INTO THE SNICKETVERSE | A Series of Unfortunate Events DEEP dive!

[@MollyLikovich]

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

[@Jajsjsjsj]

You forgot the Dismal Dinner,The The Blank Book etc. but it doesn’t Matter that much to the cannon.I had a request…can you PLEASE make an updated video about what’s canon and not (including movie,tv show and game)I’d really appreciate it!(PLEASE read this)

[@TheRandomYTDude]

​@@Jajsjsjsj pretty sure the tv show is extremely faithful to the books except for the ending being happier, the sugar bowl was stated to have special sugar cubes in it IN the show but not the books so that is most likely canon (reasoning is that daniel handler co-wrote the whole show)

[@Jajsjsjsj]

@@TheRandomYTDude thx a lot man

[@Setsunako6587]

Unironically singing the theme song earned my attention. Point #5 earned my respect 👍🏾💕

[@MollyLikovich]

@@Jajsjsjsj​​⁠​⁠hello! Just now seeing this, I cover in the video what the show changes or leaves out from the books. In my opinion everything in the books is the true canon, all adaptations are their own canon, the true canon belongs to the words of Daniel Handler. I actually didn’t even know there was a game, must go research that🫡

[@AmIPreppyEnough167]

One more thing: In the ninth book: The carnivorous carnival, When the Baudelaires are eavesdropping on Madame lulu and Count Olaf, Madame lulu talks about how she is doesn’t have any money for the carnival, Count Olaf says how she’ll get some of the Baudelaire fortune. Madame Lulu responds with, “You said the same thing with the Quagmire fortune, and the SNICKET fortune.”

[@hannahlee1062]

Chills….

[@NeyamRye]

Woah...how many kids?

[@f34rall2]

So who ended up with those fortunate my guess Mr Poe

[@MultifandomMeg2day]

Klaus' birthday in the village prison is one of the saddest moments in the series in my opinion. It is burrrrned into my psyche. One of the few times the books let any of the children break down, which makes it so much more empactful.

[@MollyLikovich]

and the way he didn't even realize it was his birthday until they were literally sentenced to death :(

[@jessiehermit9503]

"Impactful" is spelled with an "i."

[@caittails]

@@jessiehermit9503 You’re such an intellectual

[@purple1ninja1turtle]

​@@jessiehermit9503OMG TY I WOULD'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY SAID IF YOU HADNT FUCKIN CORRECTED THEM. 🙃

[@purple1ninja1turtle]

​@@caittailsits actually spelled entelectual 🤓🤣🤣🤣(i promise this is sarcasm)

[@vincentmartin2752]

I feel like the sugar bowl is a metaphor for the "happy ending" - something we are promised over and over again by the author that we will not have at the end of the story.

[@ConorCarlisle]

To Beatrice- My love for you will burn forever, unlike the fire that took you away from me.

[@asterswoosh6435]

Those little snippets were always a little out of pocket and I loved it XD

[@serenity_79]

To Beatrice- No one could extinguish my love, Or your house.

[@ellyelly7235]

As an adult it's a lot easier to see that ASOUE is a child's POV of family feuds, foster care, capitalism, and how adults fail neurodivergent children. As a kid it's a fun but disturbing adventure, as an adult it's an utter tragedy. Also book 3 is one of the key reasons why I developed a leech phobia.

[@kimian6779]

You put it into words!!

[@Billy-fr6li]

lmao book 2 is what started my obsession with snakes

[@NeyamRye]

Yes

[@gracechica14]

I had SEVERE nightmares about leeches after reading that book and I couldn’t look at a lake at night for months 😅

[@unnamedjello9779]

My fave thing about the series is how everything Sunny says in the beginning sounds like complete gibberish to us but as the books progress you start to notice it’s actually words backwards or in another language or a relevant prefix or suffix- and you start to understand her. It’s like you actually got to know and understand her after all the time you spent with the Baudelaires while reading the books!! My fave is when she says “Mata Hari” in the Slippery Slope when she wants to spy on Olaf (Mata Hari was a German spy in WWI)

[@scarhead11]

My favorite is “Bushchenney!” Which is something along the lines of “you’re committing atrocities!”

[@Luke-lb2cv]

My favorite is Bildungsroman in The Penultimate Peril. As a kid I thought it was just Sunny saying gibberish again but now as an adult knowing what that word means... it's brilliant.

[@DraakjeYoblama]

Her speaking also becomes more elaborate as the books go on because she ages and learns to speak. I love how gradually it happens, I didn't even notice it on my first read.

[@jthecryptid]

She speaks Yiddish a few times too. Makes sense 'cause the books heavily imply that the Baudelaires are Jewish. (I think Handler confirmed it in a Q&A) Off the top of my head,she says "Bar/Bat Mitzvah" (Jewish coming-of-age ceremony, she was referring to Violet's birthday cake) and "Yom HaShoah" (Holocaust Remembrance Day, Sunny's way of saying "Never again.")

[@unnamedjello9779]

@@jthecryptid that makes a lot of sense seeing as the author himself is Jewish!

[@blulula4869]

I have been in desperate need for a video essay on the snicketverse, the way a series of unfortunate events forged me as a person when i read them as a child sticks with me to this day. the snicketverse is absolutely wonderful and the aesthetics are so unique, thank you so much for making such a wonderful video depicting the story and characters and giving me a great blast of nostalgia! the world is quiet here

[@MollyLikovich]

❤❤❤

[@MollyLikovich]

feel free to join the snicketverse discord! discord.gg/P3SsyEs5d

[@Teeee5525]

FORREAL BYE

[@Pr1ncessspark1es]

im actually starting a series on my own channel about the snicket verse. Def not as good as this one but yeah!

[@AlwaysSadé]

I read them in middles school and they really shaped the way I think about and see things

[@dancegregorydance6933]

I love that EVERY FREAKING ADULT in the Snicketverse is faceblind

[@gokairedwillcipher]

The way the literal children had more braincells

[@jameshughes6355]

Frustrating yet fun to watch/read...

