Look Away!

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 13 part book series that was released from 1999 up until 2006. Since, a film adaptation and most recently a TV series on Netflix have been aired. The series follows the three Baudelaire siblings who are orphaned by a freak accident that burns down their lavish home with their mother and father inside.

The TV show comments on society's tendency to ignore tragedy and instead focus on shallow and pointless things. The theme song is titled "Look Away" and suggests the viewer to stop watching as the events in the upcoming episode are too upsetting. Lemony Snicket, the narrator, repeatedly interrupts the episode to say that there is no happy ending in the Baudelaire's story, and that watching the show will ruin your day. All the while, the adults in the TV show aren't as much concerned with the orphans situation as they are with their own selves. Mr. Poe, the banker who is responsible for placing the children with a suitable guardian, is more concerned about being promoted. Mrs. Poe is worried about getting the best headline for the local newspaper than she is with helping the orphans. Mr. and Mrs. Poe's tendencies allude to the ignorance present in our society. While people may know and feel bad about many of the horrible things happening around the world, they won't actually do anything to help the situation. The show uses hyperbole and irony to complete the argument.

Count Olaf, who is played by Neil Patrick Harris, also symbolizes the evil that is in Hollywood. He is an actor and the distant relative of the Baudelaire's who hunts down the orphans to steal their fortune and will do whatever it takes to get his way. This includes disguises, elaborate schemes, and help from his theater troupe. The show uses hyperbole and Count Olaf's character to shine light on the greed, corruption, and exploitation in the entertainment industry.