Current Events > Why does Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events misrepresent the books?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm on the second episode and I really don't get how they misrepresented the source material so poorly. Olaf is an incompetent moron, there are these random characters that nobody's ever heard of before, the Baudelaire parents are alive for some reason, there is absolutely no periodic consistency (the books clearly take place in the Victorian Era, but there's clearly walkie-talkies and references to Thurgood Marshall, the Internet and streaming television), and most egregious of all is the complete misrepresentation of the tone of the books. The books were never focused on comedy. Most comedy in the books is derived from the narrator's commentary, not the character interactions. For the most part, the character interactions were either depressing or setting up false hope in order to make certain parts hit even harder. Having such a large focus on comedy is completely counter to the tone of the books and the atmosphere the show itself establishes in its opening minutes.
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I've never read the series or watched the show, but he's a grown ass man who can't outwit a few plucky orphans that he is literally related to despite being old enough to, you know, hire a lawyer. How savvy could he be?

i read the first book and got to a page in the second book that was the same word repeated and quit on the spot

I can't watch more than one episode of the show at a time though. I've seen like 3 or 4 episodes. <_< That show is just too much for me.
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i think you're misremembering the books
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The show is good. Idc about the books. Sorry champ.
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Dash_Harber posted...

I've never read the series or watched the show, but he's a grown ass man who can't outwit a few plucky orphans that he is literally related to despite being old enough to, you know, hire a lawyer. How savvy could he be?

Olaf in the books was a cruel, cold, and calculating bastard who never broke character for an instant.
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Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

I've never read the series or watched the show, but he's a grown ass man who can't outwit a few plucky orphans that he is literally related to despite being old enough to, you know, hire a lawyer. How savvy could he be?

Olaf in the books was a cruel, cold, and calculating bastard who never broke character for an instant.

Again, how calculating if he is constantly outwitted by someone literally in diapers.

Garioshi posted...

Olaf in the books was a cruel, cold, and calculating bastard who never broke character for an instant.

And also highly incompetent. His crew got smaller and smaller each book. He's not the mastermind you think he is.
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would it be weird to reread this series

i remember loving it so much
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Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

I've never read the series or watched the show, but he's a grown ass man who can't outwit a few plucky orphans that he is literally related to despite being old enough to, you know, hire a lawyer. How savvy could he be?

Olaf in the books was a cruel, cold, and calculating bastard who never broke character for an instant.

Again, how calculating if he is constantly outwitted by someone literally in diapers.

I really wouldn't consider it "outwitted" when the three main characters are only barely escaping by the skin of their teeth each and every time. Every guardian they had wound up dead by his hand; they once had to resort to burning down half a hospital to escape him.
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Garioshi posted...

but there's clearly walkie-talkies and references to Thurgood Marshall, the Internet and streaming television

Are you the kinda guy who gets upset over Genie in Aladdin?
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bigotry posted...

would it be weird to reread this series

i remember loving it so much

Leave it in memories. It gets more and more disappointing when you think about it.
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Garioshi posted...

Olaf is an incompetent moron

He kinda always was. He was scary to the orphans, but the orphans were literal children.

Garioshi posted...

there are these random characters that nobody's ever heard of before

Nothing too impactful though, tbh. I quite liked the new addition(s?)

Garioshi posted...

the Baudelaire parents are alive for some reason

Pls finish season before commenting on this further

Garioshi posted...

there is absolutely no periodic consistency (the books clearly take place in the Victorian Era, but there's clearly walkie-talkies and references to Thurgood Marshall, the Internet and streaming television)

Stylistic choice and consistent with the novels themselves

Garioshi posted...

and most egregious of all is the complete misrepresentation of the tone of the books. The books were never focused on comedy. Most comedy in the books is derived from the narrator's commentary, not the character interactions. For the most part, the character interactions were either depressing or setting up false hope in order to make certain parts hit even harder. Having such a large focus on comedy is completely counter to the tone of the books and the atmosphere the show itself establishes in its opening minutes.

It sounds as if you remember the books as being far deeper and darker than they were. They were always kinda tongue in cheek, dude.
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It may have been a while since I read the books, but I never considered Olaf as competent, rather that the majority of the adults in the story are stupid enough for him to get by. He keeps losing against children after all. A lot of the series' humor also tends to rely on how absurd some of the plot elements are, so I didn't think the Netflix version was too far off the mark with how the story's represented.

The Netflix version does move around a few plot threads, but I would honestly just keep pressing on, and a few of your gripes might be addressed. I don't think it's a perfect adaptation, but I'm still interested in seeing more.