[@enterfromthesky]

I love it actually, it frames the adults as blind to the truth. And much like reality, the truth is often dictated by *adults* and what they say goes

[@jameshughes6355]

@@enterfromthesky yeah no, that makes sense

[@bookshelfhoney]

To me that was always a reflection of how in reality a lot of adults/authority figures will know that a situation is going on like abuse or something bad, but they're unable to intervene or stop it happening so they just have to kind of ignore it or try to help the kids in little ways, everyone has to carry on with their lives even if the neighbor kids should be taken away from their parent /guardian, what can you do besides call the cops/ social services and if they don't help, then what?

[@LilyMaidenLove]

Favourite bit of this series is in the ersatz elevator when they just print pages of black ink to represent the baudelaires falling😊

[@guy-sl3kr]

That's the first book I read specifically because those pages caught my attention! My middle school had a period dedicated to reading where if you didn't bring a book with you, you'd have to pick something from the class bookshelf. One day I was rifling through the shelf for something interesting and those blacked out pages made me curious. I read all the ASOUE books at my school after that (we did not have the complete series (also I read it totally out of order lol))

[@treefish008]

Not to mention when Violet is taking apart an extension cord in the Reptile Room and there's just 2 pages of "you should never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever... do that"

[@elinama7061]

Or the times where he would mirror woulds or scramble them or repeat sentences to make his point, like his creativity in writing is just so good

[@memyselfandi7261]

As a child my theory for what was in the sugar bowl was the antidote to the mushrooms- just horseradish. The tragedy was all these people were told that the antidote was in this sugar bowl and spent so much time and effort and went to great lengths to hunt down something so easily accessible. I read this in middle school and more went over my head back then than I’d like to admit so I can’t even remember if the VFD knew that horseradish was the cure.

[@SHREKISAGOAT]

I think it contains the bomb imaging beast statue…

[@srtatropicalia]

This comment just blew my mind. This sounds like something Lemony Snicket would absolutely do. This makes everything so much more interesting, for me, because it's so impactful to have all this destruction and all the efforts be for something we achieved without it being found.

[@1upElemental]

Dude, as someone who knows nothing about the books and just going off what was said in the video, I had the exact same thought. I was like, "It has to be horseradish? Or just regular sugar, right?" Nothing else really makes sense from my point of view.

[@haley-hd4tn]

i honestly think it has many different meanings and uses kinda like how VDF means many things, like the sugar bowl to me represents materialism signifying power and which side of the schism possesses the highest status

[@linegodballe3222]

@@1upElementali saw someone say that they believe the sugar bowl is empty and esme was just reaaaallyyyy petty

[@laceyrobedeau386]

I dont know if anyone has ever watched the commentary on the dvd of the movie, but Daniel Handler (as Lemony Snicket) watches it with the director. At one point, he ends up berating the director about how bad the movie is and gives up, pulls out an accordion, and sings a song about leeches

[@mariamalalawi]

please tell me where I can find this!!!

[@Amsayy]

I swear I remember him making snide comments about klaus taking violets grappling hook plot like "and of course because girls can't do action, klaus does this bit." Or something 😂😂

[@Isbah-Izzy-Lou]

Is this real that sounds so funny haha

[@severalcrowsinatrenchcoat]

if you can find rhis j wanna know :))

[@mlj3347]

I’m crying 😂 I love this fever dream of a series

[@moviesquad73]

I fell in love with this book series after the first time Lemony haulted the story to go on some random tangent. I at ten years old had never encountered this kind of intentionally disjointed and meta story telling. The tangents were the best part of the books. I'm 25 now and still love these books!

[@Chillautumndays]

I will always remember the time in elementary school were lemony snicket came to our school to talk about the books, pretended that he wasnt lemony snicket he was his assistant and then looking up online what he looked like and being shocked that it was indeed, the lemony snicket. Absolutely love the books, tv show, i enjoy the movie for what it is, and you did a wonderful job with this video

[@doperagu8471]

We went to a book signing with my 5th grade class and he did the same thing! Such a good memory

[@AxelXionSora]

😲 LUCKY!!

[@caittails]

That’s so sweet, I love that so much. Such incredible dedication from an author. ❤️

[@RealBradMiller]

😮 OMG.

[@solsito24]

Well as we all know danial handler is lemony snickets legal and social representative

[@Starburst514]

When the netflix series was first announced i reread the books for the first time since i was a kid and i was SHOCKED at how much of me was in there, i rediscovered where my sense of humor, and sense of bravery, and how this was like baby's first gothic lit intro, etc. it was like refinding my inner child, and it cured my writers block. It reopened so many memories of when i was a kid, it was like sitting down with an old friend that knew me Its amazing the ways we look back at the books that built us and stayed with us in so many ways

[@diy_cat9817]

Same for me when I rediscovered Holly Black!

[@linegodballe3222]

i’ve never read them but I feel this exact way about the books I read when I was a kid (esp the hunger games and the kiki strike series) - it’s amazing how much we unintentionally learn through children’s books

[@asia742]

Lucy Punch as Esme is the most incredible casting

[@MollyLikovich]

it really was

[@MrKlausbaudelaire]

I think the whole series had flawless casting, even SUNNY seemed like a really smart baby and the director knew when she would make the perfect expressions for some scenes.

[@kielanwade5096]

Still wiping away tears from finally finishing the show and the world felt too quiet here so I came to watch this video!

[@MrKlausbaudelaire]

Whats interesting about VFD is that it feels like a metaphor for when good intentions go out of hand and bring more harm than good, that sometimes you have to stop while you can less your ambition consumes it, just like VFD started as a simple Volunteer Fire Department and became this complex network of espionage to put out the figurative fires.

