Synopsis
Includes:
Daria: The Invitation (1997)
Daria: College Bored (1997)
Daria: The Misery Chick (1997)
Daria: The Teachings of Don Jake (1997)
Daria: Road Worrier (1997)
Daria: The Big House (1997)
Daria: Too Cute (1997)
Daria: Pinch Sitter (1997)
Daria: The Lab Brat (1997)
Daria: This Year's Model (1997)
Daria: Esteemsters (1997)
Daria: Malled (1997)
Daria: Cafe Disaffecto (1997)
Daria: I Don't (1998)
Daria: Quinn the Brain (1998)
Daria: The Daria Hunter (1998)
Daria: Arts 'N Crass (1998)
Daria: Monster (1998)
Daria: That Was Then, This Is Dumb (1998)
Daria: Write Where it Hurts (1998)
Daria: Fair Enough (1998)
Daria: Ill (1998)
Daria: Gifted (1998)
Daria: The New Kid (1998)
Daria: Pierce Me (1998)
Daria: See Jane Run (1998)
Daria: Jake of Hearts (1999)
Daria: The Lawndale File (1999)
Daria: Through a Lens Darkly (1999)
Daria: Depth Takes a Holiday (1999)
Daria: Daria Dance Party (1999)
Daria: The Lost Girls (1999)
Daria: It Happened One Nut (1999)
Daria: Lane Miserables (1999)
Daria: The Old and the Beautiful (1999)
Daria: Jane's Addition (1999)
Daria: Daria! (1999)
Daria: Speedtrapped (1999)
Daria: Just Add Water (1999)
Daria: Murder, She Snored (2000)
Daria: Psycho Therapy (2000)
Daria: Of Human Bonding (2000)
Daria: Fail (2000)
Daria: Groped by an Angel (2000)
Daria: Antisocial Climbers (2000)
Daria: Dye! Dye! My Darling (2000)
Daria: Fire! (2000)
Daria: Legends of the Mall (2000)
Daria: Mart of Darkness (2000)
Daria: I Loathe a Parade (2000)
Daria: A Tree Grows in Lawndale (2000)
Daria: Partner's Complaint (2000)
Daria: Prize Fighters (2001)
Daria: Lucky Strike (2001)
Daria: Camp Fear (2001)
Daria: Sappy Anniversary (2001)
Daria: Fizz Ed (2001)
Daria: Boxing Daria (2001)
Daria: Fat Like Me (2001)
Daria: The Story of D (2001)
Daria: Aunt Nauseam (2001)
Daria: One J at a Time (2001)
Daria: Art Burn (2001)
Daria: Life in the Past Lane (2001)
Daria: My Night at Daria's (2001)
Daria: The Invitation
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) enjoys her first major brush with Lawndale High's popular crowd in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. After Daria helps classmate Brittany (voice of Lisa Collins) on a school assignment, the dim-witted cheerleader invites her to a bash at the nouveau riche digs she shares with her wealthy family. Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), Daria's newfound best friend, urges her to attend so they can people-watch and so Jane can do some sketching. Daria's motives for going, however, center on her desire to embarrass Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes), her snooty, stick-thin, fashion-plate sister. Getting into Brittany's gated community proves challenging, but soon Daria and Jane are making snide remarks to each other about the clueless "beautiful people." While Jane goes off with a cute guy, Daria regales her sister's new football-player harem -- Jamie (voice of Marc Thompson), Joey (voice of Steven Huppert), and Jeffy (voice of Tim Novikoff) -- with humiliating anecdotes about Quinn's childhood. Once that stops providing amusement, Daria and Jane split -- just in time to escape the arriving police. The girls reluctantly accept a ride home from lascivious nerd Charles Ruttheimer III, who is known almost universally as Upchuck (voice of Marc Thompson). Much to her chagrin, Quinn is forced to ride with him, too. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: College Bored
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) get an unsettling taste of university life in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Obsessed about their futures, uptight mom Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) forces her daughters to take college-prep courses. She also arranges to accompany them on a tour of her own alma mater, Middleton. Out-of-it dad Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) soon wanders over to fraternity row, where he tries pathetically to recapture his college coolness. Meanwhile, Quinn, too, immerses herself in the Greek system, and the frat boys seem much more eager to interact with her than with Jake. Jolted out of her own misty collegiate reverie by the reality of campus mating rituals, Helen goes on a rampage to save Quinn from the keg partyers. Meanwhile, Daria experiences the depressing reality of much of college life as she watches the boob tube, checks out the campus employment opportunities, and ends up writing term papers for cash -- all while supposedly under the supervision of tour guide Heather. Eventually, the entire Morgendorffer clan receives the boot when the administration gets wind of Daria and Quinn's non-parentally supervised activities. College solicitations soon begin to arrive for Quinn, who's ecstatic, but their dubious nature is obvious to everyone else. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Misery Chick
Typically smug wisecracks come back to haunt Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) when the latest victim of their scorn dies in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The dead guy is Tommy Sherman, hometown football hero, who croaks when the memorial goalpost that's just been erected in his honor comes crashing down on him just moments after an ugly confrontation with Daria and Jane. In the midst of insulting current football players Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) and Mack (voice of Paul Williams) and hitting on Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz), the smug alumnus labels Daria a "misery chick" for daring not to fawn over him. When Sherman dies, his epithet sticks, but rather than branding Daria an outcast, her new label earns her throngs of grief-stricken students seeking her advice on how to deal with the indescribable loss of Sherman's death. Irked by her sudden stature as Oprah-esque grief counselor, Daria tries to sound off to Jane but finds that her friend is avoiding her. It turns out Jane herself is having trouble coping with the fact that she jokingly wished Sherman dead. She doesn't feel like dealing with the situation -- or with Daria's thought-provoking analysis thereof. The pals eventually make up and the tragedy subsides, but Daria's rep as a soothsayer remains intact until she starts charging vacuous automatons such as Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) for her services. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Teachings of Don Jake
No synopsis available.
