I know we like to be like "haha, a series of unfortunate events has computers alongside telegrams and Victorian clothing and literally nothing about the world or the side characters behavior makes sense, Lemony Snicket really did that lmao" but the fact that the world in ASOUE makes no sense is deliberate. Why should it make sense? The main characters are children who just lost their parents in a sudden and horrific way and are being passed between multiple abusive adults and whom no one will listen to. How are they supposed to make sense of that? The surreality and nonsense and horror of the setting accurately reflects the situation of the protagonists, stylized through a child's simplified POV. It's not just a gag, it's skilled worldbuilding that prioritizes serving the characters needs over being "real."