#And then Milligan adopts SQ obviously

[sophieswundergarten]

Because apparently I like angst, I was thinking about the various iterations of "Kate gets adopted by Curtain" AUs, and my brain went to...

The TPJ Cave Scene

Because, I imagine that in this version of events, Kate really was on the Society's side. She wanted to join them, and she tried her best to help them at the Institute, but when push came to shove she couldn't leave SQ.

(SQ knew a little bit about the whole situation, but he has, like, negative ten self-confidence, so he's caught in the middle of his headstrong sister and control freak dad, and he's pretty sure that Kate and the others must just be misguided, but it's his job as the big brother to protect Kate, so he doesn't tell Curtain a single thing)

So she went with Curtain and kept quiet about her mutinous thoughts. Sure, she still snarked at him and pulled him into arguments about his paranoia or his treatment of SQ, but that was nothing really out of the ordinary. She sent a few letters, far too vague and far apart for the Society's comfort, with no return address and no details beyond "We're safe. I'm so sorry."

So they end up on the island in hiding and Kate is doing her best not to rock the boat, but still begging SQ to trust her and leave Curtain before something worse happens.

Meanwhile, the Society is losing their entire minds because immediately after Kate apologized and slipped away to check on SQ, Milligan shows up. And he's regained his memories.

Anyways, instead of a scavenger hunt they're just actively searching for Curtain/Kate the whole time, and when eventually they figure out he's probably looking for duskwort, Mr. B and Number Two have been doing field research while the others stay at home and research that way. But cue Mr. B and Number Two going missing, and that whole crisis, and the kids go off on their own.

Because they were actually involved in the search this time, they get to where they're going much quicker. They still get to meet Noland/Cannonball/Sophie because I love them and they need to be included, but at last they get to the island!

There they find Kate hanging out in the forest/abandoned village because she got mad and ran off and Curtain let her because A) Where's she going to go? It's an island, and B) He's spiraling down the paranoia hole at this point and can barely pay attention to anything.

The Society is super excited to see Kate, and assure her that they understand her not wanting to abandon her family, and she fills them in on all the details. Number Two still escaped, and is... somewhere. They're trying to come up with a plan when Milligan shows up!!

The kids all look at him and Kate uncomfortably, and he announces loudly and forcefully that they will be focussing on one problem at a time, and right now they need to deal with getting everyone off the island safely.

So, they formulate a plan, and then the Ten Men or Grays or whatever show up and think they're trying to kidnap Kate :)

Milligan fight scene, and the kids get to the cave

The Society gets captured, and Kate gets in serious trouble. She has a fight with Curtain where he yells at her a lot and tries all his nasty manipulation tricks like telling her her real dad didn't love her and how great he is for adopting her, and then goes somewhere else to Plot.

SQ tries to comfort her, and the kids take this moment to try and convince him how awful Curtain is. SQ is too scared and uncertain, though, and while he's definitely not going to hurt the kids or tell on them, he isn't about to give up the only protection he and Kate have ever known.

Mr. Benedict has to do his hypnotism trick, but Kate doubles back after a minute and arrives just in time to see Curtain going berserk, just so angey at poor SQ for messing up. Kate hides until Curtain storms out again and rescues SQ, who is so miserable at this point (And after being confronted that 90% of what made his life bearable was Kate, and thinking she had finally gone because he made too big a mistake) that he agrees to go with them.

Aaaaand then they find Milligan and get back to the Shortcut (Where Number Two is) and SQ does his best to help in whatever way he can and sticks right to Kate's side the whole time, and then they get to head back home!!

At this point it's basically a backwards version of the lovely @sqenthusiast's post here, but I will never get over the Cave Scene, so here's what came out of it this time :)

[nobodysdaydreams]

5 and 13 for the fanfiction ask game?

So for this game, I realized that I really need to figure out how bookmarks work, because there's so many fics I read and left guest kudos on before I had an AO3, that I realized I needed to track down. But we I managed to hunt several of them down, and am excited to talk about them.

5 - favorite fluff piece.

