Let me first start by saying that I am aware that this review may rustle some jimmies, as it should. Let’s hope that it rustles jimmies in a productive way.
Enola Holmes, the Netflix original, was a terrible film. I chose to give it a chance since the cast looked pretty decent and the story seemed like a reasonable spin-off of the contemporary Sherlock Holmes. However, what I discovered while viewing this film is a PRIME example of the militant feminist (man hating) narrative that is a detriment to society. (I can feel the jimmies rustling). Stay with me a moment and see if you can follow my logic, or lack there of.
For this review, I’d like to focus a few key elements, though the list of examples that I could pull from the movie is truly endless.
Element 1: The romanticization of a singe mother raising a daughter, without a father specifically. Glorification of the idea that the only thing you need a man for is reproduction.
Element 2: The reoccurring phrase used to describe Enola’s male counterpart, “useless boy.” The reoccurring theme that men have no use in society.
Element 3: There was a bit of dialog where Enola told her male counterpart “you’re a man when I tell you you are a man.”
The rest of the film was neither here nor there and a perfect portrait of feminist dreams, fanservice. I only take issue with the 3 elements that I deem militant. (appropriate since Enola’s mother in the film is hinted at being a terrorist.)
This film sends a very dangerous message to the youth and impressionable people, male and female. It tells boys that they are useless and that they should seek the approval of women for all things. It tells young girls that men have no place or use in society, they are only a hinderance.
History and statistics paint a very different picture in regards to the family. The family is the backbone of society. This sort of militant narrative entirely devalues the family. It paves the way for a generation to believe in such a way that a successful family has very low chances of existing and surviving. Where are the TV shows, movies, music, or media of any kind that paints having two parents in a positive light? Where is the media that romanticizes having the strong family that statistics say give the youth the best chance of success?
Not convinced two parent’s don’t matter? Other do a much better job that I ever could disproving that.
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/power-two-parent-home-not-myth
Men and women, working together, complimenting each other’s live and playing off the strengths of each gender works so well that it’s almost as if it were by design. Why would anyone want to destroy something that works so well? Power? Control? Conspiracies aside, if the government put crack in the hood to destroy the black families, it surely backs militant feminism to destroy the others. Bravo government, nothing else in the history of the world has been as successful in destroying the backbone of society (families & tribes).
Lastly, I’d like to break down this bit of dialog: “you’re a man when I tell you you are a man.”
Many societies throughout history have had some sort of rite of passage or definitive point where boys become men. This is absent in contemporary western culture. The absence has opened the door for “what it means to be a man” to be entirely subjective. As a result, the lost boys will jump through hoops to be awarded their man card from those that claim to hold the key. Many will use manipulative verbiage to persuade others to conform to their belief system. Counter to the militant feminist narrative, women do not hold the keys to manhood.
What is means to be a man, as subjective as it is painted, it much more clear if you can distill out some of the B.S. We can all agree that, men are respected by other men. This actually has nothing to do with women and groups will literally go to the end of the earth to suppress this idea.
For a rough outline to “man,” let’s reference the four tactical virtues featured in The Way of Men by Jack Donavan. They are strength, courage, mastery, and honor. Honor is the one we can focus on here since it’s most subjective as it require an “honor group.” You get to select this honor group along your journey. Historically, honor groups for men have been groups consisting of other men. Either way, there would be something fishy about a man’s honor group with no men. The latter does not come with recommendation, with the exception of the militant demanding that you bow to their wishes.
Let’s build a strong society with backbone for our children and future. When we see things that do damage to the family, speak out against it. The best way to combat a story is to tell a better story. Like the family, the counter narrative beings at home.