If you are interested in a review about a happy story, you’re better off reading another one. Netflix’s adaptation of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” premiered in January, on Friday the 13th, an unlucky day for a show about unlucky events to be released.

The show stars Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, the Baudelaire children’s villainous third cousin four times removed or perhaps the fourth cousin three times removed. Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, and Presley Smith star alongside Harris as the three Baudelaire children. Patrick Warburton brings author Lemony Snicket to life by playing the narrator.

Harris does a great job as Count Olaf. He plays the role with a more humorous twist compared to how Jim Carrey portrayed the same role in the 2004 movie based on the book series. I prefer Harris’ version of the villain because of the lighthearted feeling this gives the show. The rest of the young cast also perfectly fits the charming, yet dark story of the Baudelaires.

The story begins when Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are orphaned after their parents die in a fire. The children are then forced to live with the greedy Count Olaf who wants the Baudelaire fortune. Each time Count Olaf comes up with a plot to get to the fortune, he is thwarted by the children.

Each kid has a special talent that aids them in escaping Count Olaf’s evil clutches. Violet is an inventor and can build anything, even with limited supplies. Klaus is known to be an avid reader and is a very knowledgeable child. And Sunny is characterized by her sharp teeth which can saw through even the toughest materials.

These talents can sometimes be exaggerated and unrealistic. For example Sunny uses her teeth to smooth a rock. The infant also knows how to play poker, even winning against a adult.

This unrealistic portrayal of talent and knowledge makes the show a little more childish.

Although these talents are important to the story, they subtract from the overall plot by distracting from the unfortunate events that take place.

After Count Olaf’s plan is foiled, the children are transferred to a new guardian, but Count Olaf finds them once more and again devises a scheme to get access to the Baudelaire’s wealth. The pattern of Olaf coming up with a plot, the kids foiling it and then being given to a new guardian continues, and it soon becomes evident that Olaf will stop at nothing.

Although this pattern can get a little repetitive, each new plot is creative and different from the rest. Narrator Snicket also manages to keep the plot entertaining and captivating, and at times, uses almost the exact lines written in the books.

The show closely follows Snicket’s original 13 books. The first season follows the first four books: “The Bad Beginning,” “The Reptile Room,” “The Wide Window” and “The Miserable Mill.”

However, an interesting subplot is included in the final scenes of each episode, which adds even more mystery to the show. These snippets of information were a clever and enjoyable way to make the show new, and set it apart a bit from the books and movie.

The show is cleverly produced and even the opening song adds to the overall feel of the story. Every two episodes equal one of the books and each book gets a personalized theme song. Although the tune is the same, the words are slightly altered for each book. The songs, sung by Harris, are a great way to start each episode and keep viewers from skipping the opening.

Themes of having courage in the face of danger and thinking outside the box to solve problems are conveyed through the Baudelaire’s struggle. Although the topic of the show is rather dark, these themes give the show a charming, and at times even slightly light hearted feeling.

Overall I give “A Series of Unfortunate Events” a 4 out of 5 stars. Just as good as the books, this Netflix show is fun, enjoyable and easy to understand for all age groups.

I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out in the second season, even though there must be something happier on screen for me to see.