There’s a couple, but recently I’ve really enjoyed “Her Imperial Highness the Empress of All Fowl” by @sophieswundergarten (based on Wynn (@cptnwynnie)’s amazing art! It's an adorable fic about Kate and her birds on the farm, and it's absolutely wonderful! If you enjoy wholesome fluff about the society adopting adorable animals, then look no further.

13 - Detail from canon that was expanded on.

I know I've posted about this before, but it's probably a top 5 fic for me. "Me and My Two Hands" by @sqenthusiast. It's about Curtain trying to get baby SQ to fall asleep (with some helpful advice from Garrison). The detail it expands on is the simple fact that Dr. Curtain adopted SQ as a baby. And I'm gonna have to take a moment to talk about this one, because as all my followers know, this has been ROTATING in my head since the show dropped that detail. Not only because of the mystery surrounding SQ's birth parents, but also because of how much even that small fact changes SQ and Curtain's relationship. Curtain didn't meet or adopt SQ when he was a middle schooler who came to the Institute or something, he's known SQ since he was a tiny baby. And that was one of the first things I got a tumblr to post about, because...what did that even look like? Sure, Curtain could have pawned SQ off on the helpers, but he still chose to adopt him, we still see Curtain spending time with him. Even at his worst, Curtain would at least want to seem like a good father, for appearances. So now all I can imagine is Curtain in work meetings with Garrison and Milligan, gaslighting and manipulating them, all while SQ is toddling around, cheerfully coloring all over the blueprints his dad is using for his evil plans. Obviously, the way Curtain treats SQ is incredibly sad, but there's also something wholesome about the show's decision to make SQ Curtain's adopted son. Like, even though Curtain is evil, he still cares (even in a flawed way) about his kid. And not just about a kid, but at some point, a baby. One that required diaper changes, one that probably drew all over the walls of the Institute, one that woke Curtain up in the middle of the night when he had nightmares. Despite how flawed their relationship is, there's something very hopeful about that. And this fic really captures that positivity and fluff in an amazing way. It also inspired me to expand more on baby SQ and Curtain's relationship in my own fic (yes, in my usual angsty way, let the chorus of affectionate boos commence...), but I promise my followers that this version of the conversation between Curtain and baby SQ is nice and fluffy, and you should do yourself and favor and read it. (And also because SQ is the fandom's collective son, and seeing him in baby form is absolutely adorable every time).

[caswlw]

watched the finale a second time and while i think both constance and sticky both got the short end of the stick w their endings i think the emphasis on how u make family is So significant (obvs kate and milligan (and madge)/reynie and the perumals) but also rhonda and number two growing to b closer !! despite the declines adoption that comes right after- mr benedict starts with saying family should be expansive !! and then it cuts over to his brother w his son in opposition to this big happy family vibe u have the colder energy and the line abt life of disappointments it’s So cool to see how they’re taking the brothers and their relationship to family (given the changed backstory) to how they are w their own families (like w curtain and how he has the “dad hat” instead of always being that father figure to SQ, how he expects nothing but obeying his every word from his son, and how his time in the orphanage shaped his way of making SQ (in his eyes) a better kid but also the best way to manipulate him VS benedict mentioning needing freedom as a kid in his speech, how his “daughters” are able to speak out against him and know what he needs, how he respects constance declining the offer (again in comparison to the lack of nerve w SQ/curtain not allowing him to go against him), and how w the kids he is seeing his family grow again while letting them do their own things too- like sticky w ig going to the boatwright academy)

obviously it’s a major theme but i think the choices in changing benedict and curtains backstory (and the flashback scene) do a great job of playing into their interactions w kids in general (ESPECIALLY the gaslighting w sticky that curtain was trying in the finale) but their kids/families especially (interesting to see how garrison’s position w curtain isn’t like that of milligan and benedict esp after seeing all of her hesitance over the course of the show like the vegan prime rib scene) but yeah !!! go families !!

