With the New Year having started, Netflix continues to amaze and catch the attention of many with the many series it continues to release. For a good amount of the population, Friday the 13th meant a day of tattoos and piercings but for us book junkies and Netflix marathon enthusiasts, this Friday the 13th was the signal of a great day; the release of the Netflix adaptation of, “A Series Of Unfortunate Events,” starring Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, and Presley Smith as the Baudelaire children, the charming Joan Cusack as Justice Strauss, K. Todd Freeman as Mr. Poe, and the ever so wonderful Neil Patrick Harris as the most terrible Count Olaf.
For many, like myself, anticipation and excitement filled the release day of the series. Being a child who thoroughly enjoyed the book series and especially the movie, the series had me geeking out to the fullest extent. The show caught my attention right off the bat with the very theatrical and quirky theme song, “You Should All Just Look Away,” by Neil Patrick Harris which varies in its lyrical choice and tone of voice depending upon who Count Olaf is portraying and what madness occurs with the Baudelaire children in the episode. The opening and introduction of the series is a little different, but overall is a great combination of the books and the original movie. For those of you that have not had the opportunity to watch the show yet, go in open minded and not thinking it will be exactly like the movie. Although the look of the characters and the costuming are impeccable with their match to the description in the books and the looks in the movie, the show is much more theatrical and full of great one liners while the movie was wonderful based on the mere fact that Jim Carey brought such a “bigger than life” persona to his Count Olaf.
Seeing Neil Patrick Harris in such a different role than what most are accustomed to seeing him play creates an even stronger interest in the show. So far, the first season consists of eight episodes, each being anywhere from fifty minutes to a full hour, and then some. It is truly interesting to see my childhood and the wonderful book series brought back to life in a different manner full of laughs and nostalgia. After all, the movie is thirteen years old, don’t worry that number makes me feel old too, and the book series everything is based off was first published in 1999 and the last one was published in 2006, that makes me feel even older, yikes! Either way, being given the opportunity to embrace my childhood once again is truly fantastic and fun.
There has not yet been talk of a second season, although with the many positive results and feedback, I would say another season does look promising. With that being said, keep in mind that binge watching the show will end in unfortunate events because we will all have to wait until who knows when to see the next season. In the meantime, enjoy Neil Patrick Harris’ take on Count Olaf and his many personas and all the clever, chuckle worthy, one liners the show provides and the theatrics that go into making the show as wonderful as it is.
