Various Family Dynamics // Lemony Snicket’s centrality of siblings in stories

Hello readers! 

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It is the month of talking about what we love. That's what I do every month on this blog, but this has a special focus for talking about the people we love, not just stories. Therefore I'm going to talk about siblings.

As someone with siblings (note, plural), stories that represent that bond are important to me. And often it feels like character either don't have siblings or act around them in a way that is foreign to me. 

There is, however, a storyteller who absolutely nails talking about various family dynamics, especially siblings: Lemony Snicket.

His most famous work is A Series of Unfortunate Events, which doesn't sound promising for families. In fact, "It will wreck your evening, your whole life, and your day." On the surface it is a series about three orphans who are plagued by terrible events. But at its core, it is a series about trials and triumphs of three siblings trying to figure out the world.

I've come to view Lemony Snicket as writing some of the most realistic siblings I've ever read and related to. And I'm going to tell you why.

Note: This is about two series in the same universe for Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions. I'm going to talk about the relationships between the characters, but will avoid the plot details, so this is spoiler-free. I've written reviews for the first two books in A Series of Unfortunate Events, so you can read book 1 HERE and book 2 HERE.

Let's get started!

via GIPHY

First, I'm going to say that I didn't always think the best of Lemony Snicket's works. In fact, at first I thought "no siblings act like that". That was before I realized that he was portraying some ideal siblings and didn't recognize the special traits he gave each. But not all of this is joy (hello, none of it is joy. It's Lemony Snicket we're talking about). Snicket has a range that I'll talk about today and how that only strengthens the contrasting siblings. I'll give a few examples though I had to cut myself off from talking about EVERY sibling group because or else we'd be here all day.

A Favorite:

The Baudelaires: A Series of Unfortunate Events 

Key characteristic(s): Defense of each other and using each other's strengths.

The three marvelous and brave children are Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Each of the children is very defined by their skills (inventing, reading, or biting respectively) and the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of them is how they make the most of their bad situations by using their strengths. Klaus is always suggesting materials that Violet can use to invent things, Violet is always asking Klaus about subjects he might have researched, and the two of them are always making sure Sunny is comfortable and has something to bite. And not just, oh, amuse the baby. They truly include her. This support of each other speaks volumes because they don't look down at each other's interests, but rejoice in them being different and able to lend themselves to the situation from different perspectives.

'[Talking about a picked lock]  "Nice girls shouldn't know how to do that sort of thing"

"My sister is a nice girl and she knows how to do all sorts of things."'

- The Reptile Room 

Secondly, even though the whole world is against them, they have each other's backs. Besides already suffering from so many misfortunes, people always judge the Baudelaires for being orphans, for being intelligent, for anything. In the midst of condescension they always celebrate each other's victories and don't let each person be too hard on themselves.

They are also realistic and always make me laugh when one of the adults say "when I was your age" and they say, "but we're all different ages". That's how I always feel, too.

Even though there is such a big age gap, going back to Sunny, the way that Violet and Klaus understand her is so remarkable to me. They go to lengths to listen to her, even though she doesn't speak in real words. They always convey her feelings to the adults with "what my sister is trying to say...". These are brilliant children and part of that is that they treat each other like they are capable to do what needs to happen.

It's been awhile since I read the books ( I mean, 2021 wasn't THAT long ago. But still. My mind is full with too many things) so this might be wrong but I remember the end of The Reptile Room being all about the Baudelaires saying at least we've got each other in the middle of this miserable time. And that's the best things about siblings. So don't fight each other, support each other, and don't let go.

“I think we'll always miss our parents. But I think we can miss them without being miserable all the time. After all, they wouldn't want us to be miserable.” 

- The Reptile Room 

And in The Wide Window?? How they are rearranging their gifts to make everyone happy even though that leaves Klaus the least happy. They are selfless when it comes to each other. And I've written about how Klaus is my darling, but the other two equally are! Which is why, in The Miserable Mill, they knew something was wrong. Other siblings who didn't know each other so thoroughly would be thrown off, but they stepped outside of their comfort zones to help each other. They know their strengths and when to imitate each other.

Source
Fan art is my FAVORITE.

As Opposed to:

The Poes: A Series of Unfortunate Events 

Key characteristic: Selfishness.

Edgar and Albert are characters who only get a fraction of a chapter in the first ASoUE book, as opposed to siblings who get more "screen time", but I'm going to talk about them because they set an important standard to help us get to know the Baudelaires better.

In the midst of grief, the Baudelaires have to stay with the Poes. And Edgar and Albert are quite horrible. They complain about having to share with three children who lost everything in the world. I don't remember everything they say because it is not worth remembering, but it shows us a place of sneering and selfishness that contrasts the comfort the Baudelaires give each other.

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A Favorite:

The Quagmires: A Series of Unfortunate Events 

Source
Everything I said about fan art still holds up because this is glorious.

Key characteristic: Unbreakable bonds. 

I've seen things before that says there's a word for orphan, but no word for losing a child because there isn't a way to express that pain. Same for losing a sibling. The word that adults try to use is "twin", but that's completely wrong. Duncan and Isadora refuse to be called twins, and instead always refer to themselves as "triplets", because that's what they are, whether or not Quigley is there he won't be forgotten. This is a dark introduction to the Quagmires, but shows that they are not their name: they do not "give way underfoot" (the definition I looked up for "quagmire" in the New Oxford American Dictionary. I've lauded Lemony Snicket before about his naming skills.). Isadora and Duncan stand in Quigley's memory.

I love that Duncan and Isadora's strengths are so similar and yet so different. They both like to write, but Duncan is the journalist and Isadora is the poet. 

As rare as it is to see siblings in fiction, I feel like it is rarer still to see groups of siblings who are completely friends with each other. The Quagmires and Baudelaires carry how they interact with their own brother and sisters into their friendship with each other. It's beautiful in such an austere place.

The way they even sit to leave room for Quigley? *cries*

I keep accidentally calling Duncan "Dylan" due to him being played by Dylan Kingwell. I just need to say their name in the opposite order, Isadora and Duncan...

A Favorite:

The Snickets: A Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions

Key characteristic: Fighting for justice.

"...Snicket?" those of you who are unfamiliar with this series might say. "As in Lemony Snicket? The author?" Absolutely.

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This is what sets the tone for these books, Lemony's narration and hints at his life being connected to all of this.

If you read ASoUE and thought, "but I want to know more about Lemony!", then All the Wrong Questions is the series for you. He is literally the main character in addition to the narrator. Does this answer questions about his family and upbringing? Not really. But the hints make me scream and shriek and everything. One of my favorite parts is the code phrase: "Give my regards to Jacques." which Lemony explains to mean one thing...and then also what it says. 

