Why I Love Julie and the Phantoms Season 1, Episode 1, “Wake Up”

Hello, friends!

You mightʼve seen the title of this post and thought, “Is MC crazy?” 

Well, “Weʼre all a little crazy.”

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Itʼs that time of the month where I talk about Julie and the Phantoms! I have reviewed all of the episodes in the first season, so what else is there to do while I wait for the second season? Just talk about every single detail that I can, of course!

I have reviewed every episode in season 1 (episodes 1-3, episodes 4-6, and episodes 7-9) and all of those have been spoiler-free. I wanted to share the show with the world and get more people to see it without giving away any of the marvelous things that happen. Now that thatʼs done I just want to obsess about it. This is going to be the kick-off of a new series Iʼm planning on starting, called “Why I Love...”! In this series Iʼll explain why I love certain books and movies so much, because sometimes itʼs controversial (One day you will see why I have The Last Jedi in my top STAR WARS movies) or sometimes I just want to talk about it in all the fabulous details.

Sometimes this series will have masterful essays (ha, I hope!) while other times Iʼll simply have a list of some sort to point out all my favorite details. It depends on the day and the topic! My intent is to cover EVERYTHING I love about it, but I am sure that Iʼll miss things, so thatʼs why this is a conversation starter! Tell me what YOUR favorite things about my subject are.

Because of that, THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS POST! The purpose of this is to talk with other fans about all the things that make it so awesome. I would love for you all to join me, but only if you have seen the show! Please, watch it first before reading this post. Don't read through it or even just scroll because there will be some pictures that might give things away, too. You are missing out on my favorite show ever, so what are you waiting for?

This is about me saying as much as I want, but Iʼm going to dial it back at certain points. After the first scene I had written 250 words and in total it was almost 2,500 words. Which is why I am a day late posting this, as I had to edit it a lot to make sure that it is fun and not tedious. Let me know if I was successful in this!

First, I love that this is the introduction to the series! From a rock and roll song, to years in the future, to struggles while coming to grips with loss, to ghosts discovering they can be heard but not seen, to a song for a new beginning. We immediately care for the characters and it introduces things that will be faced later on. It is truly brilliant!

 “Now or Never” is so much more than just another rock song. It is awesome! The lyrics are amazing and the tune is a blast. We get Luke, Alex, and Reggie all singing! It is so rare to see a drummer sing, and it makes me so happy that he isnʼt forgotten. My smile is too big for my face every time Reggie says, “Weʼre the revolution thatʼs been singinʼ in the rain!”

So much energy! These boys are on fire...all for a couple of people in the room. That was worthy of a huge concert, and it was simply the sound check! The tightest they couldʼve played. Can I give a shout out to how all of the actors are playing their own instruments? Fantastic!

“Thank you! Weʼre Sunset Curve, tell your friends.”

I love how we are thrown into the the group of Sunset Curve first thing. The boys are so playful with fist bumps and hugs and it is clear they love what they do. You can see they are a team that will watch each otherʼs backs and give unending support. It makes me ridiculously happy.

“Could you just own your awesomeness for once?” 

“...Alright, I was killing it!”

It shows their personalities of how Luke and Alex are trying to hide who they are from their fans with Luke pulling up his hood and Alex turning away to cover his face, then Reggie doesnʼt get the memo and gives away t-shirts. Speaking of, Reggieʼs smooth talking earlier kills me every time.:

“Hereʼs our demo and a t-shirt, size beautiful.”

Which is perfectly accompanied by Alexʼs hurried explanation to not wipe down the table with the shirt because it falls apart when it gets wet...

Iʼll talk about this more in the episode that I first noticed them in, but the Easter eggs and clues here? If I had been paying attention, then this scene reveals a lot.

ʻ“Thatʼs a new flavor.”

“Chill, man. Street dogs havenʼt killed us yet.”ʼ

When my sister and I started watching the show we knew the premise so we figured they were going to die somehow, but we were so shocked by this! Who wasnʼt? Will we forever think of this when eating hot dogs? (Guys, the day I'm writing this up I ate hot dogs. My sister and I shared a very knowing look)

Now itʼs 2020. When we first see Julie she has her head down and everyone is taller than her so it immediately conveys how she feels and how sheʼs hiding.

