Una serie de catastróficas desdichas

Just finished marathoning through all 8 episodes today, and that was super fun! Neil Patrick Harris was obviously the highlight of the show, as well as Mr Poe, the narrator, Sunny, oh hell pretty much every character here was portrayed well!

The comedy is always there, even when something more serious happens (like a character murdered or something) there is still some funny joke or line said that's always lightening up the mood. The visuals were great as well. Sure some of the effects seemed fake, but overall the scenarios and general cgi were pretty good, way better than most shows on television.

Ending of the season 1 was left kind of opened and unsolved, hope they pick it up for a season 2 otherwise it will suck.

At times the show felt a little dragged out and longer than it should have. Some episodes could have easily been 25 minutes but instead ran for 47 minutes and thus although were still funny, you can still feel like they just kept putting in filler content in order to feel longer.

This isn't a show to watch and expect intensity or heart felt drama. This is a show you watch if you like quick pun jokes and just something really fresh, as there's no real TV show like it.

9/10 if the series continues.

This show is everything the original movie should've been. The original movie is not bad, but the thing is, it doesn't have exactly the charm the books had. Reading the books after seeing the movie was like sun shining through the clouds after a while, because the writing in the books is so charming and clever and while it's all "this is a tragic tale" it's also not at all serious. The movie was like a weird shadow of that. Still great, still so very very unique, but something was definitely missing.

The cast of the movie was brilliant, but somehow this show managed to top that. While Jim Carrey was amazing as Count Olaf, Neil Patrick Harris is the real deal. He can be that typical over the top, funny villain that's typical for children's books and shows, but he can also be weirdly scary. Carrey didn't have that. One of my favourite members of the cast is Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket. He has this amazing voice, and his whole persona feels more Lemony Snicket than Jude Law in the movie. Everyone is so talented and so incredibly beautiful.

If there's something that makes this even greater than the cast and the writing, it's the cinematography and the music. Visually this show is astonishing, it's dark like it's supposed to be, but it's detailed and wonderfully surreal? Not realistic? I'm not sure whats' the right word to use, but the atmosphere is like for the dark fairy tale - which is exactly what this show is. The music is enchanting, and the theme sung by Neil Patrick Harris just gets stuck in your head. And the song at the very end of the season? Hauntingly beautiful.

Only thing I can complain about is how soon the season was over, but that's not really a complaint. Shorter seasons are better. Quality over quantity, when it comes to TV shows.

Also ever since I saw the movie I've been digging the "don't watch / read this" vibe the series has going on. And in the TV show the theme song is basically "don't watch this show". But don't listen to Lemony Snicket, watch the show. It's worth it.

This show is either your cup of tea, or it is not. The expression 'your cup of tea' here has nothing to do with hot beverages, but is rather used as a metaphor. Tea comes in countless flavours, which is perfectly normal considering that there are countless types of people. And if you don't like a certain flavour, you don't like it.

Same goes for this show. If it's not your cup of tea, it's not. But if it is your cup of tea, it is a BIG one. I have not enjoyed a show this much since... ever. Let's just say it's the greatest cup of tea I've ever had.

The best mistake I've ever made is picking up the first book of A Series of Unfortunate Events three years ago and reading it. I got so into this series I read every single book in a few months, and I got so invested all I could wish for was a TV series or a movie covering every book.

When I watched the movie, I was disappointed, although I should have expected as much from a 90 minute movie containing the three first books. Especially since the rest of the books were so, so good.

And then I started to hear whispers. Rumors, even, about Netflix creating a new show called "A Series of Unfortunate Events" which would cover every book... and I was figuratively jumping for joy because I was so happy.

The first season was truly a vague, fabulous display that was, I daresay, even BETTER than the books. And the second season... Don't even get me started, for I would still be here tomorrow documenting why it was so amazing and satisfying to watch. I truly hope season three will be a blast as well.

Knowing the details of this story's end, I am not curious about the ending at all. But I am excited about what's to come, and how many more musical songs will be sang before this tragic tale comes to an end.

Do I recommend this series? That I cannot answer, for I do not know if you, dear reader, prefer black or green tea or don't drink tea at all.

