Kara Wild

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Red episode names indicate favorites.

101 - Esteemsters	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
102 - The Invitation	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
103 - College Bored	Parts I liked: the college fantasies (Jane's especially), the Alanis Morisette look-alike who was the tour guide ("She's God's problem now, kid. Let's get out of here."), the dean's suggestion that Jake gamble for money to afford his kids' education, the yuppie friends who are prepping their kid for college practically from infancy. Some of that wicked humor would not find its way into later seasons.
104 - Cafe Disaffecto	This ep could have been better, but it had several priceless moments, and probably the best string of guest characters prior to IIFY?, what with Amy, Rita, Luhrman, and the minister. Plus, it finally gave Helen some background and launched the whole "Amy is a Savior!" myth. The worst aspect of it was: what the heck was the point of making Paul Meyerson an old friend of Jake's? It didn't add anything to the plot. The same conversations could have taken place even if Paul were meeting Jake for the first time. Interesting point: this is probably the only "Daria" episode in which Helen flies off the handle while Jake keeps his cool.
105 - Malled	This had some good satire, but its plot was so dull that when I first watched it, I lost interest in "Daria" and didn't regain it until "Road Worrier."
106 - This Year's Model	I loved the skewering of Cloud and Romanica (especially Romanica's phone call), but that's about the only thing that worked during the episode.
107 - The Lab Brat	Pretty decent episode, with some good lines. Including: QUINN: God, it's like we're already going out. I loved Daria's reinforcement explanation, clearly aimed at Helen. Also the Quinn-Brittany rivalry that, sadly, never lasted beyond "Fair Enough."
108 - Pinch Sitter	This episode had a great main plot and side plot, what with Quinn's Deena Decker visit. QUINN: Now I can be beautiful, and popular, and organized! What really made it were the side characters -- Deena Decker and the Guptys were larger than life, and hilarious. Other lines I liked: DARIA: I think he thought I was your au pair. He asked me how I liked America so far. MATTHEW: Responsible? Dependable? You're never gonna go out with me, are you?
109 - Too Cute	Too damn funny.
110 - The Big House	Shame, since I thought the "B"plot meshed as well or better than most eps. Still, it could've been done better.
111 - Road Worrier	I can forgive this one for spawning 'shipperdom, because it's just such a good, funny episode. I was losing interest in "Daria" after episodes like "Malled" and "This Year's Model," but this episode brought me back. It shows Daria vulnerable (for the first time!) and makes a lot of good jabs at culture. I especially laughed at the "stretch pants" line and the attempts by the popular mainstream crowd to be alternative (ex: the F.C., playing bubblegum band music, roll up the convertible top at the first whiff of fertilizer). And then there's Brittany's "A clothes hanger! Outlet shopping!" And the Daria/Trent moment, while "You Showed Me" played in the background, produced an "Awwwwww!" from me. I was innocent then. I had no idea it would create such a following.
112 - The Teachings of Don Jake	Not amongst my favorite episodes, but funny and revealing. Jane's extended family scenes were great, especially the last one in the kitchen. "Janey, it's seven-thirty in the morning, and we're awake." "Soon the wooden balls will be klack-klack-klacking."
113 - The Misery Chick	For whatever reason, I'm not a big fan of this episode the way a lot of other people are. To me it felt slow and kind of dull. Still, the theme of lionizing people just because they're dead was one worth exploring, and Daria utters this classic line: "But I'm not miserable. I'm just not like them."
201 - Arts 'N Crass"	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
202 - The Daria Hunter	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
203 - Quinn the Brain	It was one of the first episodes to treat Quinn as having a glimmer of awareness ("I really like the way this is getting to Daria."). My favorite parts were the Daria transformation scene at the end and the money reward scene after Quinn gets an A. However, unlike some people it seems, I did see the Daria switcheroo scene coming. It's been done before on other shows, and I remembered thinking: "This again?"
204 - I Don't	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
205 - That was Then, This is Dumb	This had some good satire, but its plot was so dull that when I first watched it, I lost interest in "Daria" and didn't regain it until "Road Worrier."