[jerichomere]

MBS EPISODE EIGHHHHT

weak. I hate to say it but I could feel it in my heart from the start. It had good moments but this episode just didn’t bring it home. I’m going to break this up into my usual notes and then some general evaluation. Notes: What is the deal with curtain and food? He has so many weird scenes with meals.. there’s probably some hidden meaning here but I don’t know what it is And they didn’t get to chuck-root the school :((((( Constance? Wants to pour acid on curtain’s feet Haha I liked Kate’s little “Nyoope” when the recruiters found her Martina redemption and the fighting tetherball team, sure Jackson and Jillson get even more unhinged. they terrify me We got Kate yeeting Constance up the tower, but her bucket had a built in rope motor somehow WE GOT KATIE-KAT but we didn’t get Sorry it took me so long And Milligan’s still moody instead of joyous Go Constance, break the thing, yay Number Two and Rhonda had some real shippy energy in this episode and PLEASE they are SISTERS Two more close profile shots of curtain in this episode, one where he is physically shorter than Milligan but dominating the interaction, and one where he’s physically looking down at Reynie but Reynie’s getting to him. Reynie has a heart to heart and curtain passes out. That’s different. Sticky even said, “it’s anger” and he was like “no, it’s vulnerability” oooooookay then. The whisperer is not an intercom/loudspeaker. sheesh. So the kiddos leave and the twins talk, resolving nothing, then curtain escapes REYNIE AND MISS PERUMAL NO COMPLAINTS HERE *sobs* Kate and Madge at the end <3 Constance refuses adoption!?!?!?!??! And no age reveal obviously rip Sticky’s family redemption he’s going to the totally not made up Boatwright Academy now Mr Benedict is like, I love you all, no snowball fight, the end. SIKE Curtain, SQ, and a totally real engineer lady are on a BOAT. You know, I felt bad for the engineer this whole series, as she is portrayed as kind of doing the technical work hoping it’ll be used for good, while curtain abuses its practical application, but her mood really shifted in that last scene. She was like heheh hey guy that I know is definitely is evil, howabout this mysterious blueprint... are they really trying to set up the sequel. Some tree branches will have to get pretttty bent.

Evaluation: keep reading! (sorry it gets long)

To recap what I’ve said from the start, I think the casting is fantastic but the tone is wrong. The darker, more saturated filter, the isolating camera shots, and very understated music make things colder and stilted. This is a constant throughout the whole series. The book was warm, messy, and full of charm, which I didn’t feel watching the show.

characters were.. compromised? Mr B starts off with a LIE about test winners going to Boatwright Academy. That undermines EVERYTHING he does from then on. “Regrettable but necessary” DOESN’T cut it. He’s also just so anxious and jittery instead of his gentile, kind, strong book self. Just from the show, they didn’t frame his genius very well. He seems more like a fool. Not really confidence-inspiring. In the same way, Being directed to cheat is one thing, but Reynie should NOT have lied to SQ to manipulate him into seeing the forest or whatever. Yeah reynie felt bad about it and SQ called him on it, but this is like the core values of our protagonist team, the strong love for truth. Also, I feel like in the show Reynie’s leadership isn’t highlighted. Like, everyone else has their thing but you almost wonder why he’s framed as the main character. The girls got bonding and the boys got bonding but there was hardly opportunity for him to really bring the team together into a cohesive unit Also, as much as I love Number Two’s life of crime (because it’s funny), she too should have that love of truth, but instead regularly does unlawful things. AND they never explained her eating, and even stopped having yellow clothes :( Additionally, the side story of her and Rhonda’s friction (entertaining I suppose) also really changed the character dynamic. In the book, the adult team was unwavering and wise, a sturdy basis for the perilous missions of the children. But their internal strife, while adding drama, makes them seem unreliable and less absolutely good and trustworthy. And I think trust and integrity are key parts of the book’s solid narrative. Constance’s refusal of the adoption felt wrong too. She was like, “Respectfully decline, but. I’ll stick around here.” I think they were trying to keep going with her contrariness, but it just comes across as foolish pride? Constance is a LITTLE GIRL. She DESERVES a FAMILY. SHE DESERVES A LOVING PARENT (and two wonderful sisters). Yeah family doesn’t have to be by blood OR lawful paperwork, but her actions in this scene really just. cuts off the feels at the knees. We KNOW she’s strong and independent but that doesn’t mean she HAS TO BE or even necessarily WANTS to be all the time. Over the course of the series we see her warming up to people, a kind word here, a little smile there, but this adoption refusal is.. harsh. Then we’ve got Sticky. Yes, he struggles with the comfort of the whisperer. And he overcomes it. BUT in one of the earlier episodes, they had him fighting with the team, defending the whisperer, dismissing his friends... and I count this as betrayal. It may be extreme on my part, but I think he went too far. The Society is the Society. In the book he bested his fears for them and with their support. Yeah he desperately wanted to just give in but he had PRINCIPLES and knew why he couldn’t. His honor, his responsibility to stop curtain, and his loyalty to his friends got him though. But in the show he just dumped them. And then was like, oh oops jk I’m back. (I knowwwwww the book has the privilege of being able to explain characters’ thought processes and emotional states, while shows have to work with more tangible actions and words but stilll I did not Like That) And finally, curtain wasn’t smart. He had hired people doing all the work. He just used it to his ends. Less evil genius and more manipulating creep. But this? I’m more ok with. As an villain, he got the job done. But this makes him less of a foil for Mr Benedict and more of an antagonist, if that makes sense. In the book they never knew each other, but were both alone in the world and greatly smart, and they chose verrry different paths. Whereas in the show he and B were always kind of opposites, warring in motivation and method from the start.