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

I've never read the series or watched the show, but he's a grown ass man who can't outwit a few plucky orphans that he is literally related to despite being old enough to, you know, hire a lawyer. How savvy could he be?

Olaf in the books was a cruel, cold, and calculating bastard who never broke character for an instant.

Again, how calculating if he is constantly outwitted by someone literally in diapers.

I really wouldn't consider it "outwitted" when the three main characters are only barely escaping by the skin of their teeth each and every time. Every guardian they had wound up dead by his hand; they once had to resort to burning down half a hospital to escape him.

Again, though, he is evenly matched by children, then.

Olaf was relatively smart because the entire rest of the world are complete morons. The baudelaires are like the only characters in their world to have above room temperature IQ. Like even the Quigleys, the second smartest group were dumb enough to leave their fake Sunny potato bag behind after they've almost won in the fifth book.
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I re-read the entire series after watching it and I kind of agree with you.

There was a lot of humor in the books but Olaf actually gave off a super evil vibe and it seemed like he kept getting away because he was so cunning.

In the show he's more comedic relief and he only seems to get away because every character that isn't the 3 children is super incompetent.
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Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

I've never read the series or watched the show, but he's a grown ass man who can't outwit a few plucky orphans that he is literally related to despite being old enough to, you know, hire a lawyer. How savvy could he be?

Olaf in the books was a cruel, cold, and calculating bastard who never broke character for an instant.

Again, how calculating if he is constantly outwitted by someone literally in diapers.

I really wouldn't consider it "outwitted" when the three main characters are only barely escaping by the skin of their teeth each and every time. Every guardian they had wound up dead by his hand; they once had to resort to burning down half a hospital to escape him.

Again, though, he is evenly matched by children, then.

tbf those children are prodigies. Violet builds a hot air balloon out of paper, Klaus reads dictionaries or something, and the baby makes gourmet food and holds her own in a fucking swordfight with a grown adult with her teeth.
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marthsheretoo posted...

He kinda always was. He was scary to the orphans, but the orphans were literal children.

But his portrayal in the show is a billion times more incompetent and moronic than he ever was in the books.
marthsheretoo posted...

Pls finish season before commenting on this further

ok
marthsheretoo posted...

Stylistic choice and consistent with the novels themselves

I don't remember a piece of technology like the walkie-talkie being an integral plot point like in the show (unless I'm sorely mistaken, which I might be).
marthsheretoo posted...

It sounds as if you remember the books as being far deeper and darker than they were. They were always kinda tongue in cheek, dude.

The second half of the series gets into the grey moral area of the main characters' actions taken for their continued survival. Going back through it with a critical viewpoint in mind is very worth doing.
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GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

I've never read the series or watched the show, but he's a grown ass man who can't outwit a few plucky orphans that he is literally related to despite being old enough to, you know, hire a lawyer. How savvy could he be?

Olaf in the books was a cruel, cold, and calculating bastard who never broke character for an instant.

Again, how calculating if he is constantly outwitted by someone literally in diapers.

I really wouldn't consider it "outwitted" when the three main characters are only barely escaping by the skin of their teeth each and every time. Every guardian they had wound up dead by his hand; they once had to resort to burning down half a hospital to escape him.

Again, though, he is evenly matched by children, then.

tbf those children are prodigies. Violet builds a hot air balloon out of paper, Klaus reads dictionaries or something, and the baby makes gourmet food and holds her own in a fucking swordfight with a grown adult with her teeth.

So suspension of disbelief is in effect that these orphans are all literal geniuses, but when an antagonist facing off against children over the course of a series is inept, it breaks immersion?

Garioshi posted...

I don't remember a piece of technology like the walkie-talkie being an integral plot point like in the show (unless I'm sorely mistaken, which I might be).

The Bad Beginning, pages 131-132

You could say 'I don't' instead of 'I do,'" Klaus said, "but I'm afraid Count Olaf would order Sunny dropped off the tower.

"I certainly would," Count Olaf said, and the children jumped. They had been so involved in their conversation that they hadn't heard him come up the stairs and open the door. He was wearing a fancy suit and his eyebrow had been waxed so it looked as shiny as his eyes. Behind him stood the hook-handed man, who smiled and waved a hook at the youngsters. "Come, orphans," Count Olaf said. "It is time for the big event. My associate here will stay behind in this room, and we will keep in constant contact through our walkie-talkies. If anything goes wrong during tonight's performance, you sister will be dropped to her death. Come along now."