206 - Monster	It could be seen, in some ways, as a precursor to LS, what with Quinn showing she has a hint of depth and Daria going easy on her. The nightmare and the Jake plotline are hilarious. DARIA: Dad, I just had a nightmare that I was my sister, while you're reliving a childhood incident that happened 40 years ago. You call this bonding? JAKE: Works for me. Also: QUINN: We're all ashamed of our pores. But we shouldn't be ashamed of our shame. Plus, this was one of the first Season 2 episodes I saw (I missed the first half because I was studying in the UK), that made me think: "Helen's not the overbearing, busybody jerk she was in Season One."
207 - The New Kid	I actually liked this episode. Ted had an annoying voice, but he was sweet and talented and truly seemed to like Daria. Change the voice and lose some of the naivite, and he would make a more ideal first boyfriend, IMO, than Tom. We got to see Daria act vulnerable and genuinely remorseful about the way she treated someone. Furthermore, if it weren't for this episode, I would have a much more difficult time believing that Daria values what's on the inside than the outside. Between Trent the hottie and Tom the handsome young man, there's not much to dislike on the outside!
208 - Gifted	This was the first episode I watched from Season Two (Summer '98), and I thought, "Wow! They really are moving the characters on this show!" While I was in England, I read the summaries for the first 7 episodes and was largely unimpressed, thinking that they -- especially "Quinn the Brain" -- seemed like rehashes of the S1 plotlines. But this episode hooked me. While "Road Worrier" deserves credit for resurrecting my interest in the show, "Gifted" lifted my interest to full-blown passion.
209 - Ill	Following "Gifted," it seemed like a letdown. But subsequent viewings have helped it grow on me.
210 - Fair Enough	Not bad, but it feels too much like "The Daria Hunter," and showed that the "ensemble" episodes were already starting to lose their sheen. Pluses: an appearance by Linda Griffin, Stacy crying on the ferris wheel, more craftiness from Brittany, and some good Sandi/Quinn rivalry.
211 - See Jane Run	One of my favorites of Season Two. The first Jane-centric episode, where Jane tries out for something mainstream, and she and Daria show they have differing opinions. The resolution here, for 2/3 of the episode, is less obvious than in the similar episode "Art Burn." Jane excels at a school sport, one which is based on one of her favorite activities, which doesn't seem to harm her other passion. So Daria's whining seems like just that: whining. Until Jane accepts the "bye" (buy? by?) on her math test, revealing the corruption within the sports system. As others have said, I think this shows the level to which Daria is selfish about her friendship, while Jane, under similar circumstances, is selfless. Some of the best lines came from the gym class scene. I wish they'd have brought Ms. Morris back for another episode. MORRIS: What's your excuse? DARIA: I'm just plain no good? MORRIS: Life's just one big smartass joke, isn't it?
212 - Pierce Me	I loved the first act, but the rest of the ep was so-so. It was fun seeing Quinn get maniacally competitive, and it signaled the first appearance by Monique. In spite of how villainized she's become, she is a fun character and I wish we saw more of her beyond "Lane Miz."
213 - Write Where It Hurts	I'm gonna help rescue 213 from the cellar by listing it as my #1. It's the true turning point for Daria, away from pure cynicism toward a greater understanding of her vulnerabilities and more tolerance of her family's. And it's done in a touching, unforced, melodrama-free manner. Note to Caira: IMO, the bonding between Daria and Helen wasn't limited to this episode: it started in "Arts N Crass" and was felt in other Season Two episodes, like "Monster."
301 - Through A Lens Darkly	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
302 - The Old And The Beautiful	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
303 - Depth Takes A Holiday	When I saw it, I didn't hate it, but I thought it was weird. It sort of produced a sinking feeling inside of me, along the lines of: "Geez, this show seemed to know its direction the first couple of seasons. Now its adrift" and "They've only got 13 episodes a season and they fill it with this?! A character development ep could have filled this slot!" I think it's funnier and more biting than "Murder She Snored," even without the frame. It would have been better if Daria had livelier animation to incorporate, and if Daria's family and perhaps the whole town got enchanted by the holiday weirdness... similar to the town's reaction in "Once More, With Feeling" on _Buffy: The Vampire Slayer_.
