The End: Official Information and Speculation

[lauren]

Of course the Baudelaires will die...asssuming they are humans *shifty eyes*
but I highly doubt that they will meet their end in the book. This reasoning is because I don't think daniel will screw up the timeline daniel will screw up the timeline to that degree, and skip a number of years just to narrate the end of the Baudelaires. Besides we know their deaths, well at least Klaus's death doesn't happen till many years have past due to TRR evidence...unless we had a synopsis in replace of the letter to the editor

[Antenora]

I think Book 13 might end with a report from years later, instead of a letter to My Kind Editor. The timeline's already pretty confused on the matter of how closely Lemony is following the Baudelaires--personally, I think he published two editions of each book, one right after investigating the events, and one years later after all had been said and done. Maybe that years-later report could be written by one of the Baudelaires themselves, especially if they become official members of VFD.

[Dante]

rocksunner said:

I could almost make a case for the theory that Count Olaf is training them for his side of the V.F.D. Cruelty is no problem in his case.

TPP spoilers:


When Sunny shows an interest in arson, Olaf exclaims "I knew I was a good guardian after all!" Earlier, Dewey equates their being in Olaf's custody with being taken by the V.F.D.

Olaf has always seemed to turn his back to give them opportunities to escape, sometimes at a moral cost. (I still believe his motives are purely financial, however).

tocuna said:

You have a good point--the Baudelaires have learned a lot of VFD skills, such as anagrams and disguises, from Olaf. If Olaf gained permanent custody of theBaudelaires, he probably would recruit them to his cause, force them to help him get ahold of other family fortunes.

This is precisely what I think will happen in Book the Thirteenth. I think the Baudelaires will be like Olaf's troupe, helping him to further his ends because they can't see what else they could do, have no idea where else they could go, and think that they're villains themselves. They'd be reluctant, of course, but as has also been speculated, I think that by spending more time with the Baudelaires, Olaf may become more sympathetic to them and the reader.

[Jacques the Environmentalist]

True, but I don't think Lemony would end the story with another cycle of villainy, the Baudelaires are at some point going to rise up. They're essentially in control of Olaf now, there are 3 of them and one of him. They control the boat and where it's going, they can control who remains on the boat and such. I see them in a higher place (control wise) than Olaf at this point in time.

[Dante]

Olaf could threaten them with violence, though. He still has the harpoon gun, and there's still one hook left in it, and that's quite aside from what phsyical strength he may possess.

Edit: But you're right, I don't think the series will end like that. I think they'll be separated, and end up on opposing sides again - because they don't really want to work for him, they'd be doing it because they have no other choice.

[Jacques the Environmentalist]

Yes, but remember what happened with the harpoon gun in tpp? They walked right up to him and he faltered "What else can I do?"
I don't think it will be "Olaf brainwashes kids gradually" more "Kids help enlighten olaf gradually" as evidenced by him 'almost' respecting Violet and Klaus' skills when they offered to help him.

[Antenora]

I think both the children and Olaf are pretty morally ambigious now--they've all been show to be like the proverbial chef's salads. The Baudelaires wouldn't want to help Olaf, but they may end up having to do so. If Olaf was threatening one of the orphans, one of the others would probably be willing to carry out some villainous action to help him.

[lauren]

Hmmmm i disagree Jedi Master...I think Olaf has more control than the Baudelaires in the boat....I mean Olaf has been alone with the Baudelaires before and he has always had the upper hand. An example is Klaus, Violet and Quigs pulling Esme up the waterfall...they could have easily left her down there but they didn't. Maybe if they meet up with Kit on the way they could have control...but at the moment I think it will be Olaf ordering the kids around.

[orphansrgreat]

The Fiery Finalnaly sounds great!!!!!!!! But who is gonna die??? I hope its Hector! Ha Ha

[Juan Roberto Montoya De Toledo]

The Fiery Finale does sound good. Better than The Esarni End, at any rate.

[cwm3]

I don't think Olaf is much of a fighter and he probably doesn't have good aim either. But if the Baudelaires get rid of him, aren't they essentially setting back their chance to learn about everything even further?

[lemony2012]

i think it will be called th something end

[Antenora]

I don't think "end" will figure into the title, as we've already had a TEE.

cwm3 said:

I don't think Olaf is much of a fighter and he probably doesn't have good aim either. But if the Baudelaires get rid of him, aren't they essentially setting back their chance to learn about everything even further?

Hmm, what if the Baudelaires were to interrogate Olaf--tie him up and threaten him until he revealed the information they needed? I wonder if they'd actually do that.

[Myrrh]

That makes the most sense, because how else could you fit the whole story into the book, without a bunch of flashbacks, and there really aren't any flashbacks. But what could Count Olaf know about Beatrice?

[Dante]

Potentially quite a lot. Beatrice is a very important part of the sugar bowl mystery, if only because Esmé thought she'd taken it (which she hadn't). However, it's really hard to say, as the only character ever to mention Beatrice out loud was Esmé, and on both occasions it was about the same thing. I wonder if Beatrice was the only truly noble person, or if, like everyone else, she committed wicked deeds at some point?

Count Olaf does seem the best source of information in the next book, although there will be others - the Quagmires, Kit, Widdershins, Fernald, Fiona, and quite possibly Lemony himself.