wild" tendencies.
There’s this specific energy Claflin brings where he feels like he’s constantly smelling something slightly off. That worked perfectly against Millie Bobby Brown’s chaotic energy. He wasn't just a brother; he was the legal guardian trying to shove Enola into a finishing school run by Miss Harrison. He represented the "old world" that Enola was trying to outrun.
The Age Gap Irony
Here’s a fun bit of trivia that messes with your head once you know it: Sam Claflin is actually three years younger than Henry Cavill. Yet, in the movie, Mycroft is clearly the older, more "adult" brother. Claflin plays it with such a stiff, authoritative upper lip that you totally buy it. He’s the one holding the purse strings, the one making the decisions about Enola’s future, and the one who views Sherlock as a bit of a nuisance.
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The Mystery of the Missing Mycroft
When Enola Holmes 2 premiered, the biggest question on social media wasn't about the match factory mystery. It was: Where is Sam Claflin? Director Harry Bradbeer eventually cleared it up, and it wasn't some dramatic "creative differences" fallout. It was just boring real-world logistics. Scheduling conflicts. Claflin was busy filming Daisy Jones & The Six (playing Billy Dunne, a very different kind of vibe) and couldn't make the dates work for the sequel.
The production had to pivot. They basically shifted the "guardian" responsibility over to Sherlock. In the first film's ending, Sherlock agrees to take Enola as his ward, which gave the writers an easy out to ignore Mycroft in the second movie. But let's be real—the family dynamic felt a little less spicy without Mycroft there to judge everyone.
Why His Version of Mycroft Mattered
Most versions of Mycroft Holmes, like Mark Gatiss in the BBC's Sherlock, focus on the idea that he’s actually smarter than Sherlock but just can’t be bothered to prove it.
Claflin’s version in Enola Holmes is different because he’s a traditionalist. He isn't necessarily a genius in the "deduction" sense—though he's clearly smart—he’s a genius of bureaucracy and social standing. He views Enola’s intelligence as a liability. To him, a woman’s success is a good marriage.
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"God help us. If there's one thing this country doesn't need, it's more uneducated voters." — Mycroft Holmes.
That line is classic Claflin-Mycroft. It’s condescending, elitist, and perfectly sets up the stakes for Enola. If she doesn't win, she ends up in the world Mycroft has built for her.
Will We See Him in Enola Holmes 3?
Netflix has already greenlit a third movie. Since the "scheduling conflict" was the only reason he missed the second one, there’s a massive chance we get the trio back together.
Claflin himself has said in interviews that he’d love to come back. He clearly had fun chewing the scenery. If Enola Holmes 3 wants to raise the stakes, bringing back the brother who actually has the power to shut Enola’s detective agency down would be the smartest move they could make.
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Sherlock is Enola’s ally now. Eudoria (their mom) is a radical on the run. You need a foil. You need the guy who thinks the whole thing is a disgrace to the Holmes name.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the Sam Claflin / Enola Holmes universe, here is how to get the full experience:
- Watch the first movie again specifically for the subtext. Notice how Mycroft never looks at Enola; he looks at the problem she represents. It’s a masterclass in "villainous" supporting acting.
- Check out Sam Claflin in Peaky Blinders. If you liked his "uptight and dangerous" energy as Mycroft, his role as Oswald Mosley takes that to a terrifying extreme.
- Read the Nancy Springer books. The Mycroft in the books is much meaner and more of a caricature, which makes you appreciate the nuance Claflin added to make him a believable human.
- Keep an eye on casting news for the third film. Production updates usually leak whether "The Trio" (Brown, Cavill, Claflin) are all signed on for the same filming window.
Honestly, the franchise is good, but it's better when the whole family is fighting. We need that mustache back on our screens.