[@kaniahankston4310]

As a latchkey kid that was wildly overlooked by adults around her, this book saved me from being sad. I was super into these books, but it taught me that even if adults don’t believe you, you could still have the power to save yourself. Also, another comment. I always thought that Esme only married Jerome because marriage was “in” at the moment and then she was stuck once it was out. Lol

[@maxkennedy8903]

Obsessed with the fact that in the TV show, all the shots of Lemony Snicket have him like, running from something. So you assume it's like Olaf or some other big bad, and then in the last episode you find out it's his niece he's been trying to avoid

[@alekspluth6712]

He's actually running from the police after being framed for various murders by Olaf, I don't believe he even knows about her until she shows up. I think there's even a scene where the police show up at his hotel, and like bang on his door while he's climbing out of the window

[@twistedwolf8422]

⁠​⁠@@alekspluth6712 you would be correct Mister Snicket knew nothing of Beatrice until he got a letter asking to sit down for a root beer float once he arrived he sat down and talked with her about her and the Baudelaires time after leaving the island of VFD (the one the original founder was at and where the cure for the Medusoid Mysilium was). Always running and at a new place each time Mister Snicket was trying to outrun the law unable to prove his innocence as Count Olaf unknown to Snicket is dead after he carries Kit to the beach and kisses her one last time then the affects of the Medusoid Mysilium takes their toll on him. So after the night at the Hotel De Dumont he devotes his life to finding and understanding what all happened to the Baudelaires and telling their story how it happened how it Truly happened

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

Why can't it be both the police and his niece? Maybe he THINKS it's the police but it's actually Beatrice the Second...

[@XaurianQueen]

Ive waited over a decade for an hours-long video essay about these books.

[@lizardwomanfromearthscore]

I will forever member when my library didn't have the 13th book and my mom convinced me that the author intentionally skipped the number 13. Having been 12 books in by that time, it sounded plausible as something that he would do.

[@commodorezero]

In a way he kind of did because the 13th book was made to feel anticlimatic whereas number 12 felt like a finale.

[@Lonely_Raven_666]

I never got around to read the two last ones foe some reason. I have to admit that skipping the 13th book sounds like the type of shit lemony would do for some reason

[@AeonKnigh432]

Kind of a dick move for your mom to do

[@Monica-vi4do]

Omg same, my elementary school library did not have the 13th book, and my librarian told me she wished she had a copy since literally i would always visit the library to check out the books. i started to theorize what had happened with the Baudelaire children but i knew it was not a happy ending.

[@katelynbrown7163]

Me as a child reading the first couple of books: yea… I guess this seems plausible Me starting to get a little older as additional books came out: ok, there is just no way that these adults are this stupid or would continuously fall for Olafs BS Me as an adult having experienced current society: ok, yea…I guess this seems plausible

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

This series prepared me for how stupid reality is as an adult and I love it for that.

[@tortillasconsal4441]

Someone on Tumblr once said that Lemony Snicket is just sad John Mulaney and I think about it every day

[@adamnomdeplum3]

2:07:22 there's a bit in the later books where Klaus remembers hearing strange noises outside his window once. "The sounds of wind, even when it wasn't windy outside" or something like that. And his parents? THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS NOTHING.

[@WhoopsieDaisee]

OH MY GOSH

[@sewcat6486]

Klaus is so smart they wanted him for VFD

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

"If nothing was out there, then what was that noise?" 👁

[@adamnomdeplum3]

@ThePhantomSafetyPin yeah, that!

[@Clwnanite]

No one : Me on book 6 finding out count Olaf found em again : 😨

[@gokairedwillcipher]

I screamed so loudly when he did so

[@Victoria-_]

😂😂

[@KYR0M1LSAP]

the most unrealistic thing about this series is how all these ADULTS were in a SECRET ORGANIZATION and couldnt tell count olaf was in disguises???

[@lilduckydiamond]

mr poe made me SO mad at times

[@cartoonishidealism582]

Doofenshmirtz level facial recognition

[@fenexus404]

@@cartoonishidealism582 well the thing is, could you tell 2 different blue platypuses apart if one of them didnt wear a badass hat? yeah i fucking thought so

[@marvelcraver]

I read these books twice in school. I couldn't figure anything out. Except I figured out that the last illustration of a book has an Easter egg for the next book. And in the hard cover books, the "this book belongs to" page shows an illustration of how both baudlaries and count Olaf are dressed for that book. That's what I found cool.

[@angelinadoughty5677]

Very Fantastic Documentary

[@Shelle-ii2xu]

Oh frr😂

[@StrangeStone2000]

What a Valuable Fantastic Discussion!

[@Amanda-James]

I bought the entire hardcover series for my daughter at her school book fair when she was just six years old. Every evening, I’d read my aloud to my daughter and two year old son until they fell asleep. They were both too young for these stories but I loved the books so much that I read the entire series to them several times over the years and we moved on to the audiobooks as they got older. Now they’re 21 and 16 and we still reference quotes from the Baudelaires and Count Olaf. I never got the tattoo but I used to draw the insignia on our ankles with sharpies. These books are so special to our family and your summary and commentary has been a TREASURE for me to find! I’ve listened to the full video at least 3 times and I still keep coming back. Very well done, 10 outta 10! 👁️

[@MollyLikovich]

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@Chubby_Runs]

My parents and I are kinda like this because we binged out the show together when it finally came out, and I have to say “hello violence fans” is still one of my most used phrases

[@Bean_is_green]

Very Fascinating Documentary of the series

[@RockismyAir]

Yes

[@BradsDad]

My favourite thing about this series was always that regardless of being told countless of times “this story has no happy ending”, I trudged through this series. Obviously, they MUST get a happy ending, right? And then, every single time things are JUST about to be okay, NOPE. I can’t even complain, I was heavily warned, but I had HOPE. You want the children to get a happy ending so badly that you just assume eventually it’s going to come, so the utter disbelief that the end was exactly as promised….. devastating to child me, honestly. However, I loved this entire series with my entire soul, and I cannot wait to begin sharing it with my own children. Lemony Snickey truly had all of us by the throats in the mid 2000’s.

[@naptime23_7]

i maintain the take that book 2 is a banger, it was a solid gut punch to me as a kid when the kinda weird uncle with the snake hyperfixation(i was already diagnosed adhd at the time but if i wasn't they should've done so) died cuz things were looking up for them and i knew nothing would end well but fuck i loved that viper and Sunny's dynamic with it 😭 that snake always felt like a puppy dog to me edit: AND the uncle was so kind to them despite how different he was from the environment they were used to, bro TRIED

[@murielleisthebolter]

Important: Jerome and Esme are just Gomez and Morticia if they hated each other.

[@MollyLikovich]

omg you're right

[@gokairedwillcipher]

Facts

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

... can't unsee, damn it.

