I read this book series when it was first coming out in bookstores. I owned the whole series. I think I was into the mystery surrounding everything and the premise that this was indeed going to be a series full of unfortunate events. It was something you didn't see in the youth genre, and on some level I appreciated that. I did enjoy it, but I only read it once. Odd, because I usually reread books I liked. I think I was left a little miffed at the questionable ending. I actually got rid of the books, another weird move on my part.
When the 2004 movie came out, I only saw it once (Am I sensing a pattern here?). I remember I did not enjoy it, probably because it deviated so much from the book series. I was a real stickler for sticking to the source material. Still am, but I'm now a little more forgiving.
So, I was not super crazy excited when the Netflix reboot was announced, only pleasantly excited. Netflix has done some great series, and reboots of recently filmed stories are still in vogue. It sounded like a good idea.
Then everything changed with one teaser trailer:
0:01 through 0:19, I was nodding my head. Ah yes. Netflix does not disappoint. At 0:20, I would have done a spit take if I had been drinking something. The SS United States?? Here??
So, A Series of Unfortunate Events instantaneously became one of my newest obsessions!
So let's get down to it. The series chronicles the tale of the three Baudelaire orphans whose parents are killed when their mansion mysteriously catches on fire. The Baudelaires are sent to live with their relative Count Olaf, who will do anything to get his hands on the orphans' family fortune. A series of unfortunate events ensues.
Season one of the Netflix series covers the first 4 books, with each book being covered by 2 episodes. There are 13 books in the series altogether, so there should be at least 2 more seasons.
This was a book lover's dream. ASOUE was everything Harry Potter fans were asking of their adaptation to film. No detail was skipped, no character was angry when they were supposed to be calm (I'm still bitter, Goblet of Fire), and there was enough time to cover everything significant and showcase the little details. There were changes and small additions, but every change/addition felt natural, like it could have always been that way. It dissolved into the world like a tasteless, odorous poison into a drink. They didn't contradict major plot points in the book, unlike the 2004 movie did. Everything felt authentic. I was pleased.
The world that was created had a huge Pushing Daisies feel to it. Quirky, morbid, artistically stunning visuals, stoic children, zany one-off characters, timeless fashion, an amazing narrator, and architecture to the T. Pushing Daisies is one of my favorite series, so the feeling was welcomed with open arms. Stills from each show could be confused with each other, except PD took the color saturation to 11, whereas ASOUE muted colors. ASOUE also made everything dingy and run-down-looking. [Feb 2019 Update: I have since learned that Barry Sonnenfeld was executive producer on both series, and is probably the reason for this artistic connection. Thanks go to Zenith Haas for alerting me to the connection :)]
Let's be honest, I was only here for the ship, you're only probably reading this because of the ship. I have dawdled long enough. Let's depart to the dreary dock.
I didn't remember a ship of her magnitude in the book series, so I was interested in how the Big U would fit in.
The SS United States first appears briefly in the opening credits of each episode of the season. It's an image of the ship on a cork board, covered with strings tied to thumb-tacks. You later infer it is a montage of Lemony Snicket working, researching and figuring out how the different pieces of the story go together. I was pleasantly surprised to see the ship appear so soon.
Then we get to episode 3 & 4, aka "The Reptile Room." The SS United States stars as the SS Prospero, a ship headed towards Peru. Not much else is stated about the ship itself. It is supposed to take the orphans and their current guardian to Peru to finally get some answers and safety. What actually happens is the exact opposite. No one rides the boat, no one gets any questions answered, no one is safe (especially the guy that dies), and the season of unfortunate events continues on for 4 more episodes.
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| The SS Prospero in A Series of Unfortunate Events. In the teaser trailer, she doesn't have a name on her bow. In the episode, you can see "SS Prospero" |
The ship enters the story (a-la the magic of CGI) in her current rusty state. The rust fits the look of the series well. Everything looks like it's been through a couple hurricanes. Only problem... like the current SS United States, there are no lifeboats on the SS Prospero. They should probably add some for future voyages, just in case...
Towards the end of the episode, Count Olaf boards the SS Prospero (as seen in the teaser trailer above). The inside of the ship is a set, and is not based on any of the SS United States' innards. One reason: wood. The stateroom walls look like wavy wood veneer, while the hallway you can see out the door is paneled wood. You can get a glimpse of the stateroom in the trailer below, 2:10-2:21.
