The Mysterious Benedict Society

Since I didn't see a thread for this, has anyone else been watching The Mysterious Benedict Society on Disney Plus?

I'm really enjoying it. It's been a while since I've read the book, but it really captures the spirit of the book, while still being different enough to keep you guessing. (because, otherwise, what would be the point?)

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 5th 2021 at 8:47:23 AM

Does anyone have any thoughts on how Mr. Curtain doesn't use a wheelchair in the show?

I know in the book, it's a plot point that Mr. Curtain uses a wheelchair to hide his narcolepsy, so at first, I wasn't quite sure where they were going with it. However, given that Mr. Benedict specifically says he had Type 1 narcolepsy, I've seen speculation that Dr. Curtain may actually have type 2 narcolepsy, where a person still has sudden sleep episodes, but without associated cataplexy.

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 8th 2021 at 9:13:21 AM

I think the removal of the wheelchair is a good thing. It changes the framing from "the bad guy is an Evil Cripple in a wheelchair" to, at worst "the bad guy has a variant of the same issue the good guy has".

I'm enjoying the show too. It feels like A Series of Unfortunate Events filtered through Wes Anderson and made quite a bit cheerier, with maybe a dash of Dispatches From Elsewhere in the mix. Unfortunately that perception on my part makes it feel like it needs a narrator of some sort, like Lemony Snicket from A So UE or Octavio Coleman from Dispatches.

Edited by Zendervai on Jul 7th 2021 at 12:48:42 PM

Some thoughts on the differences between the relationship of Mr. Benedict and Mr. (Dr.?) Curtain in the show as compared to the book:

Can I also say that I kinda love Tony Hale’s Benedict even more than Book Benedict? Like, he’s still just as compassionate and kind as his book counterpart, but his performance just brings a whole extra level of warmth and enthusiasm to the role. Like, just look at him when he first greets the kids. He’s just so genuinely delighted to finally meet them, and you just can’t help immediately trusting him.

Another interesting change, is how Dr. Curtain is specifically after Mr. Benedict and company, which was not the case in the book as far as I remember. Personally, I actually like it. Since Benedict is the only one that could conceivably stop Curtain’s plan for World Domination, it actually makes more sense that he would be a target for Curtain.

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 9th 2021 at 9:11:21 AM

This little promo thing killed me.

Can you tell I have a thing for acronyms?

Although, they seem to be switching back and forth on whether L.I.V.E. stands for the “The Institute for Veritas and Enlightenment” or “The Institute for the Very Enlightened”. The second episode has Mr. Benedict use the former, but this has Curtain using the latter.

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 12th 2021 at 8:29:25 AM

Just in case anyone’s interested, the show’s livestream panel for SDCC with the show-runners and main cast will be on July 25, at 11:00 AM (PT).

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 13th 2021 at 9:26:29 AM

episode 4 (I’ll go back and do the rest later):

• Oh, Rhonda’s up fo something. Interesting…
• The intro is just so cool.
• Honestly, why should you even care about cheating at the bizarre evil school?
• Ohh, the Journal heist!
• That’s where the Badminton racket on her title card comes from!
• Milligan has episode title this time: A trace of scotch bonnet. A whisper, not a shout.
• “Have you noticed that Number 2’s been a bit distant lately?” “I prefer to remain neutral on workplace matters.”
• the bookmarks!
• Honestly, I’m not sure if this plan is more or less complicated than in the book.
• It’s backwards because he saw it in the mirror!
• So Rhonda was the one painting over the “no one at the wheel” sign in the trailer!
• that’s a nice moment between sticky and kate.
• Rhonda and Mr. Benedict in Kahoots!
• Milligan starting to remember maybe?
• we finally get to see the waiting room, and unsurprisingly, it is not a pit of mud and bugs.
• Personally, I think it works. It fits with the more subtly sinister and unnerving version of the institute, and even has an air of plausible deniability around it, because really, all he makes them do is sit in a room and wait, no mud or bugs anywhere.
• I get that it’s supposed to invoke sensory hell, but honestly, I feel like I would be the one to pull the chair over to the fish tank and press my nose up against it, while intentionally rocking the chair.
• Sticky only looses an arm in 2 of the 23 rescue scenarios?
• The glee when she asks if sticky should be considered a causality?
• this episode was the first time I noticed that the “bookshelves” in Mr. Curtain’s office are just photos of bookshelves, which is a nice little contrast with Mr. Benedict
• So Mr. Curtain already knew it was morse code, and just wanted to screw with sticky. Seems on brand, especially for this version.
• So that’s how the hydraulic Turbines come in!
• Number 2 doing pool tournaments is such a nice bit of character building
• I like how we get some adult bonding in this episode.
• “Actually, I think I might be tough, at least when it comes to protecting something I care about.” Good for you sticky!
• Mr. Benedict reading to his (adult) kids is just so wholesome.
• Milligan and Benedict bonding was something I didn’t know I wanted until now.
• Constance decoded the journal! I don’t think that was in the book. And we get her decoder ring from her title card!
• First mention of “The Improvement”
• So Curtain has a hit list now?
• So water polo and tetherball are the premier sports of this world?
• “injuries are for the weak!” God Martina is a jerk.

