A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)

***A Series of Unfortunate Events*** is an American black comedy drama streaming television series based on the book series of the same name by Lemony Snicket (the pen name of American author Daniel Handler) for Netflix. It stars Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, K. Todd Freeman, and Presley Smith. Dylan Kingwell, Avi Lake, and Lucy Punch join the cast in the second season.

Similar to the book series, A Series of Unfortunate Events follows the misadventures of the three Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, following the deaths of their parents and the destruction of their home. While the children are shuffled between various foster homes, they are pursued by Count Olaf, who desires to gain control of the vast Baudelaire inheritance before Violet comes of age. Along the way, the Baudelaires discover their parents' connections to an elusive secret society.

The first season, which premiered on January 13, 2017, consists of eight episodes and adapts the first four books of the series. The second season was ordered in March 2017 and released on March 30, 2018, consisting of ten episodes and adapting the fifth through the ninth books. The third and final season, which was announced in April 2017 and released on January 1, 2019, consists of seven episodes and adapts the remaining four books.

Throughout its run, the series received critical acclaim, with praise towards its production values, writing, faithfulness to the novels, and acting, particularly that of Harris as Count Olaf.

## Cast

### Main

* Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, a failing actor who is determined to claim the Baudelaire fortune for himself. He is a member of the fire-starting side of the secret organization VFD (Volunteer Fire Department). He has a unibrow and a tattoo resembling an eye on his left ankle, which is frequently used to identify him when he is disguised.
* Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket, the narrator and member of VFD who is tasked with explaining the events during the lives of the Baudelaires.
* Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire, the eldest Baudelaire sibling, an inventor and talented mechanic.
* Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire, the middle Baudelaire child, interested in literature and books.
* K. Todd Freeman as Arthur Poe, the family banker at Mulctuary Money Management and executor of the Baudelaire parents' estate, who is in charge of placing the Baudelaires in the care of a suitable guardian. He is often seen to be oblivious to the crimes around him despite the Baudelaire siblings telling him.
* Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire, the infant Baudelaire child with unnaturally strong teeth and eventually a love for cooking. Tara Strong provides Sunny's babbling sound effects, the meaning of which is often translated in subtitles. Smith's own voice was also used within the third season.
* Lucy Punch as Esmé Squalor, a glamorous, wealthy financial advisor, who becomes an ally and love interest for Count Olaf. (seasons 2–3)
* Dylan Kingwell as Duncan and Quigley Quagmire, Isadora's brothers. Duncan is a keen journalist, while Quigley is Isadora and Duncan's long-lost sibling who was thought dead in the fire at the Quagmire home. (guest season 1; main seasons 2–3)
* Avi Lake as Isadora Quagmire, Duncan and Quigley's sister who loves writing poetry. (Main season 2; guest seasons 1 & 3)

### Recurring

* Will Arnett as the Quagmires' father, a man associated with VFD who is trying to return home to his children.
* Cobie Smulders as the Quagmires' mother, a woman associated with VFD who is trying to return home to her children.
* Usman Ally as Fernald the Hook-Handed Man, a member of Count Olaf's theatre troupe with hooks instead of hands.
* Matty Cardarople as the Henchperson of Indeterminate Gender, a member of Count Olaf's theatre troupe who doesn't have a specific gender.
* Cleo King as Eleanora Poe, Arthur Poe's wife and the editor-in-chief of *The Daily Punctilio* who loves pursuing sensationalist headlines.
* John DeSantis as the Bald Man, a tall bald-headed man who is another member of Count Olaf's theatre troupe.
* Jacqueline and Joyce Robbins as the White-Faced Women, two elderly twins who are members of Count Olaf's theatre troupe.
* Sara Canning as Jacquelyn Scieszka, Mr. Poe's standoffish secretary and a member of VFD. She possesses a spyglass.
* Patrick Breen as Larry Your-Waiter, a member of VFD who is seen working as a waiter at various establishments the Baudelaires visit including the Anxious Clown, Prufrock Preparatory's cafeteria, Café Salmonella, and the Hotel Denouement's Indian restaurant.
* Sara Rue as Olivia Caliban, a librarian at Prufrock Preparatory School who later enlists as a member of VFD when she becomes invested in the Baudelaires' plight and even becomes the latest Madame Lulu.
* Nathan Fillion as Jacques Snicket, the dashing adventurer brother of Lemony Snicket and member of VFD who enlists Olivia Caliban to help the Baudelaires.
* Kitana Turnbull as Carmelita Spats, an obnoxious, tutu-wearing student at Prufrock Preparatory School. She later becomes Olaf and Esmé's adoptive daughter.
* Allison Williams as Kit Snicket, the sister of Lemony and Jacques Snicket, member of VFD, and Count Olaf's former fiancée.