Daria: Road Worrier
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) attempt to join the alternative generation in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The alt-rock immersion begins when Daria and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) suffer through a loud rehearsal of Mystik Spiral, the struggling band whose singer/lyricist, Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez), is both Jane's brother and the object of Daria's unvoiced affections. It turns out that Trent and bandmate Jesse (voice of Willy Schwenz) want to attend Alternapalooza, the big alt-rock festival, so Jane offers to chip in gas money. On the day of the event, Daria forces herself into clothing that's somewhat hipper than her normal green-and-black outfit and climbs into the band's van for a long road trip. An unfortunate series of events, however, deprives the journey of its potential joy: Daria's tribulations include injuries to herself, her clothing, her glasses -- and her pride, for she's forced to urinate in the woods by the side of the road, thereby letting it slip to Trent that she's a normal human, with embarrassing bodily functions to conduct. Car problems keep the gang from ever reaching the festival, but the upside is that Daria gets a little one-on-one time chatting with Trent. Meanwhile, Quinn, too, attempts to attend the concert. But in her case, it's just a ploy to exploit the fashionability of "alternative" culture. She assembles a safely "edgy" ensemble and heads off in style, but outlet shopping (and a mouthy waitress) preclude her and the Fashion Club from ever making it to the venue. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Big House
The Morgendorffer girls get put on lockdown with typically humorous results in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Popular sister Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) has long since perfected the art of sneaking in late without getting caught, but her misfit sibling, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), isn't quite so skilled. When Daria actually has occasion for a night of AWOL hijinks, she accidentally gets caught, and Quinn with her. Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) go typically overboard in their reaction, creating a simulated family court in the living room and delivering unworkable pronouncements and restrictions from on high. Grounded for a month, the girls suffer immeasurably, Quinn because her social life has been ruined and Daria because the only thing she can do to amuse herself is whip her parents at board games and generally try to undermine their sanity. On the night of the school's big faculty roller-hockey game, Daria resolves to sneak out so she and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) can go root for Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) to work himself up into a public heart attack. But Daria's elaborate escape plans prove unnecessary when her folks get held up away from home. She strolls right out the door and enjoys her insane teacher's athletic endeavors and inevitable ambulance ride, then returns home to find her irate parents waiting. Taking her cues from Helen's legalistic claptrap, however, she successfully negotiates a get-out-of-jail-free card and new house rules for all concerned. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Too Cute
The politics of fashion, beauty, and popularity play an even bigger role than usual in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) becomes the first victim of these powerful social forces when Ms. Barch (voice of Ashley Albert) assigns him an experiment: disguise his good looks behind a Quasimodo-like getup and gauge the reactions of everyday people. As Lawndale's dim quarterback learns what it means to be ugly, Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) discovers that being merely almost perfect can also prove problematic. The entire Fashion Club is abuzz with news of fellow student Brooke's new nose job, but Quinn fails to manufacture the appropriately hyperbolic praise. Sandi (voice of Lisa Collins) accuses rival Quinn of thinking she's better than the others, then browbeats her into thinking she's actually not cute enough herself. Soon Quinn is pleading with Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) for some surgical assistance. When they turn her down, she enlists the help of sister Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) in cutting class and making a cross-town trip to visit with cosmetic surgeon Dr. Shar. The gullible, insecure Quinn falls prey to the plastic-looking plastic surgeon's sales pitch, but Daria is strong enough to tear her away. Daria also has to contend with Dr. Shar's promises that she, too, can be transformed to match a grotesquely exaggerated computer simulation of beauty. In the end, Daria's atypically affirming assurances convince Quinn not to go under the knife -- or perhaps it's just because Brooke's extensive physical alterations don't turn out quite as advertised. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Pinch Sitter
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) comes face-to-face with the horrifying reality of New Age enlightenment on the same night that Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) discovers the joys of time management in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Although the Morgendorffer sisters' evenings couldn't be more different, their experiences both stem from Quinn's attempt to weasel out of a babysitting gig so a rich boy named Skyler can squire her to Chez Pierre. Daria reluctantly takes the job, but Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) is so annoyed with Quinn's irresponsibility that she sets the girl up with an organizational consultant. By the time Quinn's big night rolls around, the fashion maven has systematized her dating strategies and resolved to string Skyler along so she can enjoy his parents' boat all summer, then dump him in the winter for another boy whose family owns a ski retreat -- time management in action, although perhaps not exactly what her mother had envisioned. Meanwhile, Daria is suffering through her evening with Tad and Tricia Gupty, her eerily mature charges. The children of a pair of NPR-listening, television-eschewing, macrobiotic-eating control freaks, Tad and Tricia are so overly precious and disdainful/ignorant of popular culture that Daria has no choice but to call for reinforcements. Soon, she and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) are bypassing the parental controls on the cable box, introducing the tykes to the joys of refined sugar, and creating revisionist fairy tales for their enjoyment. In the end, the job leaves her with plenty of material for a paper about mind control for Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson). As for poor Quinn, Skyler sees past her newfound organizational skills -- and her shallow covetousness. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Lab Brat
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) both earn the wrath of a cheerleader and reputations as mantraps in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The boyfriend-stealing brouhaha begins, ironically enough, in the class of Ms. Barch (voice of Ashley Albert), a bitter divorcée who hates all men. Gleefully separating empty-headed cheerleader Brittany (voice of Lisa Collins) from her even dimmer quarterback boyfriend, Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson), Ms. Barch orders Kevin to team up with Daria and Brittany to partner with Upchuck (voice of Marc Thompson) for a class project involving behavioral modification. Soon, Kevin is spending all his time chez Morgendorffer, trying to help Daria train their mouse to locate its cheese in a maze. Desperate to be free of Kevin's incompetence, Daria sits him down in front of a TV sports channel and gets on with her experiments unhindered. Meanwhile, Upchuck blackmails partner Brittany into becoming his personal servant by brandishing photos of her dalliance with another school's qb. Despite this evidence of her own unfaithfulness, Brittany becomes obsessed with the notion that Daria is trying to steal her man. On a trip to Daria's, she also sees signs of a more realistic threat: the proximity between Kevin and Quinn, who's practically throwing herself at the football player plopped down in her living room. Hoping to save her man from Morgendorffer clutches, Brittany steals Daria and Kevin's mouse. But after discovering the larceny, Daria vows to team up with Kevin on a replacement experiment if Brittany doesn't return their test subject. Miffed, the cheerleader nonetheless complies. In the end, Daria receives an A, Kevin a D, and Brittany and Upchuck a lowly F on their assignment. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: This Year's Model
Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Brittany (voice of Lisa Collins) both get their hearts broken by the cruelty of the beauty business in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) accepts kickbacks from a modeling agency and allows it to hold a voluntary contest at Lawndale High, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), as usual, objects on principle. She's shocked, then, when agents Claude and Romonica take in interest in her and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) as candidates for the runway. Both rebel buddies demur, failing even to disguise their contempt for the concept of participating. Quinn and Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson), however, are eager to take part in the competition. Brittany is disconsolate that she herself didn't get chosen, while Quinn has to wheedle Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) to get permission. Quinn gets more than she bargained for, though, when it turns out that the modeling session involves body-to-body contact with the male candidates -- an eventuality that has Ms. Li sputtering when she discovers it. Just when the rueful principal is ready to announce the winner at a school assembly, she's interrupted by the arrival of a mercenary team whose gung-ho leader claims to have been invited to the school by Ms. Li herself for a military recruitment drive. It was Daria, of course, who called the soldiers -- just to ram her point home to Ms. Li. It's Quinn, however, who gets the real sharp end of the stick when she learns that Kevin, not her, won the modeling contract. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Esteemsters
