A Review of Season Two of ‘The Mysterious Benedict Society’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

MARTA KESSLER, SETH B. CARR, EMMY DEOLIVEIRA, MYSTIC INSCHO in THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY - “A Perilous Journey“ (Disney/Tina Thorpe)

For the most part, television shows tend to operate under the assumption that a new season will always be on the horizon and the story for any particular season should reflect that. So, it should offer up moments that can be resolved further down the line or it can feature a cliffhanger or two, and what it absolutely should not do… is feel complete or wrap up the story. Because that could potentially confuse an audience and motivate them to never return if a new season and new story arrives. But that’s nothing more than an assumption. For audiences are supremely savvy and actually appreciate a complete story that is satisfying and comes to a logical end.
​
Which is why it is always wonderful to run into a series that understands that about its viewers and wants to be complete in its storytelling and one such series that follows such an edict is The Mysterious Benedict Society. For season one of this show, saw the Society work together to defeat Dr. Curtain and resolve ‘The Emergency’ before essentially settling into regular life and parting ways. Signaling the end of one chapter and one adventure and in turn, such a move left all of us wondering how the story would continue and how the society would reunite, allowing or a genuine buzz to surround season two of this magnificent series… which wastes little time in answering our questions and concerns. 

Since we come to learn that simple acts can in fact, easily reunite this group, who are now a little older and a little wiser and are of course… eager to plunge in and solve a new mystery/conundrum. For this new season also wastes little time in informing us of the fact Mister Benedict and Number Two are in serious trouble and that… is how this show sucks us right back into this world and compels us to continue the journey. Because just like that, we’re back in the thick of it, enjoying a new mystery, one that is grander in scale and forces our characters to grow and that’s just delightful. Because it adds a real sense of freshness to the show and to top it all off, the grand nature of this season doesn’t end with the amazing adventures that the Society goes on. 

For this is a season of storytelling that gets supremely philosophical in nature, by having Dr. Curtain return and ponder upon… the nature of happiness. For he seems to believe he has figured out how to provide the world with unlimited happiness and that leads to some incredible commentary on what it means to be happy in this life. Such as what motivates us to find it and how we maintain it when it comes our way, and if eternal happiness is something that is attainable or not. All of which elevates the storytelling of this series to a whole new level. For it truly poses some powerful questions while challenging our heroes like never before, as they work to save their hero and deal with a gleefully resurgent villain that they’ve faced before.

Which is… just incredible storytelling when all is said and done. The kind that informs us that it is very possible to put together a single season of television that features a beginning, middle and end, provided the show ups its game and tells a bigger story the second go round and well… this is a season of storytelling that grabs hold of you with its boldness and never let’s go. Because it poses so many questions and offers up compelling moments left and right and the best news of all, is that you can start this new journey right now. For the first two episodes of this dynamic and refreshing new season are available to stream on Disney+, and we certainly hope you give it a look. Because this really is quite the revolutionary season of storytelling, one that entertains and engages and leaves the viewer with plenty of fascinating concepts to ponder upon.

To learn more about the new season and its construction, check out our interviews with cast members, Mystic Inscho, Marta Kessler, Seth Carr, Emmy DeOliveira, Gia Sandhu, & MaameYaa Baofo and the show’s Executive Producers, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Darren Swimmer, and Todd Slavkin.

---

Powered by JustWatch