A Series of Unfortunate Events is an American black comedy drama television series based on the book series of the same name by Lemony Snicket (the pen name of American author Daniel Handler) for Netflix. It stars Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, K. Todd Freeman, and Presley Smith. Dylan Kingwell, Avi Lake, Sara Rue and Lucy Punch join the cast in the second season.

Similar to the book series, A Series of Unfortunate Events follows the misadventures of the three Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, following the deaths of their parents and the destruction of their home. While the children are shuffled between various foster homes, they are pursued by Count Olaf, who desires to gain control of the vast Baudelaire inheritance before Violet comes of age. Along the way, the Baudelaires discover their parents' connections to an elusive secret society called the Volunteer Fire Department (often abbreviated to V.F.D.).

The first season, which premiered on January 13, 2017, consists of eight episodes and adapts the first four books of the series. The second season was ordered in March 2017 and released on March 30, 2018, consisting of ten episodes and adapting the fifth through the ninth books. The third and final season, which was announced in April 2017 and released on January 1, 2019, consists of seven episodes and adapts the remaining four books.

Throughout its run, the series received critical acclaim, with praise towards its production values, writing, faithfulness to the novels, and acting, particularly that of Harris as Count Olaf.

Premise When a mysterious fire destroys their home and kills their parents, the Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, are placed in the care of their distant 'relative' Count Olaf, an actor who is determined to claim the family fortune for himself. Following Olaf's failed attempt to possess the Baudelaire fortune and his plot being exposed, the Baudelaires are placed in the custody of a series of mostly inept or unsympathetic guardians, as they try to elude Olaf and his followers, whilst attempting to uncover the mystery behind a secret society from their parents' past. The deadpan, mysterious, and melancholic Lemony Snicket narrates the Baudelaires' misadventures for the audience.

Cast and characters

Main

Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, a failing actor who is determined to claim the Baudelaire fortune for himself. He is a member of the fire-starting side of the secret organization V.F.D. (Volunteer Fire Department). He has a unibrow and a tattoo resembling an eye on his left ankle, which is frequently used to identify him when he is disguised. Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket, the deadpan narrator and member of V.F.D. who is tasked with explaining the events during the lives of the Baudelaires. Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire, the eldest Baudelaire sibling, a talented inventor and mechanic Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire, the middle Baudelaire child, who holds an interest in literature and books K. Todd Freeman as Arthur Poe, the family banker at Mulctuary Money Management and executor of the Baudelaire parents' estate, who is in charge of placing the Baudelaires in the care of a suitable guardian. He is often seen to be oblivious to the crimes around him despite the Baudelaire siblings telling him Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire, the infant Baudelaire child with unnaturally strong teeth and eventually a love for cooking. Tara Strong provides Sunny's babbling sound effects, the meaning of which is often translated in subtitles. Smith's own voice was also used within the third season. Lucy Punch as Esmé Squalor (seasons 2–3), a glamorous, wealthy financial advisor, who becomes an ally and love interest for Count Olaf Dylan Kingwell as Duncan and Quigley Quagmire (main seasons 2–3; guest season 1), Isadora's brothers. Duncan is a keen journalist, while Quigley, a cartographist, is Isadora and Duncan's long-lost sibling who was thought to have perished in the fire at the Quagmire home. Avi Lake as Isadora Quagmire (main season 2; guest seasons 1 & 3), Duncan and Quigley's sister who loves writing poetry, specifically couplets, which she learned to write from her parents

Recurring

Will Arnett as the Quagmires' father, a man associated with VFD who is trying to return home to his children Cobie Smulders as the Quagmires' mother, a woman associated with VFD who is trying to return home to her children Usman Ally as Fernald the Hook-Handed Man, a member of Count Olaf's theatre troupe with hooks instead of hands Matty Cardarople as the Henchperson of Indeterminate Gender, a member of Count Olaf's theatre troupe who does not have a specific gender Cleo King as Eleanora Poe, Arthur Poe's wife and the editor-in-chief of The Daily Punctilio who loves pursuing sensationalist headlines John DeSantis as the Bald Man, a tall bald-headed man who is another member of Count Olaf's theatre troupe Jacqueline and Joyce Robbins as the White-Faced Women, two elderly twins who are members of Count Olaf's theatre troupe Sara Canning as Jacquelyn Scieszka, Mr. Poe's standoffish secretary and a member of VFD Patrick Breen as Larry Your-Waiter, a member of VFD who is seen working as a waiter at various establishments the Baudelaires visit including the Anxious Clown, Prufrock Preparatory's cafeteria, Café Salmonella, and the Hotel Denouement's Indian restaurant Sara Rue as Olivia Caliban, a librarian at Prufrock Preparatory School who later enlists as a member of VFD when she becomes invested in the Baudelaires' plight and even becomes the latest Madame Lulu Nathan Fillion as Jacques Snicket, the dashing adventurer brother of Lemony Snicket and member of VFD who enlists Olivia Caliban to help the Baudelaires Kitana Turnbull as Carmelita Spats, a spoiled, bratty student at Prufrock Preparatory School. She later becomes Olaf and Esmé's adoptive daughter Allison Williams as Kit Snicket, the sister of Lemony and Jacques Snicket, member of VFD, and Count Olaf's former fiancée

