The Mysterious Benedict Society Review: Big Day Today (Season 1 Episode 8)

The best thing a TV show can do for us is give us a small dose of the unexpected. Thankfully, that is how The Mysterious Benedict Society Season 1 Episode 8, “Big Day Today,” decides to end this exciting first season. 

While it has been obvious since the beginning that these kids were going to win against Dr. Curtain, the how hasn’t been exactly clear. Honestly, that move works well for the flow of the show overall. It allows us to watch without knowing what to expect at every turn.

Knowing the big idea is better than all the intricate details going into the big day is what makes it that much more exciting and enjoyable. It’s just unfortunate that there wasn’t much of a showdown. 

Everything ended with more of a whisper than a bang, but it does a great job of setting the show up for another season. With Dr. Curtain escaping, The Mysterious Benedict Society also finishes out the season continuing to follow the source material very closely — considering there are 3 more adventures in the series. 

While I hoped that we would see S.Q. continue to stand up to his father, I am glad we got to see him at all. He isn’t supposed to have more of a role based on the books, but still, if the show is going to deviate in any way, I think S.Q. could’ve been a fun one to explore that with. 

However, the big shocker comes in two parts but happens during the final moments of The Emergency takedown. The first part is with how the kids manage to take down The Whisperer and Dr. Curtain.

This whole time Constance Contraire has lived up to her name, she has been nothing more than a contrarian. Fortunately, the last few episodes have really allowed her to show her stuff as a member of the team. 

“Big Day Today” is the climax of her ability to grow and be important to the overall story. Surprising everyone, the explanation for her hearing the voices ends up with her being a psychic. 

Not only that, her very contrarian way of doing things is the true way to take down The Whisperer once and for all. It’s a very rewarding end to a machine that seemed unbeatable. 

In line with that is the very dramatic reveal that Milligan is Kate’s long-lost father. I have been pondering his identity all season long, questioning whether or not he is to be trusted, and even I didn’t see this one coming. 

(Well, that’s not entirely true considering I read the books.)

However, going off the clues of the show exclusively, there is no way of knowing who Milligan is until the moment his identity is revealed. Not only that, it is revealed in the sweetest of ways. He is helping Kate escape and he lets slip the nickname that only her father would know. 

If you didn’t get all mushy inside at that and their subsequent reunion at the end, then you have no heart. Kate came into this mission a brave young girl, but this final episode really ups the ante on just how strong and brave she can be. 

Kate learns what it truly means to be part of a team. She allows others to help her accomplish things that she can’t do on her own — that is a strength she’s always been lacking.

Ultimately, everyone gets their happy ending, which is a bit cheesy if you think about it, but it’s what they all deserve. These children have risked it all to save the world and that is worth a cliché ending. 

What did you think of this episode of The Mysterious Benedict Society? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Mysterious Benedict Society is now streaming all episodes on Disney+.

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