Good morning, all! Still in the middle of the big move here, and still waiting on the container ship to arrive with our stuff. So in case anyone else is sitting around with nothing but a screen and and internet connection and looking for something to do, here’s some streaming suggestions, compiled with help from two card-carrying kids.
1. A Series of Unfortunate Events
Based on the 13-part book series of the same name written by one Lemony Snicket (pen name of San Francisco author Daniel Handler), it follows the lives of the three Baudelaire siblings in the aftermath of the suspicious deaths of their parents, from “The Bad Beginning” right up to “The End”. What starts off as a quirky mystery story soon reveals deeper themes that go beyond the standard right-and-wrong fare of children’s tales, introducing topics as varied as loss, fear, conformity, manipulation, even workers rights. All of this is set against a backdrop of the struggle against greed and evil in the world, and with little to no sugarcoating of the fact that that struggle is never ending, and not always successful, that bad things happen to good people, and that most people just don’t care. An important theme running throughout the series is the idea that truth — despite being something we yearn for, and despite being something that may, in fact, exist — is not always knowable, or attainable, or of importance to everyone. We learn, too, that we may never get the opportunity to fully know a person, or a story, or a set of circumstances. Some things we would wish to know, important things, will never be made clear. Some stories will remain untold. This fact can bring pain, or danger, or confusion… But we are also shown how, through it all, through all the unsatisfying and incomplete and unfair occasional ups and frequent downs, a person can in fact remain good and true to themselves and grateful and joyful for what they have and useful in the struggle against evil and unhelpfully ambivalent forces in the world. The series also has a brilliant cast of actors, many of whom you’ll recognize, from the delightful Neil Patrick Harris and hilarious Joan Cusack to the brilliant Tony Hale, and many more. You can also expect some fantastic wardrobe and scenery elements and a truly wonderful bittersweet song at the end of season 1 that I’ve found myself singing on more than one occasion. (Netflix)
2. The Mysterious Benedict Society
Also based on a series of books, in this case by author Trenton Lee Stewart, and also benefiting from the acting talents of Tony Hale, here in dual starring roles as the benevolent Mr. Benedict and his less-than-benevolent twin Mr. Curtain. Unlike in A Series of Unfortunate Events, where the children are thrown into a world of intrigue essentially by chance, the children in the Benedict Society — all highly gifted in different ways — are specifically recruited by Mr. Benedict to actively assist in the fight against corrupt, controlling forces in the world. As you can imagine, these children who were once marginalized as a result of their status as intellectual outliers, are able to blossom and learn to appreciate themselves and one another as they work to carry out their mission. The themes here are societal control, propaganda, manufactured fear, conformity, protest… There’s more overt comedy in this show than in A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the excellent ensemble cast — including Kristen Schaal — are responsible for a lot of that. Beautiful wardrobes and scenery in this show, too. (Disney+)
3. Enola Holmes
Speaking of wonderful ensemble casts bringing life to books, this female-focused tale originally written by author Nancy Springer of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes’ younger and more daring sister is another must-see. Millie Bobby Brown is perfect in the role of Enola — whose name is “alone” written backwards and who has received an unconventional upbringing from her highly political mother, played by Helena Bonham Carter. When her mother disappears one day, Enola sets out to find her, all while having to avoid capture by her brothers, who are determined to send her to boarding school to be raised as a proper lady. Enola Holmes isn’t a series, but rather a movie. The sequel was just released last week, and my children and I will probably get some popcorn and watch it today as it’s a school holiday. If you’re interested in reading before seeing the movie, there are the original novels and also a fantastic graphic novel version where a lot of clues and codes are included in the illustrations for astute readers to spot. Unlike the first two shows on this list, Enola Holmes isn’t appropriate for younger children, as there are two or three violent scenes. (Netflix)
4. Hilda
Moving away from the world of mystery, Hilda is a gorgeously animated version of the original graphic novels by Luke Pearson. It follows the title character — an 11-year-old girl in a fictional Scandinavian country — as she befriends and helps the human and non-human inhabitants of Trollberg and its surroundings. Whimsical and funny, but not in a cutesy or young way, Hilda is both entertaining and soothing, with themes of environmentalism and tolerance permeating every story. It’s fitting for this show that’s so captivating for both children and adults that Hilda is voiced by Bella Ramsey, an actress best known for both the children's show The Worst Witch, and for the decidedly non-child-friendly show Game of Thrones. (Netflix)
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I hope you give one or more of these shows a try, they are truly worth your time if you’ve got some free!