[@nbunnysnowboard]

I was so obsessed with this series as a kid, the first one came out when I was 8 and I was really drawn to it because it didn’t talk down to kids or dumb down the book but it realized that kids were still learning and took the time to explain difficult words or odd turns of phrase. It also really stuck with me because it was the only book series besides Harry Potter to tackle the idea that parents/guardians aren’t always looking out for you/care or love you. Even when I was young I realized that my mom didn’t care about me the way other moms cared about their kids and I was told by everyone in my life that she really did love me and I just couldn’t see it. They didn’t realize that it was the fact that I couldn’t feel it that was the problem. It felt validating for me to read a series that revolved around children getting out of terrible situations with horrible people. I was very attracted to the darker aspects of the book and how Lemony Snicket would always warn against reading it because there were no happy endings in these books, which is exactly why I gravitated towards them. Life isn’t perfect and it was refreshing as a kid to read a series that doesn’t leave everything glossy and polished for an audience of children. He knew that some kids wanted and needed this type of series to help them find the strength to get through their own lives ❤ I’m so thankful for him and these books, and thank you so much for this amazing breakdown! I’ve read the first 3 books many times but I’ve only read the other ones once when they came out so I didn’t remember what happened in them since it’s been so long!

[@MollyLikovich]

these books were a gift, im sorry you had to go through all that

[@nbunnysnowboard]

@@MollyLikovich thank you 🙏🏻

[@elliebingo]

oof that's a big mood on the mother stuff, mine was the same. These books really did instill a kind of inner strength and resilience for me growing up, I felt the same as the Baudelaires that no one would ever fucking listen to me. And now some 20 years later I'm living my best independent life and I owe a lot of the courage to Violet, Klaus and Sunny

[@nbunnysnowboard]

@@elliebingo I’m so happy for you! 😄

[@certifiedmenace6941]

When I was a kid (like, 6 or seven years old) I wanted to read these books SO BADLY but according to my library teacher they were “older kid books” so I begged her and begged her everyday until she caved lmao. Needless to say I love these books to this day!

[@Lonely_Raven_666]

Haha, when i was about that age I would have to ask my parents wether I could progress in my reading of both harry potter and a series of unfortunate events, because as the stories progressed they became increasingly darker so when I finished a book I would ask my mom if the next one was okay for me to read untill she said yes

[@ronanmaebee]

that's kind of crazy my librarian in school let me read everything including high schoolers books

[@caittails]

@@ronanmaebee Fr, my librarian let me read high-level books and look up any words I didn’t know…which included “aphrodisiac.” 😂 We got to the point where she had to look them up for me to make sure I got age-appropriate definitions, lol.

[@the_analyte]

Personally I enjoy what the show did with the sugar bowl because I always interpreted it something like this: Esmee is desperately trying to be "in" with the cool kids of the VFD and sees Beatrice as sort of the popular girl of the group they were in. Having the sugar bowl was already an amazing responsibility for Esmee and probably made her feel important and like she truly belonged in the group, so having Beatrice take it was a slap in the face. Also it kind of seems that Esmee resented Beatrice for having the natural charisma and took it as a specific slight against her. Also, the thing about tea needing to be bitter isn't completely undone by the sugar theory as the sugar was also said to be bitter due to the antidote

[@guy-sl3kr]

Yeah imagine what horseradish sugar would taste like... 🤢

[@a.a.g.h.1679]

@@guy-sl3krhorseradish salt tho? Now I’m intrigued jaja

[@briannaobrien4419]

Jokes on all of us, Snicket wrote a book series condemning CPS 😂

[@TRexInTheClouds]

I mean CPS does suck my mother and I have both have friends who have been in CPS and have horrible experiences some of them went through SA. Edit: I also don't think it's that surprising considering that in the A Series Of Unfortunate Events the children are placed in the care of bad guardians. Sorry if I read the comment wrong

[@billieconnolly2130]

Honestly, he right. They never show up when they're needed, and 90% when they do, they're useless.

[@Setsunako6587]

"There is no CPS in this Universe, only Capitalism" 🥲

[@briannaobrien4419]

@@Setsunako6587 the accuracy is painful. 😅

[@caittails]

As a mandated reporter…yeah. I love the series, but it took on an even darker meaning as an adult working with kids in the real world.

[@nataliepickens4830]

absolutely fantastic way to spend 3.5 hours! One extra thing, not sure if you read through the book that breaks down the filming of the show but it ends with a code you have to solve throughout the book that reads (tho it’s been a hot minute so I might get it slightly wrong) two sets of friends once out of reach, will meet again on briny beach! Just a fun detail that points to a quagmire/Baudelaire reunion. An absolutely incredible video and I’m always happy to see this series getting the love it deserves ❤️❤️❤️

[@MollyLikovich]

i haven't read that book! must acquire it.

[@finalfantasyVII2]

I actually really love the movie, even with what it got wrong from the books. It was a fun movie about 3 kids going through hell and possibly making it out better. The TV series did it better, but i still think the books are the best experience of the Baudelaires series of unfortunate events. 1:53:00 in the video so far and id say you gave a Very Fine Description of how amazing this story is. ❤

[@erincorcoran5936]

The aesthetic of the movie captured the world PERFECTLY imo. Violet's outfit is everything to me

[@MissManicMellie]

2:04:20 “G” at the Daily Punctillio was Gereldine Julienne! She was the reporter in the books who was replaced by Mrs. Poe in the show

[@MollyLikovich]

Thank you! Totally missed that

[@geordiejones5618]

These books really informed how I view the world to this day. I related so painfully hard all the kids smart enough to see the inconsitencies all around them, surrounded by unanswerable questions, clueless/careless/deceiving adults and secrets of the world that get brushed under the rug. The ending was perfect to me because it mirrors how real life works. You never get all the answers, the most you get is the experiencing of searching and the bonds you form through those experiences. Only books for kids that I felt like never pulled any punches with the sheer cruelty of life.

[@dovefromabove1021]

As someone who had an odd tendency as a child to simply decide that I would never interact with a piece of media that otherwise aligned with my interests (in this case somewhat melancholy stories about obnoxiously clever children), I appreciate finally having someone guide me through this garden I only walked past

[@pinkyhc4130]

Neil Patrick Harris PERFORMED Olaf, and gave us what we needed ❤

[@mahogany1923]

The literal stiletto heels live rent free in my head

[@danmoore7600]

For real though. It's one of those word play things I think about whenever people talk about shoes

[@sirstotes]

YES! I still think about those from time to time.

