The Institute: Mary-Louise Parker breaks down Sigsby’s ruthless drive

The Institute has become one of MGM+’s biggest hits this year. And we all know why. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, the series recently got renewed for its second season and fans can't wait to see what happens next. The show has horror, thriller, and sci-fi elements that make for an exciting watch. The first season kept fans hooked with its eight episodes all packed with tension and drama.

The story is about these gifted kids like Luke Ellis, Kalisha, Nicky, and George, whose supernatural abilities are exploited by a shady facility. They are captured and trapped inside the Institute, where their powers are manipulated and tested in ways that blur the line between science and cruelty. Leading this experiment is the cold and mean Ms. Sigsby, played by Mary-Louise Parker.

The show is about this battle of control and resistance. Luke and his friends are desperate to hold on to hope and freedom, and Ms. Sigsby remains ruthless in her mission to keep the Institute running. Her choices raise important questions about morality, power, and survival.

The Institute: Ms. Sigsby’s ruthless drive

Ms. Sigsby operates with authority, control, and precision. It is almost as if she believes she is the hero of her own story. That’s what makes her such a great antagonist. She believes in the purpose of the Institute. No matter the cost to the children under her care.

In a recent interview with Collider, Parker herself opened up about what makes her character so complex. She shared:

"She’s fairly guileless. She's clearly a fractured person and her morality is really skewed. But I think to her, she really is acting in the best interests of the world. Maybe when she started, she saw things a little bit differently. And maybe now, she’s at the point where she can’t afford not to believe. She can’t afford not to overcommit to this quest to save the world, by way of torturing kids. They’re teenagers, after all. It’s not like they’re in grade school."

She also shared:

"I think she’ll just go to any lengths. She’ll put on the party hat because she will go to any lengths for the job. Where she fails is that she makes the mistake of trusting people, and it’s just not a world where you should ever trust anyone."

When asked if there's anything Parker would like the character to do in Season 2, the actress replied:

"The more extreme the better. There’s really almost nothing she wouldn’t do, which makes her dramatically great."

Sigsby is willing to sacrifice anything or anyone to keep the Institute’s secrets safe and achieve the mission.There is conviction and cruelty that makes her so hard to watch yet impossible to take our eyes off her.

Parker was asked in the interview if Sigsby just found herself doing what she's doing in the show. The actress responded by saying,

"I think someone probably saw that she had the right qualities for it. She has a myopic single-mindedness and she’s a good fighter. She will fight until the death. She’ll die on any hill. Someone probably saw the right qualities in her. Also, there is a side of her that’s a bit gullible. There’s a chip missing. She’s one of those people you know that can project onto because there’s something in them that is not completely there. There’s that quality to her as well."

Sigsby's control comes from her ability to stay composed even when she is doing the most ruthless thing. This makes her a unique character in the Stephen King universe. It's hard to put her in the typical villain category because of how she believes she's doing the right thing for a good cause. However, that doesn't take away the fact that she is, in fact, an antagonist, a strong one at that.

So, she definitely has earned herself a place alongside some of King's most iconic villains. She is not supernatural but she might be scarier because she does the cruelest things in her capacity as a human. The Institute gives her the perfect stage to show how power, when unchecked, can turn into something monstrous.

Trending

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more updates and detailed coverage.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback