The long awaited season two of A Series of Unfortunate Events was released on March 30, 2018. The popular television show stems from the original series that was written by Daniel Handler under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket.

A brief summary: the plot follows three Baudelaire orphans who have suffered the tragic loss of their parents and home in a mysterious fire. The three siblings, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, are thrown from guardian to guardian as a greed filled “actor” named Count Olaf, played by Neil Patrick Harris, attempts to acquire their inheritance. Count Olaf constantly infiltrates the children’s lives, disguised as bizarre characters with odd accents and equally odd backstories.   

In my opinion, the books contain a particular tone and vernacular that is distinct due to it’s generally expressionless and sarcastic dialogue. This tone carries over to the television show perfectly intact and well carried out, thanks to the amazing actors and actresses that were cast. 

The casting was magnificently done as each actor and actress portrayed their characters perfectly. Neil Patrick Harris plays the character Count Olaf and Harris’ love for theatrics and being completely over dramatic more than fits the role. With ridiculous and random musical moments, followed by nefarious plans, Harris creates one of the best and most dynamic villainous characters. The narrator of the show, Patrick Warburton who plays Lemony Snicket, exudes his characters unenthusiastic ways while somehow keeping audiences engaged and providing comic relief with dry humor.

The cast also shares the physical appearances of the original book characters since there is nothing more frustrating than watching your favorite character get played by someone who does not even look the part (*cough Hermione).

The personalities of the children are made obvious to the audience through every saying, mannerism, and action. Klaus Baudelaire, played by Louis Hynes, loves literature and it becomes immediately known as he spouts random facts and quotes about absolutely everything. Even Sunny has extensive character development as her babbles and incoherent sounds are translated through subtitles that give the audience bits and pieces of her personality. 

In fact, the only characters I found myself to be struggling to love were all the oblivious adults who ignored the orphans despite their persistence and determination. Even then, these adults, like the banker Arthur Poe, were lovable in their aura of cluelessness and they provided comic relief. During the second season, the show took some particularly dark turns that were not present in the first season so the bits of humor were much appreciated.

Many teens and children are unaware of the books, since the first book was released in 1999, so my only wish is that the TV adaptation had come sooner. There really is no way to describe how absolutely wonderful this TV show is so go binge watch it and find out for yourself.