I think there are only one or two times that we see two of the Snickets interact, there is still such a strong bond between these siblings. They all lead such busy lives in their fight for justice and truth and being well read. Being on the run does not give time for family, but they don't forget each other. One tells the tales of woe of the others. A moment in book 7 nearly made me cry the last time because it is one of those sibling connections where the two characters aren't on the page at the same time, but are unbreakably together all the same.

Even though AtWQ does its best to not answer questions, you get little glimpses into Lemony's life because he'll remember waiting at a bus stop and playing Beethoven with his brother. And yes, I agree with his sister, it's inane, but it's also SO STINKING FUN. I love the phone calls, that however short they are, it is Lemony reaching out for comfort. I just realized that I've always assumed that Lemony is the middle child for some reason, but now I'm starting to think that maybe he's the youngest? He might be too elusive to ever say.

“I looked out the window at the dark and racing scenery and I thought of the city, where the train would eventually arrive. I hadn’t seen the city since my apprenticeship began, and for a moment I felt so homesick I had to stop and lean my head against the glass. Dear Kit, I thought. And then I said it out loud.

'I wish you were here.'"

- Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights? 

As Opposed to:

The Denouements: A Series of Unfortunate Events 

Key characteristic: Conflicting causes.

I LOVE the juxtaposition of the Denouements against the Snickets. The Snickets are all for fighting for the same cause no matter what the price and bearing that heavy burden together, while the Denouements are on different sides and use being identical to keep up the facade. Here it's something that is accepted and fought against at the same time, but you don't really see Frank and Ernest interacting, besides supposedly (aka seen through a telescope) arguing.

And that's reality. Sometimes you aren't on the same side as your siblings. "The schism has turned many siblings into enemies." Sometimes siblings can do terrible things, things that aren't noble. That doesn't mean that you don't love them, but love looks different.

A different set of siblings looks at loyalty despite morals, so Snicket covers a wide range for how families interact.

The whole question of "Are you Frank or Ernest?" is quite poignant.

I'm 100% sure in the show that the "give my regards to" line was inspired by All the Wrong Questions. And even though I hadn't read AtWQ at that point, I flipped out for completely different reasons. It was fabulous.

A Favorite:

The Bellerophons: All the Wrong Questions

Key characteristic: Teamwork

Because I couldn't just mention All the Wrong Questions once because I'm still not sure which series I like better.

The Bellerophons are the sole transportation in Stain'd-by-the-Sea, though neither of them are old enough to be driving a taxi. Their dad, the official driver, is incapable at the moment, so they use what they have: each other. I believe Squeak operates the gas and breaks while Pip steers. They will give you a ride for free if you give them a tip on what to read next. It's not an ideal childhood, working, but they do it with each other. They are champions of the world.

“It's hard when you're missing your family," Pip said, and started the motor. " You wake up every morning like someone took one of your legs.” 

- Shouldn't You Be in School? 

There are more siblings in Lemony Snicket's works, but this list is four of my favorites with two to contrast. My huge theory is that Zada and Zora in All the Wrong Questions are the two White-Faecd Women, but that's a conversation for another day. All together, Lemony Snicket writes about mourning and grief, but also how we shouldn't let go of our siblings because with them we can get through anything.

This is my entry for Hameltte's We Love Siblings Week! There are games and a giveaway and all kinds of fun things, so go check all the other posts out!

Do any of you have siblings? Does anyone else know Lemony Snicket? If you do, then I hope you enjoyed all the references I stuck in there because it was so fun to create! I haven't seen the movie version, only the series and read the books, so does anyone know if the movie represents siblings like this?

Which of the Baudelaires do you feel most like? Which Quagmire? In fact, which of any of these siblings are you most like? How do you act around your siblings?

Thanks for reading!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Top 10 Authors Who Come Up With The Best Fictional Character Names

Hello, guys! 

I hope that you're having a good Easter season and spring! Finals are coming up, so I thought I'd do a post before that all starts. I mean, you can expect a post the first week of May without a doubt (still haven't figured out what it is yet, but I'll come up with it.), but after that it might be quiet around here for a little bit. So, I thought I'd do a top ten list!

As the movie Cinderella (2015) says, "Names have power, like magic spells.". Characters are my favorite parts of stories, and while "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet", there is something particularly influential when names go deeper than the surface with the names. In all of my writing, coming up with a character's name is something tied to the deepest dark inside them.

Then there are names that are undeniably fabulous.

Today, I'll be talking about both. I have noticed authors with a flair for monumental meanings in names, so I want to honor them today. And fangirl, because its what this blog is about when I'm too busy for reviews. Many of these are just books because I might get more attached to names when I read them. But that could be correlation not causation. Let's get to it!

There are NO spoilers for any of these stories. I'm talking about the introduction to these names we receive and might have hints for the future, but they will be too cryptic to understand unless you are a fan. Enjoy without fear of learning the endings for these characters! (I'm also talking about too many to get into details...)

Honorable Mentions: Agatha Christie (for the world-famous Hercule Poirot.). Rachel Kovaciny (for the eloquent swag of Jedidiah Jones).

10. Leigh Bardugo.

I've only recently (since June of last year?) gotten into Ms. Bardugo's books. I was not thrilled by the names in her Shadow and Bone series. In fact, it only messed me up. I'm trained from Spanish lessons to think that "Mal" means bad so I was biased against his character. Alina Starkov is cool enough, I admit. Though, the Darkling just feels cliche. I was quite happy with Sturmhond, which makes sense because he is my favorite character.

All this is to say, I did not consider her to be skilled or unskilled at naming. Just normal.

Then I read Six of Crows.

These names fit each character so deliciously. 

Kaz Brekker: Why does he do things? Just Kaz. Dirtyhands will break your heart.

Inej Ghafa: Also known as "The Wraith", she is always "on edge". 

BRILLIANT. I don't know if Ms. Bardugo intended those meanings, but I love how well they go with the characters. I also love Jesper (perfectly shows refined and careless simultaneously) and Pekka Rollins (just rolling with evil intent). (not that I love Pekka's character. We aren't talking about characters themselves because Nina and Mathhias would be on this list. We are talking about the NAMES). I am such a fan. I can't wait to meet new characters in Crooked Kingdom.

9. The STAR WARS writers.

This is a HUGE range because at this point there are probably hundreds of Star Wars writers who have contributed to the names and I want to give credit to them all. This universe holds so much potential and these writers step up to the task again and again. 

