‘A Series Of Unfortunate Events’ Recap, Episode 5: “The Wide Window, Part One”

When last we saw the Baudelaire orphans in Episode 4 of A Series Of Unfortunate Events, they were on their way to their latest guardian. Violet and Klaus are hoping that Aunt Josephine can help them understand all the strange and harrowing circumstances in which they have found themselves, but their first impression of their new home is hardly promising. Aunt Josephine lives in a ramshackle old house dangling far, far above the frigid waters of Lake Lachrymose, and there’s a brass plaque on her front door that says PLEASE GO AWAY.

The woman herself does not inspire confidence. Since the tragic death of her husband, she has developed a fear of splinters, doorbells, telephones, rugs, her own reflection… Well, pretty much everything. Her only consolation is the study of grammar. After one tantalizing reference to inventing secret codes with the Baudelaires’ parents, she refuses to answer any questions about the past.

Alfre Woodard imbues her character with nervous energy and pedantic fussiness, but Aunt Josephine isn’t a character so much as a collection of quirks. Uncle Monty was a classic absentminded professor—as bumbling as he was brilliant—but both the script and Aasif Mandvi’s performance revealed that he was truly fond of his charges and committed to their protection. Aunt Josephine, by contrast, decides to go out on a date with a stranger on the Baudelaires’ first night in their home.

The stranger, of course, is Captain Olaf, now in the guise of the aptly named Captain Sham, a salty dog with an eyepatch, a peg leg, and a positively chewy brogue—think Sean Connery impersonating himself. This is the least satisfying of Neil Patrick Harris’ transformations so far. One of the pleasures of watching Harris is seeing Count Olaf slip out of character. It’s amusing because this (allegedly) renowned actor can’t commit to a role, and because Harris is, himself, such a fluid performer. That madcap slipperiness is mostly missing here.

Until now, the decision to split each novel into two episodes and layer in fresh content has worked out beautifully. This episode, however, feels a bit thin. We don’t learn anything new about the cabal working on behalf of the our heroes. Why did Jacquelyn think that Aunt Josephine could help them? And, while Josephine’s apparent death would obviously be disturbing, she wasn’t really a figure to whom the Baudelaires—or the audience—had much reason to grow attached. And it’s hard to believe that Violet and Klaus would miss both the spelling error in Aunt Josephine’s suicide note and the sculpture missing from her library—a sculpture shaped exactly like the window out of which she supposedly threw herself.

That said, this sad sojourn shows the Baudelaires growing into their fate. In the care of a grownup who clearly cannot care even for herself, they determine not only to see to their own comfort and safety, but to also look after her. Even Sunny has a role to play, whether it’s grating Parmesan cheese with her very sharp teeth or providing her own distinctive brand of incisive insight.

Indeed, Sunny is proving to be one of the most delightful elements of this generally delightful series. I don’t know anything about filmmaking, but I do know some things about babies, and I can tell you that they are not easy to work with. It’s entirely possible that wee Presley Smith is an acting prodigy, as she certainly has an expressive face. It’s just as likely that the directors, cinematographers, and editors deserve some kind of special prize for capturing terrific reaction shots. Sunny isn’t just a shot of cuteness, although she is adorable. She’s a real person who makes interesting contributions to the story. And the fact that Sunny’s gurgles and coos are provided by a veteran voice actor—Tara Strong, the pipes behind Twilight Sparkle and Bubbles—is a telling tidbit. Even though this adaptation strays from the source material, everyone involved in this production clearly appreciates the love people have for A Series of Unfortunate Events, and this appreciation extends to the tiniest detail.

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 Wide Window, Part One" episode of 'A Series Of Unfortunate Events' on Netflix