ʻ“Hey, underachiever.”

“Hey, disappointment.”

Flynn comes and makes her smile which lightens all of our moods after the dark thing that just happened.

Nick slays on the guitar! I am interested to see if in season 2 (when it eventually comes!) if we get to see people from the music program perform. This teacher is so sweet! I love how she encourages Julie to take her time.

For anyone who didnʼt know about Julieʼs mom, the scene where Julie talks with her dad perfectly conveys in a subtle way what has happened. Julie looks so sad that it makes all of us feel miserable.

ʻ“Mom would like that.”

“Yeah, she would.”ʼ

There is such a melancholy feeling for the scene where she enters the studio for the first time. Especially when she apologizes to her mom that she hasnʼt been in there. I love that listening to a CD her mom had is what she decides to do to start. Music makes us feel closer to people! The way Julie bops her head while listening to music is exactly what I do every time I hear this song.

And, the boys are here! Thereʼs yelling! Followed by groaning because they all hit the floor hard. All of the terrified screams are so realistic! It is exactly what any of us would do if it happened to us. I love how the boys cling to each other for safety, as it shows that they support each other!

I love that Julieʼs dad goes and checks on her. Ray is so caring! Heʼs willing to listen and wants to do anything to make her feel better. The little finger handshake makes me incredibly happy.

Julie is so brave to go back out to the studio! I wouldʼve stayed far away. All of the following dialogue is brilliant!:

ʻ“What are you doing in my momʼs studio?”

“Your momʼs studio? This is OUR studio! Trust me! Fine, the grand pianoʼs new...” 

Lukeʼs face as he realizes something weird is going on is priceless. It is interesting how quickly the boys accept the fact that they are ghosts compared to how shocked they are by the time that has passed. I wouldʼve been more surprised that I was a ghost! Itʼs hilarious how each person has a different method for dealing with Julie from the start: Luke tries but gets very confused, Reggie assumes sheʼs a witch, and Alex is smoothest of all with a softer touch: “WHY ARE YOU IN OUR STUDIO?”

ʻ“Last night was supposed to be a really big night for us. It was going to change our lives.”

“Iʼm, uh, Iʼm pretty sure it did.”ʼ

All the feelings come swooping down! That was their dream. None of us would blame them for getting emotional about this.

“All we did after we floated out of the ambulance was go to that dark room where Alex cried.”

“Well, I think we were all PRETTY upset.”

Later:

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 “Wait, so it has been 25 years? I have been CRYING, for 25 years? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?”

“Well, youʼre a very emotional person.”

“I am NOT!”

A great “introduction” to all of them! We already knew their names, but this what was needed. The little, “ba da!” is so cute. 

How Julieʼs reaction is that she is so done with this and doesnʼt care cracks me up.

“Julie seems nice!”

“Did you miss the part where she kicked us out?”

Julieʼs aunt is quite a character. Sheʼs a little pushy, but only because she thinks itʼs what is best. All of Julie talking to the boys and having it be misunderstood by the other people in the room is a joy to watch. Julieʼs glare! I wouldnʼt want to be on the receiving end of that.

“Youʼve got to rip that band-aid off and get the pain over with!” 

*Julie sees all of the guys coming over to her*

“AHH!”

*the boys freeze and everyone looks at her*

“Thatʼs me, ripping off the band-aid, ʻahhʼ!”

The names Carlos and Luke are Kenny Ortegaʼs tribute to Cameron Boyce because those where the names of characters he played. I canʼt express how that makes me feel besides the typical, “puddle of emotions”.

I am going to break in here with an ode to Carlos. He is one of the best representations of siblings that Iʼve seen in a fictional story! He is very curious and he wants to keep his big sister safe. It is precious!

Favorite moments from him:

-How his first response to hearing about ghosts is: “Cool!” Then later, “Howʼs your ghost friend? Is he hideous?”

-His prayer before dinner reminds me of so many kids I have babysat.

-Him getting rid of the kiss from his aunt!

-ʻ“So Julie, want to hear how I slid into home and was almost safe?”

