what have i been up to!

the soul of knives out stories

i’ve been thinking about this but i finally got to putting my feelings into words because of a simple thing: annoyance and frustration. i came across a tik tok that said something along the lines of ‘there’s not enough benoit blanc in my benoit blanc movie’. which like, fine. i guess. i think you all got spoiled with the amount of benoit blanc in glass onion if i’m being honest.

however. biiiig however. i don’t think these rian johnson films are really ‘benoit blanc movies’. i guess in my head i sometimes refer to them as ‘the benoit blanc movies’ because their unifying factor is the titular detective, but officially every film that has come after knives out has been labeled ‘a knives out mystery’ in the subtitle.

yes, benoit blanc is the link between these movies, but i think it’s quite ridiculous to call benoit blanc our main character in these films. it’s very clear to me that the star of each story is marta cabrera, helen brand, and jud duplenticy respectively.

therefore, i was thinking about benoit blanc’s role in these stories the other day. rian johnson has gone on the record to state that his inspiration with the knives out mysteries derives from mystery classics like the works of agatha christie. this becomes clear with the sort of role that blanc has being reminiscent to that of hercule poirot where the recurring detective character exists as a gateway into all of these standalone mysteries.

the thing is, in true arie fashion, i wasn’t thinking about that. walk with me.

benoit blanc is a hercule poirot, for sure. but benoit blanc is also…a sonic?

i was thinking about one of my favorite video essays (because i rewatched it recently with my roommate) being ‘the soul of sonic stories’ by @ALtheBoi on youtube.

the video essay’s thesis is that a truthful sonic story isn’t about the blue hedgehog himself, but about the people he inspires as the embodiment of hope and willpower. (as ALthBoi explains, that’s why every movie and TV show and comic that’s focused around a sonic character development arc are all still good, but they never really carries the same energy as the “classics”) he is described by ALtheBoi as something akin to a fairy, a leading force.

sonic 06 is not about mephilles, it’s not about time travel. it’s not about the world ending. it’s about elise learning to let go, about not being a slave to her responsibilities as a princess and to be free. that freedom, that’s sonic. he’s the personification of the story’s theme, as he often is.

benoit blanc never goes through any crazy character development throughout the course of these movies. sure, give him his road of damascus moment, but what’s important is the constant of blanc’s personality and his ability to remain steadfast in his beliefs. that’s because these stories aren’t about blanc just as a sonic game isn’t about sonic.

sonic the hedgehog (2006) is about elise. sonic unleashed is about chip. and these are made possible through the relationship that sonic has with these deuteragonists.

however, for both benoit blanc and sonic the hedgehog, it’s their existence in these stories -- the relationship they have with the main character -- that strengthens them. i think that blanc’s role in the story goes further than just being the charming detective. he enhances the individual theme of each story. i think so deeply about the line in the video where ALtheBoi says, “the plot doesn’t happen to sonic. he happens to it.” that’s benoit blanc.

blanc is the force that affirms that marta is a good nurse, helen is a good sister, jud is a good priest. he finds these beaten people and he gives them a chance to do what they do best -- where marta can save fran, helen can express her love for her sister (through rage induced destruction), jud can nourish the souls of the faithful. benoit blanc is the bridge to these stories not in the way he is meant to shine as the leading man or in the way where he is an insert for the viewer to slot themselves into, but as a conduit for the main characters and their themes.

he solves the mystery at the end of the day, but the knives out series, to me, ultimately isn’t about the actual mystery itself. it’s about the heart of the story and while the heart of the story are your martas, your helens, and your juds, it is only with the strength of blanc’s sheer existence in these stories, that they are able to beat strongly. blanc is a treat to have on screen, but don’t get so lost in daniel craig’s southern accent that you forget that blanc’s strongest point as a character is how he assists others.

WATCH: