So it’s a new year and time for some new Netflix shows to entertain the kiddies when it’s too cold outside to play.

Netflix knows that we all love a good princess, and there’s nothing wrong with a happy ending, but the reality is kids today are gravitating toward grown-up stories. That’s why Netflix is reinventing family TV with shows like Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events which premiered on January 13. The show serves up dark comedy that your big kids are probably ready for, whether you realize it or not. Mine were!

Based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) and starring Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events recounts the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. The siblings must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling his many devious plans and disguises, in order to discover clues to their parents’ mysterious death. The eight-episode series is a Netflix original production.

This is my daughter, Maddie McKee, aged (almost) 11. She is a Netflix lover and a self-professed TV Show Critic. Here are her thoughts about Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events:

“I think it was really good and I hope more episodes come out soon. It was kind of funny but serious too. Count Olaf followed them everywhere. I also liked how the kids could speak “baby” to their little sister. It wasn’t a scary show, it was more odd! I recommend it to kids who like mystery and weirdness and are aged 10 and up. I wouldn’t recommend that my Mom watch it… it has snakes and reptiles in it. She would freak!”