### Guest

#### Introduced in season 1

* Joan Cusack as Justice Strauss, a judge and Count Olaf's neighbor who helps the Baudelaires and hopes to adopt them.
* Kaniel Jacob-Cross and Jack Forrester as Edgar and Albert Poe, Arthur Poe's two sons who are unwelcoming to the Baudelaires.
* Darcey Johnson as Trolleyman, the driver of a rickety trolley.
* Luke Camilleri as Gustav Sebald, a member of V.F.D. and Monty's former assistant who made some films that had certain codes in it.
* Aasif Mandvi as Montgomery "Uncle Monty" Montgomery, a distant relative of the Baudelaires and enthusiastic herpetologist who claims to have spent his childhood with their late parents. He is a member of V.F.D. and possesses a V.F.D spyglass.
* Matthew Walker as the Ticket Seller, an unnamed Ticket Seller at Tedia's movie theater who is a friend of Montgomery and a member of V.F.D. Mark Kandborg portrays him in a flashback seen in "Carnivorous Carnival".
* Alfre Woodard as Aunt Josephine Anwhistle, a distant relative of the Baudelaires at Lake Lachrymose who has many rational and irrational fears since the loss of her husband Ike and a love of grammar. She is a member of V.F.D.
* Barry Sonnenfeld as Ike Anwhistle, the late husband of Josephine who is first seen as a picture cameo in "The Wide Window" and appears in person in a flashback scene in "Carnivorous Carnival" as a member of V.F.D.[*Citation needed*]
* Rob LaBelle as a taxi driver.
* Don Johnson as Sir, the cigar-smoking owner of Lucky Smells Lumbermill.
* Catherine O'Hara as Georgina Orwell, an optometrist, member of the fire-starting side of V.F.D., and Count Olaf's ex-girlfriend who hypnotizes the Lucky Smells Lumbermill workers so they never leave, also causing them to believe the Baudelaire parents set fire to Paltryville. O'Hara previously portrayed Justice Strauss in the 2004 film adaptation.
* Rhys Darby as Charles, Sir's partner who is friendly towards the Baudelaires.
* Timothy Webber as Jimmy, a worker at Lucky Smells Lumbermill.
* Chris Gauthier as Phil, an optimistic worker who befriends the Baudelaires during their stay at the Lucky Smells Lumbermill. He later reunites with the Baudelaires as the cook on the Queequeg submarine.
* Loretta Walsh as Norma Rae, a worker at Lucky Smells Lumbermill.
* Trent Redekop as Cesar, a worker at Lucky Smells Lumbermill.

Daniel Handler cameos as a fish salesperson at Lake Lachrymose.

