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A Series of Unfortunate Events is an American black comedy drama 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, Sara Rue 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 called the Volunteer Fire Department (often abbreviated to V.F.D.).

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.

Premise[]

When a mysterious fire destroys their home and kills their parents, the Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, are placed in the care of their distant 'relative' Count Olaf, an actor who is determined to claim the family fortune for himself. Following Olaf's failed attempt at getting the Baudelaires' fortune and his plot being exposed, the Baudelaires are placed in the custody of a series of inept or unsympathetic guardians, as they try to elude Olaf and his followers and uncover the mystery behind a secret society from their parents' past. The mysterious and melancholic Lemony Snicket narrates the Baudelaires' adventures for the audience.

Cast[]

  • Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf
  • Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket
  • Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire
  • Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire, the middle Baudelaire child
  • K. Todd Freeman as Arthur Poe
  • Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire
  • Tara Strong as Sunny's babbling sound effects
  • Lucy Punch as Esmé Squalor (seasons 2–3)
  • Dylan Kingwell as Duncan and Quigley Quagmire (main seasons 2–3; guest season 1)
  • Avi Lake as Isadora Quagmire (main season 2; guest seasons 1 & 3)
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