The books' time period was unclear too. You say it's the Victorian era, but there were cars and drive-in movies and all sorts of shit. Having things like walkie-talkies and the internet despite it being far more old-fashioned looking helps with that discordant, off-putting tone.
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Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

I've never read the series or watched the show, but he's a grown ass man who can't outwit a few plucky orphans that he is literally related to despite being old enough to, you know, hire a lawyer. How savvy could he be?

Olaf in the books was a cruel, cold, and calculating bastard who never broke character for an instant.

Again, how calculating if he is constantly outwitted by someone literally in diapers.

I really wouldn't consider it "outwitted" when the three main characters are only barely escaping by the skin of their teeth each and every time. Every guardian they had wound up dead by his hand; they once had to resort to burning down half a hospital to escape him.

Again, though, he is evenly matched by children, then.

tbf those children are prodigies. Violet builds a hot air balloon out of paper, Klaus reads dictionaries or something, and the baby makes gourmet food and holds her own in a fucking swordfight with a grown adult with her teeth.

So suspension of disbelief is in effect that these orphans are all literal geniuses, but when an antagonist facing off against children over the course of a series is inept, it breaks immersion?

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.
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pegusus123456 posted...

Garioshi posted...

I don't remember a piece of technology like the walkie-talkie being an integral plot point like in the show (unless I'm sorely mistaken, which I might be).

The Bad Beginning, pages 131-132

You could say 'I don't' instead of 'I do,'" Klaus said, "but I'm afraid Count Olaf would order Sunny dropped off the tower.

"I certainly would," Count Olaf said, and the children jumped. They had been so involved in their conversation that they hadn't heard him come up the stairs and open the door. He was wearing a fancy suit and his eyebrow had been waxed so it looked as shiny as his eyes. Behind him stood the hook-handed man, who smiled and waved a hook at the youngsters. "Come, orphans," Count Olaf said. "It is time for the big event. My associate here will stay behind in this room, and we will keep in constant contact through our walkie-talkies. If anything goes wrong during tonight's performance, you sister will be dropped to her death. Come along now."

The books' time period was unclear too. You say it's the Victorian era, but there were cars and drive-in movies and all sorts of shit. Having things like walkie-talkies and the internet despite it being far more old-fashioned looking helps with that discordant, off-putting tone.

Huh.
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GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

But Olaf was incompetent.
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dave_is_slick posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

But Olaf was incompetent.

He was threatening though. He actually killed their first 2 guardians
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Explicit references to the fact that it's a Netflix original are kinda annoying tbh
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GiftedACIII posted...

He was threatening though. He actually killed their first 2 guardians

Considering he was their first guardian, kill himself doesn't help the argument that he's competent lol.

I get what you mean though, just thought it was funny.7
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pegusus123456 posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

He was threatening though. He actually killed their first 2 guardians

Considering he was their first guardian, kill himself doesn't help the argument that he's competent lol.

I get what you mean though, just thought it was funny.7

I mean, he was technically the direct cause of his own death...
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Also, TC, if you don't care about spoilers for a plotline you don't like. Those aren't the Baudelaire parents. They're the Quagmire, a nice little way of giving the audience some connection to the triplets before they show up.
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A Count Olaf as accurate as the books would leave me up at night. Jim Carrey and NPH had to give him a comedic vibe to offset this, although NPH is a much more sinister Olaf than Carrey.
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GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

I'm pretty sure the extended universe did much worse things to Star Wars.

I didn't like the narrator or Olaf in the series so I stopped watching

Shame because they were my favorite book series growing up.
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Olaf was just the smartest adult in that universe, which didnt mean much.

I thought it did a decent job with the first couple books. I dont exactly remember the details of the 4th one that much, but it was a good watch.
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AvantgardeAClue posted...

A Count Olaf as accurate as the books would leave me up at night.

This so much. He's extremely intimidating in the books.
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I just can't take NPH seriously as a serious villain.

Sad, because the rest of the show nails the atmosphere rather perfectly.
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It was far from Victorian era. There were cars, natural gas, etc referenced in the text
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ZMythos posted...

It was far from Victorian era. There were cars, natural gas, etc referenced in the text

I realize this now; however, it is worth noting that the Baudelaires were, as described in the books, a typical middle class Victorian family. Their clothes in the (admittedly limited) artwork of the books are also very Victorian.
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Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

I'm pretty sure the extended universe did much worse things to Star Wars.

Like what?
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M_Live posted...

