On Friday the 13th of January, Netflix released a new original show, which, as usual, was quite well-envisioned and executed. It is based off A Series of Unfortunate Events, a set of books written by Dan Handler, more commonly known by his pen name Lemony Snicket. Most Netflix-produced shows seem to have been over-publicized and hyped to the point of over-revelation and even misinformation, and those based on literary works or true stories have been known to stray from actual events to an uncomfortable extent. However, A Series of Unfortunate Events follows the exact plot of the original books and stays true to the author’s intentions. The show is well-written, the visuals are evocative, and the exertion of the dark humor applied perfectly. It is a must-see.
Starring Neil Patrick Harris (known for his role as Barney in How I Met Your Mother), the show follows the life of the three Baudelaire children, tragically orphaned when their parents died in a fire. Their life falls apart quickly after as chaos ensues in finding a suitable caregiver. The children go from one guardian to the next, each one being killed off by their murderous and greedy uncle Count Olaf, the relative who controls the Baudelaire family inheritance if the children and their guardian die. Perhaps Netflix’s best choice was the sparse narration from the perspective of Lemony Snicket, voiced by the wonderful Patrick Warburton, through a nihilistic and pessimistic viewpoint he expresses to the viewer, and sometimes through somber letters to his dead love, Beatrice. The idea was also present in the book; the author intermittently warns the reader that A Series of Unfortunate Events will only bring them pain and misery. To the viewer, the omniscient third-person point of view helps to follow along the twisted and dark plot of show, and is perhaps the best-incorporated element from the novels. This show was intended to be almost identical to the original book series, which enhanced it and appealed to the younger side of myself that thoroughly enjoyed A Series of Unfortunate Events as a child.
With only eight episodes and dramatic cliffhangers, the show was made to be addicting and fast-paced. Each episode is about an hour long, but it is clear that the show was intended for binge watching like other Netflix originals such as Stranger Things and Orange is the New Black. I finished A Series of Unfortunate Events in the span of less than a week, and it was nearly impossible to finish an episode and not want to watch the next one. Each consecutive tragic event had me hooked, and I was eager to see more of the plot develop in a single sitting. The visuals, characters, and plot were perfect in making the books come to life. I commend the excellent performance by all of the actors, even Presley Smith in the role of the baby Sunny.
A Series of Unfortunate Events exceeded my expectations and was worth the watch. It mirrors the best parts of the book, especially the tone and plot, and adds in its own creative twist to enhance the cinematography of the series. The series includes all of the mystique and dry comedy of the novels in a far more refreshing and sophisticated way. As a result, it leaves nothing to be desired when compared to the books, and I’d highly recommend it to anybody who was a fan of the books as a child or who craves mystery and suspense in a TV show.