• Emperor Supreme Magistral if the flaming backhand? Interesting.
• Reynie and Sticky finally getting to become messengers? Now we’re getting somewhere.

Sneak Peak:

• Wait. Is that actually Maj? That’s awesome!
• The Whisperer!

I would say that while there wasn’t a whole ton of progress on the plot, there was some nice character development and setup for everything that comes later.

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 15th 2021 at 4:39:01 AM

Some really good tumblr meta comparing the twins in the show and the book.

The other thing that’s interesting is how they seem to be playing up the contrast between Mr. Benedict and Mr. Curtain. In the book, it’s all about parallels. The same face, the same green plaid, the same condition.

In the show, it’s all about contrasts. Mr. Benedict is warm, caring, gentle, if a bit scattered, while Dr. Curtain is colder, sharper, and more put together. It’s literally in everything from their clothing and silhouettes, to even their offices. Mr. Benedict’s study is cozy, with a fire in the fireplace, art, and lots of books and papers everywhere, and uses a lot of warm greens and yellows. Curtain’s office is super sleek and modern, with photographs of bookshelves and lots of cool blues and teals.

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 18th 2021 at 12:44:07 PM

MBS Comic-Con at Home panel

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 25th 2021 at 4:51:31 AM

So when is the TV series getting its own page? I want to compare all the adaptational changes!

I could help draft one up if you like!

Also, would SQ standing for Shepard Quaid count as Adaptational Name Change? We never actually learn what it stands for in the books, I don’t think.

Edited by megaeliz on Oct 5th 2021 at 3:49:01 PM

Season 2 was just confirmed!

I know I’m practically talking to myself here, but does anyone have any thoughts on the decision to make SQ curtain’s son? Like it’s super different than his role in the books, but at the same time, I think it works. It’s interesting to see that Dr. Curtain has someone he genuinely cares about (even if it’s still all kinds of messed up), and is just a great twist for a familiar character.

Also does anyone have any ideas for what they’ll do for season 2?

I kinda doubt we’ll actually get a straight adaptation of Perilous Journey. All the little changes they made in terms of characterization, backstory, plot, etc, start adding up to make a faithful adaption nearly impossible, and even the show’s creators have pointed out that the book doesn’t really lend itself to the television format in the same way MBS does,

Edited by megaeliz on Oct 5th 2021 at 6:55:47 AM

The show runners pretty bluntly said that for future seasons, they’re planning to kind of blend multiple books together.

I was rewatching the show, and the whole thing with the waiting room is just kind of funny to me.

While I get how anxiety producing it would be for someone like Sticky, I can’t imagine it working on everyone. It’s not like the chair is bolted to the floor, so I would move it over to the fish tank and watch the fish, while probably intentionally rocking the chair back and forth. (I do like how completely untraceable it is though, when compared to the book’s version. After all, he just has them sit in a room, no mud or bugs required.)

Edited by megaeliz on Dec 11th 2021 at 12:03:19 PM

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the first few episodes of season 2 have been released!

It’s pretty good so far! I particularly like all the new stuff with Dr. Curtain’s happiness plot, since I think the duskwort subplot arguably the weakest part of book 2.

Edited by megaeliz on Nov 13th 2022 at 8:23:44 AM

So anyone else keeping up with season 2?

Edited by megaeliz on Nov 18th 2022 at 7:36:21 AM

It’s not available in Canada yet for some reason.