Marvelous Geeks

Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and starring Millie Bobby Brown, Netflix’s Damsel has the meat and fire of a fantastic action adventure, but it feels somewhat incomplete by the end. It’s an intriguing mix between The Princess Bride and Snow White and the Huntsman, finding itself in the middle where a woman’s freedom fully prevails gorgeously. We spend the majority of the time watching Brown’s Elodie try to free herself from a ruthless dragon (voiced by the indomitable Shohreh Aghdashloo), yet none of it ultimately evokes anything emotional until the very last second. 

And by the time we get to the end, the emotions are so heightened, so evocatively rewarding that it’s a shame the film concludes without the essence of much vulnerability. Make no mistake, it’s still a relatively enjoyable time, especially for younger girls who’d like to see themselves in the role of a badass heroine, but perhaps more narrative arcs later on could make it feel more nuanced and accomplished.

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Sometimes, learning that there’s strength in numbers comes with a challenging lesson. The road to uncovering that specific understanding isn’t easy today, let alone in Victorian England. Enola Holmes 2 beautifully pushes the titular character farther in her career, but it’s not an easy route to learn that there’s strength in leaning on others.

A woman’s voice matters. It matters today, yesterday, and it will matter in the future. But at some point, women didn’t have a say, let alone a vote. In attempting to make changes, the world chastised them more than it offered support. Although it is inspired by true events, Enola Holmes 2 doesn’t try to be an overt history lesson; instead, it thoughtfully (and gorgeously) celebrates the detail that there’s strength in vulnerability and asking for help.

The final scene, which features the group of young women unanimously walking out of the factory, thus brilliantly brings the words, “Find your allies, work with them, and you will become more of who you are, ” to life.

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Enola Holmes 2 brings a fresh, fun new case to our screens with improved performances, characterizations, and relationships. In more ways than one, it’s stronger and more cohesive than the original, proving that writers know where they want to go should there be a third. While the film takes a while to pick up its rhythm in the first act, once it starts, it’s an ongoing battle between action and quiet moments that bleed into the screen seamlessly.

It keeps the charm from the first film and thoroughly uses familiar beats, but it never once feels overdone. Enola Holmes 2 is more comforting and softer as it tells a story of the strength that’s unveiled in numbers.

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We're fairly certain that we can all agree in the words of Brooklyn Nine Nine's Captain Raymond Holt that "everything is garbage." While 2016 may have been an incredibly sad year, it has without a doubt been the best in television. Honestly, it's difficult to recall the last time we've had such a hard time culminating our choices. And that said, performers are the heart of a series. Without them, the characters we cherish and adore wouldn't be as extraordinary. They wouldn't resonate with us in the seemingly effortless ways they do. Without their meticulously crafted performances we wouldn't feel a single thing. Without further ado, it is these 16 performers that have made 2016 indescribable.

And if you haven't already, check out the first part of our Year-End Reviews as we pay tribute to Sundance's Rectify.

Before we begin discussing our favorites, be sure to check out the incredible work Nerdy Girl Notes and TVExamined have already done and will continue to do within the next few days.