I first noticed that the names are EPIC while watching Clone Wars and meeting Jedi Master Luminara Unduli. Such an amazing name, am I right? After that I began thinking about all of the other names, and came to appreciate them in a new light (pun not intended, but I'll take it.). Luke Skywalker? Big and blusterous, sure, but LEGENDARY. (apologies, I don't know what it is with me and all caps tonight. This will probably not be the last time). Han Solo? A smuggler who's name is Solo? Love it. Leia Organa? The perfect name for a princess and a general. Obi-Wan Kenobi? It seems like a mess of letters, but he has my whole heart.

Moving on to the sequels (which, friendly reminder, some people actually adore, so easy on the backlash, okay?), they continue these amazing names! In a battle of light against darkness, you name the main character one word: Rey. Simple and poignant. Names have such power here, with Finn finding identity once he receives his name, and Kylo Ren's fight against the Ben inside him.

Not all of the names are the most significant artistically. Sure, Darth Vader was lacking, but this more than made up for throughout. Hello there, Ahsoka Tano?

All you prequels fans were expecting something else, weren't you?

8. Maryrose Wood.

Should I talk about her names when I haven't finished the series and stuff might happen to sour them in my mouth? What kind of an attitude is that!? I'm totally talking about them, because my not finishing the series is not from a lack of effort, just resources. 

Ms. Wood combines the "cottage core" and goth of Victorian England perfectly in names in her The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series. Listening to the audiobooks is an absolute must to hear Katherine Kellgren say all of these names. 

Let's start with Penelope Lumley. Penny's so young but already has so many responsibilities as a governess, which the introduction of her and her name shows us. These books are bursting with amazing names. Charlotte Mortermir shows she is caring (excuse any misspellings. As I said, I only listen to the audiobooks.). Judge Quincy makes a shiver run down your spine. The darling children's where picked for convenience, but are nevertheless PERFECT. Laaaaaaaaady Constance is constantly thinking about herself. Agatha Swanburn is the epitome of education sophistication. Though, my favorite is three darling words: Simon. Harley. Dickinson. Which spells out heart throb, in case you were wondering.

Me, every time his name is said.

7. L. M. Montgomery.

L. M. Montgomery's writing itself is the most gorgeous I have ever read, so of course her naming skills are incredible as well. I love how she makes fun of fancy names by giving her most famous protagonist the plainest name she could come up with: Anne Shirley. Anne hates her name herself (Cordelia, anyone?), but lets her inner character shine through without frills. Am I saying the name Anne is boring? Not at all! I adore it. I'm just saying Ms. Montgomery makes it all the more magically as Anne comes to accept her name and herself.

Surrounding Anne, there are amazing names that can tell you instantly what a character is like. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. Mrs. Lynde. Gilbert Blythe. Phillipa Gordon. My special favorite is Roy (short for Royal, you know) Gardener. How. perfect. is. that.? Each page is alive with characters and their names that stay with you forever.

When I talk about names I can go on forever or be concise like Thor.

The Avonlea Chronicles is my prominent read which consists of the above characters, but I also want to give a shout out to The Blue Castle. I mean, Valancy Stirling? Gorgeous and melancholy, which Valancy wants to reject as she wants to be full of life.

6. Wendelin Van Draanen.

Have I read enough of her books to be an expert in this? No, probably not. I've only read five of her books, and three of those were in the same series, so for the most part the characters were the same. Too bad I'm under qualified, because I'm going to talk about the names in her books anyway.

Starting off with my favorite: Bryce Loski and Juli Baker. Iconic. (I especially love Bryce's excuse about there being a bee tying into his name when the only bee was B-R-Y-C-E.). Though, those are almost the only two names that remained the same for the movie, as almost all the other names were given a more 60s vibe or something?

"Goodness, child! Are you alright?"

"There was a bee."

Who knew a medieval movie would provide real footage of Bryce?

I also want to talk about Sammy Keyes. I've talked about her a lot recently (yes, two months ago is still recent because that was only three posts ago). Samantha Keyes: such a fitting name for a detective. Unlocking all the mysteries, you know? It has a nice ring to it while being fresh and young.

As some of you may remember, my absolute favorite book I read in 2021 was Wild Bird. I read this book a year ago, so I don't remember most of the names (I also read this book in one day, so if I had taken longer the names would have stuck with me more, you know?), but I do remember being blown away. Names are SO important in this book. Our main character, Wren Clemens, has always been insecure about her name. Yes, its after the bird, now leave me alone. We learn that because of this she was able to relate and find a friend in Meadow, but that lead her down a very destructive path. Now can she spread her wings and fly again? LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

5. Kate DiCamillo.

We're entering the top five, and who is better to lead us than Kate DiCamillo? She is the middle grade fiction QUEEN. All of her books change my life and are so powerful. Her names, too? Whether it's a pig named Mercy Watson or an animal control officer named Francine Poulet, the names are always highlights. How about a squirrel named Ulysses? A cynic named Flora? A toy rabbit originally named Edward Tulane who goes through other names as well?

"There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name."

We cannot go through this post without talking about the sweet little mouse, Despereaux Tilling. His mother named him "despair" because he was the only child that year who survived. Can you image being named "despair"? What does he do with it? He becomes a gentleman. He does the opposite of despair; he hopes. 

"The story said she was a prisoner but that wasn't totally true because she had hope and whenever you have hope, you're never really anybody's prisoner." (this applies to Despereaux as well as Princess Pea!)

He fails all classes that teach him to be scared and has true courage. So chivalrous! This story alone is a gold mine for names. Roscuro, coming from the word chiaroscuro, the perfect name for an antihero. Can Ms. DiCamillo get a round of applause for Miggery Sow?

Did I purposely use a gif from a different movie about rats? You bet.

And the names in her Three Rancheros series? Still absolute fire. Rayme Clarke. Louisiana Elefante. And Burke Allen III? That one broke me and I haven't recovered.

4. Kent Davis.

He's only published the A Riddle in Ruby trilogy, but in addition to mind bending world building, his characters names are top-notch. Our protagonist's, Ruby, full name is Aruba Teach. I want that name! And her father is Wayland Teach? That name sails into illustrious status. (*laughs at own pun no one will get*)

But that is not the pièce de résistance. Are you ready to be blown away?

...

Wisdom Rool. 

Most. Epic. Bad. Guy. Name. Ever. Wisdom?? Rool?? I adore it vastly. (it breaks my brain so much that I can't even write sentences properly).

The kids in this book are so talented in so many ways, and their names are fantastic. You have Athen and Henry, then you have Cram Cramson. Cram is my favorite, guys. He is awesome. In later books we meet more. Like, Avid Wake?? Such a good name for a nemesis! Then the twins Levi and Never (or is it Ever? It kept changing on me) Curtsie. Gideon Stump. Each one describes the personality of the characters so well. I should come up with a more original way to explain this phenomena, but I'm gobsmacked, okay?