“Youʼre a good brother. Thatʼs not going to work.”ʼ

The song the boys play in the studio is SUCH A BOP! Julieʼs angry stomps to tell them to be quiet are heightened by the slippers. The boys are all so proud of themselves! I donʼt want their smiles to stop.

Alex: “What kind of ghosts are we?”

Luke: “Who cares!? People can hear us play!” 

Reggie: “We might be dead, but our music isnʼt.”

“You do know how rad this is!?”

Luke's talk with Julie is so sweet. You can see his passion for music! We were inspired by him from the beginning with his energy and enthusiasm, but we later on we really feel for him. Here we see the beginning of pep talks and he inspires Julie while at the same time defending himself and his friends. Heʼs so kind through it all.

“Iʼm sorry you had a bad day. But three guys just learned that they had a bad 25 years! And then they found out the one thing, THE ONE THING, they lived for in the first place, they can still do. Thatʼs pretty rad.”

I think that his talk about how music makes him feel alive is the thing that clicks for Julie. Plus, three dudes who are ghosts and are dealing with their own grief find time to say sorry to Julie for the loss of her mom? I want to hug them! The way their smiles begin when Julie says, “I guess...” and how they grow even bigger warms my heart! I could watch this group of friends all day (*cough*which is what I do*cough*).

Here we are with “Wake Up”. I could spend the next few pages ranting about Madisonʼs voice. She is incredible!

The whole message of this episode, and even the first season, is that memories are painful, “...but I love that.” They are worth it. Julie sees that as she looks up to the sky, to her mom, after, “Though I wish I could hold you through it.”

From earlier in the show.

The cinematography is stellar! Something that clicked for me from the first and has kept building with each rewatch is the symbolism of the piano as a mirror. The reflection in the piano is her pain. In her class it is too stark and hurts too much to do something. In the studio, it is still there but has been dulled and is not as sharp.

“And you use your pain, ʻcause it makes you you”.

The rising sun adds something to that: love of a memory. It helps block out the pain, which never truly goes away, but lights up the way to show it was worth it all along.

“Life can be a mess,

I wonʼt let it cloud my mind

Iʼll let my fingers fly

And I use the pain,

ʻCause itʼs part of me and Iʼm ready to power through it. Gonna find the strength,

Find the melody,

ʻCause you showed me how to do it.”

Iʼve seen this episode more times than I can count, but Iʼm still tearing up at this song, even with my constant stopping to take notes. Want to see power? THIS SONG IS POWERFUL. It says itʼs okay to be sad. Itʼs okay to be hurt and in pain. USE THAT. Wake up, wake up, if itʼs all you do. Sometimes thatʼs that feels like all you can do, and it tells you thatʼs enough.

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“Itʼs not what you lost,

Itʼs what you gained,

Raising your voice to the rain.”

Both Ray and Carlos hear Julie sing! I especially love how adorable Carlos is as he rests his head on his arms. The pure happiness that is on his face now that his sister has found a slice of her own happiness is the most precious thing ever.

I love the hope that this episode carries. That is why I am so obsessed with this show!

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Bonus things that make my day:

-Luke: “I want that connection with EVERYBODY.”

Reggie: “Then weʼre going to need more t-shirts.”

-It makes me laugh how the High School is called Los Feliz. The Happy Ones High School?

-Julieʼs outfits! I just noticed that she has a bracelet with her name on it! Iʼd seen her necklace, but not that.

-Flynnʼs earrings that say, “WHAT”

-“Nickʼs a sweetheart!”

“Yeah, youʼd actually have to talk to him to know that.”

-Reggieʼs little shrug when Alex says, “Clearly she doesnʼt get it.”

-ʻ“Nope! Stop talking to them! They arenʼt real. Thereʼs no such thing as cute ghosts.” “Oh, think weʼre cute?”ʼ

-How they all get so defense when Julie calls it Sunset Swerve. Reggie even helps by drawing a curve in the air.

-Setting the table with an extra plate for the mom.

-Ray messing with the instruments and the boys are so offended. They send looks at Julie to help and she shrugs a reply to say that she canʼt do anything.

-“He likes our song!”

