A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix is – well – Unfortunate

Aiesha Solomon, Staff Writer

Are you a fan of mystery and puzzle-solving books? Do you want to be able to solve mysteries alongside an ingenious cast of characters? Well, if you said “yes” to either of these questions, then Netflix has just the show for you.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, would seem to be the perfect interest for anyone who likes puzzles and unique characters. The series actually began as a children’s book series before being adapted into a movie in 2004. Now, Netflix has taken over and turned it into a series with a completely new cast. The 2004 film saw Count Olaf played by the hilarious Jim Carrey. In the new show, Neil Patrick Harris takes over the role. The three Baudelaire children have been newly cast as well with Malina Weissman playing Violet, Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire, and Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire.

In the new show, the audience thinks right alongside this group of intelligent children who use their different skills to get away from their gold-digging, liar of distant relative, Count Olaf. The man only took an interest in them for the great fortune their parents left them after they died in an inconceivable fire. Viewers get to see the multitude of ways Count Olaf tries to get the money from the children’s trust even though it can only be accessed after the eldest child, Violet, turns 18. This will not stop him, though, as he finds different ways to get rid of them throughout every book and, now, every episode.
The set of skills for the Baudelaire children are as follows: Violet helps her 12-year-old brother Klaus and her baby sister Sunny solve problems with her inventing skills. As the eldest, she is 14 years old, she is the natural leader of the group. Klaus is the “bookworm” of the family, and his love of books often helps him save himself and his sisters because he can remember everything he reads. Last, but not least, Sunny is required on multiple occasions to use her sharp teeth to chew and bite through the many obstacles Olaf sets for the children. As the series progresses and Sunny grows out of infancy, she eventually gains an affinity for cooking that also saves the children from starvation as they run from Olaf.

Everyone knows the old adage, “the book is better than the movie” but that does not necessarily hold true for this book, as the movie — mostly due to the great cast — is at least the equal of the book. However, the same cannot be said for the Netflix version because Neil Patrick Harris cannot match up to the comedic brilliance that is Jim Carrey. From every dastardly deed or sickening death in the film, Carrey offered comic relief from the tenseness of each situation. And while Harris is great at highlighting the grand seriousness that matches with the actual Olaf from the novel, Carrey drew more attention to every scene with his character and creativity.

If you find yourself looking for a great film, 2004’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is a great way to enjoy some fun and excitement. As for the Netflix series, it is tolerable, but when you compare its actors and storylines to that of the film – or even the book – you’ll be hard-pressed not to make unfair comparisons.