Daniel “Lemony Snicket” Handler’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” book series took children by storm from 1999 until 2006. The series combined macabre and gruesome storytelling with a tongue in cheek wit that made it palatable for young boys and girls.
After a 2004 adaptation failed to take off at the box office, Netflix hit reset with the latest eight episode take on the tale of the Baudelaire orphans that manages to capture everything that made the books great while throwing in some new, exciting elements.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, played by Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes and Presley Smith enjoy an overcast day at Briny Beach, when their family banker Mr. Poe, played by K. Todd Freeman, arrives to inform them that their parents perished in a fire that destroyed their family home.
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Poe sends the orphans to live with their distant relative, Count Olaf, played by Neil Patrick Harris, a villainous actor plotting to kill the kids so he can claim their vast fortune.
As the Baudelaires attempt to outsmart Olaf’s schemes, they uncover a conspiracy involving a mysterious organization that their parents may have belonged to.
With all but three episodes written by Handler himself, this series nails the vibe of the books.
The grim, yet playful tone of Snicket, who narrates the action of the series, is on full blast. Even the theme song tells viewers that, “You shouldn’t wreck your evening, your home life or your day. Every single episode is nothing but dismay.”
If viewers have read all 13 books, the Netflix adaption promises maximum impact and a bit of nostalgia. There are several jabs and jokes at the overlaying mystery of the series, as well as hints of future episodes, much like the hidden clue of the final illustration of every book.
The series injects new subplots that expand upon the ideas and plotlines of the books, including the characters played by Will Arnett and Cobie Smulders, whose presence adds a great deal to the show’s narrative.
The series strikes a balance between darkness and comedy. Harris’ Count Olaf is a prime example, as he delivers a great deal of the show’s comedy, yet still manages to be a threat to the children. Patrick Warburton as Snicket, the mysterious narrator grimly resigned to telling this tale, also provides some laughs as he offers insightful, yet occasionally alarming, commentary on the events of the show.
“A Series of Unfortunate Events” is a fortunate success. The tone, the mystery and the atmosphere all blend together into a well-executed series that delivers for fans and newcomers alike.
Bradley Burgess can be reached at [email protected]