Sardonic teen misfit Daria Morgendorffer (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and her dysfunctional family move from Highland (home of Beavis and Butt-Head) to the homogeneous suburb of Lawndale in the inaugural episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Daria's petite, trend-chasing sister, Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes), has no trouble getting elected vice-president of the Lawndale High Fashion Club. But Daria, despite wowing psycho teacher Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) with her knowledge of history, soon lands in the sort of hot water that will plague her throughout five 13-episode seasons and two full-length movies: Her smart-aleck answers to a school psych exam convince the administration that she's suffering from low self-esteem. Her parents -- shrill, self-assured lawyer Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and clueless pushover Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) -- insist that she attend after-school self-esteem workshops. There, she befriends Jane Lane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), an artist whose wit is as sharp as her asymmetrical, dyed-black bob. Sensitive new-age English teacher Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) leads the seminars with a crunchy, desperate-to-relate earnestness while Jane and Daria make wisecracks to each other and refuse to be assimilated. Eventually, though, after learning that this is Jane's sixth deliberately unsuccessful trip to self-esteem school, Daria convinces her new pal to join her in mouthing the necessary platitudes. Their reward? A school assembly at which they're congratulated for their new self-acceptance. Jane displays typical flair in disrupting the ceremony, but Daria settles for embarrassing Quinn with a great, big public thank-you for her support. This humiliation will provoke Quinn to claim she's an only child for most of the run of the series -- one of many long-running subplots introduced in this episode. A spin-off of MTV's popular Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria was the brainchild of that show's former story editor, Glenn Eichler, who served as Daria's executive producer and wrote numerous episodes, including this one. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Malled
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) descends into a personal hell of carsickness and commerce in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Karma bites the snide teen in the behind after she taunts sister Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) about their parents' refusal to condone a trip to the mammoth Mall of the Millennium, 100 miles away. Mrs. Bennett (voice of Amy Bennett), Daria's economics teacher, soon announces a class trip to the very same center of consumerism. A long bus ride, lewd comments from Upchuck (voice of Marc Thompson), and the nauseating perfume fumes emanating from Brittany (voice of Lisa Collins) literally make Daria ill before she even gets to the mall. She's again sick to her stomach, this time figuratively, when she realizes that an informational session with the mall's upper management is actual a covert focus group, with her class the unwitting participants. Daria uses this observation to elicit gift certificates for everyone. Soon, she and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) are dispatched to observe food court traffic patterns, while other students investigate other aspects of mall economics. Just as Daria is beginning to fear that she'll spend the entire millennium surrounded by merchandise, she spots Quinn, who has disobeyed their parents and cut class to go shopping with the Fashion Club. Daria blackmails her sister into providing immediate transportation home. Both girls are less than ecstatic later on when their parents experience a change of heart and offer to take them to the mall. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Cafe Disaffecto
Offhand remarks about the alienating nature of the Internet get Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) embroiled in an open mike event at a new student cafe in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. As with many other school projects in various episodes, Daria's participation here comes at the insistence of her shrill mother, Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes); her autocratic principal, Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani); and her touchy-feely English teacher, Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson), who comes up with the cafe concept after Daria's participation in a class discussion about the role of technology in society. Dismayed that her ideas are being twisted into another new-age enterprise, Daria tries to get away with simply helping raise funds for the cafe's construction. But her steadfast refusal to sell candy bars to a morbidly obese hypoglycemic woman gets her bumped from that plum assignment. Reluctantly, she agrees to humiliate herself on opening night by reading one of her short stories: an adventure yarn about Melody Powers, a communist-fighting secret agent/intellectual. The story is such a rousing success, however, that it inspires riots from the students, who've grown bored with their other classmates' wretched performances. Soon, the doors to Mr. O'Neill's pet project have been shackled forever, which is fine with Daria, who hated the idea in the first place. One of the students who shares the Cafe Lawndale bill with Daria is goth chick Andrea (voice of Susie Lewis), a cult-favorite character who is usually seen only in the background of scenes but occasionally, as in this episode, takes a more active role. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: I Don't
While their classmates clash over a school bridal show, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) experience the real thing in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Jodie (voice of Jessica Cydnee Jackson) and Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) are adamant that Mack (voice of Paul Williams) and Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) not attend the matrimonially themed fundraiser in which they're taking part, but the jock boys crash the event anyway. Mistaken for a gay couple by a wedding-ring salesman, they proceed to disrupt the show and have to pay for it later. Meanwhile, Quinn is elated to become one of her cousin Erin's bridesmaids, but Daria is sullen about getting roped into it too. At the wedding, Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) gets into a brawl with her oft-estranged sister Rita (voice of Rita Pietropinto), the mother of the bride. But Daria reluctantly bonds with the date who's been foisted on her -- and with her other aunt, Amy (voice of Rita Pietropinto), who seems to provide a possible role model for Daria's future. Instead of a honeymoon, the event ends at a bowling alley, where Daria hangs out with the bride and watches the groom slowly but inexorably get utterly trashed. The only person to escape unscathed from the ceremony is Jake, who enjoys a few rounds of late-night golf at the posh resort where the profligate Rita decided to throw the wedding. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Quinn the Brain
The identity tables turn for the Morgendorffer sisters in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Prodded by her parents to improve her grades and ignored by Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) in her quest for homework assistance, Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) nonetheless manages to pull off the "A" essay she needs to pass her English class. Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) even gets the girl's paper -- a bitter screed titled "Academic Imprisonment" -- published in the school newspaper. Soon, Quinn has made intellectualism chic and started aspiring to both existential depth and black-clad stylishness. Initially amused by her sister's transformation, Daria eventually becomes insecure about her own identity. Despite reassurances from Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), she worries that with Quinn now the Morgendorffer "brain," she has no persona of her own. Luckily for Daria, neither the Fashion Club nor Quinn's suitors are very impressed with the girl's transformation. Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) puts her bitter rival on probation for daring to start counter-trends, while Jamie (voice of Marc Thompson), Joey (voice of Steven Huppert), and Jeffy (voice of Tim Novikoff) agree to Daria's plan to prod Quinn back to her usual place in the pecking order. Donning a suspiciously familiar outfit and some very out-of-character grooming habits, Daria pretends literally to become her sister -- and the object of the boys' hormonal frenzy. Quinn does the math, realizes booked-solid Saturday nights are more important than Sartre, and quickly regresses to her usual pastel vapidity. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Daria Hunter
A paintball outing reveals personality clashes and hidden talents in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) are desperate to keep their parents in the dark about the hands-on tactical warfare demonstration Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) is planning. But when they and their fellow students arrive at the wilderness battle site, Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) are there to greet them, paint guns in hand. Daria and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) are smart enough to get taken out of the game early and deliberately, freeing them to wander off in search of a local shop owned by a shark-hunter with a suspiciously familiar shtick. Meanwhile, Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) reveals that doing the splits and spelling out words with her arms are the least of her talents as she leads her team on an impressively orchestrated killing spree. The Fashion Club proves similarly adept at dealing out death; unfortunately though, they're better at accidentally massacring each other than at raining fire down on their enemies. Eventually, actual rain and extensive casualties force both chaperones and students into their tents, where abrasive principal Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) gets into a catfight with Helen and bitter divorcée Ms. Barch (voice of Ashley Albert) finds comfort in the sensitive arms of Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson). By the time everyone is ready to leave, Daria and Jane have rejoined the group, but the elder Morgendorffers get left behind -- along with Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz), who enacts a very convincing imitation of the climactic scene from Platoon. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Arts 'N Crass
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) once again suffer the school-spirit torture of Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani), but this time Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) comes through with a spectacular rescue in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The latest skirmish in the war between the girls' cynicism and the principal's authority comes in the form of "Student Life at the Dawn of the New Millennium," a voluntary statewide poster contest that Lawndale's students are encouraged to enter. At the prodding of well-intentioned art teacher Ms. Defoe (voice of Nicole Carin), Jane decides to enter, but she relies on Daria's verbal acuity to set off her beautiful imagery. A planning session/pizza binge provides the inspiration for Jane's glassily pretty painting of a beauty queen at her dressing table -- an image whose witty poetic caption reveals that the girl's supposed beauty is the result of an acute case of bulimia. Ms. Defoe finds the shocking contrast between image and word a bit tasteless, but Daria's explanation of the poster's social relevance spurs the instructor to choose the poster as Lawndale High's entry in the larger contest. Unfortunately, Ms. Li and Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) feel the need to soften Daria's verse to the point where the poster advocates the teen obsession with beauty rather than condemning it. The girls try to back out of the contest, then demand that their name be removed from the altered entry when Ms. Li decides that the contest is mandatory after all. One act of surreptitious vandalism later, Daria and Jane find themselves facing the principal's fiery wrath -- until Daria's lawyer mom starts invoking free speech, civil rights, and the threat of litigation, thereby getting the girls off scot-free. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Monster
