‘A Series Of Unfortunate Events’ Recap, Episode 3: “The Reptile Room, Part One”

“If I were you, I would look away before viewing any of the horrifying events that comprise this ghastly new episode in the Baudelaires’ unfortunate lives.” So says our narrator, Lemony Snicket (Patrick Warburton) as the third episode of A Series Of Unfortunate Events begins. This is sound advice, but those determined to persevere will be treated to one of the moments of respite that punctuates the mostly sad saga of the Baudelaire orphans.

Having escaped the clutches of the malevolent Count Olaf, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny arrive at the home of their proper guardian. Aasif Mandvi brings both brio and tenderness to the role of Montgomery Montgomery, and his airy library-cum-menagerie is a welcome sight after the dark, dank dreadfulness of Count Olaf’s decaying mansion. The Reptile Room is my daughter’s second favorite Lemony Snicket book, and she was excited to see lizards and turtles and snakes in Uncle Monty’s collection come to life. (She always wants us to plant serpent-shaped topiaries in our yard.)

Dr. Montgomery proves to be a kind caretaker, but of course we know that the Baudelaires won’t be safe for long. Indeed, when Uncle Monty says to his new wards, “I promise you, no harm will come to you in the Reptile Room,” Lemony Snicket appears to explain the concept of “dramatic irony.” This is moments before he lets us know that sweet Uncle Monty is not long for this world—and just before Count Olaf arrives, disguised as Dr. Montgomery’s new herpetological assistant, Stephano.

This is, of course, what makes A Series of Unfortunate Events special. Daniel Handler’s books became a sensation precisely because he respects young readers enough to present them with real awfulness and the horrible truth that neither goodness nor innocence is a guarantee of safety. And the darkly quirky sensibility that made these books a hit with grownups, too, suffuses every aspect of this adaptation, from the inventive sets to Uncle Monty’s snaky mustache. In his scripts, Handler faithfully reproduces the tone he created for the books, presenting a voice that feels simultaneously old-timey, but of no one time in particular. Reference to “the IT guy” and “early Sonic Youth” bump up against fashions from 1940s.

By this episode, we’re beginning to get a clear sense of how Handler is expanding his fictional universe to transform his books into a multi-season live-action show. Jacquelyn—a character created especially for this adaptation—reappears in a movie filled with messages for Uncle Monty to decode. And we see the mysterious characters played by Will Arnett and Cobie Smulders making their escape from the cell in which they have been imprisoned. Is it possible that the Baudelaires’ parents aren’t dead after all?

At the end of this installment, the Baudelaire children are tucked safely in their beds, expecting to travel to Peru with Uncle Monty in the morning. Dr. Montgomery himself, though, is in grave danger…

Jessica Jernigan is a writer, editor, and mom-about-town in a mid-sized Midwestern city. You can find her professional website here, but Instagram is where the cat photos are.

Watch "The Reptile Room, Part One" episode of 'A Series Of Unfortunate Events' on Netflix