For my ninth birthday, I had an A Series of Unfortunate Events-themed party. It is the piece of media most important to who I am today. My mother meticulously planned a themed soirée, but all of the referential activities went over the girls’ heads because only one had any familiarity with the series. What a waste. One of the gifts I received was my A Series of Unfortunate Events-themed Magic 8 Ball. Consult the ball for fateful answers, and through that foreboding dark liquid it will respond with phrases like “Signs point to bleak,” “Unfortunately, yes,” and “Reply dismal, try again.” Hmm. I wonder what sparked my cynical streak.