Netflix recently made my dreams come true by creating a television adaptation for "A Series Of Unfortunate Events," which was the first series I ever started. Before watching this adaptation I had high expectations; Netflix has put out a lot of amazing shows like "Orange is the New Black," "House of Cards," and "Stranger Things." However they have also created some flops like "Degrassi: Next Class" and "Fuller House," so going into it I was nervous that it may be just another flop. I also knew that I would be comparing it not only to the books, but also to the movie that was created starring Jim Carrey.
In case you haven't read these books before, here's the general plot of the series: The Baudelaire children, comprised of Violet the oldest, Klaus the middle child, and Sunny the youngest, have just become orphans after their house burnt down and their parents perished in the fire. The Baudelaire orphans are then moved around from one relative to the next while the evil Count Olaf, played by Neil Patrick Harris, follows them around, attempting to obtain the fortune that their parents left behind.
For diehard fans, it may be hard to switch your expectations as you uncover the realities of what this series is. This series is gothic, unfortunate, and even satirical at times, amidst all the misfortune that it includes. The narration by Patrick Warburton was distracting at first, but truly adds another dimension to the series. It is very unique to this series as the narrator Lemony Snicket is now visible, and not just a voice over.
While I definitely like the Netflix adaptation, it is hard to decide which adaptation has the better acting. Both Jim Carrey and Neil Patrick Harris excelled in their roles, but they both brought completely different aspects of Count Olaf out. It is impossible to pick a winner. However, the Netflix adaptation is easily the better one. The sets, costume, cinematography, tone, and everything else is perfect. Typically it is super hard for most people to enjoy a movie or television series if they read the book first, but this is simply not the case. Diehard fans won't be disappointed.
Overall, this series does not disappoint; it truly delivers a dynamic, intriguing, twisted, and disturbing story. I think it even does justice to how Lemony Snicket himself would have wanted it to be. The first season, which details the first four of thirteen books of the Baudelaire orphans, will leave you wondering what will happen next (if you have yet to read the books), and will leave you waiting for the next season to come out. While a second season has yet to be confirmed, I have a lot of hope that Netflix will finally give this series the justice that it deserves. I believe fans can look forward to finally watching the beloved 13-book series come to life on their screens. 10/10. It is also worth the 6.5 hour binge watch...assuming you disregard Lemony Snicket's warning and continual pleas to stop watching immediately.