“What might seem to be a series of unfortunate events may in fact be the first steps of a journey.”
-Lemony Snicket
Good Day my Bingers,
I hope you all enjoyed your holidays! With today’s release of Season 4 of Black Mirror, it feels like Christmas all over again. I can never get enough of a good television show after a good waiting period (I’m looking at you Sense8).
But Black Mirror isn’t what I’m bringing you today. I’ve already written on the wonderful show, and I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I’m finally writing on a show that I failed to bring to you sooner. I apologize for that as well.
Today, I introduce you to a Series of Unfortunate Events. For many millenials like me, we may remember this being one of the top series of books that we would read during grade school. Much like waiting for a new season of a tv show now, we would patiently wait for Lemony Snicket to release the next piece of his ever-confusing series. We just wanted answers to what seemed like the most unfortunate and most confusing tale ever told (save for Harry Potter. Nothing beats that.)
Now, Hollywood tried to bring the books to life with the release of a movie in 2004 starring Jim Carrey as Count Olaf, but it was utterly a disaster. The acting was quite amazing with the opportunity to be amazing, but it was squandered. Like, who tries to put 3 books into one movie?! Only crazy people. That’s who.
The epitome of trash.
Even though the chance for a good story to hit the big screen was squandered, Netflix, I firmly believe, did it justice with the first season and will continue to do so with the rest. Each 50 minute episode is reserved for half of a book, and the first season consists of 8 episodes. This means that we are only graced with the first 4 books in the first season.
One of my favorite people ever, Neil Patrick Harris, was one of my favorite actors in the whole show by far. He is a pure GOD as Count Olaf. I mean, let’s be honest, Mr. Harris is a god with anything he does, but he’s GOALS as this heinous man!
WOULD YOU LOOK AT HIM!? When I imagined Olaf in my younger years, I honestly saw this.
Now, let’s be honest, Neil was GREAT at his part, but can we talk about freaking Presley Smith. Who is Presley Smith you may wonder? Presley is literally my favorite person ever after watching this show and happens to play the most sarcastic of the three Baudelaires, baby Sunny!
I was so enthralled with Presley as Sunny that I actually paused the show and took this snapshot of her face at one point just because I was fangirling… over a baby, yes…. but still.
Presley’s actions are so adorable gosh darnit! Of course I can’t find any of the many profound moments that Sunny has, so you’ll just have to watch it to see the amazingly adorable Presley at work. Keep in mind that there are voice overs and cheesy CGI scenes for Sunny since Presley is a baby and can’t do all the things they wanted her to, but it’s so cute that I looked right past it!
Now, many critics of the show said they really disliked it because they felt it wasn’t serious enough for the book series or it was weird, but I call bologna. If you’ve read the books, you’ll understand that they are meant to be ridiculously silly and outrageous; the children are the only serious part of the whole series. Netflix showcases this with the casting and acting of the adults and how the set and scenes look. It’s almost Suessical in some ways but it’s just a feint hint (not Cat in the Hat ridiculous). It’s ridiculous in a sad way that leaves you disheartened for the Baudelaire’s but still makes you laugh. So for any naysayers…. suck it because it’s perfect.
