Harry Situation Reviews: A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix)
Hello Prosers. I regret to inform you that this is a review about a Netflix series based on a series of popular books with the most depressing adventures of three unfortunate orphans. Depressing, a word that means very, very sad. I'd advise that you'd look away, click off now, and find a post with a much more happier tone than this.
A Series of Unfortunate Events makes its way back to live action adaptation as the newest series on Netflix. Based on the worldwide phenomenon book series by Daniel Handler (also known by his pen name Lemony Snicket), three children (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire) recently lost their parents in a freak fire and must live with their bastardly relative Count Olaf (played by Neil Patrick Harris). Patrick Warburton also stars as the fictional author himself who is investigating the dreary travels of the Baudelaire Orphans.
I absolutely love the books. I've read and own all of them. They were filled with interesting characters, intriguing mysteries, and you also got to learn some new terminology along the way. As I said before this isn't the first live action adaptation of Snicket's series as the first three were adapted into a film in 2004 with Jim Carrey starring as Count Olaf. It wasn't bad but I didn't think much of it at the time. So how does the series hold up? Let's just say that at first listening to the show's intro song I was going to really like this series.
The show seems to stick to the books pretty well (for the most part), the first four books being adapted into the first season. I'd be lying if I didn't say that there were some instances that they added or changed from the novels that irritated me a little. If you're going to tell the author's story tell it, don't take the author's story and write it off as your own! However I will also say that some of the added scenes were quite enjoyable and humorous. Humorous, a word that means causing lighthearted laughter and amusement, not to be mistaken for the arm bone that is called humerus. And yeah speaking of humor, the writers did a great job for crafting up some great dialogue. Probably one of the best jokes I've seen so far is when Olaf is talking to Uncle Monty and when asked if he liked movies Olaf replies that he prefers watching things in the comforts of his own home while smiling at the camera. I love fourth wall humor!
I only have two words to say about Neil Patrick Harris as the vile Count Olaf: perfect casting! While I like Jim Carrey even I have admit he was a terrible choice for Count Olaf. But Harry, you beautiful readers object, if you like Jim Carrey so much why would you saw that about? Because that's the point! You're not suppose to like Count Olaf, you're suppose to really, really, really dislike him. And Neil Patrick Harris nailed it! It was amusing to see him a kinda goofy and over-the-top but the real highlights were when he was portraying Olaf's more heinous bastardly side. Job well done to you, Mr. Harris!
I truly like the children portraying the Baudelaire Orphans. They seem to match up their book counterparts 100%. And let me just fanboy out for a bit when I say OMG! OMG! Sunny Baudelaire is voiced by voice actress Tara Strong! The voice of Timmy Turner of Fairly Oddparents, the voice of Harley Quinn of Batman Arkham City, and the voice of Twilight Sparkle of MLP! Oh god, I love that woman! TARA, MARRY ME PLEASE!
*Coughs* I apologize for that outburst.
Other great casting choices were Aasif Mandvi as the Baudelaire's best guardian Dr. Montgomery Montgomery (or Uncle Monty for short), Kenneth Todd Freeman as the bumbling Mr. Poe, and Joan Cusack as Judge Justice Strauss. I thought Alfre Woodard was an alright portrayal of Aunt Josephine but it's kinda hard to match up with the great Meryl Streep's performance. I like how Olaf's theater troupe has a lot more screen time and are just so hilarious in their own ways. However I think I stand by my belief, despite what others would say, that the biggest miscasting was Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket. Don't get me wrong I love the guy, but every time he's onscreen reading Lemony's words all I hear is Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove or Joe Swanson from Family Guy.
Megaprops to the set and costume designers because they've went out of their ways to make sure everything and everyone matched the books. Seriously, Google Neil Patrick Harris as Olaf right now and look how he turned out. It is marvelous!
Prosers, if you are still reading this then you know for a fact that I greatly enjoyed the first season. It is saddening to inform you that the miserable misadventures of the Baudelaire children do not end there. Two more seasons are underway so you can view more of their traumas like some kind of sociopath. But I must say if you prefer Netflix series with happy endings, this is not the show for you and must advise that you find something else on or rent Redbox or simply just go outside and enjoy some fresh air. But if you wish to truly venture into the lives of the Baudelaires and learn more of the secrets within each episode then by all means no one's stopping you.
Now for my grading scale, which is a figurative scale not a literal scale. It is a scale that I use to list out both positives and negatives that I imagine inside my head as a way to place a final grade. For example if find more positives it will result in a higher grade like receiving more correct answers on a final exam rather than receiving more incorrect answers that will result in a lower grade.
Positives: Negatives:
-Outstanding cast -Couple of miscasts
-Great humor -Some added stuff
-Costume design
-Set design
-Intriguing mystery
-All out fun
Final Grade: B+
So that's my review of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Have you binged this series yet? What are your thoughts? Did you enjoy the books too? Please be kind, leave a like and comment below, and check back again for more series of unfortunate reviews. Also coming soon is the start of my Countdown Reviews so tune in for that!
Best Quote:
Violet Baudelaire: "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious..."