Also, Gwath? Perfect for a mentor even though we do not see enough of him. Or any of Evallina Puddledump. Sure, we never see her, but the NAME. The name cracks me up and I love it.

My reaction.

3. Lemony Snicket.

Mr. Snicket and I have a history that I have probably gone into in the past here or there. But, coming up with as awesome a pen name as Lemony Snicket, shows that he has talents for naming. Not just characters but locations, too. Lucky Smells Lumber Mills? Say that five times fast. 667 Dark Avenue? I mean, Lake Lachrymose? Meaning tears?

I mean, naming it A Series of Unfortunate Events told us that already.

But, I'm here to talk about the characters. You guys might have noticed that I love side characters who pop up very briefly. This goes for Justice Strauss, Captain Julio Sham, and Esmé Gigi Genevieve Squalor (just that last name, guys.). And the Denouement brothers? Are you Frank or Ernest? My answer is always yes. The fact that "quagmire" means "an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation" (according to the New Oxford America dictionary)? That describes the triplets perfectly.

Count Olaf has such a sinister nature to it (this was before everyone associated that name with a snowman), but what really got me appreciating it was the Netflix series. The "It's the Count" song?? "N for the knowledge cuz I'm very very smart." *dies*

Enough about ASoUE. I mostly want to talk about my love for the All the Wrong Questions series characters. Lemony is, of course, one of the highlights. There is also S. Theodora Markson. What does the S stand for? Silence, Snicket. Then you have darling Jake Hix and Cleo Knight (and Jake's aunt, Hungry. That always makes me giggle). Ellington Feint? Mysterious and determined. Moxie Mallahan? What a name for a junior reporter! My babies Pip and Squeak! There are two names of important characters that I cannot remember, so it must be time to read those books again.

My ultimate favorite: DASHIELL QWERTY (Possibly the best name ever). Librarians are the best. This series is good stuff mixed with dark curling tendrils of forgotten ink.

2. J. K. Rowling.

Regardless of quibbles I have with anything, Ms. Rowling slays writing characters names. And my experience only comes from Harry Potter. That name itself spread popularity like wildfire. I tended to scream in excitement even when it was the smallest character has a great name. I also like to think that I remember every name. The other day I panicked for a second while watching Goblet of Fire with friends because I couldn't remember Fluer's sister's name. But, the second passed and I remembered it was Gabrielle. Whew. And they weren't even out of the water yet.

Get ready for me to commence spewing epic names.

Oliver Wood.

The amount of times my older sister and I quote this is ridiculous.

Hermione Granger. 

Luna and Xenophilius Lovegood? Crazy and lovable and just as sane as I am. 

Severus Snape? Immediately sowed the seeds of suspicion with a name that is short and cold. 

Newt Scamander? Who is a magizooligist, dealing with magical creatures? Brill.

Draco Malfoy? Nemesis name perfection. 

Minerva McGonagall. Rubius Hagrid. Names that foreshadow brilliantly, like Remus Lupin and Sirius Black? Nymphadora Tonks. Good feelings with all of the Weasleys: Molly, Arthur, Charlie, Bill, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. (Yes, I said Charlie. Don't you dare forget him). Beatrix Lestrange? *shudders*. Viktor Krum. Gilderoy Lockhart? Glittering, but a locked heart. Dolores Umbridge. Dobby?? Pius Thickness?? That, friends, is my second favorite fictional name of all time: Pius Thickness.

I could probably do a top ten list purely for Harry Potter character names. Would you guys be interested in that?

And now for number one...

1. Charles Dickens.

As The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) showed us:

Here, why don't you just watch the genius of this scene.

Then we need to see him saying the name again, because one can't have too many gifs, right?

Ebenezer Scrooge. It says everything about hating Christmas, regret, bottling up feelings and drowning them in piles of money.

Pip. Estella. Miss Havisham. Oliver Twist. Bill Sykes. Fagin. The Artful Dodger. Tiny Tim. Bob Cratchit. Sydney Carton. Try to find a flaw in this excellence.

But, whoa, MC, why does Mr. Dickens have the honor of being your favorite? Because he wrote my favorite character name of all time. From the book David Copperfield. Are you ready for it?

Uriah Heep.

What does that name make you think of? That's the character exactly. Slimy, scheming, unreliable. It is a perfect mic drop. I'll have to just leave you guys with it.

There you have it. What do you guys think of these names? Which are your favorite of the ones I listed above? What are your personal favorites that I didn't list? Who are your favorite authors who come up with the best fictional character names?

Have a great end to your April!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Book vs. TV Show Review: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room

Hello, readers!

It is time to continue reviewing a tale of misery and woe! Lemony Snicketʼs series of unfortunate events is going to go on for many more reviews. Confused at what Iʼm talking about? Check out my review for the first book and first episodes of the series, The Bad Beginning.

Because this is such a big series, Iʼm going to get more and more vague when it comes to the descriptions for each book/episode. In whatever format you chose, this is a fun series and I want you to enjoy it as it comes without knowing what happens!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. All of these reviews are spoiler free for your enjoyment!

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room - by Lemony Snicket:

The Baudelaires are ready for a new chapter in their life, but they are tentative when they are going to be living with another relative that they have never heard of. Could it be as bad as last time? Uncle Monty seems really nice and treats the children to cake, movies, and soon a trip! His profession as a herpetologist is strange at first, but Violet, Klaus, and Sunny can get used to it. When Uncle Montyʼs new assistant, Stephano, arrives, the quiet world the children were starting to build again shatters. What kind of danger lies in wait in the Reptile Room?

ʻ“Dewk!” Sunny shrieked in a generic cry of frustration and pounded her little fist on the floor. The word “generic” here means when one is unable to think of anything else to say, and Sunny was not alone in this. Violet and Klaus were, of course, too old to say things like, “dewk”, but they wished they werenʼt.ʼ

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction, Mystery.

Characters: 8. The characters have most certainly grown on me with each time I read it. 

My favorites:

Violet: She is so resourceful! I love how she is respectful and optimistic and knows when the time is to act.

ʻ“Nice girls shouldnʼt know how to do those kinds of things.”

“My sister is a nice girl and can do many things.”ʼ

Klaus: If you read my last review you know that I sometimes have a hard time liking Klaus because he gets on my nerves. It was all because of something that I didnʼt understand: whenever someone says a fancy word they try to explain what it means and Klaus, the know-it-all, says he already knows. When I was little I thought it was the most infuriating thing! Well, this book explains it:

ʻOccasionally, people thought that because they were orphans they were also dim- witted.ʼ

Klaus reads a ton of books and of course he knows lots of words so I understand how he can get frustrated when people are constantly thinking that he doesnʼt know anything, especially when half the time they incorrectly define the words.