Guest Introduced in season 1

Joan Cusack as Justice Strauss, a judge and Count Olaf's neighbor who helps the Baudelaires and hopes to adopt them Kaniel Jacob-Cross and Jack Forrester as Edgar and Albert Poe, Arthur Poe's two sons who are unwelcoming to the Baudelaires Darcey Johnson as Trolleyman, the driver of a rickety trolley Luke Camilleri as Gustav Sebald, a member of VFD and Monty's former assistant who made some films that had certain codes in it Aasif Mandvi as Montgomery "Uncle Monty" Montgomery, a distant relative of the Baudelaires and enthusiastic herpetologist who claims to have spent his childhood with their late parents. He is a member of VFD and possesses a VFD spyglass. Matthew Walker as the Ticket Seller, an unnamed Ticket Seller at Tedia's movie theater who is a friend of Montgomery and a member of VFD. Mark Kandborg portrays him in a flashback seen in "Carnivorous Carnival". Alfre Woodard as Aunt Josephine Anwhistle, a distant relative of the Baudelaires at Lake Lachrymose who has many rational and irrational fears since the loss of her husband Ike and a love of grammar. She is a member of VFD. Barry Sonnenfeld as Ike Anwhistle, the late husband of Josephine who is first seen as a picture cameo in "The Wide Window" and appears in person in a flashback scene in "Carnivorous Carnival" as a member of VFD Rob LaBelle as a taxi driver Don Johnson as Sir, the cigar-smoking owner of Lucky Smells Lumbermill Catherine O'Hara as Georgina Orwell, an optometrist, member of the fire-starting side of VFD, and Count Olaf's ex-girlfriend who hypnotizes the Lucky Smells Lumbermill workers so they never leave, also causing them to believe the Baudelaire parents set fire to Paltryville. O'Hara previously portrayed Justice Strauss in the 2004 film adaptation. Rhys Darby as Charles, Sir's partner who is friendly towards the Baudelaires Timothy Webber as Jimmy, a worker at Lucky Smells Lumbermill Chris Gauthier as Phil, an optimistic worker who befriends the Baudelaires during their stay at the Lucky Smells Lumbermill. He later reunites with the Baudelaires as the cook on the Queequeg submarine. Loretta Walsh as Norma Rae, a worker at Lucky Smells Lumbermill Trent Redekop as Cesar, a worker at Lucky Smells Lumbermill

Daniel Handler cameos as a fish salesperson at Lake Lachrymose.

Introduced in season 2

Roger Bart as Nero Feint, the violin-playing vice-principal of Prufrock Preparatory School and struggling musician with an egotistic personality, a penchant for mimicking what someone says in a high voice, and a love for excessive punishments Bronwen Smith as Miss Tench, Prufrock Preparatory School's gym teacher who is replaced in the post by a disguised Count Olaf while on her way back to Prufrock Preparatory School with the pep squad and the sports team Malcolm Stewart as Mr. Remora, a teacher at Prufrock Preparatory School who specializes in teaching his personal anecdotes and is always seen eating a banana BJ Harrison as Mrs. Bass, a teacher at Prufrock Preparatory School who specializes in measuring objects. She later becomes a bank robber. Tony Hale as Jerome Squalor, the timid husband of Esmé Squalor Sage Brocklebank as Doorman, an unnamed doorman who works at 667 Dark Avenue Ithamar Enriquez as Hector, a skittish handyman and citizen of the Village of Fowl Devotees who befriends the Baudelaires Mindy Sterling as Elder Anabelle, a member of the Village of Fowl Devotees' Council of Elders who often quotes "silence" when a non-police officer and/or a non-banker consultant attempts to violate the "No one may talk while on the platform" rule Carol Mansell as Elder Jemma, a soft-spoken member of the Village of Fowl Devotees' Council of Elders Ken Jenkins as Elder Sam, a gruff-speaking member of the Village of Fowl Devotees' Council of Elders Lossen Chambers as Mrs. Morrow, an inhabitant of the Village of Fowl Devotees who wears a pink robe Kevin Chamberlin as Mr. Lesko, an inhabitant of the Village of Fowl Devotees who wears plaid pants Serge Houde as Milt, the shopkeeper of the Last Chance General Store in the Hinterlands Gabe Khouth as Lou, the newspaper delivery boy who brings the Daily Punctilio's newspapers to the Last Chance General Store John Bobek as the bearded leader of the Volunteers Fighting Disease Lauren McGibbon as the perky member of the Volunteers Fighting Disease Kerri Kenney-Silver as Babs, the Head of Human Resources, Hospital Administration and party-planning at Heimlich Hospital David Alan Grier as Hal, a visually-disabled file clerk who is employed in the Library of Records at Heimlich Hospital Robbie Amell as Kevin, an ambidextrous "freak" who works at Caligari Carnival Kevin Cahoon as Hugo, a hunchbacked "freak" who works at Caligari Carnival Bonnie Morgan as Colette, a contortionist "freak" who works at Caligari Carnival David Burtka as Mr. Willums, a heckler with a pimpled chin who attends Caligari Carnival. He is based on The Man With Pimples On His Chin from "The Carnivorous Carnival" book. Jill Morrison as Mrs. Willums, the wife of Mr. Willums Harper and Gideon Burtka-Harris as Trixie and Skip Willums, the children of Mr. Willums

Introduced in season 3

Keegan Connor Tracy as Brucie, the leader of the Snow Scouts who is based on Bruce from the book series Richard E. Grant as the Man with a Beard but No Hair, a villain and mentor of Count Olaf who has an "aura of menace" that even frightens Count Olaf Beth Grant as the Woman with Hair but No Beard, a villain and mentor of Count Olaf who has an "aura of menace" that even frightens Count Olaf Kassius Nelson as Fiona Widdershins, the teenage captain of the Queequeg and Klaus' love interest who is looking for her stepfather Captain Widdershins ever since he was lost at sea. She is revealed to be the sister of Fernald.