kids encyclopedia robot

A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
A Series of Unfortunate Events
A Series of Unfortunate Events TV titlecard.jpg
Genre
Developed by
  • Mark Hudis
  • Barry Sonnenfeld
Starring
Theme music composer
  • Nick Urata
  • Daniel Handler
Opening theme "Look Away"
by Neil Patrick Harris
Composer(s)
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 25 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Cindy Holland (season 1)
  • Brian Wright (season 1)
  • Ted Biaselli (season 1)
  • Daniel Handler
  • Neil Patrick Harris
  • Rose Lam
  • Barry Sonnenfeld
Producer(s) Neil Patrick Harris (season 1)
Production location(s) Vancouver, British Columbia
Cinematography Bernard Couture
Editor(s)
  • Stuart Bass
  • Skip Macdonald
  • Steve Welch
Running time 36–64 minutes
Production company(s)
  • Paramount Television
  • What is the Question?
  • Sonnenfeld Productions, Inc.
Distributor ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks
Netflix
Release
Original network Netflix
Picture format
  • 2:1 (HD)
Original release January 13, 2017 (2017-01-13) – January 1, 2019 (2019-01-01)

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, or simply A Series of Unfortunate Events, is an American black comedy-drama streaming television series from Netflix, developed by Mark Hudis and Barry Sonnenfeld, based on Lemony Snicket's children's novel series of the same name. It stars Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, K. Todd Freeman, and Presley Smith; Lucy Punch, Dylan Kingwell, and Avi Lake join the cast in the second season.

As with the book series, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events follows the misadventures of the three Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, following the deaths of their parents in 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 the children come 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 books five through nine. 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 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 narrator Lemony Snicket explicates the Baudelaires' adventures for the audience.

Cast and characters

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 V.F.D. (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 V.F.D. who is tasked with explaining the events during the lives of the Baudelaires.
  • Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire, the eldest Baudelaire sibling and an inventor talented in mechanics.
  • 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.
  • Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire, the infant child of the Baudelaires with unnaturally strong teeth. 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. (Season 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. (main Season 2–3; guest Season 1)
  • 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 V.F.D. who is trying to return home to his children.
  • Cobie Smulders as the Quagmires' mother, a woman associated with V.F.D. 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 V.F.D. She possesses a spyglass.
  • Patrick Breen as Larry Your-Waiter, a member of V.F.D. 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 V.F.D. 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 V.F.D. 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 V.F.D., and Count Olaf's former fiancé.

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally released
1 8 January 13, 2017 (2017-01-13)
2 10 March 30, 2018 (2018-03-30)
3 7 January 1, 2019 (2019-01-01)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: A Series of Unfortunate Events (serie de televisión) para niños

kids search engine
A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.