Who Deserves a Second Chance

[Invisible]

Sir. Charles really deserves his love

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

I think every member of Olaf's troupe who died deserved a second chance, and I really enjoyed what was done in the Netflix series. I think they were lied to, mistreated, disrespected, and yet from their point of view, they were loyal and did a good job. They were actors who were "adopted" by Olaf, a stepfather who was not a good role model and cheated on him. I think Fernald was the only one who really fully understood the choice he made, and unfairly he was the only one who had a relatively well-structured redemption arc. The two white-faced women had at least a moment of enlightenment, but either died shortly thereafter, or disappeared shortly thereafter, which for the reader does not change much: suffering after enlightenment does not seem to be a fair reward. Olaf, on the other hand, in TE had a moment where he did a good deed right before a glorious death. Olaf's death for me is very good in terms of narrative sense, as it doesn't give the reader that "well done!" taste. I remember when I reread TE recently the question I asked myself, "What would the story have been like if the Baudelaires had just killed Olaf on the boat?" I mean, Kit Snicket would be abandoned just the same, a schism would happen just the same, and without a deadly MM fungus to bring them all together, it's quite likely there would be deaths just the same. TE is a remarkable book... I always find myself thinking about it.

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

Asoue is really a book series that would have more breath to go on if Daniel Handler wanted it. He introduced new characters into Olaf's troupe (the freaks) that really were underutilized. He entered into new relationships (between Esmé and Carmelita) that could have been put to better use. He really managed to build a world by publishing LSTUA. He created a deep background in TBL and ATWQ. I think at the end of the day, the orphans are us, the fans... We were separated from our favorite story before our time. And just like Beatrice Jr, we try to find our parents by going after an author who doesn't want to meet with us to discuss it. I think the ones who most deserve a second chance are us. I wish I had already accepted the end of asoue and the whole universe. I wish I could say that I'm satisfied with reinterpretations, theories, fanfics and fan art. But I know what I really wanted is for PFB to be a direct continuation of the ASOUE universe. I wanted to say that I can keep pretending that I'm okay with it. But I waited many years and created expectations that were simply not met by PFB. I feel like the children must have felt on the island, after having created expectations that at least one of their parents was alive, and the story just ended without them having a definitive answer, with the most likely being that they in fact they were dead, and all that hope they harbored only served to make them worse. ASOUE is finished, and PFB has not resurrected it. I really wish it had been clear from the beginning that PFB wouldn't be in the same universe as ASOUE. I would still buy the book, and have fun just as I did. But I wouldn't have to lie to myself saying I'm fine with it, when evidently I'm not. It is true that no one said that PFB would be a direct sequel, or that it would be in the same universe. But no one was blunt in saying it wouldn't be in the same universe. And you know, I don't even know what I really want right now. I don't know if it would be good for Daniel Handler to write more about the universe of asoue, as I understand that he can accidentally spoil something that is beautiful. But what if netflix made unofficial continuation within its universe?

If Netflix has the rights to produce adaptations, wouldn't it be nice to have a fourth season of asoue? Better yet, a spin-off? I think there's enough fan-produced content to be inspired by.

Something like "VFD Tales"... Of course the kids won't be kids anymore, but that might be good for the concept. So I think Netflix deserves a second chance!

(Well, at least I was able to put this in writing and untie My Silence Knot).

[Glittery666]

I have to agree about the freaks, they were taken advantage of.