“Yeah, he doesnʼt count. Heʼs a dad.”

-“I think sheʼs warming up to us.” Alex is such a sweet character through and through. Also back in 1995 when they vender says that pickle juice helps with the rust: “That canʼt...okay.”

-“Look, Iʼm sorry we came into your life.” The moment where all of us rewatching it say NO!

-“You guys are kinda good.”

“Kinda? You know thatʼs like, 25 years of rust just getting dusted off.”

The hand movements! Thatʼs exactly how dusting things off looks!

-What is written on the song! Julie hugs it!

That's a wrap for me! Thanks for reading! Tell me ALL your favorite things from this episode! Which do you like better, "Now or Never" or "Wake Up"? Does my comparison of the reflection in the piano to pain make any sense? It doesn't hold up for the rest of the show, I don't think. What is your favorite line from this episode?

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

Fortnight of Song Musical Karaoke Blog Party Entires

“June is busting out all over!”

Hey, guys! While today is the last day in Katherine and Grace’s Fortnight of Song Musical Karaoke Blog Party, I am in my usual fashion of showing up and participating at the last moment! I did have a post answering their tag questions a few days ago, but this is what you’ve all been waiting for...

The chance to hear my voice.

Oh the horror!

You also will get to hear the voices of my two sisters because I dragged them into this with me. We’re all in this together. 

Fiona when I asked if she wanted to join.

When the Maidens first were throwing around ideas for this party we didn’t know if we’d all be together at the time, but the timing worked out perfectly! Fiona and I were even able to convince Em to do a solo!

Em: "Wait, aren't you guys going to do solos, too?"

The answer Fiona and I gave her.

Quick disclaimer: I am by no means a professional singer. This is purely for fun! I actually know almost nothing about music. Think of me as Professor Harold Hill. Fiona is the only one of us to have taken voice lessons so we just depended on her to guide us through all five songs. Which involved a lot of "tongue exercises".

Exactly. This is how I felt the whole time.

Wait, we’re doing FIVE WHOLE SONGS? Oh yeah, we are!

To be honest with you all, showing my voice is almost scarier than showing my face (sorry, that's not happening today. You just get to see the audio tracks). I have always had a hard time talking. I have to focus to talk in a way that is understandable and people often ask if I’m British because they say I have a kind of accent (which used to offend me but now I just think is hilarious.). I fully admit that I have a weird voice. Which helps me figure out when people are trying to do an American accent and it isn’t at first noticeable. Sorry, Tom Holland and Charlie Gillespie, you did well but I could find your British and Canadian coming through even though I didn’t know what it was at the time.

Back to singing. I live with a very musical family, but singing never was my thing. It hurt (probably because I was doing it wrong!) and I wasn’t attached to it, but at the same time rather sensitive about it. A few years ago I realized that any singing should be fun and I’ve been super chill ever since.

I learned a lot through this singing experience! Apparently if I can’t hear myself singing then I don’t speak actual words. Instead I just say random things, haha! For example, a practice song was “The Other  

Side” from The Greatest Showman (we decided not to do it in the long run, but it still helped.) I had headphones on so I could only hear the original version and instead of “King of conventional” I said “King of conventionable” and “You run with me and I will cut you free” I said, “You run with me and I will cut you three”. We haven’t been able to stop laughing over that. It’s funny, people have always said the Em and I have very similar voices and we have always scoffed at that. We couldn’t be further apart. Well, we both realized that there is some truth to that listening to these recordings!

Enough chit chat! Let’s hear these!

(There are some spoilers for the musical in question for some of the following song. I will warn you at each one IF there are spoilers present. Don’t listen to the song or read my explanation if you haven’t seen/heard the musical, please! I’m going to give a quick run through of what has lead up to that song just in case it’s been awhile since you’ve seen it.)

(Also, if for some reason the videos don’t work please let me know! We have gone through a lot of different methods and this seemed the best.)

“Life’s a Happy Song” from The Muppets (2011):

(No spoilers here)

This song opens up the movie, so you don’t need any insider information to know what’s happening. Gary and his brother Walter are going to Los Angeles with Gary’s girlfriend. (We cut her part out because there is some much talking involved).

