ELEVEN AND SUPERMAN SHINE IN NEW NETFLIX FILM "ENOLA HOLMES"

What a profoundly appropriate time for Netflix to premiere this "Enola Holmes". Set in the early 20th Century England around the time of woman's suffrage, Sherlock Holmes' younger sister embarks on a journey to find her place in a changing world. Society would have her learn frivolous skills and land a powerful husband. Her feminist upbringing would suggest otherwise. Enola craves a deeper purpose.

First, she must learn to overcome disappointing expectations. It is her biggest challenge, because she spent her life under the guidance of a sheltering mother. Enola knows nothing of the outside world. Not its demons. Not the struggles of the less fortunate. Especially not the people who disappoint. She is a sheltered teenager facing the world for the first time, her eyes wide with unrealistic expectations. Her only guidance are her mother's unusual, progressive teachings.

Though her lessons save her from several life-threatening situations, they also do her a great disservice. They teach her to put her faith in the wrong people, while she keeps the one good person, Tewkesbury, at arm's length. Her mind is clouded with denial. The people in whom she should place her trust are the people who betray her the most.

Enola's mother Eudoria is a revolutionary woman with a mind of her own. She lives in a world run by men, but that doesn't discourage her desire for change. She neglects household chores in favor of fencing, archery, and reading books on feminism. Every day is dedicated to teaching Enola important lessons that will aid her future. Enola comes to rely on her. She hangs on her mother's every word.

Until the day that Enola wakes up to find herself alone and abandoned. Eudoria is gone with no warning or explanation. It is the greatest betrayal of Enola's young life. Worse, she knowingly left Enola in the hands of a tyrant, Mycroft Holmes.

Mycroft is nothing like the rest of his family. He becomes "the man of the house" after the death of his father. His money pays for the house and all of the women's essentials. He does this with the agreement that he would never have to manage the house in person. As it turns out, that is the best thing he could do for the women.

He is an entitled, closed-minded misogynist who spent so much time away from the family home that he doesn't recognize it or Enola. It is a disappointing first meeting between the three siblings. Both Mycroft and Enola are appalled at the other.

So much so that he vows to send his "wild thing" sister to a boarding school. Again, he wants to send her away. He hates the responsibility of caring for his own sister, because she considers women as inferior.

Meanwhile, Sherlock is more progressive than his brother, capable of talking to Enola in a kind tone. He understands his sister. He sees her potential for greatness and appreciates her intelligence. They are alike in their brilliance.

However, he has no spine. It takes the entire length of the movie for him to finally stand up to Mycroft's brutal judgment. He even offers to take her in. Sure, it's a kind gesture, but it's too little too late. Enola already finds her independence.

Meanwhile...

Enola finds herself a very agreeable prospect, and she does it without a finishing school. The young viscount is the one person with whom Enola can relate. He too hates society's expectations, mourns a lost parent, and feels out of place in his family.

The fault here lies with Enola. She pushes him away thanks to Eudoria's misguided teaching about men. Feminism is good and all, but not to the point where one gender feels animosity toward the other. Feminism is about equality. Enola must learn this lesson through her conflicting relationship with this charming young man. Every time she leaves his side, she finds her way back to him. Until she finally accepts his acceptance of her. Do I hear wedding bells in the future?

If there are, it would be prime revenge against Mycroft. She would manage to land a husband with more wealth and privilege than the great Mycroft Holmes, an accomplishment void of finishing school or a lady's education. Instead, she discovers her place in the world and fulfills her purpose. She is no lady; she was not raised to be. Instead, she uses her skills, educational and hereditary, to become a detective. Just like her brother.

No one is perfect. No one deserves a pedestal. We are flaw humans, equal in our worth and sin. The Holmes family included. In the beginning, she looks up to Sherlock as a force with whom to be reckoned. In the end, she proves herself to be his worthy competition.

Enola lets go of doubt and her high opinion of her flawed brothers. Instead, she forms a high opinion of herself. More importantly, she opens her heart to all of those in need, ranging from a lost lamb to a powerless viscount. All become equal in her eyes. Her purpose is to help them all.

With the 2020 Presidential election around the corner, "Enola Holmes" serves a brutal reminder of the importance of voting. We have a misogynist in the White House. He disrespects women, progress, and the Freedom of Press. His corruption may even lead to a rigged election. If the post offices are slowed, mail-in voters like me will be robbed of our ability to vote.

Strange how my family's responsible forethought is suddenly punished. One way or another, I will exercise my right to vote. Countless women fought for that right. I will not squander it, and I urge you not to either. If Trump isn't voted out of the White House, our society will continue to degrade. One would think we've gone back in time.