There are only a few shows that perfectly balance between the dark and colorful, light and heavy tones, and come out as an entertainer for all age groups. In 2017, Netflix released such a show with Neil Patrick Harris in one of the pivotal roles. The show, based on the 13-part children’s book by Daniel Handler (pseudonym Lemony Snicket, which is also the name of the main character of the books), has clever storytelling that makes even tragedy funny at times.

The story of one misfortune running after another has been told in a delightfully depressing way, utilizing metahumor every now and then.

A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix, which holds a high 96% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, follows the Baudelaire siblings, teenagers Violet and Klaus and toddler Sunny. At the very beginning of the show, they are informed by Mr. Poe, an inattentive and constantly happy estate handler, that their parents have perished in a fire. 

Though consumed by grief, they have to now protect themselves from a malevolent distant relative, Count Olaf, who is after their vast fortune, and also from a succession of guardians who are all either deceitful or malicious. Being as serious as the situations around them are, the series’ narrator, Lemony Snicket, and his morbid sensibility and quirky narrative style make it all light-hearted and engrossing.

The show has flawlessly translated the charm of the books to the screen, and it shows when one compares it to the 2004 A Series of Unfortunate Events movie starring Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep. Although the movie was not that bad, it lacked the deftness of the writing in the books. But the show embodies the original source material well.

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While the story and storytelling itself deserve heaps of praise, it would not have been that successful if it were not for the stellar cast and their outstanding performances. 

The show’s cast has impeccably brought the characters from the pages to life on the screen. In the role of Lemony Snicket, Patrick Warburton is gloomily expressive but miserably monotonous. As Count Olaf, Neil Patrick Harris portrays a vile relative with questionable motivation. And Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes are deserving of recognition as Violet and Klaus, respectively.

The cinematography and music are also worth mentioning, as they only elevate the text and the cast. This show has amazing visuals; it i bleak as it should be, but it is also incredibly detailed and weird. This show might feel like a figment of a fairy tale, but a sad one. Neil Patrick Harris's theme simply sticks in your head, and the music is captivating. Truly, it is one of the most thoroughly enjoyable comedy dramas on Netflix, with a refreshing take on tragic stories.

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Have you watched A Series of Unfortunate Events? If yes, did you like it? Tell us in the comments.