I’m Gary and various voices. Fiona’s Walter and various voices. Em is various voices.

When picking songs we all decided to not do anything from a movie or musical that all three of us hadn’t seen. We broke that rule right away because Fiona and I haven’t seen this movie, only Em. Have you made you want to watch it? Fiona and I now do!

“I Can’t Stop Singing” from Teen Beach Movie (2013):

(Mild spoilers. This song happens about halfway through the movie)

Fiona and I talked a lot about this movie in the last post. Two teens, Mack and Brady, get stuck in a 60s beach movie called Wet Side Story. They have now messed up the story because the main characters are supposed to fall in love with each other, but now Tanner loves Mack and Lela loves Brady. They find that they are changing the movie and are bound to break out in song at any moment. This movie really expresses how I feel towards musicals because sometimes I’m Brady and love everything about it, and sometimes I’m Mack and think it’s annoying (“It’s just a song! An insignificant way to move the story  

along!”).

I’m Brady and Fiona is Mack.

Em says (even though she didn't sing it) that this is one of the hardest songs because it has a weird key. I have no idea what key means. Or notes for that matter...

Saying “I Can’t Stop” made me keep breaking out into singing Morph by twenty one pilots (and freaking out my sisters) while there where happier songs thrown around, too, like “Can’t Stop the Feeling”.

It also provoked a lot of yelling of "Make it stop!" because we were tired of this song.

“Tightrope” from The Greatest Showman (2017):

(Mild spoilers. This song happens about 3/4 through the movie.)

Charity Barnum is afraid that she is losing her husband to ambition and all his endeavors. She sings this song to say to herself how she’ll never stop loving him and doesn’t want life to be calm, but anything is fine if they are together.

Em is Charity.

Em says that in her opinion this is the most underrated song of the whole movie. Fiona and I argue that “Come Alive” is. What do you guys think?

“No One is Alone” from Into the Woods (2014):

(Spoilers! This is one of the last songs in the musical!)

Fairy tales intertwine and happen at the same time in the woods! This song occurs when everything seems darkest. A giant is wreaking havoc while in revenge searching for the boy, Jack, who killed her husband. Our remaining heroes have found a way to stop the destruction, but anger, fear, and sadness are still present. The Baker and Cinderella sing this encouragement to Jack and Little Red Riding Hood.

Em is Cinderella and Fiona is the Baker. As you can see from the video, they filmed this when I wasn’t there and then realized that I had to be Jack and Little Red Riding Hood, so we had to edit that in.

This is one of my favorite songs ever! I love it tremendously. One time during filming Fiona said “alone” with a British accent and then Em and her kept joking about Enola Holmes. If you know, you know.

“Days in the Sun” from Beauty and the Beast (2017):

(Mild spoilers. This happens about 3/4 of the way through the movie)

All three of us are huge fans of the live-action Beauty and the Beast and part of the reason is all of the amazing new songs! It has just been revealed to Belle that the Beast used to be a kind a person when  

he was a little boy, but ever since his mother died his father brought him up to be cruel like him

We were crazy and chose an ensemble song. I know.

Fiona is young Beast, Cadenza, and Belle. Em is Plumette and Madame de Garderobe. I am Lumiére and Mrs. Potts. Disclaimer is that we were all trying to sound like how the people sound in the movie so it provided some funny results. Let’s just say that Ewan McGregor’s magnificent voice is a lot to live up to and I didn’t do that well in my impression of him...

The karaoke track that we could find for this had people singing in the background near the end, but we did our best to drown them out.

Apparently when singing I sometimes close my eyes and start whispering which, as you can imagine, does not show up well on the recording. Em and Fiona were singing “Eyes Wide Open” by Sabrina Carpenter to remind me not to do that, haha!

Please, hold your applause.

There you have it! You have now heard what we all sound like. Different from what you expected? Do you think that we sound alike? Have you guys heard any of these songs? 

Thanks to Katherine and Grace for hosting! Check out other singing HERE! Have you ever tried ensemble songs with three people?  Thanks for making it through this post!

MovieCritic (+ sisters)

The Fortnight of Karaoke Musical Tag!

