A Series of Unfortunate Events: When to Write Quirky Characters

Some characters are just plain weird. They’re either constantly making stupid remarks, wearing the craziest clothes, or just being quirky for no apparent reason other than the writer wanted to force a laugh out of their readers. Sometimes these characters, such as Dewey from DuckTales or Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, can become some of the audience’s favorites. But other times? Their zany antics can quickly become a nuisance to the readers. 

A while back, I wrote an article on how to make a quirky character loveable, but how should you know when to place such a character in your story? Can you have a quirky character that is hated but still helpful to the plot? Could their odd personality and stupid remarks possibly build your story up instead of tearing it down? 

Here to answer these questions is a brilliant TV series (based off of the popular books) known as A Series of Unfortunate Events.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Everyone around Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are either incapable of common sense, full of absurd quirks, or both. And the villain, Count Olaf, will stop at nothing to steal the fortune of the orphaned children, is no exception. Even though they escape from his clutches again and again, he continuously tricks the other idiotic adults around them. Without a single normal or reasonable adult (accepting a few good mentors who pop-up occasionally) the Baudelaires don’t have anyone to protect them from his nefarious plots and are forced to rely upon their own ingenuity to stop him. 

Count Olaf, on top of being extremely evil, is strange, and his band of henchmen are even stranger. From a hook-handed man to a pair of elderly twins, all the way to Carmelita Spats, an annoying little girl who is more than willing to help Count Olaf, every single character that follows the antagonist around is incredibly weird. And not in a loveable way. In fact, every other adult in this show is absolutely horrible. They cheat, they lie, their priorities are completely askew, they wear the most insane outfits, and every single one is completely ignorant of Count Olaf’s obvious treachery. 

Yet, none of them are out of place. All of these characters contribute something essential to the show in some way. And it’s not just because they help move the plot along, or because they contribute to the main theme (although all of those things are true!) but because all of the adult’s insanity was intentional. Lemony Snicket didn’t just write about Olaf’s crazy costumes or the other adult’s stupidity to get a laugh out of his audience. He didn’t just throw in a shallow joke to lighten the mood of his story. Instead, he intentionally exaggerated his character’s personalities in order to make a point. 

Why Does This Work?

We’ve talked a lot about being intentional with each element in your story before, but how can you be intentional with your quirky characters? Where and when exactly should you place them into your plot? How can you do it in a way that won’t tear everything down? Below are three ways quirky characters will serve your story, whether they be the loveable kind or not:

#1. Quirky Characters Should Set The Mood

As was mentioned in our last article about this franchise, A Series of Unfortunate Events is targeted at kids. Despite all the murder and arson that is committed, the mood is surprisingly light and witty, and the plot is simple enough for a younger audience to understand. Part of this is because all of the characters are so wild. Count Olaf, although he is intimidating, also makes some of the funniest comments in the whole show. Carmelita is a spoiled brat, but her bright clothing and incessant singing provides a fresh reason to laugh. 

Mara has been writing a lot about balancing tone recently, so I won’t go into this too much, but keep in mind that your crazy, weird, quirky characters, whether good or evil, can greatly affect your story. If you add a quirky character correctly, they can brighten up your dark tale without taking away from the emotional parts as well. Crazy characters have the power to swing the whole mood of your novel, so only insert them with care. 

#2. Quirky Characters Should Make The Audience Laugh

On top of setting the general tone, quirky characters can also make your readers laugh out loud. A Series of Unfortunate Events has plenty of hilarious lines, none of which feel forced or out-of-place, because they’re coming from funny characters. You should never force a laugh onto your audience, especially if you’re also trying to write a serious moment at the same time. Instead, use the quirky people you have as comedy relief. Don’t make a random joke or throw in a stupid comment, but rather use your characters to cleverly set up hilarious situations and conversations. 

Your character’s should be a vessel for your witty punch-lines. Their weirdness alone can’t provide laughter. Intentionally set up humorous situations to let your quirky characters shine.  

#3. Quirky Characters Should Highlight the Sanity of Your Main Characters

In every other episode of A Series of Unfortunate Events Count Olaf evades all authority figures by finding a new disguise, and the Baudelaire children (along with the viewers) are the only ones who recognize him through the fake beards and makeup. All the other characters are completely convinced he’s a different person, which makes the Baudelaires seem like the only normal ones in the show. Not to mention, everyone else is extremely weird and quirky, whereas the three children are intelligent and reasonable. 

Because everyone around them is so strange, the Baudelaire’s image is magnified. If they were to be placed into any other setting, they would probably stick out, but since everyone else is so weird, they are comparatively normal. This is not only a tactic to make them more loveable, but also a way to put the supporting cast of quirky characters to use. 

Road Dahl, author of Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, uses this technique a lot throughout his books. Every character is so annoying, weird, or just plain stupid that you have no choice but to believe the main protagonist. This is also a part of what makes Lemony Snicket’s story work. Surround your characters with a cast of crazy people, and your protagonists will be loved and respected significantly more. 

Next time you consider adding a quirky character into your story, make sure you’re placing them intentionally. Make sure that these characters are setting the mood you want, provide a good laugh for the audience, and let those supporting roles compliment the main ones.

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In the meantime, let us know:

What quirky characters are your favorite? Did you enjoy the characters in A Series of Unfortunate Events?