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) experience the subjective nature of cinema firsthand when they shoot a documentary about Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) kick-starts the girls' interest in film when he begins excavating and archiving various home moves from when Daria and Quinn were younger. As usual, these childhood memories spark painful reminiscences about his own upbringing at the hands of a tyrannical father. Shortly thereafter, tyrannical teacher Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) seizes on an idea of Daria's and assigns his class to partner up behind the camera. While Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz), Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson), Jodie (voice of Jessica Cydnee Jackson) and Mack (voice of Paul Williams) learn some painful lessons about the separation between observer and participant in their quest to document a local supermarket strike, Daria and Jane strike out in their search for esoteric inspiration. Quinn is hardly their first choice of subjects, but the fashion plate is more than happy to fill in when various artsier ideas fail to take off. Following Quinn around for the day, the budding auteurs capture plenty of material that exposes Quinn's vanity and vapidity. But Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) intercedes when she gets wind of what Daria is up to. Her mom-inspired conscience acting overtime in the editing room, the sardonic filmmaker reluctantly shapes her raw material into a relatively positive profile. In the process, she inadvertently enhances her sister's already enormous popularity. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: That Was Then, This Is Dumb
The idealistic hippy past of yuppie parents Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) once again comes back to haunt them, this time in physical form, in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Trouble arrives in the form of Coyote and Willow Yeager, fellow "summer of love" alumni who have retained their macrobiotic habits and can't find enough ways to criticize the Morgendorffers' lifestyle. Ethan, their surly son, proves an enchanting challenge to Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes), but Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) is less than impressed; she takes refuge with Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) for the weekend and ends up assisting Jesse (voice of Willy Schwenz) and Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) in their attempt to unload a stack of old LPs at a flea market. Back home, Jake and Helen are relieved to learn that Willow and Coyote, too, want to shed some of their dusty '60s nostalgia. A delighted Helen promptly ceases her attempts to get in touch with nature and instead purchases her old friend an electric bread maker in hopes of selling her on the feminist emancipation of modern appliances. Hubby Jake meanwhile gives the countercultural Coyote some tips on his golf swing and his management techniques. Quinn never does manage to elicit much romantic interest from Ethan, but he does give up some dirt on embarrassing incidents from her parents' past -- ammo Daria uses to get out of being grounded for her extended absence. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Write Where it Hurts
A class assignment convinces Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) to hang it up as a writer until she receives strong advice from an unexpected source in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The student's writer's block is her own fault; she shoots her mouth off to Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) about already having read all the books on his reading list of moral fiction. His solution? Assign her to write, rather than read, a story with moral dimensions. Riffing on pop culture and literary classics proves amusing but not too creatively rewarding, so Daria heads back to the drawing board in search of fresh inspiration. Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) provides no help whatsoever when she compares the budding author to her fashion-plate sister, Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes). Mr. O'Neill, too, gives poor advice, leading the frustrated Daria to pen yet another tacky piece of hackwork. Finally, though, Mom comes through: Helen advises Daria to write something meaningful rather than moral, wisdom that prompts the teen to compose a hopeful fairy tale in which all of her family's dysfunctions and infighting have been been banished once and for all. Daria still isn't completely happy with her work, but Helen sure is, providing a rare moment of unadulterated mother/daughter bonding. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Fair Enough
Medieval lifestyles and just plain evil rivalries engulf the Lawndale community in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When the school library's roof collapses, authoritarian principal Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) orders her students to raise funds for a new one by staging a recreation of the Middle Ages, complete with a production of The Canterbury Tales. Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) beats out both Fashion Club rival Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) and dim cheerleader Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) for the lead opposite Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson), Brittany's equally stupid quarterback boyfriend. On the day of the fair, however, Brittany gets back at Quinn by sending Kevin on a detour so epic that it precludes his participation in the drama. Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), too, do their best not to take part in any of the activities, though they don't need Brittany to trick them into skipping out. Conscientiously objecting to the spirit of the occasion, they nevertheless respond to the latest romantic crisis of Fashion Club underling Stacy (voice of Sarah Drew) with some compassionate advice. Meanwhile, Quinn succumbs to some less altruistic advice when the vengeful Sandi plants a seed of doubt in her mind about how best to read her lines. Stuttering like a retarded robot, Quinn ruins the play -- with help from Jeffy (voice of Tim Novikoff), Kevin's ill-prepared stand-in, whose own performance is the victim of foul play at the hands of Quinn's rival suitors. The audience's callous reaction to the botched performance leads Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) to unleash some strong words on the assembled crowd. A riot ensues, leaving Daria and Jane free to warp the minds of the little kids who've gathered to hear real-life medieval tales. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Ill
A mysterious illness allows Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) to connect with her parents, sister, and fellow students, but it doesn't do much for her romantic aspirations in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The sickness, which first crops up during a Mystik Spiral gig, seems pretty minor: just an uncomfortable facial rash. But its recurrence leads Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) to provide uncharacteristic sympathy -- and convinces Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) that Daria is on drugs. With both the school nurse and her own pediatrician unable to provide a proper diagnosis, Daria ends up at the hospital for a battery of tests. Sworn to secrecy about the girl's whereabouts, Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) nevertheless lets the information slip to Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz), Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson), Jodie (voice of Jessica Cydnee Jackson) and Mack (voice of Paul Williams). The kids surprise Daria with a worried visit to the hospital to find out how she's doing. When the doctors finally conclude that Daria is merely suffering from anxiety, her parents' support helps her overcome some of her resentment about their clueless parenting. Everything soon seems to be back to normal -- until Daria's next face-to-face encounter with Mystik Spiral frontman Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) provides the final clue to the source of her anxiety. Proximity to the babe-a-licious brother of her best friend Jane, it seems, is all it takes to set Daria's face itching all over again. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Gifted
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jodie (voice of Jessica Cydnee Jackson) confront the possibility of escaping Lawndale High while Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) desperately tries to escape the irritating company of Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Grove Hills, a magnet school for the gifted and talented, provides the beacon of hope for academically rigorous Daria and Jodie. On a weekend trip to check out the institution, however, the girls clash with the academy's obnoxiously brainy students. Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo), too, experience a tension-fraught weekend when their well-meaning liberal views offend Jodie's bigwig parents. As for the youngest Landon, the typically earnest and establishment-minded Jodie, she tries her best to give her prospective classmates a chance. But eventually she snaps, appalled by the cliquishness and intellectual pretensions of Grove Hills' students. And Daria, for once, finds herself following Jodie's lead as they jointly reject the school's offer of admission. Meanwhile, back in Lawndale, Quinn begs for admission into the Lane household after her plans to stay with her fellow Fashion Club overlords lead to one canceled sleepover after another. Tossed out by the jealous Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz), incensed by the insecure Tiffany (voice of Ashley Albert) and grossed out by the unbelievably needy Stacy (voice of Sarah Drew), Quinn takes refuge with sister Daria's amused best friend. Soon, though, Quinn's own less-than-stellar qualities as a guest have the artsy Jane crawling the walls anxiously as she awaits Daria's return. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The New Kid
