Curtain is coolly menacing - and it's so much fun watching Hale play both. Benedict, Hale infuses his trademark nervous energy with sincere care for the children, always sure to find the humor and heart in each scene. Prepare for trouble, and make it double! Credit: disney / diyah pera / mashable compositeĪs Mr. It's a smart choice that expands the show's world and allows the adult actors to shoulder more of the narrative weight. 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.

Inscho, Carr, DeOliveira, and Kessler all deliver strong performances, with enough earnestness to make even the most offbeat lines work.

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.Īdding to the show's appeal is its solid cast. 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. There's a lot to love about The Mysterious Benedict Society, starting with its strong sense of atmosphere. Institute, so he sends the children to infiltrate it and uncover the truth. Benedict believes that the source of all this global panic is the L.I.V.E. See, the world is in the middle of an international crisis, aptly dubbed 'The Emergency.' Mr. Benedict (Tony Hale), who wants to recruit them for a special mission. Thanks to their gifts, these four pass a series of tests that brings them face to face with the eccentric Mr. 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. 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. Carr), Kate Wetherall (Emmy DeOliveira), and Constance Contraire (Marta Kessler). The eponymous society is made up of four children: Reynie Muldoon (Mystic Inscho), George 'Sticky' Washington (Seth B. The show is clearly geared towards younger audiences, but there's still a lot to appreciate here for audiences of all ages. Years later, Disney+ has fulfilled my childhood wish with The Mysterious Benedict Society, a new TV series overflowing with whimsy and charm. As a child reading these books, I desperately wanted to see these puzzles and characters brought to life on-screen. 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.

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