#### Introduced in season 2

* Roger Bart as Nero Feint, the violin-playing vice-principal of Prufrock Preparatory School and struggling musician with an egotistic personality, a penchant for mimicking what someone says in a high voice, and a love for excessive punishments.
* Bronwen Smith as Miss Tench, Prufrock Preparatory School's gym teacher who is replaced in the post by a disguised Count Olaf while on her way back to Prufrock Preparatory School with the pep squad and the sports team.
* Malcolm Stewart as Mr. Remora, a teacher at Prufrock Preparatory School who specializes in teaching his personal anecdotes and is always seen eating a banana.
* BJ Harrison as Mrs. Bass, a teacher at Prufrock Preparatory School who specializes in measuring objects. She later becomes a bank robber.
* Tony Hale as Jerome Squalor, the timid husband of Esmé Squalor.
* Sage Brocklebank as Doorman, an unnamed doorman who works at 667 Dark Avenue.
* Ithamar Enriquez as Hector, a skittish handyman and citizen of the Village of Fowl Devotees who befriends the Baudelaires.
* Mindy Sterling as Elder Anabelle, a member of the Village of Fowl Devotees' Council of Elders who often quotes "silence" when a non-police officer and/or a non-banker consultant attempts to violate the "No one may talk while on the platform" rule.
* Carol Mansell as Elder Jemma, a soft-spoken member of the Village of Fowl Devotees' Council of Elders.
* Ken Jenkins as Elder Sam, a gruff-speaking member of the Village of Fowl Devotees' Council of Elders.
* Lossen Chambers as Mrs. Morrow, an inhabitant of the Village of Fowl Devotees that wears a pink robe.
* Kevin Chamberlin as Mr. Lesko, an inhabitant of the Village of Fowl Devotees that wears plaid pants.
* Serge Houde as Milt, the shopkeeper of the Last Chance General Store in the Hinterlands.
* Gabe Khouth as Lou, the newspaper delivery boy who brings the Daily Punctilio's newspapers to the Last Chance General Store.
* John Bobek as the bearded leader of the Volunteers Fighting Disease.
* Lauren McGibbon as the perky member of the Volunteers Fighting Disease.
* Kerri Kenney-Silver as Babs, the Head of Human Resources, Hospital Administration and party-planning at Heimlich Hospital.
* David Alan Grier as Hal, a visually-disabled file clerk who is employed in the Library of Records at Heimlich Hospital.
* Robbie Amell as Kevin, an ambidextrous "freak" who works at Caligari Carnival.
* Kevin Cahoon as Hugo, a hunchbacked "freak" who works at Caligari Carnival.
* Bonnie Morgan as Colette, a contortionist "freak" who works at Caligari Carnival.
* David Burtka as Mr. Willums, a heckler with a pimpled chin who attends Caligari Carnival. He is based on The Man With Pimples On His Chin from "The Carnivorous Carnival" book.
* Jill Morrison as Mrs. Willums, the wife of Mr. Willums.
* Harper and Gideon Burtka-Harris as Trixie and Skip Willums, the children of Mr. Willums.

#### Introduced in season 3

* Keegan Connor Tracy as Brucie, the leader of the Snow Scouts who is based on Bruce from the book series.
* Richard E. Grant as the Man with a Beard but No Hair, a villain and mentor of Count Olaf who has an "aura of menace" that even frightens Count Olaf.
* Beth Grant as the Woman with Hair but No Beard, a villain and mentor of Count Olaf who has an "aura of menace" that even frightens Count Olaf.
* Kassius Nelson as Fiona Widdershins, the teenage captain of the *Queequeg* and Klaus' love interest who is looking for her stepfather Captain Widdershins ever since he was lost at sea. She is revealed to be the sister of Fernald.
* Max Greenfield as the Denouement brothers, triplets who are members of V.F.D. and work at the Hotel Denouement. Dewey is the sub-sub-librarian of the Hotel Denouement and lover of Kit Snicket who the Baudelaires encounter. Frank and Ernest are the co-managers of the Hotel Denouement. Frank is described as the good brother on the fire-fighting side of V.F.D. and Ernest is described as the villainous brother on V.F.D's fire-starting side with connections with Count Olaf.
* Morena Baccarin as Beatrice Baudelaire, the mother of the Baudelaire children and the love interest of Lemony.
* Eric Keenleyside as the Fire Chief, the unnamed father of Count Olaf and chief of the city's fire department who was accidentally killed by Beatrice with a poison dart that was meant for Esmé.
* Peter MacNicol as Ishmael, the leader of a group of castaways on an island and the founder of V.F.D. who left when the "Schism" began. In the show, he is also the estranged principal of Prufrock Preparatory School.
* Nakai Takawira as Friday, a young girl living on an island.
* Angela Moore as Miranda, the mother of Friday who lives on an island.
* Simon Chin as Alonso, an inhabitant on an island.
* Matthew James Dowden as Bertrand Baudelaire, the father of the Baudelaire children.
* Angelina Capozzoli as Beatrice Baudelaire II, the daughter of Kit Snicket and Dewey Denouement who is taken in by the Baudelaire children and later reunites with her uncle Lemony.