I've never read the books, were they really that nihilist for a children's series?

Not nihilistic, the kids are pretty positive despite all the shit happening to them, it's just that there's very little payoff in terms of the overarching story, the last book pissed me off quite a bit with how little is actually explained
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This is a nerd quality thread.
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Now I want to reread the books again
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I agree with you, TC. The books were funny but they took themselves seriously. I also don't think NPH is a good Olaf at all. He's too funny and likeable, he makes you want to cheer for him instead of the orphans which isn't the point of the story at all.
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GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

I'm pretty sure the extended universe did much worse things to Star Wars.

Like what?

I mean, I was just sort of going for a joke ending to the conversation because it was going nowhere but...
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/George_R._Binks_(comic)

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

I'm pretty sure the extended universe did much worse things to Star Wars.

Like what?

I mean, I was just sort of going for a joke ending to the conversation because it was going nowhere but...
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/George_R._Binks_(comic)

That's not an established main character though.
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GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

I'm pretty sure the extended universe did much worse things to Star Wars.

Like what?

I mean, I was just sort of going for a joke ending to the conversation because it was going nowhere but...
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/George_R._Binks_(comic)

That's not an established main character though.

Moving the goal posts. I just said the extended universe did worse things to Star Wars in response to your comment about how people would react if Darth Vader was reinvented. No one said anything about established main characters.

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

I'm pretty sure the extended universe did much worse things to Star Wars.

Like what?

I mean, I was just sort of going for a joke ending to the conversation because it was going nowhere but...
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/George_R._Binks_(comic)

That's not an established main character though.

Moving the goal posts. I just said the extended universe did worse things to Star Wars in response to your comment about how people would react if Darth Vader was reinvented. No one said anything about established main characters.

Huh, I wasn't aware we were having an argument... But if we were, you were the one who moved the goalpost if you meant changing around random minor characters with "the extended universe did much worse" because if it wasn't clear the reason I brought up Darth Vader because like Count Olaf he's the main iconic villain of their respective series. No one cares if they changed up the minor henchmen of olaf (which I'm sure they did, they probably got rid of a bunch altogether)
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GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

It's not me personally but I'm pretty sure TC just doesn't like how they flanderized Olaf's character. It's like if they decided to make darth vader some goofy deadbeat dad who actually went to the dark side because he didn't want to take care of Luke who was an accident and then gets his ass beat by Jabba the Hut in a Star Wars reboot. You'll definitely get fans of his character pissed off that way.

I'm pretty sure the extended universe did much worse things to Star Wars.

Like what?

I mean, I was just sort of going for a joke ending to the conversation because it was going nowhere but...
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/George_R._Binks_(comic)

That's not an established main character though.

Moving the goal posts. I just said the extended universe did worse things to Star Wars in response to your comment about how people would react if Darth Vader was reinvented. No one said anything about established main characters.

Huh, I wasn't aware we were having an argument... But if we were, you were the one who moved the goalpost if you meant changing around random minor characters with "the extended universe did much worse" because if it wasn't clear the reason I brought up Darth Vader because like Count Olaf he's the main iconic villain of their respective series. No one cares if they changed up the minor henchmen of olaf (which I'm sure they did, they probably got rid of a bunch altogether)

Jesus fuck, defensive much? It was a joke because the discussion was going nowhere. You responded to my joke asking for me to cite my sources. What the fuck did you expect?

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

GiftedACIII posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

I'm pretty sure the extended universe did much worse things to Star Wars.

Like what?

I mean, I was just sort of going for a joke ending to the conversation because it was going nowhere but...
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/George_R._Binks_(comic)

That's not an established main character though.

Moving the goal posts. I just said the extended universe did worse things to Star Wars in response to your comment about how people would react if Darth Vader was reinvented. No one said anything about established main characters.

Huh, I wasn't aware we were having an argument... But if we were, you were the one who moved the goalpost if you meant changing around random minor characters with "the extended universe did much worse" because if it wasn't clear the reason I brought up Darth Vader because like Count Olaf he's the main iconic villain of their respective series. No one cares if they changed up the minor henchmen of olaf (which I'm sure they did, they probably got rid of a bunch altogether)

Jesus fuck, defensive much? It was a joke because the discussion was going nowhere. You responded to my joke asking for me to cite my sources. What the fuck did you expect?

"asking you to cite your sources"? I was just asking because I was curious. You're the one that got defensive over a discussion and started treating it like an argument. You're literally just projecting on me your own bitterness right now.
What's going on?
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