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) refuses to admit the possibility of romance with a fellow traveler until it's too late in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Ted DeWitt-Clinton, the titular new kid and the object of Daria's denial, first encounters the sullen teen on the yearbook staff, which Daria has joined after being promised the purchase of website design software by her parents. The apparent victim of pop culture-phobic home-schooling, Ted charms Daria with his utter guilelessness and his arcane trivia about outmoded ways of living. Nonetheless wary of the boy, Daria gets involved with him in a controversy that pits them against the athletes and club members of Lawndale High. Ted innocently passes along some of Daria's grumblings to yearbook advisor Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson), who slashes the extracurricular page count and thereby brands Ted a target of the popular crowd. Quinn tries everything she can to get Daria to intercede and restore the clubs and teams to their former level of coverage, but to no avail. (Eventually, it's irate science-club advisor Ms. Barch [voice of Ashley Albert] who browbeats Mr. DeMartino into relenting.) During the midst of all this conflict, Daria attempts to do some innocent hanging out with Ted, but his cluelessness about the ways of the world bothers her. Even worse, his parents view Daria as the fast-living enemy, solidifying her resolve to squelch the relationship before it progresses. In the end, though, the issue is moot, since Ted somehow wanders into friendship with the "in" crowd, thereby rendering himself socially invisible to Daria, and vice-versa. The only method Daria finds of venting her frustration is to attack Quinn, who has somehow managed to steal her website software -- one more galling defeat in a week full of disappointment. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Pierce Me
Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) suffer twin fashion faux pas in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The birthday of best friend Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) provides the occasion for Daria's blunder as she accompanies Jane's brother Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) on a shopping expedition. At first Daria mistakes the interaction for a date, but she sucks it up when she realizes Trent just wants help picking out Jane's present. The duo's quest somehow takes them to a tattoo and piercing parlor, where Daria finds herself submitting mutely to the insertion of a belly-button ring at the urging of Trent, her utter and complete love god. Jane, of course, soon ribs her mercilessly about enduring body modification for the sake of a boy. Meanwhile, Quinn and Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) become the helpless targets of Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) and her ultra-competitive mom when both mother/daughter teams participate in a fashion show. Despite an arduous preparation process, Quinn proves a little klutzy on the runway. Devastated by an epic and very public fall, she lashes out at Daria by revealing the presence of her belly ring to their irate parents. Little does the failed catwalker know, however, that her sister's itchy incision has completely closed up thanks to Daria's inadvertent removal of the offending jewelry before the hole had time to heal. Saved from parental retaliation, Daria nonetheless seems a little sheepish about both her love-addled decision-making and her quick abandonment of the alterna-accessory. Trent and Jane, however, both convince her not to feel too bad. Jane herself feels pretty nifty after receiving art supplies from Daria and an original birthday ditty from her musician brother. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: See Jane Run
Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) becomes a track star and learns how the other half lives while a conscience-stricken Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) reluctantly rides on her coattails in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Jane's sports career begins as a fluke -- an attempt to spend time with a cute runner named Evan and to prove to surly PE teacher Ms. Morris that not everyone in the Lane family is a slacker. Much to everyone's surprise, though, Jane turns out to be the girl with the golden legs. Winning races soon entitles her to sit out both gym classes and math tests. Daria enjoys sharing the former perk with her friend but finds the idea of grades-for-tropies simply too much to bear. Jane disagrees until Evan launches a savage attack against Daria, at which point the artist/runner realizes the error of her ways (and her affections). When Jane quits the team in protest, however, Ms. Morris threatens to give her a failing grade in PE if she doesn't come back and lead the school to victory. But with her new firsthand knowledge of the special treatment given to athletes like Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson), Jane has more than enough ammo to fire back at her former coach. Threatening to tip off the media to Lawndale's corrupt grading practices, she secures the right to sit out the rest of the season without retaliation. Well, almost -- Jane may not get unfairly flunked, but both she and Daria must suffer the indignity of performing a novel form of exercise for the rest of the semester's gym classes. In short, they have to function as pseudo-cheerleaders. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Jake of Hearts
Death and DJs intrude into the titular teen's life in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) falls face-first into a bowl of guacamole, it's time to call 911 -- Dad has had a heart attack. For Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), this family emergency falls right in the middle of an exceptionally annoying week during which irritating radio disc jockeys have descended on Lawndale High for their daily broadcasts. So while coping with the arrival of her bossy, old-fashioned grandmother at home, Daria must endure taunts and jibes from professional jackasses at school. She responds with typical deadpan wit, but it all gets to be a bit much -- especially with grandma criticizing Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) at every turn and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) trying to kick start a pre-Med curriculum so she can become a doctor before her father has his next heart attack. Eventually, Jake's near-death experience allows him to confront his mother about his horrible childhood at the hands of his sadistic and neglectful father, "Mad Dog" Morgendorffer. As for Daria, she channels her own existential angst into a truly classic on-air diatribe against the DJs. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Lawndale File
Paranoia overtakes Lawndale in this X-Files-themed episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When a pair of mysterious government agents advises the entire school to keep an eye out for anyone different, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) take it as further evidence of the insanity of everyone but themselves. But soon a number of strange occurrences have them wondering wither aliens have, indeed, taken over the town. Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) starts playing happy music. Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) takes to dressing like a beatnik. Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) is taken away by the authorities. And a bunch of students, after misinterpreting comments made by Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) to the girls, start accusing Daria and Jane themselves of being impostors. Soon enough, rational explanations are provided for all of the strange occurrences. But not before the McCarthy-like atmosphere provides opportunities for send-ups of every sci-fi and conspiracy theory cliché in the book. "Sick, Sad World," the tabloid TV show that often provides interstitial gags on Daria, plays a major role in the episode's plot this time out. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Through a Lens Darkly
Lawndale's most cynical student comes to terms with her own vanity in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. While suffering through a driving lesson with Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes), Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) almost produces some roadkill. Her mom urges her to improve her peripheral vision by switching from glasses to contact lenses, but that flies in the face of Daria's anti-image convictions. A conversation with her hip Aunt Amy (voice of Rita Pietropinto), however, convinces her to give it a try; after all, it's all about options, not about vanity. Daria becomes irritated, though, by all of the comments from other people, who assume she's doing it to improve her looks rather than her vision. Unfortunately, she's also irritated by the contacts themselves. Rather than revert to her glasses, though, she tries to make it through a day sans any vision assistance whatsoever. Eventually, after bumping into one too many people and things, she admits all to best friend Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), who, with some surprise assistance from ditzy cheerleader Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz), counsels Daria that a little vanity doesn't mean she's a sell-out. Daria resolves to return to her glasses -- just in time for another driving lesson. "Through a Lens Darkly" was originally supposed to be the first episode of season three, but it was bumped by "Daria!," the more novel musical episode. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Depth Takes a Holiday
Things take a turn for the surreal when a bunch of renegade holidays in human form turn up in Lawndale in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Two guys identifying themselves as Cupid and the St. Patrick's Day leprechaun accost Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and inform her that some of the other holidays -- Christmas, Halloween, and Guy Fawkes Day -- have abandoned their posts on Holiday Island to form a band in Lawndale. Daria's a little skeptical until Cupid displays his magical powers by flying and then putting her parents under a love spell. As sister Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) busies herself trying to prevent Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) from conceiving another child, Daria turns to best friend, Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), for help. As it turns out, the errant holidays are jamming with Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) and Mystik Spiral. Eventually, Daria and the gang accompany the holidays on a trip back to Holiday Island -- which turns out to be pretty similar to Lawndale High School. American viewers may not be familiar with Guy Fawkes Day, an English holiday whose incarnation in this episode bears a striking similarity to Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. The script's heavy use of British expletives (such as "bollocks") earned the film lots of extra edits when it aired in the United Kingdom. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Daria Dance Party
Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) collaborate on an unlikely project in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) goes looking for volunteers to chair the Lawndale High dance committee, Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) eggs Quinn into stepping up. But when Sandi and the rest of the Fashion Club bail on helping Quinn plan the event, it's up to Jane to save the day. Using the occasion as an excuse to stage an enormous tribute to Jackson Pollack, she goes hog wild on the decorations. They turn out to be a big hit, but Quinn takes all the credit. That's OK with Jane and Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), though, for they're busy chatting up a couple of handsome guests whose snide demeanors perfectly complement their own cynicism. Unfortunately, the cuties turn out to be Upchuck's cousins, causing Jane and Daria to flee. Meanwhile, Jamie (voice of Marc Thompson), Joey (voice of Steven Huppert), and Jeffy (voice of Tim Novikoff) flee from a boring party at Sandi's house, robbing the Fashion Club of its attempt to usurp Quinn's big night with a fabulous bash of their own. Sandi, Stacy (voice of Sarah Drew), and Tiffany (voice of Ashley Albert) end up locked out of the house and stranded in the hot tub. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Lost Girls
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) must endure the company of a vacuous New York magazine editor in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) submit's Daria's essay "My So-Called Angst" to a competition without her knowledge, the witty teen wins the contest but must suffer through the prize: a day spent with Val, the editor of Val magazine, a style bible for the teen set whose faux "edginess" is the antithesis of Daria's world view. Val ostensibly wants to spend a day in the life of an average teen, but when it turns out that Daria is neither popular nor sympathetic to Val's shallow lifestyle, she balks. Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes), the Fashion Club, and even the school principal all try to suck up to Val, who goes around dropping outdated youth slang and Hollywood names with equal abandon. Even Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) counsels Daria to suck it up so that perhaps Val will take her on a trip to New York. But finally, fed up, Daria tells Val exactly what she thinks of her -- and ends up the subject of a scathing exposé about "today's underground bummer culture" in the pages of Val magazine. Many Daria fans saw the fictional Val as a caricature of the real-life Jane Pratt, who parlayed her editorship of the once-hip Sassy magazine into a stint as a talk-show host and the launch of her own eponymous periodical, Jane. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: It Happened One Nut
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) both get jobs at the mall, with disastrous results, in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. After a set of school aptitude tests reveals that Quinn is destined to be a neck model and that Daria would make a great mortician, Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) orders both of her daughters to expand their horizons and get jobs. Daria finds employment at the nut store owned by one of her dad's clients, while Quinn ends up at a pet shop. Mortified by her cheesy uniform -- and by the fact that big lunkhead Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) is her coworker -- Daria finds her humiliation compounded when dreamy Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) gets a craving for some nuts and ends up witnessing her in action. Meanwhile, Quinn accidentally lets a boa constrictor loose and must dispatch some of her young suitors to recapture it. All ends well, with both girls out of a job, but not before Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) gets the chance to strut her feminist stuff and bawl out Daria's creepy, sexist boss. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Lane Miserables
Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) suffers through too much family togetherness even as Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) frets about her own clan's lack of communication in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. All at once, the far-flung members of the Lane family converge in Lawndale: photographer patriarch Vincent, oft-married son Wind, sullen Costa Rican refugee Penny, and harried mom Summer. These re-arrivals cause no end of grief for Jane and Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez), but their hippy mother, Amanda, just goes with the flow, so the youngest two Lane siblings flee to the Morgendorffer home. There, Helen and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) try to interrogate Jane about their children's state of mind, while Trent's presence makes the crush-stricken Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) antsy. Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) helps Daria realize that Trent probably isn't good long-term relationship material, but then a casually flirtatious comment from Trent sends Daria's mind reeling again. Eventually Amanda Lane turns up, having had enough of her own family, so Helen helps her concoct a plot to send the various relatives packing and allow Jane and Trent to return home. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Old and the Beautiful
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) gets an object lesson in perkiness while the Fashion Club struggles to get the hang of charity work in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) commands the students of Lawndale High to "volunteer" for community service during an event called "Awareness of Others Week," Daria gets stuck reading to seniors at a nursing home, as do Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) and Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson), who are shocked to learn that the project doesn't involve hanging out with upperclassmen. The dim quarterback and his perky cheerleader girlfriend are big hits with the residents, but Daria's affectless voice and eccentric taste in literature -- Allen Ginsberg's Howl, for instance -- don't earn her any fans. Eventually, after a humiliating reading lesson from Brittany during which the girl's underaged stepmom and blowhard dad are introduced, Daria finds a connection with at least one nursing-home resident. Meanwhile, Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) gets into trouble while conducting unorthodox art projects at the hospital children's ward, and the Fashion Club strikes out in its attempt to bring high-class clothes to the homeless. ~ Rovi
Daria: Jane's Addition
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) face the first major hurdle to their friendship in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The trouble begins when sensitive new-age teacher Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) assigns the girls a multimedia project. They decide to hit a Mystik Spiral gig to ask Jane's brother Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) to provide some music for their presentation. At the club, however, Jane becomes distracted by a cute guy named Tom Sloane (voice of Russell Hankin). Peeved at being ditched, Daria nonetheless secures Trent's participation. Over the ensuing days, though, the music isn't forthcoming, and Jane begins to spend more and more time with Tom. By the time Daria and Jane are ready to give their multimedia presentation, a serious rift has developed between them -- and they're both angry that Trent failed to come up with the goods. Eventually, Daria stops projecting outright hostility at Jane's new boyfriend, but she's still depressed at being edged out of her friend's life at the same time she's realizing what a flake heartthrob Trent is. "Jane's Addition" marked the first appearance of new regular character Tom Sloane, who would appear throughout the rest of the series' run. The episode was originally promoted by MTV as "Jane's Addiction," but the final title was a more subtle play on the seminal alt-rock band's name. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Daria!
Natural disasters and show tunes collide in this Broadway musical-styled episode of the animated MTV series Daria. As with all musicals, the plot is simple. But instead of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl, the story line runs toward disaster-movie parody. The laughs and danger begin when a hurricane threatens Lawndale, disrupting everybody's lives. Pep-rally refugees Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) camp out on the roof of the high school. But when Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) cancels both the rally and the football game to stave off the approaching threat, sneaky lovers Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) and Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) also head to the roof. Trapped by the impending hurricane and an accidentally locked door, all four students must bunker down in the tool shed. Soon, it's up to alterna-hunk Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) and clueless dad Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) to save the day -- sort of. The sometimes jokey songs written and performed specifically for this episode include the following: "In the Burbs," "Blew Away," "Obsession," "God God Damnit," "They Must Be Worried," "Manly," and "Wet Rain Storm." Although "Daria!" was the seventh episode on the program's third-season production schedule, MTV bumped up the broadcast date to take advantage of the episode's novelty value, making it the de facto season opener. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Speedtrapped
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) gets to put her new driver's license to the test in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Shortly after throwing Daria a party to celebrate her new driving privileges, Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) heads out on the road with her brother's band, Mystik Spiral, for a gig several towns away. Daria, meanwhile, gets stuck supervising sister Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) while their parents are away at a marriage-encounter weekend. Soon Daria and Quinn, too, take to the road after receiving a frantic jailhouse phone call from Jane --the entire Mystik Spiral entourage has been incarcerated for not being able to pay a traffic fine. Reluctantly taking to the highway, Daria annoys Quinn with her timidity behind the wheel. But Quinn causes even more grief when she falls for a handsome cowboy hitchhiker and limply lets him make off with Jane's bail money. Daria and Quinn must scrounge for additional funding, unaware that Jane and the band are already serving their "sentence" by providing free entertainment for the local sheriff's kid. Once the Morgendorffer girls are reunited with the rockers, all that's left is for Daria to exact some revenge from hitchhiker Travis. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Just Add Water
