Netflix's A Series Of Unfortunate Events: 7 Ups & 1 Down

4. The Horrible Humour

A Series Of Unfortunate Events Olag
Netflix

Netflix do get one thing right: the show is, at times, pretty horrible. There's setback after setback, wicked deed after wicked deed, but the show manages to turn that on its head, carrying not only a message of hope, but a lot of humour too. It deftly balances the line between the darkness and the humour, the serious and the silly, and - especially through Count Olaf - delivers some brilliantly jet-black humour.

It's not all dark though, with all kinds of humour to be found here. There are, like the books, a number of literary gags, as well as some incredibly meta ones now that the show is on Netflix - it feels like most episodes contain at least one self-referential nod to this - and plenty of daft, whackier moments too. The show is far from outright comedy - it's much too miserable for that - but it knows how - and crucially, when -- to use a great gag, with some vociferously funny delivery throughout.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.