A Series of Unfortunate Events recently arrived on Netflix, bringing with it a spike of interest in the book series written by Daniel Handler under the pseudonym, Lemony Snicket. After the debacle of the 2004 movie by the same name, this much more in-depth remake was very anticipated by fans and enthusiasts of Handler’s mysterious world.  The tale follows the lugubrious- in this case meaning sad and dismal- story of the three Baudelaire children, Sunny, Klaus and Violet. The theme song warns watchers immediately what they are getting themselves into, cautioning to “Look away, look away, look away.” Despite this deterring message, this delightful show is very appealing and has a compelling and often encouraging overarching message.

This new series has a variety of well-known and rising actors and actresses, such as Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket, Melina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire and Luis Haynes as Klaus Baudelaire. Overall, the acting is very well done and adds to the show’s melancholy atmosphere. At first, the speech in the show seems a little disjointed, but this style adds to the almost dystopian tone that the book and now show are known for. The effects and visual elements are of the same high caliber that people have come to expect from Netflix originals.

The effects range from the mutant leeches of Lake Lachrymose to the sprawling landscapes of Montgomery Montgomery’s mansion. Depending on the scene, the youngest Baudelaire, Sunny, switches back and forth between CGI and a real baby. This shift can look a little weird to the viewers and is moderately noticeable, however, this is one of the only quirks of the show that could distract from this show’s genuine character. Senior Mya Day Block, fan of the book series, A Series of Unfortunate Events, said, “It’s really weird, creepy, and dark. Many movies and TV shows change the dialogue and even the storyline of the books they were based on, but this one simply doesn’t, which makes this show something really special.”

For those people who have read the books series, A Series of Unfortunate Events, this Netflix original will be even more entertaining. It covers the first four books of the series: A Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, The Wide Window and The Miserable Mill. Occasionally, the storyline of the TV series slightly deviates from the book series for situations that would not make sense in a TV show, but every time it comes back to cover the major plot points. The narrator of the story, Lemony Snicket, often uses the exact text from the book series, replacing the words “this book” with “this TV show.” It retains the ambiance of the books, and stays true to Handler’s characters. Handler was even involved in the process of this series’ creation, helping write the unique theme song which changes for each episode.

Overall, A Series of Unfortunate Events is highly recommended. Everything seems to come together to make this show something truly unique and entertaining, while still staying true to its book series. If someone has read Handler’s books, then this TV show is an absolute must-see, and if not, it’s still enjoyable enough to merit a watch on its own.