The denizens of Lawndale High endure a treacherous ride when they file onto a broken-down cruise ship for a casino fundraiser in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. All Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) want to do is watch "Sick, Sad World" and sleep. Instead, they're treated to a parade of ridiculous hijinks: Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) besting Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) at poker; Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) being pursued by the horny wife of the ship's owner; Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) getting her comeuppance after ridiculing Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) for being stood up by her date, a talcum powder model; Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) and Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) drifting off into the ocean during an amorous encounter in a faulty lifeboat; and Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) sinking into serious gambling addiction. All of these episodes pale in comparison, however, to the climactic indignity of the voyage: the near-sinking of the cruise vessel, the Princess Fairy, during an unfortunate run-in with a garbage scow. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Murder, She Snored
When quarterback Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) turns up dead in her locker, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) gets involved in a bizarre murder investigation that pays homage to a number of detective-show staples in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Under suspicion, the brainy teen tries to find the football player's real killer. Upchuck's Angels -- a group of dim but gorgeous detectives culled from the ranks of the Fashion Club -- prove to be of little use in Daria's quest to clear her name. It doesn't help that Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) is determined to convict Daria no matter what the sardonic teen detective's own investigation turns up. Just as Daria is being led to the electric chair by jailers who bear a striking resemblance to her parents, she wakes up, realizing that the entire mystery was naught but a TV-fuelled dream. Back in the real world everyone really does want to kill Kevin -- for helping the entire football team cheat on a test and almost earning them all a collective "F." ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Psycho Therapy
Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) must drag her family to a retreat at a psychiatric "spa" in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The entire ordeal begins when Eric, Helen's rarely seen but constantly heard (on the phone) boss tells her that in order to make partner, she'll have to submit her entire family to psychological screening at a countryside institution. At the clinic, the Morgendorffer clan behaves pretty much as expected: Helen tries desperately to strike all the right poses, Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) gets angered or bewildered by everything, Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) runs around wondering why this spa doesn't offer facials and Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) grouses about the stupidity of the entire exercise while pointing out everyone's dysfunctions, including her own. Her only source of amusement proves to be sneaking onto the internet to watch the "Jane Cam," a video camera that Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) has installed in her bedroom, much to the annoyance of the unsuspecting Tom (voice of Russell Hankin). Meanwhile, back in therapy, the entire family airs its dissatisfactions, leading to hurt feelings and perhaps a little bit of wisdom. In the end, Helen gets her promotion for precisely the same reasons that her family resents her: because she's proven herself permanently willing to put her career ahead of her husband and kids. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Of Human Bonding
The Morgendorffer parents enjoy some separate quality time with their daughters in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) gets to bond with Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) when she accompanies him to a franchising convention where he hopes to meet business guru Terry Perry Barlow. Thanks to a chance encounter with Jodie's well-connected parents, he does, but Daria is unimpressed with the blowhard executive or his latest business venture. Her candor earns Barlow's respect -- and an invitation for Daria and Jake to join him on a hot-air balloon ride. Too bad Jake is afraid of heights. Meanwhile, back in Lawndale, Helen and Quinn (both voiced by Wendy Hoopes) enjoy some together time when the Fashion Club arrives for an impromptu sleepover and guilt-trips Helen into undergoing a makeover. Slathered in cosmetics, Helen reverts to her teenaged self and confesses some of her "boy problems" with Jake to the girls. Quinn and Co. face some boy problems of their own the next morning when Jamie (voice of Marc Thompson), Joey (voice of Steven Huppert) and Jeffy (voice of Tim Novikoff) show up and spy them sans their outfits and makeup. As for Daria and Jake, their journey ends with a similar sight when they take a side trip to the Museum of Medical Oddities. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Fail
An experiment in failure upsets the social strata of Lawndale High in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) gets the ball rolling with his latest hippy-dippy assignment; he instructs his students to find something they expect to fail at, then see if they actually do. Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) and Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) are pretty sure they'll fail to become unpopular and get kicked off the football team, respectively. But Brittany's sudden, feigned concern about politics and Kevin's intentional bungling on the field soon destroy their high social and athletic standing. It's only through the intercession of Jodie (voice of Jessica Cydnee Jackson) and Mack (voice of Amir Williams) that the quarterback and his babe regain their footing. Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), too, fails to fail in her own quest to become popular. A new look and a breezy attitude earn Jane a chance at a whole new lifestyle, but a scary brush with cheerleaderhood soon returns the cranky artist to her usual disaffected stance. Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) herself succeeds in failing to get Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) grounded from attending a fashion show. But thanks to Mr. O'Neill's guilt over his botched social-science experiment, she narrowly avoids having to chaperone Quinn to the event. Mr. O'Neill accompanies Quinn instead, giving her Fashion Club cronies an opportunity for mockery. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Groped by an Angel
Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) becomes convinced that she's the beneficiary of divine intervention in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. A TV show about guardian angels and a string of good luck are all it takes to make the Fashion Club vice-president believe that she has a fairy godmother. Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), of course, finds her sister's ersatz spirituality revolting, but she's got bigger worries: the next Mystik Spiral gig will occur at a party hosted by Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz), so Daria has to choose between hatred of her classmates and her obsession with the band's cute frontman, Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez). Hormones and the chance to embarrass her younger sister at the party win out, but Quinn doesn't need Daria to humiliate her. She does it herself when two unfortunate run-ins (with a spilled drink and with a mixing board) debunk all of her bragging about supernatural protection -- much to the delight of bitter Fashion Club president Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz). When the crushed Quinn turns to Daria for advice, however, the sarcastic teen is uncharacteristically consoling. ~ Rovi
Daria: Antisocial Climbers
A school camping expedition sets the stage for true confessions, fashion faux pas, and Blair Witch Project shenanigans in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) announces an optional overnight field trip, Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) is delighted to go on an outdoor-gear shopping spree. But Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) has to bribe Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) into attending so that she and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) can take a trip of their own and rekindle their "intimacy." The expedition proves to be more terrifying then educational when a freak blizzard strands the students and their teachers in a wooded winter wonderland. Food and water are in short supply because the camping gear has been inadvertently left behind in favor of Quinn's frivolous "survival" threads -- a situation that almost costs the girl her Fashion Club membership. Meanwhile, Mr. O'Neill ends up stranded in a cave videotaping his last confession on the camera he's supposed to be using to film the students' extreme-sports hijinks. Elsewhere, Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) endures a long, frozen night of the soul during his quest to find help -- the same quest that leads Daria and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) to do a little bonding when it seems as if they're doomed. Help arrives unexpectedly, though, when Mr. D. stumbles onto a cozy cabin retreat where the elder Morgendorffers are trying in vain to connect. ~ Rovi
Daria: Dye! Dye! My Darling
A new hair color for Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) leads to a major shake-up in her friendship with Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Jane decides to add blond streaks to her pitch-black hair, she insists that the cosmetically challenged Daria assist her. Daria tries to beg off, but Jane is insistent. When it all turns out horribly wrong, Jane accuses Daria of sabotaging her new look in a bid to steal away her boyfriend, Tom (voice of Russell Hankin). It's only through the intervention of Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) that the girls eventually patch things up, with Daria promising that she'd never deliberately hurt Jane. On the way home from this reunion, though, Daria finds Tom parked in front of her house, hoping to discuss the glances and feelings that are flying back and forth between them. Daria denies that anything is happening between them, but when Tom unexpectedly kisses her, she responds in kind. Unable to deal with the guilt, she confesses all to Jane the next day. Jane confronts Tom, who takes the blame for the entire episode. Still, they admit that their relationship has pretty much run its course, anyway. Jane and Daria enjoy a reconciliation, but it's not exactly a warm one. And then Daria's phone rings: it's Tom. ~ Rovi
Daria: Fire!