## Episodes

 2
 3

### Season 1

The first season adapts the first four books of the novel series: *The Bad Beginning*, *The Reptile Room*, *The Wide Window* and *The Miserable Mill*.

 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 Klaus doesn't seem like himself after a visit to Dr. Orwell, an optometrist with unusually optimistic patients; Violet works to clear her parents' names.

### Season 2

The second season adapts books five through nine of the novel series: *The Austere Academy*, *The Ersatz Elevator*, *The Vile Village*, *The Hostile Hospital*, and *The Carnivorous Carnival*.

 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 Still posing as conjoined carnival freaks, the Baudelaires brace themselves for a beastly fate and wonder whether good fortune will intervene for once.

### Season 3

The third and final season adapts the final four books of the novel series in seven episodes: *The Slippery Slope*, *The Grim Grotto*, *The Penultimate Peril*, and *The End*, with the final book being adapted as a single episode.

 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 The children uncover some unsettling accusations about their parents when they arrive at the Lucky Smells Lumber Mill; Count Olaf courts an old flame.

## Production

The Development of the tv show stated as the thirteen *A Series of Unfortunate Events* novels, written by Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket from 1999 to 2006, achieved success in young adult fiction around the same time as the *Harry Potter* novels. As such, the Snicket books had been optioned to be filmed before they were published. On December 3, 2015, an open casting call was announced for the roles of Violet and Klaus Baudelaire. Sonnenfeld had worked with Malina Weissman before on the film *Nine Lives* and had appreciated her ability to speak quickly without overacting, and selected her for Violet from her audition. The production series began in May 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in August 2016 several cast members expressed through social media that filming had finished. Filming for the second season began in April 2017. The third season began filming on January 5, 2018.

## Reviews

* The Rotten Tomatoes team gives this TV show a 4.7 of 5 stars and the 96 out of 100 percentage.
* The Common Sense Media team gives this TV show a 4 of 5 stars
* IMDb gives this TV show a 7.8/10
* 89% of the Google users liked this TV show

## References

1. ↑ Wollaston, Sam. "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events review – fabulous steampunk fun", January 13, 2017.
2. ↑ "Harris"
3. ↑ "Warburton"
4. ↑ "Baudelaires"
5. ↑ "A Series of Unfortunate Events' Malina Weissman Is 15—and Dresses Better Than You". *Coveteur* (2018-04-11).
6. ↑ "Baudelaires"
7. ↑ "Freeman"
8. ↑ "FirstTrailer"
9. ↑ "TaraStrong"
10. ↑ "latimes jan2019"
11. ↑ "S2Cast"
12. ↑ "Quagmires"
13. ↑ Tracz, Joe (October 30, 2018). *The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations: An Utterly Unreliable Account of Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events*. Hachette Books. ISBN 9780316451826.
14. ↑ Moore, Amanda (September 29, 2016). "'A Series Of Unfortunate Events' Air Date, Cast News: Early 2017 Release Plotted; Meet 4 Child Actors Of ASOUE". *Parent Herald*.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Serrao, Nivea (November 22, 2016). "'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events': A Deep Dive Into the New Trailer". *Entertainment Weekly*. Archived from the original on January 19, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Rivera, Brittany (January 1, 2017). "15 Things You Need To Know About Netflix's A Series Of Unfortunate Events". *Screen Rant*.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Capes, Kristy (May 10, 2016). "Everything We Know So Far About Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events". *Flickering Myth*.
18. ↑ Van Vorrhis, Genevieve (December 23, 2016). "A Series Of Unfortunate Events: News, Trailer, Characters, Release Date & All You Need To Know". *Movie Pilot*.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Calvario, Liz (June 10, 2017). "Nathan Fillion & More Join Season 2 of 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' – Find Out Who They're Playing". *ET Online*. Entertainment Tonight.
20. ↑ "A Series of Unfortunate Events season 2 review: Misery makes a welcome return", March 26, 2018.
21. ↑ "A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 2 Cast & Character Guide". *Screen Rant* (March 29, 2018).
22. ↑ "Behind the Scens of "A Series of Unfortunate Events"".
23. ↑ "Book"
24. ↑ Otterson, Joe. "Allison Williams Joins 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' at Netflix", March 20, 2018.
25. ↑ "The Teaser for Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Coming to Netflix". *ComingSoon.net* (October 4, 2016).
26. ↑ "FlickeringMyth"
27. ↑ "Mandvi"
28. ↑  (2018) *The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations: An Utterly Unreliable Account of Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events*, 1st, Hachette Books. ISBN 978-0316451826.
29. ↑ @DanielHandler (November 16, 2016). "The @unfortunate trailer is coming tomorrow. For today, our final cast reveal–– @AlfreWoodard as Aunt Josephine:" (Tweet). Retrieved November 17, 2016 – via Twitter.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
30. ↑ @DanielHandler (November 15, 2016). "Today's @Unfortunate reveal: @DonJohnson and @Aasif Mandvi's characters. Can you guess who?" (Tweet). Retrieved November 17, 2016 – via Twitter.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
31. ↑ Robinson, Will (November 14, 2016). "Series of Unfortunate Events: Lemony Snicket shares first look at two characters". *Entertainment Weekly*. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
32. ↑ "Season2Characters"
33. ↑ "Season2Characters"
34. ↑ "Season2Characters"
35. ↑ "S2Cast"
36. ↑ "Season 2 review"
37. ↑ "Season2Characters"
38. ↑ "Season2Characters"
39. ↑ "Season2Characters"
40. ↑ "Season2Characters"
41. ↑ "Season2Characters"
42. ↑ A Series of Unfortunate Events [@unfortunate] (February 23, 2018). "The sad truth is the truth is sad. @davidalangrier joins Season 2, adding to the ranks of people who did not heed our sound advice to avoid this grim tale at all costs".