[@doger944]

When I was a kid, that was the first time I heard the phrase "stiletto heels", so I just thought that's what they were😂

[@karabartley]

Didn't they keep stabbing the ground when she walked and she had to pull free??? An icon

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

Yours too?

[@TrickLick-cz8tz]

As someone who grew up in a toxic, abusive, neglectful family that everyone assumed as fine from the outside because my parents had decent bank and were white, TSOUE was a godsend to me as a kid. I genuinely believe if it wasn’t for those books showing me capable kids in dangerous situations, allowing themselves to feel sad but still being brave, that I wouldn’t have made it where I am today. I’m a 29 year old man now and have proudly adapted to life and taught myself everything (reading, writing, cooking, cleaning, and even taught myself to get my own GED). The Baudelaire kids were truly an inspiration for children in unsafe environments (though it crushes me that we have to have kids in that situation to begin with).

[@bunny333501]

I was working on New Year's and my coworker was talking about the new Percy Jackson series and then I was like: okay, we grew up different generations, let me explain the entire 13 book plot of ASOUE. It also took literally 4 hours. This was also one of the series my dad bought "for me and my sister" but ended up reading on his own and loving (along with Harry Potter and also the Golden Compass series) because they were so cleverly written that even grown adults could still find enjoyment in them.

[@RavenWalks27]

I do like the show, but the movie holds a special place in my heart. The gothic vibes are immaculate, it had a bunch of amazing actors, some great quotable moments, and I grew up wanting to look like it's version of Violet. I even did my hair like her's for a long time. No it isnt accurate to the books, but it's a fun ride.

[@duck2059]

same, I think I first saw it at an age where I wasnt really fussed about accuracy to the source material. It was just a fun movie with a loosely similar premise to the books I liked. "it's the swedish term for beef that is roasted" is one of my sleeper phrases. now that I'm older I do see how it misses a lot from the books both in small but relevant details and in the major themes. but the music still goes

[@StormFreeze]

It wasn't that girls in a children's story was rare, it was that they really weren't written well in a lot of cases

[@MollyLikovich]

Facts. And they all felt very repetitive. Violet was the first girl protagonist I remember feeling so invigorated by

[@StormFreeze]

@MollyLikovich Because she wasn't a side kick or love interest. There was still a lot of damsel characters, even among younger girls, in stories that held more substance. Sure, we had Magic Treehouse, but that was for an even younger audience. That's why characters like Violet and Hermione became fan favorites because they could easily stand alone if they needed to and covered what their trios lacked.

[@murq_juulz4894]

i think the hostile hospital was definitely count olafs breaking point cause what was he doing during that book 😭

[@MollyLikovich]

yeah he was off his rocker by that point, that was the point of no return

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

@@MollyLikovich Let's be honest, Olaf never had very solid rockers to be on to begin with.

[@ceres090]

I remember coming across the first book in the library when I was a kid. I read the back which essentially said "don't read this because it's very sad," and I said "thank you book. I won't!" And then put it down and walked away smiling. I'm so glad I didn't read it at the time because I was a very sad kid and I just didn't want any more sad things. However, my mom did find the books on her own and read them. She was a huge fan and I enjoyed watching her read them. I felt a little like I missed out finding out how much mystery and cryptography was involved. But it was enjoyable watching my mom read them and then shout out loud "I knew it!" Or 'I can't believe it! I thought that was true."

[@pumpkinpartysystem]

So, for the show using the spyglass rather than the same type of codes as the books, I think that actually makes sense as a change. A TV show is a much more visual medium, and it moves at a set pace, you don't have time to absorb a lot of text codes so converting many of the instances of that sort of thing into a more visual, immediate counterpart with the spyglass is perfectly reasonable when translating the story to that different medium. The change to Monty in the show is kind of weird, but I like it, and I think it makes things even more tragic when Monty is actually a half decent guardian and fucking bites it anyway. That's the thing I like about them making some more of the adults actually decent people, because it seems like they almost always die anyway, and it feels even worse as a result, so it still fits the tone. Plus there are already so many adults that are obnoxiously terrible and incompetent, it's a much needed break from the infuriating monotony, and even though that's kind of the point in the original version I think it makes the show more watchable since you see them more frequently one after another rather than the slower pace a book naturally has. I do wish they committed to more of the deaths in the fire in the show though. If they wanted some of them to survive, kill off one of the Quagmires at least so there's like an irony to it. The book they dropped on JS's head is so heavy you could kill a cat if you dropped it, though I don't know that it could kill a human.

[@P-man_XD]

The book didn't kill him. Crowbar to the net killed him. Jacque looks up dazed before Olaf hits him with it. "A crowbar in a crow *bar* [evil laughter]."

[@xxxxxjdsq]

I've needed this for a while, just to really learn. Your outfits had Very Fashionable Designs, and honestly, it was so helpful just wrapping my head round it.

[@MollyLikovich]

I love this comment, thank you so much

[@Iyonnaaaa]

As a kid who’s been in multiple foster homes adults will ignore all signs of abuse and shut down the truth. The face blindness in the show really captures this I don’t know how Lemony did it but it’s so accurate (makes me feel heard)SHOUT OUT TO HIM😂 also fuck mr.po 😒😭😭😭

[@MrVreyes20]

So ironically or something i got into the books because of the movie but because of the movie i only thought there were 3 books in the series. I lived my whole life thinking there were only 3 books until the Netflix show as announced. The heart break i feel for myself today because i never bothered to ask if there were more books after 3. The experience of being apart of a niche fandom down in the theory tenches trying to solve the mysteries of the book series that i inadvertently robbed myself off is one of my biggest regrets. And here i am a decade later listening to these poems that i never bothered caring about bringing me to my knees and nearly sobbind a river. listening to how in love Snicket is with Beatrice and im thinking to myself "he's me, he's just like me"

[@ollie2111]

This is how I feel after watching Ender's Game, and then finding this out for it only *a few days ago* after re-watching the movie.

