“If you are interested in stories with happy endings, then you would be better off somewhere else.” With these words begins A Series of Unfortunate Events, the newest adaptation of the bestselling book series. This time around though, the series has moved to television instead of film. Using a stellar script, amazing cast, and good visuals, A Series of Unfortunate Events is a great adaptation that can be loved by fans of the series and non-series fans alike.
The story follows the journey of the Baudelaire children going from caretaker to caretaker after their parents died in a fire and left behind an enormous fortune. They begin in the care of Count Olaf, a wicked man after their fortune, but end up going from one person to another, trying to get away from Count Olaf. Throughout their journey, they start to learn more about the secrets their parents had and a secret organization in which they were members. The series is able to expertly capture the feeling of the first four books, often times bringing in exact lines from the books. Throughout the story, Lemony Snicket will appear to provide a transition, an aside, or a dictionary definition. These sections are often highlights of episodes, whether he is talking about fear, optimists, or warning the viewer not to continue watching. The story is elevated by the script, expertly blending the darkness and humor of the series, while also keeping it accessible for people who have never read the series.
The story is also enhanced by the characters. Violet and Klaus are smart characters who use their wits to get out of trouble, along with Sunny who often provides her sharp teeth and humorous comments. One of the best characters has to be the villain, Count Olaf. He is ruthless, cunning and is not afraid to kidnap, steal, and murder to get his way. Many of the adults are often clueless to the plight of the Baudelaire’s, and although they often don't believe them, there is genuine concern for their well-being.
The characters are enhanced by their actors. Neil Patrick Harris shines as Count Olaf. He expertly shows the cruelty and hate of the man and although it was strange to see him at first, since he is a recognizable actor, he quickly is able to become the character. Patrick Warburton is great as Lemony Snicket, bringing a great presence and the dry wit needed. Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes each greatly play Violet and Klaus respectively, creating instant presences on the screen. K. Todd Freeman, is also good as the coughing Mr. Poe, showing his general cluelessness and care.
The visuals are pretty great. The set design works well for all the locations, such as the different houses their guardians live. The costume design is able to keep the ambiguous time period intact. The CGI, computer generated image, is mainly where the series stumbles. Many of the times when CGI is used, especially on Sunny, it is easy to tell it is fake, mainly due to how rubbery it looks. Although this is understandable on a TV budget, it still temporarily takes the viewer out of the series.
The series’ soundtrack is very well done. It uses melodies well fit and enhances what is seen on screen. One of the best surprises is the songs that are sung throughout it. Don't worry though, it is not a musical, but there are two songs sung ( not including the theme). These songs are the highlight of their respective episodes, the first and last episode and don't feel out of pace in the series.
A Series of Unfortunate Events is an awesome series. It is able to accurately tell the story of the books while also expanding. The actors and actresses play their roles very well. Even though the CGI is a bit shaky, A Series of Unfortunate Events is able to rise above many others and be a great book adaptation and a great series.