 Hello, friends!

It’s the end of May, and early June, a picture perfect afternoon fortnight, and the Maidens of Green Gables are hosting a Karaoke Blogathon!

They’ve been hosting it since May 23rd and will continue to June 6th! I’ve loved seeing what they’ve done so far, so you should check it out. I will be participating in real karaoke style later on, but right now I wrangled my sisters into helping me fill out this tag.

Take a seat and get comfortable!

Thanks to Em for being my secretary and typing up part of this while I was washing the dishes before I could step in! I also admit that I cheated a lot because as the editor I could change my answers while I didn’t allow that for my sisters...

The Musical Karaoke Tag!

Rules:

1. Answer all the questions to the best of your ability! (Videos and Gifs are MOST welcome!)

2. Share the button and link

3. Tag a few people to share the joy

(My (MC) answers will be in blue, Em's answers will be in red, and Fiona's will be in green. I will also say who said what just to be extra clear. Any extra comments from me will be in black)

If you were ever wondering, this is exactly the kind of thing that the three of us somehow get into.

The Questions:

1. What are three musicals you really, really, REALLY like?

MC: It doesn’t ask for absolute favorites, so those will remain a mystery and I’ll just say some well enjoyed ones. First I’m going to say the musical that introduced me to musicals: The Wizard of Oz. Then The Greatest Showman, and... Beauty and the Beast.

Fiona: Oh gosh, can I answer with Broadway musicals? (MC: yes) Okay: Dear Evan Hansen, my second one is going to be Newsies, and... *lists 500 musicals* ... okay, okay, Into The Woods.

This was Fiona when I told her to only say three.

Em: Okay, I love The Music Man, beyond that I’m going to take a minute... Les Miserables, and, um, *25 years later* Phantom of the Opera!

2. Name three of your favorite songs from musicals?

MC: “Trouble in River City” from The Music Man. “The World Will Know” from Newsies (*Fiona interrupts with a chorus of “Santa Fe”*), and “Through Heaven’s Eyes” from The Prince of Egypt! Actually, scratch the Newsies one. I’m going to use that for a later answer. Right now editor me is listening to music and I just was loving “Nowhere to Go But Up” from Mary Poppins Returns so I’ll pick that. It is so cute!

Fiona: Let me go to my “Musicals” playlist... “No One Is Alone” from Into the Woods. My second two are “Waving Through a Window” from Dear Evan Hansen and “Lovely London Skies” from Mary Poppins Returns.

Em: Okay, I love “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera, “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady, and “On My Own” from Les Miserables, of course! *Fiona sings a very mixed up rendition of On My Own*... (Em typed that. I didn’t think it was messed up at all.)

INTERMISSION: Fiona needed to play “Lovely London Skies” after mentioning it so we had a great singalong.

3. Who is your favorite actor or actress from a musical?

MC: Even if I’m not that fond of hour-long ballet scenes, I’m still going to say Gene Kelly. He plays Don Lockwood, so is there really any competition? Oh, or the master himself, Lin-Manuel Miranda!

Fiona: Haaaaaahgghghh..... I don’t want to say Ben Platt, but I want to say Ben Platt. Actually, I really just want to say Ben Platt. And also Julie Andrews!

Em: Ohhh... It’s hard to beat my girl Judy Garland. And I agree with Fiona, too: Julie Andrews!

4. Do you have a favorite musical duet or two? Favorite version?

MC: “Someday” from Zombies (2018) – It’s so fun, and the first time I just saw that movie it was from there, and it was so cute. You might be thinking that I’m just sold on anything cute. Well, that might be true sometimes, but there is a fine line between cute and cheesy. “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera is splendid, too! I mean, technically it has three singers, but we’re going with it.

Fiona: “Rewrite the Stars” from The Greatest Showman. AND “A Couple of Swells” from Easter Parade.

Em: Duet, duet... “Moses Supposes” from Singin’ in the Rain.

5. What are your favorite female solos?

MC: I know it is annoying in the context of the movie, but I adore the song “Never Enough” from the Greatest Showman. I love connecting it to so many things!