[@badreprint]

Hey just letting you know I've watched this to go to sleep (as a comfort video, it's fascinating not boring) so many times that I'm actually about to download it so I can have a copy while my internet undergoes maintenance tomorrow. This deep dive is a whole vibe and is the quintessential Snicket KZbin video. Also if you watch the movie with the DVD Commentary, Handler in character as Snicket clearly seems disappointed in the film the entire time despite being a pleasure, trust me rewatch it just for that.

[@MollyLikovich]

omg im honored! thank you! and i haven't seen the dvd commentary, i shall hunt it down

[@badreprint]

@@MollyLikovich Hi, I'm back (actually I never left I told you this was a comfort video), reporting in to tell you that someone has made a tabletop rpg called Odious Lusting After Fortunes in which you essentially get to play your own Olaf. Don't know if that's your thing but it needed to be shared! Also I forgot to mention that in the DVD commentary of the movie Handler is not only in character as Snicket but also plays the accordion over the entirety of the leeches scene since he finds it too distressing to watch. I don't think it's possible to oversell the commentary.

[@giuliam7737]

I often times come back to the works of Daniel Handler because of their originality and ingenuity. It’s like an old friend you don’t see often but every time you do it’s a reminder that the world isn’t falling apart.

[@jmwilliams88]

Given that Daniel Handler (author of the books and producer of the show) has stated that the Sugar Bowl mystery has a definitive explanation, the show's poor (and most-likely uncanonical) answer to the Sugar Bowl question is very frustrating. The show had come out long enough that anyone who was going to figure out the mystery had done so already. The show should have either given an answer that made sense or none at all.

[@AeonKnigh432]

The shows explanation was fine, people are just mad that it didn't line up with their theories.

[@svetatikhonova8718]

I feel that the redemption of some of the adults in the show is a good change, the despair of the Baudelaire's situation is exacerbated by the small amounts of hope throughout the show. The fact that these well meaning adults are unable to protect them because of their cowardice or other means makes the audience feel even more sympathy for them, and for the adults also, making the characters more fleshed out and the show more of an emotional rollercoaster.

[@AmIPreppyEnough167]

The Quagmires died? Well, don't mind me, Ima be in depression.

[@MollyLikovich]

Yeah :( in the books they drowned when the hot air mobile home was shot out of the sky. in the show they survive.

[@7_ty_]

@@MollyLikovichI’m confused, I thought it was never confirmed for sure if the Quagmire triplets died? Could you help me find where it’s confirmed in the books? I remember some line like “the Quagmire triplets’ circumstances were just as dark though a bit damper than the Baudelaire children’s”, and that was after Kit washed up on the beach, and that kind of implies that they, like the Baudelaires, are alive but in peril. Thanks! Loved the video :)

[@caittails]

@@7_ty_ I mean, the Baudelaires are hinted to die in the end. Cynically, it’s true that he rewrote their ending so he could keep making more books, but originally, it was expected of us to understand that they all died.

[@snakesarenotafear1572]

The “J” that isn’t Jaque in the VFD meeting could be Aunt Josephine? We know that she’s good at grammar, so they might have some connection to that by writing the minutes.

[@Vic-mj4ts]

It would help explain the terrible "only use first letters" system being obeyed without question too despite how messy it made the minutes read, aunt Josephine would NEVER stray from set writing rules

[@Vic-mj4ts]

This series goes through such a change as you grow because as a kid it seems fun but kind of silly and as a teen you think its almost totally impossible and then as an adult it seems terrifyingly completely possible

[@zuckubus9835]

The idea of VFD being made up of 9 year old politics is endless funny

[@MollyLikovich]

explains why it's so stupid & poorly thought out

[@Voxka8642]

I was looking through some old bookshelves at my great grandmas house and found a book of rhymes by Lemony Snicket, I was so dumbfounded as I had just learned about a series of unfortunate events and had finished reading all the wrong questions

[@JyrisArt]

This series was my childhood special interest- started reading them when I was around 9(?) and this is absolutely amazing to see. On my second watch through of this video- thank you for sharing original conspiracy fandom (from before easy and expected internet access)

[@shannongibson7705]

It’s my special interest as well! I spent HOURS telling people about this world, highly underrated series.

[@isaacaasi563]

I loved this series. One of my favorite things is how Judaism was casually featured and mentioned by the he is Jewish. It was really pleasant as a kid to hear references to my holidays and words. It was nice to have a story that wasn't full of happy endings because those never seemed to resonate with what I knew and had learned. Great video.

[@kimberleesi]

My favorite first line has always been from the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, ever since I was a little kid. "There once was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." It's funny and snappy, and it promises a lot. What did he do to almost deserve it, and then what did he do to not really deserve it after all? And the book really delivers on both those things.

[@eternal3321]

Great video. So sad to see such a amazing series be so criminally underrated. Also random note that I don’t know if you mentioned, I believe Jacquelyn is hinted to be the Duchess of Winnipeg as a nice tie in.

[@MollyLikovich]

i did forget to mention that! thank you :) a lot to cover in the snicketverse.

[@benakinnusi2518]

I love that the comments are so recent ! People still care deeply about the Snicketverse 💜🤟🏾 I didn’t expect there to be comments from days or even hours ago! This book series is one of my all time favorites, including ATWQ. Great retrospective.

[@havehope646]

Yea me too im soo happy

[@blo0dy_valent1ne]

Violet Baudelaire is where I got my name from😭😭 absolute girlboss she slayed every situation she was in.

[@Starling_Violet]

Me too!!! I was named after Violet Baudelaire lol

[@blo0dy_valent1ne]

@@Starling_Violet ayyyy sisters🖤🖤

[@antiichristie]

Wait this is so cute as someone who read these books when I was a kid and have always had Violet on my favorite names list! 😭

[@mirandalee3581]

I am 27 years old, and an AVID Lemony Snicket lover. I’ve read the series at least 8 times, and I have NEVER realized that Ish is the creator of VFD. This series never fails to amaze me.

