'The Austere Academy' for me is one of the better instalments in the popular book series 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' by Lemony Snicket (real name Daniel Handler). It is very memorable for its setting, its colourful supporting characters (although Vice Principal Nero is as annoying as heck, though purposefully so) and for being the book when the mystery that dominates most of the series properly thickens and introduced properly.
Starting off the second season of the three-season series adaptation that adapted all thirteen books (all but one being adapted in two parts), "The Austere Academy", parts 1 and 2 but especially 2, is a promising start to it and a very solid entry in the series. Like the first part, "The Austere Academy: Part 2" excels at re-establishing what was introduced in the first season that adapted all four books, namely the grim tone and omnipresent increasing darkness and unpleasantness. Also it excels at building upon that, as ought as the storytelling got darker with each book as the mystery darkened and progressed. Of the two parts, there is a preference for Part 2, which showed more plot progression and was more eventful.
Mr Poe never did anything for me in this adaptation, my least favourite character by default. It's not just that he is annoying and out of place (he feels unnecessary here), the adaptation failed in making him more interesting and less inept. Granted he wasn't the brightest of characters in the books, but this is ineptitude taken to a whole new staggering level. K. Todd Freeman's acting does nothing to help matters and coughing has never grated on me severely as much as it did in this adaptation.
Although not quite as big a problem, because there are amusing moments and Patrick Warburton does enigmatic and deadpan really well, some of the narration did distract and could have been used less.
However, the production design alone is enough to see "The Austere Academy: Part 2" for, with the sets and attention to detail being some of the best of the series and practically revels in the unpleasant environment that the school should have. The school is as wonderfully austere as it should be and the shack actually looks horrible and unforgiving to live in. The costumes, a mix of demure and outlandish to represent the divide between the good and bad. The opening credits sequence are still delightful and very clever. The music has the darkness, absurdity and jauntiness needed and is suitably atmospheric.
Similarly very well executed is the spirit of Snicket's prose in the dialogue. The darkly humorous edge is there, as is the increasing gloom and absurdity. All the juicy lines belong to Olaf, with one getting great amusement when he repeatedly gets almost everybody's names wrong. Love the chemistry between him and Nero too, which there was more of than in the books. Which is what was admirable about this adaptation, expanding upon characters and bringing more out of character chemistry. The story captures the tone of the book very well and makes the most of the austerity and absurdity of the setting, with the ending definitely making one eagerly awaiting what is to come which starts to set up actually in this episode's ending.
On the most part, the performances are strong. Neil Patrick Harris' Olaf steals the show, he is clearly having a lot of fun with the character while posing a genuine threat too (more so in the second part though). In his class are Roger Bart, deliciously loathsome and hilariously outlandish as Nero in an atypical role for him and the similarly spiteful Carmelita Spats of Kitana Turnball. Appreciated the understated acting of the Quagmires, more interesting characters to me than in the books. Didn't have a problem with the Baudelaires, especially Sunny, though the new characters are much more memorable and although their resourcefulness and skills are put to good use they are over-shadowed. Inevitable really as it was the case in the book too.
While not perfect, this was an enjoyably and skillfully done version. 8/10
Starting off the second season of the three-season series adaptation that adapted all thirteen books (all but one being adapted in two parts), "The Austere Academy", parts 1 and 2 but especially 2, is a promising start to it and a very solid entry in the series. Like the first part, "The Austere Academy: Part 2" excels at re-establishing what was introduced in the first season that adapted all four books, namely the grim tone and omnipresent increasing darkness and unpleasantness. Also it excels at building upon that, as ought as the storytelling got darker with each book as the mystery darkened and progressed. Of the two parts, there is a preference for Part 2, which showed more plot progression and was more eventful.
Mr Poe never did anything for me in this adaptation, my least favourite character by default. It's not just that he is annoying and out of place (he feels unnecessary here), the adaptation failed in making him more interesting and less inept. Granted he wasn't the brightest of characters in the books, but this is ineptitude taken to a whole new staggering level. K. Todd Freeman's acting does nothing to help matters and coughing has never grated on me severely as much as it did in this adaptation.
Although not quite as big a problem, because there are amusing moments and Patrick Warburton does enigmatic and deadpan really well, some of the narration did distract and could have been used less.
However, the production design alone is enough to see "The Austere Academy: Part 2" for, with the sets and attention to detail being some of the best of the series and practically revels in the unpleasant environment that the school should have. The school is as wonderfully austere as it should be and the shack actually looks horrible and unforgiving to live in. The costumes, a mix of demure and outlandish to represent the divide between the good and bad. The opening credits sequence are still delightful and very clever. The music has the darkness, absurdity and jauntiness needed and is suitably atmospheric.
Similarly very well executed is the spirit of Snicket's prose in the dialogue. The darkly humorous edge is there, as is the increasing gloom and absurdity. All the juicy lines belong to Olaf, with one getting great amusement when he repeatedly gets almost everybody's names wrong. Love the chemistry between him and Nero too, which there was more of than in the books. Which is what was admirable about this adaptation, expanding upon characters and bringing more out of character chemistry. The story captures the tone of the book very well and makes the most of the austerity and absurdity of the setting, with the ending definitely making one eagerly awaiting what is to come which starts to set up actually in this episode's ending.
On the most part, the performances are strong. Neil Patrick Harris' Olaf steals the show, he is clearly having a lot of fun with the character while posing a genuine threat too (more so in the second part though). In his class are Roger Bart, deliciously loathsome and hilariously outlandish as Nero in an atypical role for him and the similarly spiteful Carmelita Spats of Kitana Turnball. Appreciated the understated acting of the Quagmires, more interesting characters to me than in the books. Didn't have a problem with the Baudelaires, especially Sunny, though the new characters are much more memorable and although their resourcefulness and skills are put to good use they are over-shadowed. Inevitable really as it was the case in the book too.
While not perfect, this was an enjoyably and skillfully done version. 8/10
