A Series of Unfortunate Events
Image Credit: Netflix
Emily Parker,
14th Oct 2017
Tags:
Life
Review
Adventure
Drama
Family
It was a great day when Netflix got hold of the rights to 'Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events'.
If you watched the film, which was released in 2004, then make sure you watch this, as it is much better produced, directed and acted. The storyline is closer to the original book too, bringing it to life in a whole new way.
The disastrous, weird and wonderful world of the Baudelaire children awaits you.
The disastrous, weird and wonderful world of the Baudelaire children awaits you.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny, (played by Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes and Presley Smith), tragically lose their parents in a fire, meaning the newly orphaned children are left with a large fortune and nowhere to live. The less than sympathetic Mr. Poe, the family's banker, is charged with finding their closest relative to become their guardian. The children arrive on the door of Count Olaf, who is only interested in getting his hands on their fortune. He is shown to be an evil character as his dangerous schemes and plots unfold. It is quite rightly described as a series of unfortunate events, for the poor Baudelaire siblings. Along the way you meet crazy Aunt Josephine, reptile loving Montgomery Montgomery (otherwise known as Uncle Monty), and naive Justice Strauss. The question is, will the Baudelaire’s get a happy ending?
The script is clever, witty and weirdly enticing.
The script is clever, witty and weirdly enticing and I was thrilled to learn that Daniel Handler, (otherwise known by his pseudonym Lemony Snicket), assisted in writing the series. This is perhaps the reason why the script so closely follows the original book.
The three actors who play the children have been chosen perfectly. They show their intelligent characters and emotionally you feel their despair and pain over the abandonment they have suffered, and the circumstances they find themselves in.
Neil Patrick Harris, (who has previously been in 'The Smurfs' and 'How I Met Your Mother'), is remarkable in the role of Count Olaf, and outshines Jim Carrey, who plays the role in the film version. He is everything you’d hope for in someone playing such a vile character, and he does so with a lot of drama and versatility, as he swings his way through various facades. I recommend paying close attention to the opening song and sequence, which is different for each episode, but all sung by Neil.
The location, costumes and effects feel true to the original book.
The location, costumes and effects feel true to the original book as the world of Snicket is brought to life. Count Olaf’s house is suitable dingy, dirty and gothic in appearance. Neil Patrick Harris’ eyebrow game is on serious form. The cosmetics team must have had fun transforming him into his kooky character.
A welcome addition to the series is Lemony Snicket himself, played by Patrick Warburton, who takes on the role of narrator throughout. I wasn’t expecting to see Lemony Snicket when I sat down to watch it, but it helps to hold the story together.
I wouldn’t advise binge watching this series, as there’s a lot of similarity in theme through each episode and it does become predictable. You’ll enjoy it more if you watch one a night.
To date, this is probably one of my favourite Netflix Originals.
To date, this is probably one of my favourite Netflix Originals, and I eagerly await Series 2, which will be launching on Netflix on March 30th 2018.
