The first part of "The Wide Window" was very well done and captured the dark tone of the book perfectly. As an overall adaptation it wasn't quite as good as "The Reptile Room", which (both parts) was one of the best adaptations of the 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' series. The settled and hitting its stride feel that that had carries over though in "The Wide Window" and there is a sense of moving forward.
What was so well done and so promising in the first part is apparent too in "The Wide Window's" second part. Even more so perhaps and for me this improves upon the first part. Just slightly though because both are very good and have very little wrong with them. What makes "The Wide Window: Part 2" a slight improvement over "The Wide Window: Part 1" is that things move forward, there is more progression and there is more momentum with things getting to the point quicker.
Am really not a fan of Mr Poe in this series and throughout, not just this. The episode and the series really overdoes the character's ineptitude, and for things that are so simple and obvious, that he becomes a very annoying character (it is not just the overdone coughing either, it is a habit not that he is seriously ill), so much so one actually wonders how he got into the job he is in. Am aware that the adults not being very bright is a recurring theme in both this and books, but this really takes the biscuit. The character feels out of place somewhat too.
Do think too that in this case that there could have been less of the narration, this time it did interrupt the flow and although amusing and makes one feel unsettled as ought being constantly reminded that things aren't going to get better when it is already apparent in the story made it come over as a bit heavy-handed.
However, again so much works. "The Wide Window" continues the series' great visual quality. Up to this point of the book series, 'The Wide Window' tonally and in setting in my mind was the darkest, something that this adaptation of "The Wide Window" manages and nails. The Lake Lachrymose setting is genuinely eerie (especially in the latter parts of the episode) and has a real sense of foreboding matched in the suitably gloomy photography, unlike "The Reptile Room" where there was a degree of hope to begin with there is none really in sight here, other than that the Baudelaires have a guardian of some sort again. Not that that is a bad thing as that is the intent all along. Aunt Josephine's house is as one imagines it, put to good use here, and one cannot not mention the beautifully and cleverly designed opening credits sequence. The music has a little jauntiness at times but mostly is quite haunting.
Continuing also from before is the air of tension and mystery. Despite the dark, darker than Part 1, tone, there is room for some humour (both black and quirky). Like with the role of the theatrical troupe, it may have been slight padding but the dark wit and deliciously wicked chemistry made their role quite fun. The story is both entertaining and unsettling as ought, there is a real degree of menace but also one of Count Olaf's most entertaining if also more obvious disguises. The latter parts are genuinely quite scary, with a climax that did actually freak me out. Liked the Baudelaires' resourcefulness here.
Neil Patrick Harris continues to steal the show, a mix of fun and sinister while not overdoing either. The role really plays to his strengths, as well as appropriately stretching him, and he relishes that. Alfre Woodard does fierce and tortured very compellingly, and has toned it down here generally. There are static moments with the Baudelaires but to me actually they are becoming more confident with each episode. Do prefer Sunny in the film, but Sunny keeps growing on me all the time and she is very cute and has amusing moments. Patrick Warburton's presence could have featured less but he makes the most with what he says. K. Todd Freeman however continues to be annoying and out of place.
Summarising, very well done again. 8/10
What was so well done and so promising in the first part is apparent too in "The Wide Window's" second part. Even more so perhaps and for me this improves upon the first part. Just slightly though because both are very good and have very little wrong with them. What makes "The Wide Window: Part 2" a slight improvement over "The Wide Window: Part 1" is that things move forward, there is more progression and there is more momentum with things getting to the point quicker.
Am really not a fan of Mr Poe in this series and throughout, not just this. The episode and the series really overdoes the character's ineptitude, and for things that are so simple and obvious, that he becomes a very annoying character (it is not just the overdone coughing either, it is a habit not that he is seriously ill), so much so one actually wonders how he got into the job he is in. Am aware that the adults not being very bright is a recurring theme in both this and books, but this really takes the biscuit. The character feels out of place somewhat too.
Do think too that in this case that there could have been less of the narration, this time it did interrupt the flow and although amusing and makes one feel unsettled as ought being constantly reminded that things aren't going to get better when it is already apparent in the story made it come over as a bit heavy-handed.
However, again so much works. "The Wide Window" continues the series' great visual quality. Up to this point of the book series, 'The Wide Window' tonally and in setting in my mind was the darkest, something that this adaptation of "The Wide Window" manages and nails. The Lake Lachrymose setting is genuinely eerie (especially in the latter parts of the episode) and has a real sense of foreboding matched in the suitably gloomy photography, unlike "The Reptile Room" where there was a degree of hope to begin with there is none really in sight here, other than that the Baudelaires have a guardian of some sort again. Not that that is a bad thing as that is the intent all along. Aunt Josephine's house is as one imagines it, put to good use here, and one cannot not mention the beautifully and cleverly designed opening credits sequence. The music has a little jauntiness at times but mostly is quite haunting.
Continuing also from before is the air of tension and mystery. Despite the dark, darker than Part 1, tone, there is room for some humour (both black and quirky). Like with the role of the theatrical troupe, it may have been slight padding but the dark wit and deliciously wicked chemistry made their role quite fun. The story is both entertaining and unsettling as ought, there is a real degree of menace but also one of Count Olaf's most entertaining if also more obvious disguises. The latter parts are genuinely quite scary, with a climax that did actually freak me out. Liked the Baudelaires' resourcefulness here.
Neil Patrick Harris continues to steal the show, a mix of fun and sinister while not overdoing either. The role really plays to his strengths, as well as appropriately stretching him, and he relishes that. Alfre Woodard does fierce and tortured very compellingly, and has toned it down here generally. There are static moments with the Baudelaires but to me actually they are becoming more confident with each episode. Do prefer Sunny in the film, but Sunny keeps growing on me all the time and she is very cute and has amusing moments. Patrick Warburton's presence could have featured less but he makes the most with what he says. K. Todd Freeman however continues to be annoying and out of place.
Summarising, very well done again. 8/10