Something has felt off. The SS United States feels like an odd fit. A very specific real world place was placed in this otherworldly series. There are no connections to the real world, except the SS United States and Peru. I can overlook Peru, because that was in the book series. The boat could have been any turn of the century steamship, and no one would have batted an eye. But no, they chose the SS United States. This is a very fine detail, but it won't stop bothering me, so I intend to get to the bottom of its mystery.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Season: Absolutely Dreadful. 4/4
SS United States: It's CGI... but you see it a lot, relevant to plot, and you briefly go on it. 2.9/4
February 2019 Postscript:
The unfortunate Netflix series has concluded after three unfortunate seasons, so it is time to do a final review.
Should I have looked away? I believe I looked away at the right moment, during the end credits. It was a good adaptation through and through. The series stayed consistently superb.
Television/streaming series seem like the best adaptation medium for books that are dense/long/13 novels in length. It's a medium that can please old and new fans alike, and give every nitty, gritty detail. Everything can breathe, so you don't have to hit points every minute like you're decimating a checklist where everything on it has to be done in 2-3 hours. Simile, check!
Again, I have not reread the books, but I was surprised by what I could remember (They're actually triplets? Nailed it.). There was also a lot I had forgotten, so as the story progressed, it was harder to tell what had been added or changed. The changes I noticed (like adding VFD in earlier) seemed to enhance the story, rather than detract from what the original books were.
They slightly changed the ending of the series for Netflix. In the final book, the Baudelaires set sail away from the island into the unknown, and the fate of everyone is left up in the air. The contents of the infamous sugar bowl were never revealed. In the previous book, the plot that had been building up over multiple novels sharply about-faced and disposed of multiple storylines in one fell swoop of a fire.
It was frustrating to go that far in a series and not have answers, or a satisfying ending. I suppose that was the point: You don't always find out. You don't always get closure. You don't always find the ending of each story you come across. Life is nonsensical, and not always in a Dr. Seuss way. ASOUE was a series that was created to overturn the typical children's story, and its book ending did as well. I can appreciate that, but as a reader it was a hard pill to swallow.
For the Netflix series, the ending mostly stayed the same, but there were caveats. As Lemony's narration concludes, you get a montage of minor characters receiving happy endings and reunions for their stories. The Baudelaire's story is still left to mystery, but with Beatrice Snicket meeting Lemony and recounting the orphans' stories, it suggests they all did survive and at least made it to the mainland. And the contents of the sugar bowl were finally revealed.
There wasn't a thrilling conclusion, and it still ended with many open-endings. But just enough was answered to call the story concluded. Was this a concession to fans and for better ratings? I don't know, but I don't care. I am at peace with it.
Ending aside, from the actors to the makeup, costumes, sets, and more, it was a great series and should be commended for it.
As for the SS United States, it only appeared in episodes 3 & 4 of Season 1. After that season, the opening credits were changed, so the SS United States no longer appeared.
I did try to find an answer to why the SS United States was in the series. Multiple paths led to dead ends. My favorite attempt involved writing a letter to Lemony Snicket. I purchased a postcard with a picture of the SS United States on it, then charred and burned it to look like it had been through a fire.
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| Before & After charred SS United States postcard |
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| Back of charred postcard |
Note was as follows:
Dear Mr. Snicket,
As a famed researcher + storyteller, I am humbled to be writing to you. I hope this letter reaches you in one piece. My enemies know no bounds to prevent me from learning the truth.
I suffered through the newest adaption of your work "A Series of Unfortunate Events" on Netflix. I apologize I did not listen to your numerous warnings to look away.
I have a very fine detail I would like to question you about that is crucial to my own personal investigations. In Episode 4 in the recent adaptations, the SS Prospero is portrayed by a CGI SS United States. The Netflix series avoids any specific tie-ins, except for Peru (but what is one more rope to an already tied-up country?) + the SS United States.
My question, why was the SS United States chosen to appear as the Prospero?
With all due respect,
-A.J. Jelonek
The letter was sent, but no reply was received. I can only assume with the reignited interest in the Baudelaires' story, Snicket is on the lamb from his enemies.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My final thoughts remain unchanged.
This series is to bring awareness to the SS United States, a historic American ocean liner. She is currently berthed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, awaiting restoration. Learn more on her story at ssusc.org.