304 - Daria Dance Party	I liked it better with repeated viewings. The first time, I thought it was a waste of a "Daria goes to a dance" plotline, but I suppose this is what a dance would be like for Daria... not a nerve-wracking rendez-vous with Trent. It bothered me, though, that so much airtime was given to Kevin and Brittany's lovelife. Like we care.
305 - The Lost Girls	I really liked this one through the first act, but it wore down in the second and third. It would have been better if Daria had had to actually do something for or to Val, instead of following her around, growing more and more frustrated. Daria's bored tone throughout this episode reflects our feelings.
306 - It Happened One Nut	It was funny and occasionally touching, but it didn't do much for me. And unlike most people, I didn't think Kevin's bumbling of the nut speech was THAT funny.
307 - Daria!	This episode kind of bothered me when I first saw it, and I think "Buffy" did the musical a lot better, but it was still creative and I liked several of the songs, especially "Morning in the Burbs." It would have been even better had the songs somehow really cut to the core and exposed people's inner thoughts: like Daria's feelings about Trent, Quinn openly singing about how she's tired of the Fashion Club, but she can't escape, Jane singing about strains in her relationship with Daria, Helen singing about feeling disatisfied... etc.
308 - Lane Miserables	The first time I saw this, I thought it had too many threads working and was disappointed that Daria never interacted with the Lanes. Upon reviewing, I've ranked it as my favorite of Season Three -- tied with "Through a Lens Darkly." The best parts are Helen and Jane's interaction, Daria's reaction to Trent dating Monique, and Amanda's Zen ramblings.
309 - Jake of Hearts	I still think this could have been better, but it beats out any other episode that tries to have Daria and Jake bond.
310 - Speedtrapped	The whole set-up felt contrived, but I like that it was the first episode to show Daria and Quinn working together (aside from smaller moments), and there were several funny moments. One more subtle: anyone notice how much Jane and the female con looked alike? Steven Galloway>To Kara: You REALLY thought Jane's cellmate looked sorta like her? Ewwwwwww... ;D Black hair, bright red lips, blue eyes. I think the subtle joke is that this is what Jane would look like after years in the slammer.
311 - The Lawndale File	I was afraid of this episode after the other two fantasy eps, but it was surprisingly funny, if a bit strained at times. I still can't believe, though, that Daria misunderstood what Helen said about the "aliens," while Jake understood it. You'd think one of them would realize that Daria was thinking of the extraterrestrial kind. And how exactly did Jake make the connection between Daria taking a walk and Communism? And, given his background, why would he think leftist Daria was a bad thing?
312 - Just Add Water	Distant. God this was bad, right down there with "Murder She Snored" as Peggy's worst episodes and one of the worst of the series. No part of it was funny or revealing, unlike "The Daria Hunter" and "Fair Enough."
313 - Jane's Addition	So much of this episode felt forced. Daria's anger toward Jane was understandable, but I would have expected it to be preceded by a period of unease, like "Oh great. Jane's met a guy. Now what?" Instead, it was a quick explosion of resentment. Sheesh, Daria: Jane never acted that way about you and Ted! The Trent thing felt forced too, but at least it ended The Crush for good.
401 - Partner's Complaint	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
402 - Antisocial Climbers	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
403 - A Tree Grows In Lawndale	Had its moments, and made Kevin seem almost interesting. Almost. But by then, and definitely by "The 'F' Word," he and Brittany were too overexposed to be watchable. It can't be an accident that they didn't show up very much in Season 5. What disappointed me most was that Daria didn't mock the "loser town" sentiment more. That a town's value is measured by its high school football team is so ridiculous, it would have been a big fat beachball for her sarcastic barbs to puncture. Season 4 mature or not, she should still have been able to see stupidity for what it was.