Let’s talk about the boss battle (such as it was). I said it was weak and I meant it. The book is heart pounding. There is so much going on, and so many people in play, the narration jumping all over the place in real time, all culminating in that clash at the top of the tower. Now, the show... the highs weren’t the highs. It felt more like checking off story points. Kate and constance outside - check. Resist the whisperer to stall for time - check. Milligan reveal - check. Reynie starting to figure out narcolepsy triggers - check. Constance shouting then you are the greatest fool of all - um, no, that didn’t happen. Constance defeating the whisperer - check. Curtain escapes - check. We got zero action. No good fights. I know Emmy Deoliveira is a kid and I’m not mad at her for not being able to do action sequences or run with Constance piggyback. But there was almost no physical conflict on-screen, and that’s Kate’s real time to shine. Also they had Number two and Rhonda in the tower ready to fight and then they just didn’t. All this build up for nothing. Furthermore, and I think this is the biggest problem, there was no momentum. Yeah they cut from scene to scene, but the music and tone cut scene-to-scene too. So there was like, dramatic music, Kate’s ready to fight! Get hyped! and then cut to absolutely silent, mr curtain staring at someone. feel mildly disturbed. and then cut to Rhonda and Number two being friends and ready to fight! Aww! And yay! Get hyped! And then cut back to Sticky sitting in a chair, dead silent. It goes on like this. The music, the urgency, should have carried throughout, building in intensity and desperation as the kids come together and curtain unravels more and more and then BAM! curtain down and OH NO! the whisperer and finally Constance’s “I... DON”T.... CARE!!!” and then the madcap escape from the island. Watching, I just couldn’t get swept away. Storywise, they tied it all up and logically it made sense but the emotional culmination just wasn’t there. It was over and done too quick. It fell flat. I didn’t feel the struggle, the suspense. And then they gave us a fabricated Mr B and Curtain conversation that didn’t really help anything. And then the falling action had some nice moments but as I mentioned, the things with constance and sticky kind of made it feel less relieving, joyful, and sweet. I know a snowball fight is elaborate to set and film but I would have loved to see it.

Final thoughts I can’t help but love the kids. I’ll say it again, I sure liked this casting. And for all the changes they had to make, the original central plot was there, and most of the characters were recognizable even with all the alterations. So I did have problems with some of that underlying integrity, as well as the overall tone and execution, but I also laughed at the little funny things, jammed to the title theme, and was excited to see this, my favorite book in the world, get more recognition. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to adapt a work of prose into an audiovisual medium, and considering how outlandish the book sometimes got, they gave it their best shot. I didn’t love it but I can recognize the accomplishment. In terms of faithful and well-made adaptations, on a scale of Percy Jackson to Harry Potter, I’d give The Mysterious Benedict Society a 6.5/10.

