The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is a classic series of children’s books with all the makings for an engaging screen adaptation, including remarkable children doing remarkable things, a sinister academy, and puzzles that invite the reader to solve along. As a child reading these books, I desperately wanted to see these puzzles and characters brought to life on-screen.
Years later, Disney+ has fulfilled my childhood wish with The Mysterious Benedict Society, a new TV series overflowing with whimsy and charm. The show is clearly geared towards younger audiences, but there’s still a lot to appreciate here for audiences of all ages.
The eponymous society is made up of four children: Reynie Muldoon (Mystic Inscho), George “Sticky” Washington (Seth B. Carr), Kate Wetherall (Emmy DeOliveira), and Constance Contraire (Marta Kessler). They’re all gifted in some way: Reynie’s a natural problem solver, Sticky has an eidetic memory, Kate is an incredible athlete, and Constance is… I’ll leave it at “stubborn” for now.
The Mysterious Benedict Society is a perfect journey down memory lane for those who have read the books, and an exciting new adventure for those who haven’t.
Thanks to their gifts, these four pass a series of tests that brings them face to face with the eccentric Mr. Benedict (Tony Hale), who wants to recruit them for a special mission. See, the world is in the middle of an international crisis, aptly dubbed “The Emergency.” Mr. Benedict believes that the source of all this global panic is the L.I.V.E. Institute, so he sends the children to infiltrate it and uncover the truth.
There’s a lot to love about The Mysterious Benedict Society, starting with its strong sense of atmosphere. Its pastel production design and quirky world building immediately call to mind Wes Anderson films, as well as Netflix’s recent adaptation of another iconic children’s series, A Series of Unfortunate Events. From the first sweeping shot of Stonetown harbor to the cleverly visualized puzzle sequences, The Mysterious Benedict Society establishes a clear visual style that’s a treat to watch.
Adding to the show’s appeal is its solid cast. Inscho, Carr, DeOliveira, and Kessler all deliver strong performances, with enough earnestness to make even the most offbeat lines work. But it’s the adults who steal the show. Stewart’s books focus entirely on the children, but the TV series shows what the adults are up to while the children are at the L.I.V.E. Institute. It’s a smart choice that expands the show’s world and allows the adult actors to shoulder more of the narrative weight.
Credit: disney/diyah pera/mashable composite
As Mr. Benedict, Hale infuses his trademark nervous energy with sincere care for the children, always sure to find the humor and heart in each scene. Hale also appears as Mr. Benedict’s twin brother L.D. Curtain, head of the L.I.V.E. Institute. Where Mr. Benedict is warm and comforting, Dr. Curtain is coolly menacing — and it’s so much fun watching Hale play both.
Joining Hale are Kristen Schaal and MaameYaa Boafo, who shine as Mr. Benedict’s assistants, Number Two and Rhonda Kazembe. They have great chemistry and bounce off each other with ease. Meanwhile, Ryan Hurst is instantly memorable as gruff spy Milligan. His monologue about a daring escape from captivity is a definite highlight.
Finally, one of the biggest joys of The Mysterious Benedict Society is seeing key details from the books on-screen: Kate’s bucket! Constance’s poems! Mr. Benedict’s maze! While the series does deviate quite heavily from the source material in some areas, it sticks to the books where it counts, capturing their sense of childlike wonder and curiosity. All in all, The Mysterious Benedict Society is a perfect journey down memory lane for those who have read the books, and an exciting new adventure for those who haven’t.
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