Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, a Netflix Original, is based on the books by the same title.
It is true to those books so much so that there is almost no deviation from the storylines or the characters. So if you read and liked them then you'll love this.
First off, Neil Patrick Harris is absolutely outstanding as Count Olaf. He is an evil guardian who changes his appearance and character as the situation sees fit.
This is a must as the story follows Olaf as he pursues the Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and their baby sister Sunny.
Through the death of their parents in a house fire they have been left a fortune which Olaf wants at any cost.
Each story sees the children try to outwit and escape the clutches of their Uncle Olaf. That is despite the fact that the adults around them appear to never recognise him in his various guises.
The orphans soon realise that they are not entirely on their own. They discover a secret society from their parent's past who are trying to help them survive.
Patrick Warburton is the narrator of the story. He appears throughout each episode to explain the unfortunate events that are unfolding. He is also a constant reminder that things will not end well.
It soon becomes apparent that he has more to do with the plot than first thought. This also adds to the intrigue of the storyline. This is a very well made and engaging tv show.
It is suitable for young and old alike and will have you gripped from the start. The first season consists of eight episodes and adapts the first four books of the series.
The second season has ten episodes. The third season, due out in 2019, will consist of seven episodes and adapt the remaining four books.
The show has a PG rating on Netflix. I strongly recommend that you follow it because A Series Of Unfortunate Events is very dark, and at times quite horrifying.
The portrayal of an Uncle whose sole purpose is to murder his nieces and nephew is quite disturbing.
I watched it with my eight year old who was absolutely gripped by this programme. That said, she was still scared out of her wits at some parts. This is a testament to the standard of acting, but it's probably not suitable for children younger than that.