Fiona: Alright, I’ve got two! Can I have two? *consent is given*

“The Place Where Lost Things Go” from Mary Poppins Returns and the song in The Sound of Music, “I Have Confidence”.

Em: “On My Own” from Les Miserables (guys, you might think she says that a lot, but believe me, it’s nothing compared to in real life). “Climb Every Mountain” from The Sound of Music, and “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera.

MC: Technically that has Raoul.

Em: *vehemently says that it counts*

6. What are your favorite male solos?

MC: “If I Were A Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof! The amount of joy that that song brings me is kind of insane. 

Oh, also “All I Ever Wanted” from The Prince of Egypt. For some reason I used to hate that song because it was boring, but I’ve since become to be completely enthralled with that musical.

Fiona: “Make ‘Em Laugh” from Singin’ in the Rain. “Evermore” from Beauty and the Beast (*MC cries at the mere mention of that song.* It’s so beautiful!). “Words Fail/For Forever” from Dear Evan Hansen. I can’t choose!

Em: “Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady. (though she also likes Dean Martin’s version. Like, a lot.) “Stars” from Les Miserables (she says to say hello to Miss Megan who uses that song in a certain story quite well...)

Not the Rex Harrison song from My Fair Lady like this GIF.

7. Favorite ensemble songs?

MC: “The World Will Know” from Newsies! And “Seize the Day”! Basically every song from that musical. I was just listening to “Mob Song” from Beauty and the Beast and forgot how much fun chaos that is, so that one, too.

Fiona: (After being denied permission earlier because it isn't a female solo) “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman! (Guys, this is editor me. I’m listening to a musicals playlist on shuffle and every time I come to one of Fiona’s questions I’m listening to that exact one. It’s starting to freak me out...)

I (MC) know that this isn't from that part of the movie, but I still am putting this GIF because it is epic.

Fiona: And “Life’s a Happy Song” from The Muppets!

Em: “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria” from The Sound of Music, “Masquerade” from Phantom of the Opera. And “One Day More” from Les Miserables! *MC grumbles about adding the unmentionable musical yet again*

8. What musical theatre song (or entire soundtrack!) do you like to belt out around the house?

MC: I don’t belt. I don’t sing, really.

*Both Fiona and Em argue that I belt Into the Unknown*

Only when prompted by you two or when leaving the house. Actually, the one song that when I hear it I will belt it out forever is “The World Will Know” from Newsies. Don’t get me started...

Fiona: Um, every song ever? “From Now On” from The Greatest Showman is literally me every day! “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana! *MC, who is now typing, starts to move on* Hold on, hold on, I’ve got more! “I Want Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere/Belle Reprise” from Beauty and the Beast. “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. (MC: So basically all Disney?) (Fiona: Of course!)

MC: “PULITZER MAY OWN THE WORLD BUT HE DON’T OWN US!”

Fiona: Oh, “Good Morning Baltimore” from Hairspray!

“Best Summer Ever” from Teen Beach 2!

MC, if you don’t cut me off I’m going to keep going forever. *MC is busy typing and can’t do that*

“Waving Through a Window” from Dear Evan Hansen!!!!

MC: “PULITZER MAY CRACK THE WHIP BUT HE WON'T WHIP US!” Sorry, I told you that I shouldn’t be prompted.

Em: Whichever one annoys MC the most. I’m kidding, I’m kidding! 

Yeah, this was me (MC, sorry, I can't make it blue for some reason) when she said that.

I sing “Funny Girl/Belle” from Beauty and the Beast when walking around town, but that’s not really in my house is it? Just all of them!

Les Mis.

Les Mis.

Les Mis.

Les Mis

“On My Own”, “Just A Little Rain”. Why do all my songs involve Rain?

Fiona: “Singin’ in The Rain”!

Oh, what’s the one from The Music Man?

MC: I’M CUTTING YOU OFF

Me, again. I get a little testy when Les Mis is constantly talked about...

9. Which underrated musical would you like to tell us all about??

MC: The Prince of Egypt. IT is splendiferous. I know because I used to underrate it but I won’t make that mistake again. It’s the story of Moses told in a fully EPIC way! (This is why I edit things. I had this listed twice, haha!).