This series is a masterful adaptation of a very fine display of absurdist literature. The writing was sharp and quick, and masterfully delivered by a wide cast of superb guest stars and recurring characters alike - the Baudelaires are a wonder to watch, and portray their characters perfectly. Neil Patrick Harris, in spite of my initial doubts, conveyed Olaf as a genuinely menacing failed (?) actor, mastering that grounded instability that Carrey failed to during his tenure, but also the characters Olaf finds himself portraying within the show - credit to the makeup department for making the handsome Neil Patrick Harris fit into a whole range of largely unflattering roles. Warburton as Snicket is also charming, well spoken and carries clearly a deep weight of sadness; the way he is molded into scenes and delivers the self aware warnings of horror and inconvenience feels melodramatic but works in the absurd retro-futuristic world he finds himself in.

The use of CGI is also great, as while it's hardly Hollywood level, its almost cartoon surrealism always gives you this sense you're watching a sick fairy tale, especially with the lighting. I found the set design to be absolutely marvelous, not just showing the money Netflix have thrown around, but also a great understanding of the vision of the original author - something that this newer adaptation holds over its predecessor; largely because it has the original author as part of its writing team. The show also weaves in so many plot threads from later on and references for book readers that even the greatest of fans feel they are witnessing something that incorporates all parts of the world that Handler has developed, with subtle references that can make this show a joy to dig deep into.

There are a few flaws, I shall admit. I found Sunny's actions late into episode 2 to be a little beyond my suspension of disbelief, and I felt that the prospect of escape could have been used to greater extent to lull the children into a tragic, dramatically ironic, sense of security in episode 3 (it would feel more thematically guided). The soundtrack also felt like many Hollywood soundtracks in the modern day, used for set-dressing rather than as a feature in of itself, though still adds weight to every scene.

I quite liked the opening theme song and enjoyed the quick synopses at the start of each episode which never feel as though they give too much away. I also really like the unexpected musical piece which while caught me off guard, when I finally said "Is that so?" and just went with the flow, I really appreciated the way it acted as a bookend.

I fully understand complaints about how the show may seem jarring to new viewers, especially if you don't quite understand what the source material is actually like. I can empathize with people who think the characters are ridiculous and unbelievable, that the sets seem preposterous and the dialogue frankly unrealistic. However watching it as a book reader, who understands that the books are almost a satire of themselves - a work of meta fiction that I imagine can be as divisive marmite - I found myself loving every moment of it; going all in on this world is a must if you want it to sweep you so wonderfully away.

I also found the pacing to be far better suited to the two hour long format per book. It shows a level of devotion to the source material that essentially four movies would be created for four books, and it pays off by providing ample time for characters to develop, mysteries to unfold and the adaptation to be more faithful.

All in all, for all of its flaws, Netflix's adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events is a loyal adaptation with quirks of its own, that understands its absurdity and embraces it wholeheartedly, and creates the wondrous level of genuine charm the films could never truly emulate. It's a fun, tragic, witty, self-aware, emotional, alluring and xylophone series as a standalone and I cannot recommend it enough. I hope there will be a next season (it's in the works, I'm told) and I hope it is a strong as this series was.

(P.S. I love Rhys Darby's delivery, as Charles, of the word partner)

The dreadfully entertaining story of the fate of Violet and Klaus Baudelaire after suffering the tragic loss of their parents and home to a mysterious fire. The riveting repartee (salted with subtle ironies, peppered with alliteration, and seasoned with astute observations) felicitous music score, and brilliant scenery is outdone only by the carefully crafted storytelling and performances that really cook! Patrick Warburton, as Lemony Snicket, is dolefully monotonic yet drearily expressive. Neil Patrick Harris, as Count Olaf, gives a talented portrayal of a talentless actor of dubious motivation. Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes, as Violet and Klaus, deserve honorable mention. All in all, a thoroughly well done show. However, if you are chagrined by dire circumstances, dismayed by unfair situations, or saddened by unhappy endings, perhaps you should take to heart Lemony Snicket's introductory caveat. Caveat means warning.