Also, seriously, I very much doubt you read the books if you didn't immediately recognize the significance of the Quagmire triplets. Really?

Bah. Sorry Zach, but you were so off target these past couple of episodes. Both were outstanding. Connecting with the conspiracy subplot was much smoother, the villain pair was a hoot, the plot twists in that awesome final scene at the mill were clever, and the direction, cinematography, and camerawork were…

There is one and only one thing about these episodes that I think the book executes better than the show, and that is the way they frame the hypnosis words.

I mean, Klaus was pretty upset at the time. I won't hold that one against him.

NPH improves exponentially as the season goes on. He really is fantastic these last two episodes.

The implication is VERY slight. You conceivably could believe they survived, but the idea of something giant and dangerous in the shape of a question mark found in the sea indicates that their odds are rather low.

The stiletto heels still make me chuckle. Such a perfectly Esme detail, completely ridiculous, preposterously impractical, but somehow genuinely frightening despite it all.

That one has my favorite Violet invention of the series, though. I have to admit, even I was struggling to figure out even semi-plausible method for breaking out of a prison cell with bread, water, and a bench, but Snicket sold it.

I guess I'll talk more about this Friday, but the Quagmires are fascinating characters when looked at - as Snicket intends us to - foils for the Baudelaires. They're the Baudelaires if the Baudelaires were ACTUALLY unlucky.

The three kids are presented as just as nice and just as clever and just as innocent, but…

I totally disagree. Klaus is the best one (well, Sunny, but Klaus is a strong two). He actually shows frustration sometimes, which is a novel thing for the series.

Volunteer Fire Department is the "official" name of VFD, right? Quiqley Qugmire confirmed it.

Warburton has been Emmy worthy. His delivery seriously couldn't be better, and in a super difficult role too.

Exactly.

Let us all take a moment to praise this (and next) episode's amazing direction and cinematography. The editing choices and excellent camerawork add so much to both of these episodes (thinking especially of the parents reveal and the two times something horrible is about to happen and we cut to Snicket, plus the bits…

I don't think so. In the book the Baudelaire parents aren't even mentioned, and the eye doctor and Olaf aren't connected as part of a larger subplot but only by the (very light) Implication that at one point in the past they worked together. It had nothing to do with VFD.

Actually the first one is book 5.

I think, and even for reasons the reviewer said, this episode did a MUCH better job of integrating the conspiracy subplot with the main action, and it gives the Baudelaires a purpose at the Mill aside from "survive", plus that purpose is also connected to the larger plot.

Not really.

Wow, I swear I thought this was an A. This and part 2 are the best episodes of the season by a country mile.

The relationship between Charles and Sir is hilarious