First Impressions: A Series of Unfortunate Events Netflix Series

I grew up reading A Series of Unfortunate Events. The books were interesting but depressing. 

I remember vividly watching the movie over and over again. It’s not a great movie or a good adaptation. For what it’s worth, it has a beautiful set design and OST. Those are what will hold over the Netflix series for sure. 

The Netflix series is too bright. If it was to juxtapose the depressing nature of the series, it’s more uncanny. Yes, the books work on dark humor but it’s just uncanny. Not bad, just uncanny or meant to evoke that sense of unease. Is it meant to be uneasy? Because the brightness does that yet something about the execution felt off as if it misses the mark. The set design is okay yet it just doesn’t fit. It’s just doesn’t fit. 

The soundtrack is okay. I don’t understand the inclusion of the musical numbers but alright. I still don’t think they set the mood right. I never thought the book series would want depressing musical numbers. The most I got out of it is just eh. 

Probably one of the worst aspects was the lack of mystery as it spelled it out to you clues. Instead of being hidden and allowing the audience to piece together the clues, VFD is out and open to the audience. It’s as if to appeal to the book fans without considering the audience who have no clue the books are a mystery series. Most of the time, I sigh because of the lack of providing clues. I know the humor of the books yet when translating that to a show where it shows, don’t tell. Don’t do that to the actual mysteries of the show. 

It’s as if One Piece doesn’t hide the foreshadowing and just spell it out. Like, hey, see this, name-drop Haki everywhere instead of calling it Mantra or leaving it open via demonstrations of animal taming or knocking people out with a wave of energy! Or calling Sanji prince everywhere and every time instead of dropping it once! That’s what it feels like with the VFD clues. Instead of discovering VFD is on their journey, aside from me knowing about VFD due to my knowledge of the books, I don’t feel like I am going to uncover with the Baudelaires about the VTD. It’s like the audience is there to not uncover VFD for themselves with the clues and foreshadowing provided. It’s in your face that it’s annoying. 

Actually, I’m amused that while the author was unsatisfied with the film, the Netflix series took inspiration from them such as the spyglass and a giant magnifying glass to start fires. I know the spyglass detail wasn’t in the books yet the motif was striking enough it actually overtook the books on that aspect. 

If only that could be said about the set design and soundtrack. The movie did those better than the series. 

The series isn't perfect so far but it's watchable.