A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” follows the tragic but brilliant Baudelaire orphans as they investigate their parents’ deaths while surviving their wicked uncle’s machinations to deprive them of their inheritance. Both darkly gothic in style and drolly hilarious, the televised version visually realizes the melancholy-yet-beautiful essence of the beloved children’s book series on which it is based. With a raised eyebrow or outrageous remark, the accomplished cast owns every scene, resulting in performances that wryly acknowledge children’s intelligence instead of sentimentalizing it. Parents die. Caretakers disappoint. Houses fall into the sea. Wit and pluck nevertheless propel the unlucky Baudelaire children forward, even when the future looks bleak. Rich in detail and bursting with a weird concoction of modern cynicism and old-fashioned mores, the televised series successfully honors a cherished primary text while also playfully transforming it. For its lively excellence, strange silliness, and compelling storytelling, Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” earns a Peabody Award.