Spy x Family Theory: Could Donovan Desmond have mind-reading powers?

Let me start with a confession: I didn’t expect Spy x Family to become one of my all-time comfort series. The show’s premise was already fun—to watch a dedicated spy put together a family in the name of attaining world peace. It is truly entertaining. But what grabbed me was the subtlety behind the characters, especially the enigmatic figure of Donovan Desmond.

He has appeared not more than five times in the manga and yet has more mystery clinging to him than half the cast combined. Also, after the chapter where his wife consulted with Loid about the possibility of Donovan Desmond being able to read minds.

It just blew my mind, because what if Donovan Desmond isn’t just a powerful political figure hiding secrets behind his cold demeanor, and he has a similar ability like Anya?

I know this sounds like a stretched-out conspiracy theory, but after revisiting some key chapters and piecing together clues, I think the theory has more weight than most give it credit for. The first thing we know is that in the Spy x Family universe, people can have mind-reading abilities. Because Anya, our beloved peanut-loving telepath, is proof.

She gained her powers after being part of a mysterious experiment that was created to enhance children with supernatural abilities. Although there has not been a lot of information given about this project, we know that Anya escaped from some shady institution that treated her like a lab rat.

Here is where this topic gets interesting. If Project Apple created someone like Anya, it’s logical to assume others were also successful, like Donovan Desmond, a man so private and controlled that even the greatest spy in Westalis can’t get near him, who could very well be one of those people.

Let us remember the first time Loid encountered Donovan Desmond in Spy x Family. The encounter was supposed to be the biggest breakthrough in Operation Strix so far, and yet it was shrouded in tension and misdirection.

Also, just imagine if this theory is proved to be right, Operation Strix is a delicate spy mission that relies on deception, charm, and manipulation to secure world peace.

But now Loid’s biggest target can hear everything he thinks. It will be almost impossible to win against someone like that. That would completely change the stakes of the story.

How other characters respond to Donovan Desmond in Spy x Family could be a clue

Let’s talk about Anya’s instincts in Spy x Family. She may be six years old, but her fear radar is spot on. She can read minds, sure, but she also has a strong emotional response to danger. For instance, when Yor is about to pull off a job, her reactions say everything. In the brief moments when she’s even near his presence, Anya becomes nervous.

Moreover, his son Damian Desmond in Spy x Family wants his father's approval, and their interactions are marked by an unnatural mix of fear, reverence, and hesitation. Even his wife believed that he might be an alien or could read minds. While it's easy to chalk this up to political authority and his personality, the uneasy vibe that others get in his vicinity suggests something deeper.

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In conclusion, Spy x Family is a story about hidden identities. Everyone is trying to be something they’re not. Loid is a spy pretending to be a perfect father and husband. Yor is an assassin pretending to be a wife. Anya is a child pretending she is a normal child. And then there’s Donovan Desmond.

A man who says very little but possibly knows everything. The best thing is to wait and see if the author confirms this theory. Although the above proof points towards the direction of him having mind-reading abilities, and if he does, it changes the whole story.

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