Though better known for his work in the horror sphere, Stephen King has occasionally shifted his attention to other genres, including sci-fi, as evidenced bythe likes of11/22/63andUnder the Dome. However, apart from those books, the majority of King adaptations have focused on his horror history, which not only makesThe Institutea welcome change of pace for those looking to get a glimpse at the author’s range, but also an intriguing take on theX-Menformula.
Adapted from King’s 2019 novel of the same name,The Institutefocuses on Luke Ellis, a teenager with a genius-level intellect who also possesses latent telekinetic abilities. Suddenly, Luke awakens in the titular location, a facility populated by kids with similar abilities who are put through rigorous tests to heighten their powers for mysterious means. At the same time, the show follows Tim Jamieson, a former police officer hoping to enjoy a quiet new life, but who begins to realize the town may have darker ties to The Institute.
The Institute’s Plot May Be Familiar, But Is Nonetheless Engaging
A Few Solid Twists Left Me Intrigued By The Yarn It Was Spinning
The idea of kids being trapped in a location and manipulated by adults is one of the most popular in young adult fiction, be it WCKD in theMaze Runnerfranchise or the violent forces of Panem inThe Hunger Games. When it comes toThe Institute’s plot, it actually finds itself hewing closer toJosh Boone’sThe New Mutants. But unlike the infamously troubledX-Menspinoff, King and, later, developer Benjamin Cavell, find a far more engaging way to explore this concept.
For starters, the show almost immediately does away with the pretense of Mary-Louise Parker’s Ms. Sigsby and the other adults running The Institute being a benevolent bunch, as Joe Freeman’s Luke is so intelligent he sees through their charade. Similarly, Cavell and his writing team actually take the time to try and make the villains be fully-realized characters, whether it’s Sigsby’s tumultuous relationship with one of the doctors at the facility, or security chief Stackhouse having ambitions for higher power within the organization.
…The Instituteinstead directly shows us many of these threats, adding a feeling of genuine stakes to the mix.
The worldbuilding of the show offers some of its most exciting twists that help set it apart from many genre counterparts. Where other movies and shows might kill a character off-screen for the malevolent organization to keep their secrets under wraps, or allude to dark plans for the powered children at the forefront of the story,The Institutedirectly shows us many of these threats, adding genuine stakes to the mix.
The Institute Largely Stays True To The Book, Barring One Unfortunate Exception
More than just quality, King’s adaptations have had an infamous track record when it comes to how faithfully they adapt their source materials, as for everyGerald’s GameandThe Dead Zone, there’s alsoStanley Kubrick’sThe ShiningandThe Dark Tower. Thankfully,The Institutefinds Cavell and his writers room staying largely true to the book. The biggest exception is Tim’s arc, which is far more fleshed-out and involved than in King’s novel, but is one of the more mixed elements of the show.
In one sense, Tim’s trust of Luke in the book after being absent for the majority of its events could be argued as feeling rushed, and therefore the show’s exploration of him investigating the oddities of The Institute and its neighboring town gives him better precedent to believe. However, when it’s juxtaposed with us watching scenes of teenage torture and Luke and his friends plotting a way to escape, it’s hard not to feel like Tim’s arc is irrelevant in parts.
If they had split the two storylines into separate shows, Tim and Luke’s arcs would have worked without each other, as the former’s investigation of The Institute is full of intrigue and gives him the shot at emotional redemption for his past, while the latter’s is a good old-fashioned ode to teenage rebellion and agency. I was often left feeling like Tim was taking far too long to catch up to Luke and his friends' story. However, given that the magnetic Ben Barnes plays the character, it would have been a disappointment had they not used him properly.
Mary-Louise Parker Is Electric As Ms. Sigsby
In addition to Barnes, who gives us a charming grounding point for the show’s sci-fi thrills,The Instituteproves to be a very well-cast series. The two standouts for me are Joe Freeman and Mary-Louise Parker as Luke and Ms. Sigsby, respectively. Freeman nicely balances Luke’s hyper-intelligence and rebellion with a sharp sense of wit and heart for wanting to keep his friends safe. Parker is absolutely enthralling as the master manipulator villain of the series, sometimes making it hard to nail down her exact motivations in parts.
They’re not the only great performers in the cast, either, as Julian Richings is as haunting as ever as Stackhouse, while Jason Diaz is appropriately menacing as the ruthless orderly, Tony. Combined with sharp, if fairly straightforward, direction from Jack Bender and solid writing from Cavell and his team,The Instituteproves to be far more than anX-MenorStranger Thingsclone, and instead a captivating ride from start to finish.
The Institute Season 1
Cast
A kidnapped prodigy with special abilities, Luke, ends up at The Institute, while Tim, a former cop, seeks a new life in a nearby town. Their fates are inevitably linked.