The Hunchback of Notre Dame! (Fiona: I don’t think that’s underrated. MC: It is!) “God Help the Outcasts” may be one of the best songs of all time. And “Out There”! Ack, I love it. If you don’t know, it’s about the person who lives and works in the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral. Though forbidden to do so by his cruel guardian, he leaves the tower for a day and meets new people while learning that what he’s been taught about being worthless his whole life isn’t true.

Fiona: Whenever people ask me my favorites I can never think of it so I just say one that I really like but know isn’t my favorite. It’s hard! Make sense?

Teen Beach Movie. This is definitely a very underrated musical. It is about two friends who get trapped inside a 1960s beach movie that is basically West Side Story, as it is called WET Side Story because it is surfers against bikers (Though Sharks and Jets would totally work too). They have to find their way back to real life while along the way teaching the people in the movie that it is not about Us vs. Them but about working together for a common goal to save the things they love. And it teaches the heroine in the movie to stand up for herself and do what she loves. There are really great and fun songs and musical numbers in this movie and it is a really fun musical. I would definitely recommend!

This GIF is from The Music Man, but it totally fits because West Side Story is based on Romeo and Juliet and this is based on that...

Em: *screams* *calms herself* *cheats by looking things up* (She couldn’t decide because she was debating underrated talent and I had to make her focus on underrated story!) I decide Royal Wedding. Is that really underrated? I mean I’ve never heard anyone else talk about it.

It has a good mix between upbeat numbers and slow songs. It contains a variety of relationships: brother-sister dynamics with the main characters as well as their romantic relationships.

Plus it doesn’t have a long balletic scene.

It’s about a highly acclaimed sibling team who go to England for the royal wedding, and each find love in London while having to weigh decisions with personal opinions on career and what they want to do in their lives.

Bonus opinions:

We had a vote for favorite dance scene in a musical. Rule is that you can only talk about one. Go!

Fiona: The one in Descendants 2. “You and Me”.

MC: OH!

Me (MC) when Fiona was talking about this.

Fiona: I know. It is just the most fun and creative and unique and awesome dance scene ever! They are all on a boat and with previous events the boat had gotten quite a bit of water on the dock and they’re all just splashing in the water in the dance. I love it because if I could be in any movie ever (not just a musical! Any movie!) it would be an extra in that scene, they’re all just splashing in the water with the choreography and it’s so cool!

Em: This is so hard! How did you just do that? I know mine’s going to be from White Christmas. Either “Minstrel” or “Choreography”. Both explain Vera-Ella’s fantastic talent.

Okay, “Minstrel / Mandy” from White Christmas!

Fiona: Love that, love that!

These three might be us. Any guesses for who is who?

Em: It’s funny and playful and a big sweeping stage number (with an audience of three at the end!). As I said, it shows off Vera-Ellen’s incredible dancing. It’s what stuck out to me from White Christmas for forever. besides Choreography but I can’t talk about that because MC says so and its her blog.

I don’t like limits.

I love White Christmas. Can we add that to my favorite musicals? No? I can only have three? *sigh*

Oh----(*is cut off by MC*)

MC: Note, because both Em and Fiona have said group dances, I’m going to say one like that, too. So this might not be my favorite dance from a musical ever, just one that works awesomely with a ton of people. For the sake of this moment I’m going to say “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’” from Teen Beach Movie (2013). It just has such awesome vibes and perfectly captures a musical! Fiona explained what the movie is about above. Off of that, know that Wet Side Story is Brady’s favorite movie and Mack is not into it. “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’” is his favorite part of the whole movie so he joins the dance because he has memorized all the moves. Don’t all of us want to do that with our favorites?

I’m going to tag:

McKayla @ Tales of A Triple

Lia @ The Singing Writer

Miss Megan @ The Pen and the Cross

Annnnnnnd now I'm exhausted.

Well, that’s all from the three of us! I hope that you liked our answers! Very soon we’ll be doing our own musical karaoke for this blogathon and some of these might be clues...any guesses? Do any of you share the same favorites with us? What are some movie musicals that we should watch? Make sure to check out all the karaoke goodness HERE!

Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic