Synopsis:
After winning a scholarship competition, four gifted orphans are recruited by the peculiar Mr. Benedict for a dangerous mission to save the world from a global crisis known as The Emergency. Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance must infiltrate the mysterious L.I.V.E. Institute to discover the truth behind the crisis. When the headmaster, the sophisticated Dr. Curtain appears to be behind this worldwide panic, the kids of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” must devise a plan to defeat him.
Nowadays, when it comes to television shows that are intended for teenagers and below, you either get something entertaining or something with a message, you don’t always get both. Moreover, in the age of social media and misinformation, it is important for the younger generation to be a part of the conversations in some form. With targeted ads and propaganda, they should be armed with the knowledge of how it all works and how to decipher them since they’re on deck to make an impact. If nothing else, they at least need to have situations explained in a way that they can fully comprehend in a relatable way. While adults are running around yelling, panicking, and questioning science and logic, children and teens are usually the ones able to see through the fog and call out the flaws in an unbiased fashion. Well, it seems that Disney is aware that children are the future and is making it very clear with their new show, The Mysterious Benedict Society. I not only enjoyed it but was surprised by how much I did.
Episode 1: A Bunch of Smart Orphans & Episode 2: Carrying a Bird
“Proof is useless unless it’s proof of something people already want to believe. And I’m afraid no one wants to believe this.”
If you’re searching for a family-friendly adventure that mixes mystery, conspiracy theories, secret clubs, and our current state of global anxiousness, then look no further. Based on a novel of the same name, the Disney+ Original Series, The Mysterious Benedict Society is an eight-episode spy comedy where the fate of the world depends on young people(message!). Now, I’ve only seen the first two episodes so I won’t give it too much praise, but it is off to a great start. It begins by explaining the dire state that the world is in, people are panicked, confused, and are unsure of the future. They name the societal unease, The Emergency. From there we meet our four possible heroes in a very peculiar way. The four along with many other youths are attempting to gain access to a prestigious school by passing a number of terribly difficult tests. However, the tests aren’t exactly what they seem to be. This is where we meet the odd and effective, Number Two along with the deceptive and inventive Rhonda. They are tasked in a number of ways to pick the best of the best. The main focus of this story is a highly intuitive young boy named Reynard but he prefers Reynie. He later meets three other children rounding out the only four that passed all the tests. The children are all very different from one another but they all have one thing in common, they’re all orphans. It shows us that no matter how different we think we are, once you get to know someone, you may relate more than you think.
The show has very strong Umbrella Academy meets Lemony Snicket vibes and I’m here for it. The show wastes no time getting to the point and by the end of episode 2 we know most of the what, where, when, and how but not the why just yet. It seems that every episode will leave you with some questions making you want to see the next one even more and that’s a win. The show is smart, funny, and it’ll be a joy to experience with my young one. They picked the perfect cast. Kristen Schaal is hilarious as Number Two. She’s someone to pay attention to in every scene as she is always doing something unexpected in the background like building an entire cabin by herself. All the characters have very distinct personalities and skills so you’ll easily find a favorite. My favorite so far is the tiny, unconventional Russian rebel, Constance… you’ll see why. The other characters include the inquisitive Sticky, the resourceful Kate, and of course the benefactor who schemed it all up, the brilliant Mr. Benedict. I’m also curious to learn more about Ryan Hurst’s character Milligan. He perhaps has the most interesting story. I believe The Mysterious Benedict Society will be a hit. It’s definitely worth watching.
Final Thoughts
This show is tons of fun. It’s not often that we get a story such as this where all of the kids are hyper-intelligent, it’s refreshing. Adults will get just as much out of this show as the young ones will, it’s deeper than you can imagine. I can’t wait for us all to discuss it.
The Mysterious Benedict Society begins streaming on Disney+ on June 25, 2021. Stay safe and enjoy.
Creator: Matt Manfredi, Phil Hay
Writer: Matt Manfredi, Phil Hay
Showrunners: Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin
Director: James Bobin (pilot episode)
Production Company: 20th Television, Sonar Entertainment
Executive Producers: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Jamie Tarses, Karen Kehela Sherwood, James Bobin, David Ellender, Matt Loze, Deepak Nayar
Runtime: Ep. 1 – 48m, Ep. 2 – 52m
Rating: 4 out of 5
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