[@sheyannev2757]

That’s only in the show, VFD is implied in the books to be much older than Ishmael. Lemony, Kit, Beatrice and all them were young teens when the schism happened

[@Kiwi_fr0g]

The Heimlich Hospital is what made me afraid of hospitals but now that I’ve had the experience of being an inpatient in a mental hospital, I’m not scared of them at all and they’re honestly a wonderful place to get help, at least it was for me

[@caittails]

I was expecting this comment to go the opposite direction. I’m so happy you had a good experience! I’ve honestly never heard of that.

[@Kiwi_fr0g]

@@caittails a lot of people expect my experience to be negative or scary because of the way mental hospitals are portrayed in media. Going to a mental hospital is usually seen as a bad thing or a punishment, of course everyone’s experience isn’t gonna be the same but for me personally, it was a life saving decision to go and a very positive experience

[@asia742]

I absolutely agree the 3rd book is a banger! And that the series made me feel smart and dumb at the same time

[@MollyLikovich]

it def makes me feel dumber as an adult not being able to crack codes made for kids

[@karolinakraska814]

One thing i like in the movie is the easter eggs relating to the books, The shop count olaf enters when he left the baudalairs was called the last chance general store The littelist elf was in the unauterised autobiography when they mentioned what movies used the sebald code I remember there was more but i forgot

[@MollyLikovich]

i totally forgot that was the last chance!

[@eleanormaddocks1834]

I was obsessed with the books as a kid and as an adult who is now a teacher, I’m reading the bad beginning to my year 4 class (9 year olds) and they’re loving it. Literally the only way I can get them to be quiet sometimes is promising them some of the story if they are, at which point, deadly silence and calling out anyone who dares break it.

[@pumpkinpartysystem]

I only first got into this series with the show a few months ago, but the style of humour and writing on display here is so close to my own writing style that it's actually like I could have written these books myself in a parallel life. My writing style is like a mix of this and Homestuck, so I really mesh with this. I just wish I had these in my childhood so I could see that there were ways to write other than the restrictive way school teaches you to, since it wasn't until I read Homestuck that I realised "good writing" didn't have to be so stiff. If I had these books as a kid I might have realised that years earlier and been farther along now than I currently am, but at least I have them now and they can serve as inspirations for me.

[@nessarosedyer4528]

I'm sitting here having a "feeling seen" moment as someone who grew up on Lemony Snicket and got into Homestuck later in my adolescence. Never thought that someone else would have the exact same niche inspirations for writing and creating as I do. Small world huh?

[@lochnessa0664]

i love how we just had a little sing along at the start

[@MollyLikovich]

just was in a silly goofy mood

[@b.a.hazard6787]

Molly absolutely ate 😭. Like for the whole video but especially the intro. Can’t stop rewatching it.

[@shhimreading906]

i am just so happy right now, when i tell you i have been listening to the audiobooks of this series for years (literally this and harry potter were pretty much all i listened to on repeat during my entire childhood) and just no one cares about it in my life but me, so a three hour video on this story is exactly what i need. i adore the way lemony snicket is made to seem like a real person, it's honestly the coolest thing when an author does that. it's such a well written series and it feel so unique. and ngl as a kid i loved feeling smart af about all the words and facts it taught me with the "which here means" sentences.

[@doger944]

Hello, are you me?

[@shhimreading906]

@@doger944 👀maybe

[@chrysanthemum8098]

We do NOT talk shit about MONTY. We do NOT TELL HIM TO GROW UP monty is AMAZINH

[@chrysanthemum8098]

We dont not stand for someone whos an olaf apologist but HATES MONTY

[@MollyLikovich]

then get off this video, babes.

[@Ralphboy626]

I decided to revisit the series, which I last read in elementary school. I vividly remember leaving off at the end of "The Wide Window." Although I read only a little back then, it remained one of my all-time favorite books. About two weeks ago, I began listening to the audiobooks, and today, I finished the entire series. I teared up, not just because of the story's occasional sadness, but because this series is special-it sparked my love for reading as a child. I never enjoyed reading until this story, a true masterpiece. I'm grateful it's still cherished, and discussions continue. Although the Netflix series concluded, I appreciate enthusiasts like you keeping its spirit alive. ❤️ Thank you.

[@mmalaria]

I like to think that the D in the meeting transcript is Daniel Handler, because J asks if D is there representing L. When the books were coming out, Daniel Handler presented himself as Lemony Snickets's representative.

[@YamiTasher]

I remember being absolutely addicted to this series as a child, and waiting with great impatience for the next volume to come out. I adored the style of writing and how clever the mystery was, even if I had no idea what was going on. And honestly I never managed to find a sembilance of coheasion to the wider story or lore, but I enjoyed trying to figure out Olaf's latest plot and how it would unfold. I remember being tickled that Snicket was mentioned in the in-book universe. I also remember slowly falling out of love with the series. By the time I got to the final book, I was very tired of the series and was ready to put it down and never pick it up again. I only read the last few books out of obligation and that last, lingering hope that things would finally work out for those kids. I remember finishing the final book with complete dissatisfaction and disappointment. Snicket wasn't kidding. I do recall warnings on the books that Things Don't Get Better, and I guess the clue is also in the name of the series, and for someone who hadn't realised they were falling further into rapidly developing undiagnosed depression with each passing year, the book series destroyed a part of me. I looked to books for escapism, as many do, and all I found was more depression, worsening the spiral. So the fault was my own, in the end. It makes it painful to look back on as a book series I both loved and grew to hate. A Series of Unfortunate Events will always hold a special place in my heart and I will always look back on them with bittersweet fondness. Such a fascinating world with interesting characters, written so uniquely. I don't think I will ever re-read the books, but I will always remember Violet, Klaus and Sunny.

[@Scandal262]

I love every single version of Uncle Monty. What a cool dude

[@Lo0serx3]

my favorite part of the books is the black pages in book 6 to show the dark elevator shaft, followed closely by book 9 when he talks about deja Vu. i used to read the books at night instead of sleeping so that part felt like it was fucking with me specifically

[@lilianmiramontesjr.7550]

I dont know if its already been mentioned, but I was LIVID that they actually had Lemony speak directly, as in FACE TO FACE, to the audience in the show. Every single picture of him in the books has his face hidden. It felt like sacrelige.