[nobodysdaydreams]

A New TMBS Theory for Thinkers, Writers, and Whoever: A few things occurred to me about the changes made in the Disney+ series involving Curtain’s background, the addition of Dr. Garrison’s character, Milligan being a chemist, and SQ’s bio dad. 1. I don’t remember what Curtain’s doctorate is, but Garrison is an Engineer, Milligan is a Chemist, and SQ’s bio dad was a neuroscientist, which means they all have doctorates, and based on their apparent ages likely would have attended grad school around the same time.

2. Curtain being personally close enough with his scientists to adopt their kid or have forced-friendship private dinners with them (even in a manipulative way) is new for the show. I don’t remember him ever doing this in the books, and even in the show the only adult he does things like that with is Garrison. He forces Garrison into a one-sided friendship, shuts down her concerns and ideas, but still calls her friend, has dinner with her, and offers to “share the stage with her (proportionally)”

3. Dr. Garrison strangely seems to have or at least had some level of concern for people. She scolds Curtain for interrupting a memory sweeping debriefing because it’s “not safe for the patient” (obviously Curtain belittles and shuts her down, but she’s the only one we see try to influence Curtain’s decisions). She also mentions that the tech they are using could really help people if put to the right use, only for Curtain to cut her off and insist “it is helping”. She does give him her blueprints at the end, but it’s still a bit unclear what her morals are and what she wants. She apparently struggled with alcohol at some point (refuses to drink the champagne and says she’s however many years sober) and probably had mental health issues. This could be entirely due to having to work with Curtain, or it could be due to yet to be revealed incidents.

4. It’s implied that the Whisper has the potential to do good things too, and it’s unlikely Milligan and SQ’s dad would be willingly and knowingly involved in evil.

So, is it possible that at one point Curtain, Milligan, SQ’s bio dad, and Garrison were like… friends who started the whisper as a good thing? Or a way to help people? And then somewhere along the way Curtain reverted back into control freak mode or something tragic happened (maybe connected to the death of SQ’s bio dad) that ruined things? And now Garrison is the only one Curtain has left which explains the familiarity yet awkwardness in their “friendship” and how Garrison is the only one who ever tries to stand up to/question Curtain even a little? Because right now that seems to make sense, and if it is true I need to see flashbacks of them as grad students, because I want to see Milligan and Curtain on the rowing team together and I wanna know what happened to Kate’s mom and SQ’s parents, and whoever was in the blurry photo of young curtain and his pals that Rhonda and #2 found at the library because who knows? Maybe some of Reynie, Sticky, and Constance’s parents were part of this and got brain swept too when Curtain decided to go off on a power trip. SQ’s bio dad’s death could not be the immediate catalyst for this event, since all the other kids were born after SQ was at least 3-4 years old. But we know that Milligan’s brain sweeping and separation from Kate also happened a significant time after SQ’s birth, so it’s possible another event occurred later. EDIT: I mention this in a reblog but if this theory is true then it makes Curtain’s cruelty towards Milligan in their ep. 8 confrontation make so much sense because not only did Milligan, his former friend, betray him when he discovered the truth, but he allied himself with Nicholas, his brother, his ultimate betrayer and ooo, that had to hurt.

And if you’re still here after that rant and somehow want more, there’s also the possibility that Dr. Garrison actually already caught Kate twice and let her go on purpose. The first time is when Kate and Constance sneak in and drop a button on the floor. Garrison walks Curtain away from them. The second is when Kate sneaks in on the bottom of a cart and Garrison walks in after Kate touches the ground, looks down, and immediately tells the other scientist to leave. Obviously this could just be a “oooo… building suspense, Kate almost got caught” thing. But if Milligan worked with Dr. Garrison, she would know who Kate is and might not be too eager to brain sweep her.

@mvshortcut Thanks for telling me how to tag. @acollectionofcuriousreblogs here is the season 2 writing theory you asked for