2 minutes in and I’m already in love with #ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents every show should have a Lemony Snicket narrating
— Emily Leyland (@emilyleyl) January 14, 2017
I stand by this sentiment.
The second season snuck up on me! Usually, I’m counting down the days until my favorite shows come back, but in this case, I got an email from Netflix (because they know me there) and I was so pleasantly surprised! My weekend plans were set.
And the second season delivered. Let’s talk about the best parts.
The Nonsense
A Series of Unfortunate Events was a big part of my childhood. It was one of my favorite book series because it was so different from anything else I was reading. Watching the show, I’m realizing that I probably didn’t understand a lot of the jokes in the books, but the show is a great format for all the nonsense that happens in this story. It actually enhances it. Neil Patrick Harris is the perfect Count Olaf because he amplifies the character’s weirdness and ridiculousness. It’s so fun to watch.
There are puns galore. It’s over the top, but juxtaposed against the dreary backdrops and inherent sadness of the storyline, it works.
The Cast
Look, the movie version of this series was a huge disappointment (besides Meryl Streep, that is). While I love NPH’s version of over the top, I was not a fan of Jim Carrey’s. And it kind of ruined the experience. Whoever cast the show version is a talent. The Baudelaires are the perfect mix of earnestness and precociousness; Count Olaf and his crew are repugnant idiots, and the good guys are heroic yet just a little too slow.
A highlight of the second season is Nathan Fillion. I wasn’t a Firefly or Castle fan, but I know people go gaga over him. Now I understand why. His portrayal of Jacques Snicket is so entertaining. I would watch a show just about him. Please, Netflix, get on this.
Another highlight is Lucy Punch. You might remember her as one of the evil stepsisters in Ella Enchanted (No? Just me?). She another one of those actors who plays over the top and it works so well in this instance. As Esme, she’s evil with a side of self-absorbed. In conjunction with Count Olaf they create a strangely lovable evil duo. More importantly, her hair is fabulous. I want those finger waves.
As I said all those years ago on my famous Twitter account, Patrick Warburton shines as Lemony Snicket. Despite the fact that I hear Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove every time he speaks, he’s who I always imagined Mr. Snicket would be.
And oh wait, I almost forgot! Does the name Robbie Amell mean anything to you? It should. What’s a show without some man candy? I mean, sure, some here at That’s Normal might say he’s no Stephen (aka his cousin), but this gal wouldn’t kick him out of bed. He plays a freak at the Carnivorous Carnival which is clearly accurate…
The Mystery
The best thing about my childhood memory loss is that I remember almost nothing about these books. I should do a reread, but it’s fun living it for the first time…again. Unlike Outlander or Harry Potter, I’m not nagging about changes from the book or complaining that it’s not my Claire, I’m just enjoying the mystery of it all. I honestly couldn’t tell you if it follows the books. It seems like the characters are the same, and the plot is much better paced than the first movie adaption, but beyond that, I’m in the dark.
The story of the Baudelaire orphans is a complicated one, and the mystery of their story is what keeps the plot going. Sure, Count Olaf realistically could have just killed them at any point, but the chase is more fun. One side just keeps evading the other. And I’ll keep watching until they don’t.