 ʻKlaus sighed. He felt sometimes as if he had spent half his life explaining things to Mr. Poe.ʼ

Sunny: Poor Sunny goes through a lot in this book and I just want to cuddle her.

Uncle Monty: I never realized it, but when it comes to books and movies I get VERY suspicious. And because of that I tend to dislike characters when it isnʼt their fault. I didnʼt trust Monty for the longest time when I first read this book. Poor guy! Now I like him even in his oblivion.

ʻ“How many time must I remind you, itʼs not polite to interrupt!” Uncle Monty interrupted.ʼ

Words/Writing style: 7. This rating is bumped down because there are some poorly used words. Lemony Snicket tells us that people sometime yell out names when they are surprised or scared, but I donʼt approve. We didnʼt need to hear it Mr. Poe, so I donʼt appreciate it.

There is one other bad word, but it is pointed out:

ʻIt is, as you know, very, very, rude and usually unnecessary to use profanity...ʼ

Exactly! I wouldnʼt want to copy anything that the person who said it does, but I still donʼt approve. Even when Lemony Snicket made me laugh.

Besides that, the writing style continues to be so much fun. All of the rule breaking and straightening out are a hoot. My favorite is when the word “ever” is used over 200 times. Just read the book and youʼll find out what that means.

World building/Setting: 8. When I first listened to the whole series this book struck me as having one of the most unique settings. While I now appreciate how each of the books have a different creative setting, I still really like this one. Imagine starting a peaceful life on “Lousy Lane”!

Quotability: 9. Lemony Snicketʼs writing sticks with you and is worth of repeating! I think my sister and I both think of this book whenever we think of eavesdropping and we think of some lines about it.

Content: 8. There are some violent threats and fear that goes with it. There is a death and the after affects are vividly described. All of this though is shown as bad!

I like how Lemony Snicket makes fun of things that are usually thought of as dangerous, as shown in this line:

“There is a pair of snakes whoʼve learned to drive a car so recklessly that they would run you over in the street and never stop to apologize.”

Notes: My sister and I feel like Lemony Snicket is well versed in Monty Python, and took some inspiration from that. Does anyone else see that? Doesn't just the name say a lot?

Originality: 9. I donʼt think Iʼve ever read another book that feature snake in this way! The ending is particularly complex which is something that pleases me.

Good For: This is such a hard thing to pin down because it really depends on the person! Either you will love the writing and root for the children to come out on top in all of their woe, or you will find the misery too disturbing. Do you like droll writing that is hilarious in the midst of trouble while having poignagt moments? This might be for you! 

Age Range: The range this spans is quite large. Itʼs written as Middle Grade Fiction so kids can look up to the Baudelaires who carry on in spite of troubles, and are relatable as Violet and Klaus are fourteen and twelve. On the flip side my sister and I are two adults who are WAY too into these books.

Overall Score: 8.

Worth reading?: Certainly! The themes that are explored in here hit quite deep, in particular, regret. We all wish that we could correct something in our lives by doing something different, but we canʼt. This book made me think about it a lot and appreciate that weʼll have more choices and chances to do right in the future.

ʻOne of the most difficult things to think about in life is ones regrets. Something will happen to you and would will do the wrong thing and for years afterward you will wish you had done something different. For instance, sometimes when Iʼm walking along the seashore or visiting the grave of a friend, I will remember a day a long time ago when I didnʼt bring a flashlight with me to a place where I shouldʼve brought a flashlight and the results were disastrous. “Why didnʼt I bring a flashlight?” I think to myself even though it is too late to do anything about it, “I shouldʼve brought a flashlight.”ʼ

Will I read again?: Iʼm not afraid of a lot of things, but one thing that I just canʼt stand is snakes. When I first read this book I was so relieved when it was over and never wanted to read it again. But you know what? I donʼt mind any more. This book is a little dry in places but still important to the series and I will read it many more times in my life Iʼm sure.

'Klaus sighed, and opened a book, and as at so many other times when the middle Baudelaire child did not want to think about his circumstances, he began to read.' 

Audiobook: Length: approx. 191 minutes.

I used to abhor it, but now my favorite part of this audiobook is the song “In the Reptile Room”. It is so horridly funny I canʼt even explain it. I highly recommend reading it this way, though Iʼm not fond of Tim Curryʼs narration of Monty. Besides that the narration is perfect!

Bonus thoughts:

This time around the ending struck a chord with me. It is soft in the middle of a hard world and I might be obsessed with it now. The accompanying music from the audiobook nearly made me cry.

VS.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season 1, Episodes 3 & 4: The Reptile Room Parts 1 & 2 (2017):

Based on: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room - by Lemony Snicket 

“Itʼs a brand new episode in your lives, Baudalaires!” 

Lousy Lane seems like an unfortunate place for the Baudelairesʼs to start their new lives, but they donʼt have a choice, as it is up to Mr. Poe. Despite their fears, Uncle Monty seems to be a good guardian. He is friendly and teaches them about reptiles as he is a herpetologist. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny each get to do what they like and are taken care of. But Lemony Snicket informs us that this happiness wonʼt last. What with a new assistant, secret messages, movies, and snakes, someone is bound to get hurt...

“Iʼm giving you the verified film discount.”

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Mystery. 

Length: Episode 3: approx. 48 minutes. Episode 4: approx. 43 minutes. Total time: 91 minutes.

Script: 7. It took out one bad word that was in the book, but there is an instance where one person screams some names which annoys me. Not cool, dude.

“Iʼm terribly sorry if I was rude to him, children, but frankly, that man ruffles my scales.” 

Crew: Directed by: Mark Palansky. Produced by: Daniel Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, Emily Fox, & Barry Sonnenfeld. Written by: Daniel Handler, Emily Fox, & Joe Tracz.

Starring:

Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket.

Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire.

Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire.

Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire.

Aasif Mandvi as Uncle Monty.

K. Todd Freeman as Arthur Poe.

Neil Patrick Harris as Stephano.

Matthew Walker as the Ticket Seller.

Also featuring: Usman Ally, Matty Cardarople, John DeSantis, Jacqueline Robbins, Joyce Robbins, Cobie Smulders, Will Arnett, Sara Canning, & Luke Camilleri.

Costumes: 9. I still don't know what time period this is supposed to be, but the costumes are so well designed! There is one person who looks so different that I would never have recognized him if it hadn't been pointed out to me. Yes, I am as bad as all of the adults. Once I noticed I can see it, but that initial look wasn't obvious to me.

Cinematography: 10. I wouldn't have noticed this until my sister pointed it out, but now I am shocked by how good it is: when the children meet Monty the dialogue and cinematography mirror that of when they met Count Olaf in the first episode. It is a brilliantly played move! It shows how the same words and actions can have the opposite meanings and intents when said in a different way. The set design for Monty's house is also fabulous and I now want to live there. The CGI for animals isn't the best as it looks fake, but I'm so impressed that I'm not going to take off a point for that.

