“Barry Sonnenfeld’s OTHER Love Child: The Awesome Television
You May Be Missing on NETFLIX
”
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS (2016, TV-PG, 8 episodes
approx. 50 minutes each, NETFLIX ORIGINALS/PARAMOUNT TV)
Please,
whatever you do, pay close attention to the final sentence in this review—if
you have far too little time to read this entire article, hinge the entire
message I am attempting to relay upon that sentence itself.
Several years ago, Barry Sonnenfeld produced and directed a
television show called “Pushing Daisies” which was an original and superbly
written (yet short lived) series. In 2004, Sonnenfeld was an executive producer
of the Jim Carey film A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. “Pushing Daisies” was an
incredible breath of freshly written and intimately intelligent television that
was, frankly, too good for its time. EVENTS was… well, it was Jim Carey.
Sonnenfeld is back, and his appreciation of the original
books, and the storytelling vision he was honing in “Daisies”, has culminated
into a Netflix production which not only captures the imagination and propels
your need to know the fundamental differences between “figuratively” and
“literally”, but also makes you appreciate the fact that Carey ruined any
chance of the film spawning a sequel. I occasionally like Jim Carey, but when
you watch Neil Patrick Harris taking on the same role that Carey did—and
NAILING IT, you realize that Sonnenfeld was a bit ahead of his time with the
first iteration. NPH wasn’t ready in 2004, but, holy crap, is he ready now.
As “Count Olaf”, NPH allows his natural theatrical talents
to soar. Not overboard, as with Carey, but to the heights of characterization
which show not only his range, but his uncanny ability to capture every scene
and immediately sink his teeth into it. Oh, and he is not alone. Every stinkin’
actor in this show is the absolute best representation of every literal
character to have ever breathed life on the small screen. The casting of the
three children, orphaned when their parents are killed in a fire, is a work of
genius. The role of “Sunny,” the infant of the trio, is nothing short of
brilliant. Seriously. The facial expressions on that baby are amazing. And
Patrick “The Tick” Warburton as “Lemony Snicket” is a sweet entremet in a tale
of sour foreboding that should not be overlooked.
Even the episodic guest stars represent a range of talent
that amazes and elicits chuckles just in the casting. Catherine O’Hara as an
evil optometrist, Joan Cusack as a kindly judge, Alfre Woodard as a skittish
aunt—hell, the show even has Don ‘Freaking’ Johnson in it! But one of the great
regular standouts is the stunning and hilarious performance of K. Todd Freeman
as “Mr. Poe”. The moments when he loses his cool are… artistically brilliant.
The show has already been renewed for a second season. For
television to capture not only the language and essence of its original
material is a rare treat; for it to hit on every artistic level imaginable is
unheard of. The attention to detail, not only in the writing of the scripts but
also with the intricate detail of every single set, is something that TV hasn’t
seen since… well, since “Pushing Daisies”.
Stop whatever you are doing, and go watch this show—you
deserve it.
Series Grade: A
-- T.S.Kummelman
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