The Unfortunate Blogger

The Vile Village, part one

This was an action packed book that I believe was one of the earliest ones I actually bought to read at home. This is also the turning point in this entire series, something several people throughout various reviews and comments have noted. This is the book that leaves the Baudelaire orphans truly alone. Count Olaf is free to skip about since everyone believes he's dead. And the children are no closer to figuring out what in the world is up with all of this crazy secrecy that keeps popping up at every turn in their lives. This is the book that was full of action, mystery, adventure, and left a big impact. Because of this, there are high expectations for this two part episode to do the same. So how much of an impact did the first part hold up? 

Well.....

.................................................................................As for the this very first part.........................

Yes. In some respects it did. 

I won't say that it was absolutely perfect, but despite a few small bumps and bruises, I'd say that this episode was at least done better than the previous four episodes in this season. There was some nice stuff sprinkled in. The  audience gets some dramatic irony that hold up some weight, and the children get some nice sprinkles as well that help answer some questions while also adding others. And this is just the first part. But enough said. Let's see what helped add to the first part of this turning episode and what set it back. 

THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THIS EPISODE: 

1) Mr. Poe drives the children to their new home- I know that the lessening of Mr. Poe throughout the book series via his job was a bit crucial to this book, but since he is in charge of the children temporarily and this village does seem very old fashioned, getting the paper work signed and finalized there does seem to make a little more sense. 

2) Count Olaf's quick saloon owner disguise- I liked this scene because I think it helps to make up for the bumbling weirdness of the on-and-off idiocy Count Olaf seems to have in this series. The scene was quick but well-paced. The disguise was convincing and flowed with little error. And the transition between the troupe's arrival at the saloon, giving Mr. Poe his drink, and then going back to normal was nice. I enjoyed it. A lot.