The Reptile Room: Part One

"The Reptile Room: Part One"


Adapted from:	The Reptile Room
Main character(s):	Violet, Klaus, Sunny
Baudelaire guardian:	Uncle Monty
Featuring:	Mr. Poe
Main enemy:	Count Olaf
Olaf's disguise:	Stephano
Main setting:	Montgomery Montgomery's house
Library:	Reptile Room
Key crew
Writer:	Daniel Handler
Director:	Mark Palansky
Producer:	Neil Patrick Harris
Release details
Story number:	2a
Season/series:	Season 1
Premiere network:	Netflix
Release date:	January 13, 2017
Format:	48 minutes
Production code:	1.3
Navigation
←Previous	Next→
A Series of Unfortunate Events
"A Bad Beginning: Part Two"	"The Reptile Room: Part Two"

"The Reptile Room: Part One" is the third episode of Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It covered the first half of The Reptile Room, introducing the Baudelaires to their new guardian, Uncle Monty, then taking him swiftly from them. The story ended on the cliffhanger of Monty's mysterious death in the Reptile Room.

Official synopsis

After the Baudelaires move in with Dr. Montgomery, a renowned expert in reptile behavior, their new guardian hires a frighteningly familiar assistant.

Dedication

For Beatrice –

My love for you shall
live forever.

You,however, did not.

Plot

Tumblr ok399nLGvb1rsyihho2 r1 500 — Uncle Monty showing the Baudelaires a picture of their parents.

The Baudelaires are taken to their new guardian: Dr. Montgomery Montgomery(Who was supposed to be their new guardian in the first place, and not Count Olaf). They arrive at an ornate mansion and are greeted by the doctor with pieces of coconut cream cake. After shoving Mr. Poe out of the door, Montgomery apologizes for treating Mr. Poe rudely, but that it was the banker's fault who put them with Count Olaf in the first place). As Montgomery Montgomery gives the children a tour of their new home, they come across a picture of a piano with no one in it. It's the doctor's only proof that he knew their parents, explaining that the three of them were hiding in the piano and had unfortunately gotten locked in.

Monty shows the children his reptile room, which is filled with various types of reptiles. He introduces them to the Incredibly Deadly Viper who turns out to be not as deadly as it appears. It takes an instant liking to Sunny as it playfully curls around her. Monty encourages them to make themselves at home and to read as many of the books as they like. It looked like the Baudelaire children's luck was turning out for the better.

One day, Monty's new assistant, Stephano, arrived at the front door. Stephano is really only a poorly disguised Olaf. The children lock themselves in the Reptile Room and wait there until Monty comes home from the running errands. Monty is possibly the only adult who believes them when they say that Stephano isn't who he says is he is. However, he thinks he's a spy, trying to steal the Incredibly Deadly Viper. He comes up with a plan to get rid of him. They decide to go to the movies and watch a horribly named film called "Zombies in the Snow." Unknown to Stephano, there is a hidden message in the subtitles that instructs Monty to take the children to Peru on the SS Prospero. However, Stephano then notices when he sees Monty use a spyglass at parts in the movie. He gets up and blocks Monty's way, and in result, Monty is forced to go up to the movie box to rewind the movie, and get the message.

During the movie, Monty is kidnapped by Stephano's henchman, and Stephano takes the children to an alley. However Monty shows up(Having freed himself, and tying up Stephano's henchman) and frees the children from Stephano. He fires Stephano, and takes the children home(With Stephano laughing on his way to his truck).

Monty tucks the children into bed, and says that the next day they will be going to Peru. The children fall asleep, and Monty goes downstairs into the reptile room. Then, someone runs up to Monty, and the screen cuts to black.

Cast

Starring

Guest starring

Co-starring

White-Faced Woman #1 - Jacqueline Robbins
White-Faced Woman #2 - Joyce Robbins
Jacquelyn - Sara Canning
Gustav - Luke Camilleri
Sweet Old Lady - Mary Black
Ticket Seller - Matthew Walker
Town Father - Patrick Keating
Zombie Snowman - John Stewart
Voice of "Sunny" - Tara Strong

Crew

to be added

References

Monty mentions the Dissonant Toad is soothed only by the music of Alexander Scriabin or early Sonic Youth.

GodforsakenNickolodeon — Daniel Handler possibly throwing shade at the movie.

In the movie theater, Olaf insults a movie theatre as a "godforsaken nickelodeon". "Nickelodeon" was in fact a term for a neighborhood movie theatre that took a nickel as the admission fee. However, some fans believe this is Daniel Handler throwing shade at the film which was produced by Nickelodeon Movies, due to the fact that he wasn't allowed to work on it much and had mixed feelings about it.
In the movie Zombies in the Snow, there are references to Gustav Sebald and Jacquelyn Scieszka (misspelled Jacqueline) in the credits.
Doubling as a reference to the 2004 film and the entire Netflix series, Count Olaf breaks the fourth wall by saying that he prefers "long form television" to the movies, before turning to the camera and stating it is "more convenient to consume entertainment from the comfort of your own home" and grinning.
Stefano is an anagram for Not Safe.

Story notes

to be added

Filming locations

to be added

Production errors

to be added

Deviations from the novel

The Baudelaires all share a room in the episodes, when in the book they were each given their own.
In the book, Monty hired Stephano. In the series, Stephano came over to his house uninvited.
Monty has plans to go to Peru before Stephano arrives in the book rather than deciding to go after seeing the secret code in the movie.
The Baudelaires simply walk away from Stephano after he threatens them in the book before getting scared in the Reptile Room. But here, he actually chases them and throws his knife at the door.
Monty and the Baudelaires actually see Olaf throw the lamp down. In the book, none of them saw it, and he accuses Klaus of leaving it by the window.
Monty seems to know who Count Olaf is (and was probably faking it to him so that he didn't raise suspiscion).
In the book, Monty was oblivious to the Sebald code. Here, he knows it and tries to get it down. Also, he gets kidnapped by the white-faced women.

Continuity

About 10 minutes in, when Lemony Snicket is talking by a window, Hector's mobile home can be seen in the distance. (TV: "The Vile Village: Part Two", PROSE: The Vile Village)