WARNING: There may be spoilers ahead.
A Series of Unfortunate Events was my favorite book series as a child. I remember flying through the first twelve books and impatiently waiting for the library to get the thirteenth one, which my favorite librarian let me check out first despite there being a wait list because she knew how much I loved the books. As an adult, I got the privilege of sharing my love of the series by reading it to my little sister. While I enjoyed the film adaptation, it certainly didn't give the series it's just do, so when I heard Netflix was adapting the series I was thrilled. Netflix had never let me down before, and it hasn't let me down yet.
As soon as my family learned the release date, which was so appropriately set for Friday the 13th, we knew we were going to have to binge watch the whole thing in one go. So that's what we did, from 12 in the afternoon to roughly 9:30 that night, we watched what is now my favorite show of all time.
I had minor doubts about some of the cast when they first announced it, but all doubts were dispelled within the first ten minutes of the first episode. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better cast, the main characters especially. Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf is the stuff of my childhood nightmares, which is to say he's the perfect Count Olaf. Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket, who in the books is one of my favorite characters, his narration of the woeful tale of the Baudelaire orphans is one of the best parts of the books and one of the best parts of the show, too.
Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes blew me away with their portrayal of Violet and Klaus, totally capturing their respective characters (Klaus' sass is my favorite thing), and if I didn't know any better I would think the two were actually brother and sister, their chemistry was so spot on.
Sunny was a definite scene stealer, there wasn't an episode that went by where at least one member of my family didn't go 'AWWWW' because Sunny did or said something adorable to even sarcastic as she tends to be even smarter than the adults most of the time. Honestly, there wasn't a single member of the cast that I would have replaced or I think could have done better. Bravo everyone!
The added mystery was surprisingly a plus for me, and I am usually so picky about changing things when it comes to book adaptations, but this plot didn't change the story but added to it which I really liked. Since Lemony, I mean Daniel Handler had a hand in it, I'm hoping hat he'll answer some questions he left us after book thirteen.
The set design and scenery in this show are just to die for, (you could even say this show is a Visually Fantastic Display of atmosphere) the costumes are amazing, the score is great. I'm particularly fond of the theme song sung by none other than Count Olaf, thought don't heed his warning of 'Look away,' everyone should watch this show. I promise it will 'wreck your evening, your whole life and your day' in the best way possible.
I am so glad that season two has already been confirmed because I'm having withdrawals already.
Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events was an accurate, miserable, darkly funny, sometimes hopeful but mostly woeful adaptation and I loved every second of it. I can't wait until next season!
The world is quiet here.
