Netflix's "A Series of Unfortunate Events" is Charming and Delightful

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)

Like many other people in their twenties I spent my adolescence eagerly devouring the books within the grim and gothic Series of Unfortunate Events, I was among the first to watch the Jim Carrey adaptation of the film, and naturally I binge watched the entire Netflix series in one sitting. Regardless of the interpretation, I adore the aesthetic, dark humor, and grim yet educational dialogue which shows children that it's alright to be a little eccentric and asks them to embrace their strangeness without shame because its what makes them unique individuals. One could even say that in a strange way it's almost a John Waters and Tim Burton collaboration for children, which makes for media that is absolutely delightful whether it takes the form of a book series, a film, or a Netflix adaptation.

The Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events is perhaps even more true to the dark nature of the series than the previous film had been, due in part to the performance from Neil Patrick Harris who instead opts to portray the heinous Count Olaf as a villain through and through rather than giving him odd instances of almost seeming likable. Admittedly, I am rather attached to the performances of Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep and it took time getting used to seeing these characters portrayed by different actors, but this is something which I should be held accountable for and not anything that can be blamed on the 2004 film. The child actors are surprisingly decent, and this is coming from a film goer who falls into the habit of loathing child actors the moment they're on screen because I find myself waiting for them to deliver a line in a strange way that will make me wince. Instead, they were likable, and given few instances where they are expected to cry or be overly angsty despite the subject matter of the Netflix series.

A Series of Unfortunate Events, like the book series it's based on, focuses on the struggle of three young orphans who lost their parents in a terrible fire and find themselves sent from home to home as the evil Count Olaf stalks them down in hopes of obtaining their fortune. Despite its subject matter, the Netflix series manages to avoid falling into being too dark for children, and it takes the darkest instances of the books and manages to twist it into something which is creepy but lighthearted enough so that younger viewers will not be horrible distraught. Much like the books it seems to have a strong grasp of what children are capable of handling, and it doesn't try to push that boundary, but instead cautiously toes the line while teaching them wit and introducing them to a cast of bizarre and colorful characters who are rarely seen in media aimed at children.

Whether you are familiar with the original book series or not is irrelevant, because A Series of Unfortunate Events isn't going to leave spaces where it expects fans of the book series to fill in the blanks, instead it's open to viewers from all walks of life and of all ages. Surprisingly enough, this series is equally enjoyable for adults as it is for younger viewers, and it's absolutely fantastic. If you have access to Netflix I highly suggest that you seek it out and watch it so that you can see an example of wonderful family entertainment that isn't afraid of being bizarre and creepy.