Cinematography by: Bernard Couture.

Music: 9. The theme song is still as splendid as always. For each book the verse in the middle is changed to fit the story and the lyrics are so clever with their rhymes. I also noticed the score in the background more than in the first episode which almost made me cry at one point, but that was just me being overly emotional.

Music by: James Newton Howard & Sven Faulconer.

Notes: All of the references had my sister and I really excited! There was one Easter egg that appeared in the background while Lemony Snicket was talking and we couldn't stop screaming because it confirms something later in the series that is never talked about directly. It also subtly incorporates things that will be used later on which pleases me tremendously. I am now interested in seeing the movie The Dawn Patrol (1938) which is said to be Violet's favorite movie! Lemony Snicket's other series, All the Wrong Questions, is also mentioned!

ʻ“Howʼd he find us?”

“Thatʼs the wrong question. What do we do?”ʼ

Quotability: 10. The quotes are so repeatable! Even words that aren't said but just appear teach me things! Even Em (who seems to know every word) had to look up what vitiated means.

“Life is a conundrum of esoterica.”

My sister claims that Klaus defined "esoterica" incorrectly. His description better fits ephemera, as he mentions documents instead just generic facts. Em is very proud to have corrected the bookworm, but I'm still dubious. What do you guys think?

Content: 8. There are threats, kidnapping, death, and some scary things if you don't like snakes. Or just make you sad. It did both for me.

Originality: 10. Of the whole TV show, these are probably the episodes that differ the most from the books, but I don't mind at all because I absolutely love it! It takes some things that are only briefly mentioned in the book and expands them in an absolutely epic way! From awesome ticket sellers to spyglasses to danger, it is so gripping! It really highlights movies, which I love because movies are one of my favorite things. That's what this blog is all about! 

“Thereʼs more to a movie than just a movie just like a book can contain crucial secrets about the world of snakes or it can be used to prop open a refrigerator door when youʼre airing it out.”

I now wish that there was way more of this kind of content in the whole series. At the same time it really presses how much more comfortable streaming services are which was a hilarious promotion.

“Subtitles? This movie is boring already.”

Later, said by other characters:

 ʻ“If itʼs in English then why are their English subtitles?” 

“All the best movies have subtitles.”ʼ

(I actually said that to my sister today because we were watching a movie in English with English subtitles. Though I have to say that I usually don't like subtitles because they are so distracting and all I can do is read them. These episodes have made me change my mind.)

Good For: It's hard to say who would like it and who wouldn't! We watch it not because we like to see people in trouble. There is some warmth to this in the midst of darkness that is one of the reasons that I really like it. The other is that it is hilarious! It took me awhile to adjust to the humor, but it's worth a try! I feel like it's also good for siblings because the Baudelaires are so close through everything.

Age Range: It's rated PG I believe, and I think that's accurate. Just like the book, too!

Overall Score: 9!

Worth watching?: Absolutely for one reason in particular besides the fantastic additions with the movie. And that reason has a name: Montgomery Montgomery. As pointed out in my review of the book, I never liked Monty. I didn't trust him. But, watching this I just immediately loved Aasif Mandvi's portrayal! He is so welcoming, and wants the best for the Baudelaires. In the book he seems a little rude and full of himself (just a tiny bit) but here though he doesn't realize things, and as the intro says, makes a few mistakes, his heart is present through out. He is eccentric in all the best ways. I love him so much here!

So much of the dialogue has some double meanings and philosophy, too, which is so great to hear and interrupt.

“Now, I know the few dangerous reptiles can make you skeptical of the entire species, but, if you give them a chance, and you get to know them well enough to tell the dangerous from the good, I promise you: no harm will come to you in the reptile room.”

Will I watch again?: Totally! These episodes are some of my favorite of the first season, if not the whole series.

Bonus thoughts:

“So, weʼre allowed to read all these books?”

“You are not only allowed, you are implored to read these books!”ʼ

I always have to throw a shoutout to Louis Hynes for making me actually like and relate to Klaus! I understand Klaus through this as he is heartbroken that his parents died and left him and his siblings, but heʼs also angry that they kept so many secrets from them. What were their lives truly like? Where they the people he knew or something else?

I can't decide which is better because it depends on the person! I personally like the tv show episodes, but others may like the book. I will say that the book is more mysterious. I remember the first time that I read it I was so shocked by a twist! It was one of the first times I remember being surprised like that. Rereading it I saw the foreshadowing, but it is still really cool. Here it takes that particular thing away and instead goes a route which would be more funny. I like both, but I'm glad that I got to experience the mystery first prior to seeing it obvious like that. If you have read the books but not seen this, I recommend it! It is really fun and quirky, staying true to books while branching out into new realms. It also hints more and more at things to come with tantalizing clues about the past!

That's it from me! Tell, am I the only one who gets really suspicious of new characters? Is there a show or movie based on a book that is different but you still really love it? Am I the only one who has a hard time liking Klaus? Is anyone else terrified by snakes? Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Book vs. TV Show Review: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

Greetings, my readers!

I warn you, that while I am going to tell a sorry tale, you don’t have to be forced into reading it.

Really, ‘Ask any stable person, “Should I watch?” and they will say, “Look away!”’

For any of you who stayed after that dire warning, then welcome! I am here to finally talk about A Series of Unfortunate Events!

This series and I go way back. One day my sister started listening to the first book on audio cassette (yes, I’m that old, in case any of you are wondering) and I was struck by how horrid The Bad Beginning was. I thought it was a sweet relief when it was finally over! But not for my sister.

She wanted more.

From that moment she started listening to all of the audiobooks and laughing with glee through out. My younger sister and I sat back in horror! Why was she finding such terrible things amusing? What could we do to fix it? It turned out that the answer was nothing. So I just kept listening to the books with her, befuddled.

Way back in 2019 I heard that some crazy person had made a TV series out of those books on Netflix. I was determined to stay far away from it.

That is, until I saw some of Skye’s amazing art and suddenly wanted to see what that was about.

Now, to where the story really begins. I told my sister about it and we decided to watch together, though my plan was to scoff at it the whole time.

But something came in the way of my plans. The show was actually funny. It was a blast. And while I felt like a wretched person to get so much joy out of children suffering, here we are. All at once it clicked. I understood why my sister liked it so much. I understood the satire, comedy, and humor. It was so clever! I became an avid fan. Since then I have decided to revisit all of the books and review them along the way. Enjoy this dark and dreary tale!