Template:Cbignore
43. ↑ A Series of Unfortunate Events [@unfortunate] (February 23, 2018). "A most unfortunate update: @robbieamell joins Season 2 of #ASOUE. Our repeated letters instructing him to run swiftly in the opposite direction must have failed to arrive".

Template:Cbignore
44. ↑ "Season2Characters"
45. ↑ "Season2Characters"
46. ↑ Walsh, Megan (March 30, 2018). "Harper & Gideon Make A Cameo On 'A Series Of Unfortunate Events' In The Most Surprising Way". *Romper.com*.
47. ↑ Falcone, Dana Rose (March 30, 2018). "Neil Patrick Harris on What It Was Like Working with His Kids on A Series of Unfortunate Events". *People*.
48. ↑ "Book"
49. ↑ "Book"
50. ↑ "Book"
51. ↑ "Book"
52. ↑ "Book"
53. ↑ "NPHHypable"
54. ↑ "HandlerEWJan2017"
55. ↑ "HandlerEWJan2017"
56. ↑ Shamsian, Jacob (April 4, 2018). "The final season of Netflix's 'Series of Unfortunate Events' will adapt the books differently than the rest of the show — here's why". *Insider*.
57. ↑ Spense D. (December 16, 2004). "Interview: Lemony Snicket". *IGN*.
58. ↑ "A Series Of Unfortunate Events Online Search". *Lemony Snicket Casting*. Cast It Talent.
59. ↑ "latimes jan2019"
60. ↑ Davis, Brandon (March 14, 2016). "Neil Patrick Harris Closes Deal To Star In Netflix's A Series Of Unfortunate Events". *ComicBook.com*.
61. ↑ "Neil Patrick Harris on shooting A Series of Unfortunate Events in Vancouver", *CBC news*.
62. ↑ Smith, Sophia (August 10, 2016). "A Series of Unfortunate Events Premiere Date and Casting: Confirmed and Rumored Casting; Filming Concluded". *CrossMap.com*.
63. ↑ `"'A Series Of Unfortunate Events' Behind The Scenes".
64. ↑ Hynes, Louis (January 5, 2018). "Day 1 of season 3!! We got new slates!!! @janneswessels #asoue".

## External links

* Lemony Snicket Wiki
* A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix
* A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series) on IMDb