Disney+'s The Mysterious Benedict Society offers a visual feast

Polygon

"The Mysterious Benedict Society, Disney+'s newest live-action series, has all the components a great kid classic needs," says Petrana Radulovic. "Judging by the two episodes provided for critics, the show evokes the same sensibilities as Spy Kids and Netflix’s adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events — and not just because kids are the heroes. Certainly having children in situations where only they can save the day is part of the appeal in all three cases. But there are a good number of bad stories with kid heroes. Spy Kids and A Series of Unfortunate Events are memorable for the way they draw on unique visual palettes to create distinct settings. The Mysterious Benedict Society replicates that feat, making the first two episodes visually memorable." She adds: "While the characters are interesting and the plot tentatively exciting, the first two episodes really highlight the show’s setting. The set design and costumes carefully create a funky world that is nebulous in both time and place. There are references to real-life countries, animals, and plants, but the locations the characters visit are named Stonetown and Harbor Island — completely vague, and easy to adapt to most countries. Visually, the show draws on a slightly retro look, with characters sporting mid-century outfits. Televisions exist, but they’re the pre-flatscreen kind, with knobs and wheels. The Mysterious Benedict Society doesn’t feel like a period piece, so much as it feels like it takes place in a universe just left of ours. But it isn’t only pleasing to the eye. The set details also deliciously augment the plot."

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• The Mysterious Benedict Society shows that Disney does not have the courage – or perhaps desire – to lean in to the potential offered by this now-prescient and fertile setup: "It is presented as a straightforward result of old-fashioned, individual villainy, the metaphorical depths of the insidious malaise left unplumbed," says Lucy Mangan. "What could have offered children a chance to understand the historically unprecedented aspects of the internet age they live in, made the young fish conscious of the water they swim in, is left simply as a romp. Which is fine. It just could have been so much more."
• The Mysterious Benedict Society starts out promising, but offers diminishing returns with its second episode
• The Mysterious Benedict Society is best described as "Harry Potter if instead of having magical powers, everyone was just really nerdy"
• Why Tony Hale was drawn to The Mysterious Benedict Society: "I think, honestly, what attracted me the most is: these kids didn’t have magical powers — didn’t have these crazy superpowers — but they they use their intellect, their creativity and their empathy," he says. "And I just feel like, yeah, those are superpowers; that’s exactly what the world needs. So, I just loved the story and also the opportunity to play twins is very exciting for any actor."