| “ | That's an excellent question, Klaus Baudelaire. | ” |
— Jacquelyn to Klaus about who is looking after the Quagmires
|
Jacquelyn Scieszka, Duchess of Winnipeg[1] is a recurring character in the TV adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Personality
Jacquelyn is a brave and honorable member of V.F.D. who will stop at nothing to ensure that justice prevails. She is also bold and resourceful when it comes to defending her organization.
Biography
Biography
Jacquelyn presumably attended Prufrouck Preparatory School with the other volunteers
; however, she may not have, as she didn't seem to recognize the school in The Austere Academy: Part One.
Jacquelyn would be recruited into V.F.D. and worked with Gustav Sebald. At some point, she was an actress and played the role of Gerta in Gustav's film Zombies in the Snow. She with all the other volunteers would find V.F.D. Headquarters
She works as a secretary for Mr. Poe at Mulctuary Money Management. Mr. Poe states that she was highly recommended by the Baudelaire parents for the job.
Season 1
Jacquelyn tied up.
In "The Bad Beginning: Part Two", it is revealed that while the Baudelaires were staying with the Poes, she reluctantly gave Count Olaf, disguised as "Yessica Haircut", an appointment with Mr. Poe. She is then abducted by his associates and tied to a tree. She drags the tree to a phone booth where she contacts Gustav. She finds her way to a VFD tunnel and Gustav unties her.
She is later seen at The Marvelous Marriage with Gustav. When Olaf's scheme is foiled, she walks to the stage and tells the Baudelaires that their parents had a "vigorously fixed destination" for where they should go: to Montgomery Montgomery. This news upsets Justice Strauss. She is later in the tunnels, contacting Gustav through walkie-talkie, telling him to have the Baudelaires arrive at Montgomery's. But just as she mentions that "their" parents are alive, Gustav was killed and she lost contact with him.
Jacquelyn threatening Olaf with a harpoon gun.
In "The Reptile Room: Part Two", disguised as a statue in a hedge-maze, she briefly meets the Baudelaires outside Montgomery Montgomery's house and tells them to find Aunt Josephine, claiming she can keep them safe and tell them important information. She promises to Klaus to get back his half of a V.F.D. spyglass which Count Olaf had stolen from him. She then attempts to capture Count Olaf aboard the Prospero, threatening him with a harpoon gun, but he evades capture.
At the end of "The Miserable Mill: Part Two", Mr. Poe hands Klaus a package from Jacquelyn. It contains Klaus's half of a spyglass.
Season 2
In "The Austere Academy: Part One", Jacquelyn hears that Mr. Poe has enrolled the Baudelaires at Prufrock Preparatory School. She gives fellow V.F.D. member Larry an annotated copy of The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations to give to the Baudelaires. However, Larry misplaces the book, which winds up in the school library. Duncan and Isadora Quagmire later find the book, learning about V.F.D. in the process.
In "The Ersatz Elevator: Part One", Jacquelyn overhears Olivia Caliban explaining to Mr. Poe Olaf's scheme, which leads her to contact Jacques Snicket, who enlists Olivia in V.F.D. Later, she tells Mr. Poe of Secretary's Day and he takes her out to lunch, where they meet the Squalors, Gunther, and the Baudelaires in Café Salmonella and discreetly tells the children to relax. When the restaurant declared 'out', she and Larry attempt to make their way towards Gunther, but the crowd prevents them. In "The Ersatz Elevator: Part Two", Jacquelyn and Larry converge on the In Auction at the same time Jacques, Olivia, Poe, Eleanora, Jerome Squalor, and the Baudelaires do, engaging in a bidding war over Very Fancy Doilies, believing Duncan and Isadora to be inside it. She and Larry are unsuccessful in rescuing the Quagmires.
Jacquelyn and Larry tied.
In "The Vile Village: Part Two", Jacquelyn and Larry arrive at the Village of Fowl Devotees. They attempt to calm down the mob of angry villagers from wanting to burn children to death, but it is futile. They are tied up in rope and are unable to assist Duncan, Isadora, and the Baudelaires in their escape. This is the last time she and Larry are seen in the present day events as of Season 2.
In "The Carnivorous Carnival: Part One", she is seen partying at a masked ball the V.F.D. Headquarters, along with Gustav, at least 14 years before the series, as the ball is stated to have taken place "before the Baudelaires were born" and Violet is 14 years old at the beginning of the series. This means Jacquelyn has been involved with the organization for over a decade.
Season 3
In “The Slippery Slope: Part One”, Mr. Poe mentions to Kit Snicket that his former secretary has gone to be the new Duchess of Winnipeg, confirming that she has a connection to the book series despite never making an active appearance.
In "The Penultimate Peril: Part One", Mr. Poe mentions Jacquelyn moved to Winnipeg, possibly the one in Canada.
The official tie-in book includes a picture of her with the description 'Returned to Winnipeg!!!!', meaning Jacquelyn originally came from Winnipeg.
Behind the scenes
She is portrayed by Sara Canning.
Quotes
- "I was in the mood for some vigorously fancy dining."
Trivia
- Jacqlyn might of been the old lady who helps the Baudelaire get to the bank in the book
- Based on current knowledge, Jacquelyn is one of the few notable characters in the TV series that never makes a direct appearance in the books, alongside the Quagmire parents and Gustav Sebald.
- The last time she spoke to Gustav alive, she mentioned that she had a lead on missing parents who are still alive, although it was unclear if she meant the Baudelaires' parents, the Quagmires' parents or even their parents.
- A poster for Zombies in the Snow includes the name "Jacquelyn Scieszka". "Jacqueline Scieszka" (a different spelling of Jacquelyn) is also credited as providing subtitles for the film which contain a secret message for Monty to be read using a V.F.D. spyglass. Given Jacquelyn's affiliation with Gustav (who directed the film), her association with V.F.D., and her appearance in the film, led many to conclude her last name is Scieszka, making her another J.S., though others think this may be a red herring.
- It was later confirmed in the third episode of Season 2 that Jacquelyn's surname is indeed Scieszka, as Jacques Snicket addresses her in their phone call.
- It was also confirmed in an interview that "Jacqueline" the original intention for her name, but it turned out there was a real Jacqueline Scieszka, so her name was changed to Jacquelyn during the show, and the creators weren't always able to change every mention to Jacquelyn.[1]
- In Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography, there is a photo of sailors, one of the sailors has the last name Scieszka.
- Both "snicket" and "sciezka" mean "a passage."
- Prior to the release of the tie-in book as well as the finale of Season 2, some fans incorrectly, but understandably, believed Jacquelyn was secretly Kit Snicket, using the feminine version of her brother's, Jacques's, name.
Appearances
- The Bad Beginning ( probably )
- A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)
References
- ↑ Poe says that his secretary "recent returned to Winnipeg after her mother died and is now a Duchess of something", implying that R is Jacquelyn's mother.
Gallery
