Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (Part One)

The newest version of Lemony Snicket’s tales.

We all know the tales. I read them when I was little, and they scared the crap out of little me. Netflix has been advertising the series for a while, and it finally became available a couple of days ago. I have yet to watch the entire series, as I’m also in the middle of my Star Trek binge. So I’m going to break the episodes up into pairs, like the show did. Each chapter of the Baudelaire children’s lives is broken into two episodes.

First off, I love the theme song. It’s great with a hint of comedy. I also found a bit of comedy when the actors kept saying the definitions of words. I read the books when I was a kid, so I don’t really recall if the original books did that.

I’m confused about one thing... Or actually a few things. Why was Mr. Poe introduced to the audience coughing? And the trolley doesn’t make sense either... I guess that’s part of the comic relief. Or why in the second episode, Mr. Poe kept saying the same thing several times. Also, as well as the original movie adaptation, what is the time period in which this story is set? The cars, the intercoms, and the phones/walkie talkies for instance are from different eras. Not to mention that the fashion is different per person. There was a scene where the background characters wore 50s fashion, but the Baudelaires wore 40s fashion... There’s 1800s fashion in it, but also modern day fashion. Also, where is it set? Yes, I know, a large crowded dirty city.... But a city where? The United States? Germany? France? Canada? See, Strauss is a German name, but Baudelaire is French, Snicket is also German...Olaf is Norse, and Montgomery is British.

And speaking of Mr. Poe, his children had funny fates. As Lemony Snicket said, “One followed his father in banking and the other living in a cave and talks to sheep. Each one thinks the other has it better.”

In part two, I found it funny how they spent a while explaining the difference between literally and figuratively. This is something that people today need help with.

Now, for my favorite part; Here are some of my favorite quotes from the first two episodes.

“I’m married to the Law, and well, I can’t very much have book babies.” - Justice Strauss

“Two breads in the middle of a sandwich.” -Count Olaf

“Seven. Seven. Seven. Seven. Anything but Seven.” -Mr. Poe

“Here comes Count Olaf, a bit of a show off.” -One of the Count’s troupe

“Your sister is like a stick behind a stubborn mule.” - Count Olaf