I will be reviewing the episodes of the show with the corresponding books. Most of the books are broken into two episodes so I will review both at the same time to keep thing consistent.

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. These reviews both for the book and TV show are free of all possible spoilers!

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning - by Lemony Snicket:

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are the three Baudelaire children who have always had happy lives. All that changes one day when they learn that their parents have perished in a terrible fire. They are sent to live with a relative, Count Olaf, that they have never heard of. It turns out to be for good reason because he is an awful person as well as an awful actor. The children wish they could live with Olaf’s kind neighbor Justice Strauss because she isn’t mean to them, and has a wonderful library. Are things worse than they seem with an evil plot behind everything?

‘They wondered how many other eyes were in Count Olaf’s house, and whether, for the rest of their lives they would always feel as though Count Olaf were watching them even when he wasn’t nearby.’

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction.

Characters: 7. I like these characters a lot more now that I know the whole story. There are many bad characters, but the good ones make it worth it.

My favorites:

Lemony Snicket: You might be asking, “Wait, the author is one of your favorite characters?”. Yes, yes he is. He has spent years getting this information to share. His life hints at being a sad one, but this isn’t his story so he doesn’t tell it. There is an air of mystery about him that is intriguing.

Violet Baudelaire: I’ll admit it, one of the many reasons I didn’t like these books was the characters. They were so boring and miserable. Through that all, I always liked Violet because she is so sweet and wants to keep her siblings safe. Her inventing mind is quite impressive!

‘Like most 14 year olds, she was right handed.’

Klaus Baudelaire: I always thought that Klaus was annoying. Like, an annoying version of Lemony Snicket. This time around, though, I could just see how upset he is with their dreadful circumstances, and he has every right to be! Still don’t really like him in the books, but he gets better upon rereads.

Sunny Baudelaire: Sunny is remarkably bright for a baby. There isn’t much to say about her yet, but she is very brave for someone so small.

Mr. Poe: Guys, Tim Curry’s narration of Mr. Poe might be my favorite of all narrations. His coughing and uselessness are infuriatingly hilarious.

Justice Strauss: She is so kind and a bright light for the children who have lost so much. Especially her and Sunny together make me very happy.

Words/Writing style: 10. There are no bad words. This writing style is what makes it or breaks it for so many people. Basically, Lemony Snicket has disregarded every single rule of writing,while constantly correcting things that people usually don’t pay attention to. Here is an example of his rule breaking:

‘The book was long, and difficult to read, and Klaus became more and more tired as the night wore on. He found himself reading the same sentence over and over. He found himself reading the same sentence over and over. He found himself reading the same sentence over and over.’

How many times have I read the same sentence over and over? More than I can count. Here is one where he goes to great lengths to explain things. This is a very helpful one, actually, and I think of it anytime I hear the two words “literally” and “figuratively”:

‘It is very useful, when one is young, to learn the difference between “literally” and “figuratively”. If something happens literally, it actually happens; if something happens figuratively, it feels like it is happening.

‘If you are literally jumping for joy, for instance, it means you are leaping in the air because you are very happy. If you are figuratively jumping for joy, it means you are so happy that you could jump for joy, but are saving you energy for other matters.’

World building/Setting: 7. It’s set in an unnamed town of no importance. It takes it to a new level of including special laws and why they make such an impact on the story. All of it has a feeling of gloom that fits the story quite well.

Quotability: 10. This seems so bizarre that this is my favorite quote of the whole book, but it is. Even in context it isn’t pleasant, but I love it and say it to myself so often:

‘“A stubborn mule,” Count Olaf explained, “does not move in the direction its owner wants it to. In that way it is like you children, who insist on mucking up my plans. Any animal owner will tell you that a stubborn mule will move in the proper direction of there is a carrot in front of it and a stick behind it. It will move towards the carrot because it wants the reward of food and away from the stick because it does not want the punishment of pain.”’

Awards: 3: Silberner Lufti (2000), Book Sense Book of the Year Award Nominee for Children's Literature (2001), & Nene Award (2003).

Content: 7. Count Olaf and his friends are the worst people you can imagine and it shows. He is utterly cruel to the Baudelaires, but it is shown as being wrong. Your heart aches for the poor kids! People are threatened and get mild injuries. People get intoxicated. It has one suggestive line, but it was by an unsavory character and not to be emulated.

Originality: 9. While this isn’t my favorite in the series, I have to admit that it is full of creativity! It is pretty short but every single element matters and is tied it. Impressive!

Good For: I’m stepping away from my usual format to explain something. You might wonder, as I once did, why someone could enjoy this? I have to clarify that we don’t like to see the Baudelaires in trouble. We wish that they could get away from it all! One of the reasons that this story endures is because of the children. They are smart and resourceful. It is good for people who want to be inspired by them and to realize that their lives aren’t so bad in comparison. If Violet, Klaus, and Sunny can endure things, they you can, too.

Age Range: Violet and Klaus are fourteen and twelve, so it is good for people those same ages. It is great for adults, too, but maybe my sister and I are a little too into it. I know a six year old little boy who LOVED this book so much. It spans a huge range! The audiobook might be a little scary for tiny kids, but that depends on the person.

Overall Score: 8.

Worth reading?: While this isn’t the most interesting of the books, it is an important beginning. Yes, it is worth it especially for all of the quotes I listed.

Will I read again?: When I was younger the answer would’ve been a screamed “NO!”, but now I believe that I will. My sister reads these books almost every year, and while I can’t see myself doing it that frequently, I can see it becoming a tradition.

Audiobook: Length: approx. 150 minutes.

Usually I am extremely picky about audiobooks and the narrators, but I highly recommend listening to this one instead of reading it. I used to hate Tim Curry’s voice, but now I can’t picture it without him. Mr. Poe’s cough is so realistic! Plus, with the audiobook you get the awesome music from The Gothic Archies. That was another reason I hated these books so much, but now it is unendingly amusing. My copy of this (old and outdated as it is. Yes, I still have the original cassette) also includes an interview with the author that you don’t want to miss.

Bonus thoughts:

‘“Casing the joint” means observing a particular location in order to formulate a plan. For instance, if you are a bank robber---although I hope you aren’t---you might go to the bank a few days before you planned to rob it. Perhaps wearing a disguise, you would look around the bank and observe security guards, cameras, and other obstacles, so you could plan how to avoid capture or death during your burglary.’

Lemony Snicket is funny in a grim way. If nothing I have said has convinced you so far, continue onward for the review of the TV show.

VS.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2: The Bad Beginning Parts 1 & 2 (2017):

Based on: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning - by Lemony Snicket.

