When it comes to entertainment, I tend to gravitate toward fluffy, fun television shows. Even if I go with an action title, it has to at least have a happy ending be satisfying. Life itself can be so overwhelming that I prefer series of a lighter fare to relax and unwind. That’s why Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix wasn’t on my “must watch” list at first. With a darker, cynical tone, the series (either book form or visual media) didn’t originally appeal to me. But, out of curiosity, Munchkin and I decided to check it out.
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events Netflix Review
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is a new Netflix original series that debuted last month (January 2017). The first season consists of eight 90-minute episodes and covers events from the first four novels in the book series. Several famous actors are featured including Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket, and Joan Cusack as Justice Strauss. Additional guest stars appear in later episodes. I won’t tell you who so you have to watch to find out yourself. 🙂
Based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) and starring Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events recounts the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. The siblings must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling his many devious plans and disguises, in order to discover clues to their parents’ mysterious death.
Despite comedic and silly moments, the story is an ongoing tale of tragedy and misfortune. Even when things seem to go a bit better for the three innocent Baudelaire children, any glimmers of hope are ultimately dashed. Still, we couldn’t bring ourselves to “look away” as the theme song and the narrator often suggests. There were many times in which Munchkin and I turned to each other with looks of confusion, despair, delight, or even hair-raising disgust. Yet, we continued to watch and would immediately start the next episode. It was so strange but we liked it! Oh, and the baby is adorable!
For Families — Unfortunate But Enjoyable
If you know what you’re in for, this could be an enjoyable series for the whole family. Parents should realize that, true to the original plot, people do die and the plot is one “unfortunate event” after another. Still, the series never takes itself too seriously and many moments are softened at just the right moment. As a slightly odd way to pass the time, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix is worth a try. It’s a great introduction to a classic series with a unique but appealing charm.
I received a year subscription of Netflix and a device to stream the content as part of the Netflix Stream Team. All opinions are my own.