404 - Murder, She Snored	Bad, bad, bad. The FC as "Charlie's Angels" was funny, but there was no point to this episode, unlike DTAH, which at least skewered holiday consumption. If they're going to make a fantasy ep, why couldn't they make one that relates to the show, like a parody of "Dawson's Creek"?
405 - The 'F' Word	This one was interesting, but too messy. A promising Jane plotline just never got the space it deserved, and too much space was devoted to Kevin and Brittany's love life, which was a rehash of the conflict in ATGIL.
406 - I Loathe A Parade	It was funny and well-executed, and all of the plotlines were good, but it's tarnished in retrospect by the fact that it's the first episode of the love triangle. There seems to be a wink, wink, nudge, nudge throughout about Daria and Tom's growing bond. Like Caira said, there needed to be a bridge episode.
407 - Of Human Bonding	Not a bad episode, but a real waste of several golden opportunities. This is Ann Berstein's weakest, without a doubt. A.J.>Bonding? Where? Sure we got to find out how they feel about each other, but neither could put it in words when the time came for them to do so. Instead, we get the unspoken bond thing, a cop out really. I felt the same way. Too much has been made about the sacred newspaper bond that Jake and Daria supposedly share (with Diane Long's "Connect Four" partially to blame), but I just don't see it. What Daria seems to feel for Jake, other than this admiration which never gets explained or examined, is sympathy bordering on pity. Her bond with Jake never takes her anywhere, whereas her bond with Helen helps her come to many important conclusions about herself. Plus, this was another episode where Jake's self-absorbtion got in the way of all else. Daria went to the balloon site for him rather than, say, him giving up the balloon trip for her sake. The Helen/F.C. plotline was less tedious, but again there was a major opportunity missed. How could an entire evening pass without the words "Quinn's cousin or something"?
408 - Psycho Therapy	Like "Gifted," this episode had the effect of kindling, or rather rekindling, my passion for the show. Until then, I was pretty disappointed by Season Four, with the exception of "Partner's Complaint," which itself wasn't a total winner, and ILAP, with its troubling 'shipper foreshadowing. "Psycho Therapy" had one of the most dramatic moments of the series, prior to "Fire!" and DDMD: the part where Helen sits there mortified beyond belief, convinced she's ruining her family. I would have liked to have seen what happened had Daria not caught up to Helen by the car; whether Helen would have gotten into the driver's seat and cried her eyes out. I still think deep down, she's troubled by what Jake said and feels that her family has problems that cannot easily, or ever, be fixed. The only thing about the ep. that bothers me is that it's destined to be overshadowed by the "love triangle" episodes.
409 - Mart Of Darkness	I really don't like this episode, but at least it stays focused around the central "Daria" characters.
410 - Legends Of The Mall	Quinn and the FC need rides home from the mall, after Jakes car breaks down. Prompting 3 stories about Lawndale urban legends: This one was entertaining, but it felt like filler. "Metal Mouth" was the best. Btw, the "Upchuck" segment of "The House of Bad Grades" took place in the 70's, during the first women's push for empowerment. That's why Upchuck's "mother" complains "How can I feel better about myself when...?" I don't think it's supposed to be insight into Upchuck's family.
411 - Groped By An Angel	This is one of the episodes where I wish some of Season One's humor were evident. Season One "Daria" would have had a field day with a religion episode. As it was, the episode felt dumbed down, like something that would have appeared in "Full House." Many people, including myself, were displeased by Daria's line: "I think you should believe whatever makes you feel best." Too morally relativistic for Daria.
412 - Fire!	What sank this one for me -- in this, Daria did do what all the other teenagers supposedly did, which was get caught up in a love triangle. In my high school experience, there were no love triangles; friendship triangles were more the norm.