Lemony Snicket is here to present a truly tragic tale, and advises that you watch something else. The Baudelaires were three happy children with their two loving parents until a fire claimed their parents lives. Now all they have is each other as they go to live with their closest living relative, a man named Count Olaf who doesn’t seem to be a count in anything, much less the plays he stars in. He and his acting troupe are horrible, making Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, do tedious chores and not providing them with the things they need. Their neighbor Justice Strauss and her library is the only cheery thing. Lemony Snicket warns us that this is only the bad beginning, and much worse is to follow...

“This story will be dreadful, melancholy, and calamitous, a word which here means dreadful and melancholy.”

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family.

Length: Episode 1: approx. 49 minutes. Episode 2: approx. 63 minutes. Total time: 112 minutes.

Script: 9. A name in vain is used once, but that’s it.

“Let me give you a piece of advice. If you use fancy pantsy words first thing in the morning you’re going to end up a very lonely man.”

(As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I’m Olaf. This encounter between him and Klaus was very much like me and my sister when it comes to words)

Crew: Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld. Produced by: Daniel Handler and Neil Patrick Harris. Written by: Daniel Handler and Joe Tracz.

Starring:

Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket.

Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire.

Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire.

Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire.

Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf.

“He’s employed as an actor so you know his excitement is genuine.”

K. Todd Freeman as Arthur Poe.

Joan Cusack as Justice Strauss.

Cleo King as Eleanora Poe.

Usman Ally, Matty Cardarople, John DeSantis, Jacqueline Robbins, & Joyce Robbins as

members of Count Olaf’s acting troupe.

Sara Canning as Jacquelyn.

Luke Camilleri as Gustav.

Costumes: 9. Something that makes for such a fun aesthetic is the clothing. A specific time period is never set (all we know is that they had lived in an enormous mansion in a dirty city), but the clothing (and I’m not expert) hints at the 50s or 60s. The children wear pastel colors that pop on the screen in all the darkness. It’s really fun! It might seem like a weird thing to obsess about, but I take it as I can.

Cinematography: 8. There is some CGI that is a little fake looking, but it doesn’t bother me too much because we all know that babies can only do certain things through computer imaging. As I said, the contrast of colors is so fun, and the overall aesthetic pleases me way too much.

Cinematography by: Bernard Couture.

Music: 9. I couldn’t tell you if there is a score in the background (maybe that’s a good thing, maybe it isn’t), but the theme song is so good. I already quoted it earlier so I won’t repeat myself, but the lyrics are so clever! My sister and I love to scream sing it at the top of our lungs. It captures the feeling that you get from this show so well! You can feel it taking inspiration from the Gothic Archies which makes me extremely happy.

Music by: James Newton Howard.

Notes: Though Violet is two years older than Klaus, Louis Hynes is two years older than Malina Weissman. I don’t mind because you can’t tell and they act out the characters perfectly. This episode is absolutely brilliant because there are so many Easter eggs and references! Books 2, 4, 11, & 12 have subtle mentions as well as a few things that will be big later on a carefully slipped in. There is a reference to another of Lemony Snicket’s books, one that isn’t part of A Series of Unfortunate Events, and my sister and I started screaming when it happened because we were looking for it and VERY excited that we had found it. Also, “I told you never to say that word!”

Quotability: 10! The writing in this show is top notch, which makes so much sense. A lot of the lines are carried over from the book with little changes, but I also like the ones that they put in.

“All of the artistic and financial aspects of my career are finally coming together like two pieces of a bread in the middle of a sandwich.”

*It is pointed out that bread goes on the outside of a sandwich*

Content: 7. Same as the book. There are horrible people who do evil things. There is one suggestive line about someone knowing too much about a word. People are threatened and get hurt, though less than in the book. Additionally, there is a death.

Originality: 9. They kept the story very true to the book, just adding in fun clues and lines. They branch out a little to show you some flashbacks that help to clarify and are overall great!

“There are countless types of books in the world which makes sense as there are countless types of people in the world.”

Good For: It’s so hard to say, because with this you either love it or you hate it. Do you like stories where everything that can go wrong does and the characters have to figure a way out? Stories with incredibly witty dialogue? Then this might be for you!

Age Range: I think it’s rated PG, and I would agree with that. As I said, I was a lot older before I understood the purpose of it, so it depends on the person.

'"...When I was your age."

"But we're all different ages."'

(Someone finally said it! My sisters and I get this kind of comment so often!)

Overall Score: 8.5.

Worth watching?: Yes, of course! This is what catapulted me into my appreciation for the whole series, so yes.

Will I watch again?: This last time my sister and I were searching, vigorously for details, yet I’m sure we missed some that we will have to look for in the future. Also, it makes me laugh a lot, so I won’t be missing out on that.

Bonus thoughts:

Starting with fire, Lemony Snicket is here to illuminate this tale. I have so much to say about these episodes, but I’ve already said so much so I’ll keep it strictly to the characters.

“Klaus Baudelaire was the middle child and only boy. He was a little older than twelve and wore glasses, which made him look intelligent...he was intelligent.”

It is well known that I have never liked Klaus. It didn’t help that my sister was always comparing him to me because we are the middle children. He seemed so whiny and full of himself. Well, Louis Hynes has convinced me otherwise. He portrayal really helps you to understand his frustration when he is so used to researching something when he doesn’t have the answer. You can’t research, “Why has this happened to us?” Violet is more accepting of things, but Klaus knows what is good and what is bad, and doesn’t want to stand on the sidelines. He’s so precious!

I always thought that how Sunny is described in the books was a little ridiculous, so they made her more like a real baby helped make her so special. Oh, and Presley is just the cutest kid ever!

Now for Olaf. He is played so well! He is also the big difference between the books and this show. In the books he is straight up cruel, nasty, and scheming. While he is all of those things here, too, he isn’t as smart as in the books.

“‘N’ for the knowledge cuz I’m very, very, smart.”

I prefer it this way as it gives the whole show some levity, but both have their place. His added quirks don’t take away from the treachery.

Some quick bonus things are that they changed one of Violet’s inventions, but my sister and I agree that what they came up with was awesome. Also, the siblings dynamic is the whole heart of the show. All of them cooking is how my older sister and I cook, too!

Usually I would declare a winner, of whether the book or show episodes are better. I won’t do that here because it is completely up to your own preference! I like the TV show better because it helped me appreciate the books. I will say (and I’m going to say this with every book vs. episode review) if you are looking to experience this story and don’t know where to start, I would encourage the book. The book contains a lot more mystery where the show will, well, show you things that have happened. If you want to guess more, then I say go with the book! But, if you aren’t digging that, then give the show a try.

That is it from me today and the 13th of June! Thank you so much for reading these reviews! Have you seen and/or read these? Which do you prefer? Who are your favorite characters? What are some dark comedies or satire that I should try?

MovieCritic