[@estelar0067]

I think the the courtroom scene is one of the bests scenes in the show. Everyone stars applauding the bauideliers and championing for their bravery and intellect but it’s all hollow, almost everyone in that room has been so fickle and neglectful of them before, they only believe the children because it’s an inspiring story and and it’s the latest one they’ve heard. The actual cathartic moment is Olaf calling everyone out, he rightfully points he could not have gotten away with most of what he did if they just cared more or were smarter, and it feels so god and bad at the same time because that’s what you’ve been thinking the whole time but also Olaf is the source of all their pain at the same time, feels kinda wrong to admit he’s right

[@GabbyClown4213]

A three and a half hour video essay on one of my biggest hyper fixations? Yes please!

[@NT-sx2bd]

THANK you! I love this series, this is SO great to find.

[@Joniness]

Thank you for this video. I remember reading the books as a kid and grappling with material that I didn't understand for the first time. I don't think I'd get it even as an adult if I tried to reread without an expert like you to explain haha

[@partiallyhealedsunburn1881]

i didn’t have much hope when searching for a deep dive of this series, but you’ve exceeded my expectations!

[@MollyLikovich]

thank you so much!

[@toonydotloony]

crying as a fiona apologist 😭 amazing breakdown though this franchise was (and is) my life

[@thehalfblackprincess]

no mention of her kiss w klaus ☹️

[@th3s3us_27]

the amount of times ive seen this video is crazy, i remember reading the first couple of books as a kid but never finishing them and then being obsessed with the show when it came out, ive always wanted to understand this series better but didnt have the time thank you for this

[@MollyLikovich]

❤❤❤thank you for watching❤❤❤

[@teapunk1290]

This is the best plot summary ever

[@MollyLikovich]

:) thank you

[@ughugh3767]

Already “darling, dearest, dead” gave me goosebumps

[@MollyLikovich]

It’s metal af

[@SpecialInterestShow]

It is buck WILD that the books passed as children's books. Bro really said "kids can handle these complex and fucked up topics" and somehow he got libraries and publishers to ALLOW all this dark shit in the children's section!! It really shows a lot of respect for the intelligence of children, and I like that! I also like it when media understands that kids also enjoy some horror and mystery. In my opinion, experiencing the dark stuff in kids shows and in books allows kids to engage with those topics in ways that don't traumatize them. Unlike having to look that stuff up online to learn about it first...

[@danilollss]

wow this is a very fabulous documentary

[@MollyLikovich]

thank you so much!

[@feikoff2206]

1:33:31 Not only does Olaf respect the children, but he strives to protect them (in really the only way he can) and they respect him too. Throughout the books Olaf attempts to keep the children from both sides of the VFD. He knows how terrible the righteous side really is, and that the fire starting side wants to get their hands on the kids. In order to protect them from the fire starters he goes after them because he knows that if he doesn’t, someone else will, someone more ruthless and smarter. He also knows that joining the other side is dangerous for the trio, I mean, look what happened to all the people on that side that he cared about. He never puts the kids in a situation he doesn’t think they can get out of one way or another, and that’s the beauty of him. The entire time, even when trying to off them, Olaf was being their guardian. He kept them from greater danger and actively kept them from information about the organization that led them to being orphaned. In the most sick and horrible way possible, he was the best guardian the kids had. I think if the schism never happened, and their parents really did pass in an accident, Olaf really would be the best guardian the kids could ask for. It really does seem through all the sneers and snide remarks that Olaf truly respects the kids and their ingenuity and tenacity in dealing with such a terrible situation. He sees that the kids can no longer be optimistic, but just endure and tries to keep them from becoming ghosts of their former selves. I’m not an Olaf apologist, but I do appreciate that the children were only able to get as far as they did because Olaf was shielding them from other things

[@studentoferror]

I feel this is a very generous reading- I think it lends to Count Olaf a selflessness and foresight that just isn't there. Count Olaf wanted their fortune. Count Olaf was largely ignorant (just more cunning and skilled in deception than the other adults). He certainly respected the Baudelaires, but I've always felt it stemmed from, "I put my best into these plots and you always bested me; I respect myself, which means I have to respect those that consistently outwitted me." Additionally, it is quite saccharine- a word which here means, "attributing a sickening sweetness to a sickening man" -to argue he was attempting to shield them from anything at any point. I deeply empathize with Olaf, but I can't get on board with this take. Interesting reading though, and well written. I hope I didn't come across as rude, just tried to have a bit of fun with my response. ❤

[@mariamalalawi]

@@studentoferror Im halfway between you and OP honestly lo. Or maybe no where in between. Count Olaf is my favorite character and one of the most complex IMO, and I doubt the explanation is as simple as yours or as forgiving as OP's, were talking about Daniel Handler and ASOUE here, every word and character has a million layers; I annotated the first book alone and it took months working hours everyday, its nearly double in size, so many pages of writing at the end, pages falling off. Handler makes a literary reference that leads to a thousand other interpretations every few words. Im in so much awe of the series and Count Olaf is up there in the most clever things Daniel has written for me.

[@MollyLikovich]

You get it, bestie❤

[@SingingSealRiana]

Yeah, I really see them protected, when he tries getting them burned at the stake This is like the whole snape is a hero thing all over again, as if knowing one thing changes everything and makes up for years of abuse

[@Ariel_is_a_dreamer]

The worst part of growing up is realizing irl adults act just like snicketverse adults very fucking often 💀

[@Dulce_Dragonesa]

this bookseries / TV show was like my whole childhood I cant even begin to tell you how it shaped me and my love for reading and mystery

[@frisk7382]

I don’t *hate* the movie but i remember being mad af when I first saw it because everything was wrong lmao. But now I’m an adult I an enjoy the aesthetic and I enjoy Olaf giving the grinch

[@frisk7382]

ALSO I’ve literally just remembered, the PLAYSTATION 2 GAME had more mention of the peppermints than the movie did. The game devs read more of the books than the movie producers 😂😭

[@studentoferror]

Watching Carrey ad-libbing as Gustavo for 20 mins (it's on youtube) makes the existence of the movie worth it.

[@frisk7382]

@studentoferror lmao I never knew that I'm gonna watch it now. Honestly I might just like the movie so much just because I wish Jim carrey was me dad