413 - Dye! Dye! My Darling	Daria/Jane tension was deliciously thick. That's what made the episode watchable, in spite of The Kiss that made "Daria" jump the shark (even though I continued to watch it and love it best of all the shows on TV). Steven Galloway>Uh-huh, I agree yet again, though perhaps I dunno if "The Kiss" made 'Daria' jump the shark... That's based on personal opinion. Some others think it's the beginning of the "Daria the Bad Puppy" episodes, though you could see some of those as early as 401. For me, it made "Daria" jump the shark for two reasons: 1) It seemed like the first time the "Daria" writers bowed to convention. (Yes there was The Crush, but that was different, given that it ended in S3 instead of getting dragged out, leading to Trent and Daria dating.) The writers had done a great job of exploring the growing pains of an a-typical teenager; it would have been nice to see "The Boyfriend" situation handled in a non typical (for TV) way. Suppose Daria had to deal with Tom and Jane for more than a season, and eventually become a mutual friend of Tom's without being his love interest? 2) It sucked some life out of a lot of S5 episodes. Tom just isn't Jane. He's nice, supportive, somewhat witty, but he doesn't have chemistry with Daria that compares to the friend chemistry with Jane, and that shows. Daria alone holds my interest more than Daria with Tom. To me, a love triangle is the same as those situations on TV where a man and woman live together happily, only to be pulled apart by his or her sudden, ill-advised affair with a co-worker, friend, or former enemy (with whom he or she happens to have unbelievable chemistry). Does that happen in real life? Sure. Does it happen to everybody, as TV would have you believe? No.
MOVIE - Is it Fall Yet?	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
501 - Fizz Ed	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
502 - Sappy Anniversary	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx
0%"> 503 - Fat Like Me	I liked it, thought it came together very nicely. My only regret is that Quinn wasn't president of the FC for longer than 30 seconds.
504 - Camp Fear	It was okay, but could have been much better. I'd have been interested to see a different young Daria and Quinn. Like a Quinn that was scared of her own shadow, and hadn't learned to be fashion-obsessed yet. Or a Daria who got pushed around and teased to the point of tears.
505 - The Story of D	This felt like the episode with the best bits to me, between the long-overdue "Daria tries to publish something" plotline, Jake's pathetic attempt to write a song, and Helen's paranoia about Daria and Tom's relationship. The F.C. plotline was decent, too, if kind of dull.
506 - Lucky Strike	Lucky Strike" is my favorite, natch. The "Daria is really my sister" plotline is finally resolved, though it could have been resolved two seasons ago, and in particular during an episode like "Of Human Bonding." Though the student-teacher plotline was unrealistic, the focus on Quinn as potentially smart and on her growing relationship with Daria made this episode for me.
507 - Art Burn	A decent episode. It was nice to see something Jane-centric, but it lacked the humor and the moral dilemma of "See Jane Run." The F.C. plotline was funnier, and had a better resolution.
508 - One J at a Time	This one was fun, but it bothered me that Quinn could be so shallow after her experience with David. Plus, Helen majorly contradicted herself in her last scene with Quinn.
509 - Life in the Past Lane	The costumes were cool, but the rest failed to capture my interest. Will always be remembered for the Stacy subplot.
510 - Aunt Nauseam	I kept thinking what this episode might have been. Like, if they'd cut out the pointless F.C. subplot, they might have had time for some flashbacks, or Amy might have shown up sooner. I was hoping all three of the sisters would spend more time with each other and give us info that wasn't a rehash of what we've known. The vicious fighting felt more like tired bickering (I've had louder arguments with my car!), and Daria and Quinn's reenactment didn't really seem to solve anything -- Helen already knew she and Rita were acting silly; the real question was why. Jake's response to the whole thing was just beyond childish. Other than that, it was great to see the aunts again. The episode was long overdue.
511 - Prize Fighters	I didn't dislike this episode as much as some people, but it did fail to address many important issues, like Daria's family's financial status or a lot of the college application experience.
512 - My Night at Daria's	I felt like I'd seen it before, but I give Daria credit in this one for deciding not to do what all the other teenagers were supposedly doing.
513 - Boxing Daria	A great, touching way to end the series.
MOVIE - Is it College Yet?	12345678912xxxxxxxxxxxx

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Created on ... December 15, 2001