Don’t Look Away: A Series of Unfortunate Events “The Bad Beginning” Parts 1 and 2

    A Series of Unfortunate Events is the first Netflix original I ever watched, so it holds a special place in my heart. Therefore, while I may be biased in saying this, I think A Series of
Unfortunate Events is a good show for the whole family. Children will be able to appreciate the bizarre world in which the story takes place, while adults may take pleasure in some of the references made. For example, when the Baudelaire orphans eat supper with the Poe family, the brothers Edgar and Albert discuss whether a raven or crow is being served at supper (a reference to the Edgar Allen Poe poem “The Raven”) and the orphans wonder what pasta puttanesca means (it means pasta in the style of the whore). The show also references words that may be unfamiliar to younger viewers, so it becomes necessary to define, sometimes in a way which cleverly furthers the plot. In this way, younger viewers learn vocabulary words and adults get an extra chuckle at the somewhat irrelevant and humorous definitions. However, these aren’t the only the features that make A Series of Unfortunate Events an entertaining experience for all.

    Another thing that makes this show shine is the performances. The original books featured sparkling and witty dialog written by Daniel Handler. Much of this comes in the form of double entendres told by Count Olaf and misunderstood by the other adults. It seems almost impossible to most children that grown-ups could be so stupid. Count Olaf appeals to children in many ways, in particular by being extremely hammy. Few actors could carry this off with enough sincerity to not alienate the adults in the audience and continue to be a serious threat, and while the 2004 movie chose to cast Jim Carrey as Count Olaf, I believe that the series made the better choice in casting Neil Patrick Harris. Harris has experience in theater, a medium in which at least some overacting is required. The rest of the cast is exceptional in their respective roles, including Patrick Warburton in a somewhat uncharacteristic role as the grim Lemony Snicket and the newcomers Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes as the somewhat bland Violet and Claus Baudelaire. While this may seem like poor child acting, the boringness of the children contrast with the extreme wackiness of the adult and lets the audience relate with the orphans’ plight.

    A Series of Unfortunate Events is quite a charming show. The show is awash in a gothic aesthetic which helps communicate the peril of the situation. Some gothic characteristics found in the show are dilapidated buildings, melodrama and isolation for the pure-hearted heroes. In A Series of Unfortunate Events, our heroes are surrounded by inept adults who only hinder their progress, effectively rendering them alone in the world. This leads to them having to fight their way through a mountain of chores and the legal system in the first two parts. Yes, while the events ahead of you if you watch the show may be unpleasant, you just can’t look away.