A Series of Unfortunate Events was one of the first book series of my childhood that I really fell in love with, and stands possibly equal to Harry Potter in terms of how formative it was. What makes it works so well is the unique writing style, subtle use of humour, and lack of fear when tackling dark material (for a kids series, at least). It was also the first series I ever encountered that actively encouraged me to not read any further, which only intrigued me to the very end. The film adaptation unfortunately never lived up to expectations, so this new series had an opportunity to tackle the unique stories of the books with a lot more breathing room. I haven't revisited the books since I read them for the first time, but I'm very happy to say that this adaptation sucked me right back into that world.
The story of the Beaudelaire orphans is endlessly miserable. Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes), and Sunny (Presley Smith) lose their parents in a fire that destroys their entire home. They're sent to live with Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris), who seeks to steal the enormous fortune that their parents left behind. Although they manage to escape from him, the children move from guardian to guardian with Olaf still in pursuit. All the while, family secrets start to emerge, and the goals of a secret society start to envelop the orphans. The stories of the season were instantly recognizable, splitting up the plots of each book into two episodes, while also bringing in some sub-plots from later in the books, as well as original material, to create something that feels familiar but still very much stands on its own. In that regard, it's a fantastic adaptation.
The most difficult aspect of the books to execute is the distinct way that they're written, with frequent interjections from the fictional author, Lemony Snicket. Luckily, the show managed to capture the inherent ridiculousness of so much talking about how miserable everything is, and incorporates Snicket himself into the story in a very interesting way. Snicket exists as more than just voice-over, he's an active part of the story being told, and his perspective never feels unnecessary. Despite the fact that the cardinal rule of never showing his face is broken, Patrick Warburton's voice is a great fit for Snicket. Since Snicket's voice - the author's, not the character's - is the one that tells the story, getting it right was essential, and the show actually managed to such a strange storytelling element. In some ways, seeing how Snicket factored into everything was the most interesting part.
While the misery and woe of the Beaudelaires' story is constantly reinforced, the series also recognizes the inherent silliness and humour that exists at the core of the series. The show could be easily classified as a comedy, because the ridiculousness of the world and characters are taken full advantage of. Leading the charge of over-the-top acting is Neil Patrick Harris, who perfectly encompasses Count Olaf's endless ambition and obsession with the children's fortune. Harris is clearly having the time of his life every second he's on-screen, acting through his ridiculous wig and prosthetics about as naturally as could be expected from anyone. He absolutely steals the show, as Olaf himself and in the many disguises and false identities that he assumes while following the orphans.
How the show looks and feels, through the production design and dialogue, is very stylistically specific. There are plenty of visual effects, and none of them are really convincing, but that's kind of the point. It replicates the look of a storybook really well, and is so quirky that I expected Wes Anderson to be the showrunner. The language of the books was also perfectly portrayed, with the characters having to say a variety of complicated phrases, but none of them ever felt disingenuous to the world that the show created. The actors portraying the orphans aren't very good, but surprised me by having fairly good comedic timing, even among miserable scenario after miserable scenario. Still, because everyone was acting on such a heightened, comedic level, the real misery of those scenarios isn't that apparent.
As a fan of the books, it's very satisfying to finally have an adaptation that understands the stories of the books and is able to tell them in the correct way. At the same time, the show transforms the stories into something different, which works very well for the TV format. The inclusion of the secret society, which is woven into the overall narrative of the season, fit very well into the story being told, although its inclusion meant that some details from the book had to be changed. But that's to be expected of any adaptation. The only addition to the story that was a bit irritating was a sub-plot involving Will Arnett and Cobie Smulders, and while it came to a resolution that was a good joke, the show played a pretty big trick on the audience. It annoyed me a bit, but it also felt right at home in the tone of the story.
A very surprising aspect of the show was the supporting cast. Like I previously mentioned, Cobie Smulders and Will Arnett were a nice surprise, but actors like Alfre Woodard, Aasif Mandvi, and Rhys Darby appearing made their dynamic characters all the more enjoyable. Everyone is clearly having a fantastic time with the material, and that lightness and fun transfers very easily onto the audience. A Series of Unfortunate Events is probably the most watchable TV series of the year, and while being a fan of the books will certainly enhance the experience, it also stands alone fairly well. I do strongly recommend the books, and this show has actually prompted me to revisit them. The show was a big burst of nostalgia, and a great reminder of why I loved the series so much in the first place.
If there's any downside to the show, it's that it sometimes leans too heavily into the comedic elements. Maybe it's just because I was a kid, but I remember the books being legitimately dark, but thankfully, the show doesn't feel like a parody. Strangely, it kind of does, but it being so silly also reflects the humour that exists at the core of the series. Maybe when I re-read the books, I'll recognize the sense of silliness more easily. It's a very difficult tone to keep consistent without just being dumb, but the show manages to be engaging throughout. If anything, the new mysteries that it crafts around the already unique stories makes the over-arching plot of the season all the more interesting. Even though I'm familiar with the entire series, it's different enough from the books that I'm interested to see how the story will unfold in the future. I'm sure that there will more changes to come, but they're all made in the spirit of the books.
In the end, A Series of Unfortunate Events is a fantastic adaptation of a fantastic book series, and few things are as satisfying for a fan to see. It brings the story to life in an entirely new way from what we've seen before, and creates a very distinct world for the characters to operate within. It's an endlessly entertaining world, whether you're binging the show or taking your time. It's a solid addition to Netflix's canon of original programming, which is proving itself to be one of the strongest producers of television out there. While the story of the Beaudelaire orphans may be filled with endless woe, the show is a delight for fans old and new. I've always felt that A Series of Unfortunate Events has been underappreciated as a series, and hopefully this show will open up the books to more appreciation.
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