A fire in the Morgendorffer house sends Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and her family to a hotel for a few weeks of dubious R & R in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. It's Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo), of course, who sets the fire -- by accidentally igniting a paper towel while making himself a cup of warm milk. But he's also the chief beneficiary, since he gets to canoodle with wife Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) by the pool during their hotel sojourn. Daria and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes), meanwhile, get stuck sharing a room, which leads to frayed nerves all around -- especially when the Fashion Club arrives to hang out imperiously. By the time Bobby, a love-struck bellboy, begins lavishing expensive attentions on Quinn, a fed-up Daria decides to bunk with best friend Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes). But the Lane house, too, is fraught with danger, from chance encounters with Jane's hot brother, Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez), to not-so-chance encounters with Jane's boyfriend, Tom (voice of Russell Hankin), who seems more interested in discussing history and politics with Daria than in hanging out with Jane herself. Just when this nascent love triangle is heating to a slow boil, it turns out that bellboy Bobby has actually been stealing hotel amenities in his effort to woo Quinn. With the stalker in the hands of the authorities, Helen and Jake whisk their daughters home, but Daria is lost in thought -- about Tom. ~ Rovi
Daria: Legends of the Mall
Urban legends haunt the Lanes, the Morgendorffers, and the Fashion Club in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and her friends get stranded at the mall, Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) discovers that his car needs repairs. So he, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), and Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) hop in Trent's dilapidated ride and head off on a rescue mission. On the way, Trent entertains his passengers with the tale of "Metalmouth," a Lawndale shop teacher who bears a striking resemblance to Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson). Two decades earlier, this teacher forged himself solid-steel dentures after students made fun of his toothless grin. When his new teeth started picking up radio signals -- usually Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" -- the humiliated instructor took to the countryside, where he would terrorize citizens by taking bites out of their cars. As this tale comes to a close, Trent's car breaks down, providing Jane the chance to one-up her brother with a story of her own. This one involves a brainy '50s teen not so very different from Daria herself who accidentally gets locked in her parents' bomb shelter. Meanwhile, Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) spooks out the Fashion Club as they wander Lawndale trying to find their way home. Her tale involves a beautiful student much like herself whose quest for fashion perfection led her to lose so much weight that her bones rattled. Vowing to avenge herself on the "in" crowd for their ridicule, she haunted them at night until all of other girls became wan and ugly from lack of beauty sleep. Eventually, both the Fashion Club and their would-be rescuers make it home, just in time to hear Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) report that strange bite marks appeared on her car at precisely the same moment she heard a phantom tune on the radio. ~ Rovi
Daria: Mart of Darkness
The opening of a "big box" discount store in Lawndale brings Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) into the orbit of a huge assortment of whacked-out characters in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. After Tom (voice of Russell Hankin) eats the candy Jane was going to use for an unusual art project and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) steals Daria's boot lace to use as a purse strap, the surly twosome must trek to the grand opening of the new warehouse store in search of their respective wares. There, they cross paths with Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) and Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson), who are looking for barbecue sauce for a for a school cookout, and the Fashion Club, who have come in search of sunscreen only to be horrified at the lack of prestigious brands and prices. The strangest encounter of all, though, is with usually silent goth chick Andrea (voice of Janie Mertz), who is surprised that the snide Daria and Jane don't make fun of her for her Siouxsie & the Banshees getup or the after-school job her parents forced her to take at the discount store. Meanwhile, Tom tags along to the store with Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) in hopes of apologizing to the irate Jane and Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) causes a blackout during a fracas over free cheese logs. Back at the barbecue, Mr. O'Neill (also voice of Marc Thompson) doesn't fare much better, his conversation with Kevin's father about the quarterback's poor grades earning him a little melee of his own. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: I Loathe a Parade
A parade provides an unexpected opportunity for Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) to bond with Tom (voice of Russell Hankin), her best friend's beau, in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Daria's bathroom-stranded dad (voice of Julian Rebolledo) sends her to the drugstore to pick up some toilet paper, she unexpectedly finds herself in the middle of the Lawndale High homecoming parade. Desperate to escape, she instead finds herself trapped by the crowds, by the safety-obsessed Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani), and by Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson), who's running around in an animal costume accosting people. Eventually, Daria runs into Tom, who's looking for Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), and they both assist a lost little boy in locating his parents. Although Daria and Tom's relationship up to this point has ranged from cool to hostile, they slowly begin to "get" one another's personality and sense of humor. After a run-in with the Fashion Club, they finally locate Jane just in time for Daria to get splashed with paint -- blue and yellow, the school's colors. Daria goes home to clean up and the happy couple head off on their date, but a long, longing glance from Tom to Daria suggests something strange is brewing. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: A Tree Grows in Lawndale
The typically sarcastic humor of Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) backfires, sending all of Lawndale into a tizzy in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When quarterback Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) starts sporting a motorcycle jacket, the girls goad him into actually buying a motorcycle. Actually, he gets a moped -- and promptly destroys the statue of a dead local football legend while attempting to pop an impossible wheelie. Quitting the team, abandoning sports drinks, and appearing for the first time in the series without his football uniform, Kevin and cheerleader girlfriend Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) sink into a deep depression. This malaise soon affects the entire town as the team enters a losing streak and the citizens of Lawndale become pariahs in the surrounding town. The Fashion Club gets shunned at the local mall, while Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) even get harassed by their colleagues. Tom (voice of Russell Hankin) finally suggests propping up Kevin's self-image by landing the guy a gig as a vehicle-safety speaker at local elementary schools. Despite Kevin's enthusiasm for this new role, ultimately, he returns to the fold -- and to Brittany's waiting arms. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Partner's Complaint
A lesson in real-world economics leads Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) to some difficult truths about real-world friendship in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Mrs. Bennett (voice of Amy Bennett) assigns her class to go out and pretend to complete a grown-up financial transaction, Daria teams up with Jodie (voice of Jessica Cydnee Jackson), Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) partners with Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz), and Mack (voice of Amir Williams) is stuck with dumb-as-a-rock Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson). Daria and Jane, who usually work together on these sorts of assignments, continue their rift over Jane's new relationship with Tom Sloane (voice of Russell Hankin). Thanks to Brittany's "assets," she and Jane have no problem haggling over a pretend car purchase with a sleazy dealer. But Mack and Kevin, who attempt to buy the very same make and model from another dealer, aren't nearly as lucky. Meanwhile, Daria and Jodie get into a tiff while attempting to secure a loan to start a small business. After one apparently racist bank manager blows them off, Jodie drops the name of her rich businessman father to the next one, who can't wait to throw money at the girls. Daria, annoyed at this seeming hypocrisy, eventually realizes that she shouldn't hold her friends to the same black-and-white ethical standards that she chooses to follow herself. This realization helps her patch things up with the typically understanding Jane. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Prize Fighters
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) goes head-to-head with the sweet but saccharine Jodie (voice of Jessica Cydnee Jackson) and the fawning Upchuck (voice of Marc Thompson) for a college scholarship in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Daria doesn't even want to compete for the scholarship -- a 10,000-dollar prize from a foundation associated with a leading software company -- but steady pressure from her parents leads her to write an impassioned application essay attacking corporate greed and political corruption. Much to her surprise, this screed earns Daria a finalist's spot and an interview with a foundation representative. She's incensed to learn, however, that Upchuck and Jodie are also finalists, especially since Jodie didn't decide to apply for the grant until Daria confided her misgivings about the contest to her. Not that it matters: Upchuck's obnoxious suck-up tactics, Jodie's attempts to tell the interviewer what he wants to hear, and Daria's stony hostility all prove to be ineffective interview techniques. All three Lawndale students strike out, and Daria learns that the scholarship committee actually thought her fiery editorial was a humorous spoof of lefty excess. Eventually Daria forgives Jodie for her alleged betrayal and admits to being more competitive than she likes to acknowledge. She also makes up with best friend Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), who's been feeling threatened by the stark contrast between her own artsy, non-academic leanings and Daria's go-go college trajectory. This conflict will resurface, however, in the movie-style series finale, Is It College Yet? ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Lucky Strike
A strike by the teachers of Lawndale High gives Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) the chance to test her newfound independence and finally stand up for her nerdy sister in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) leads the teachers' union to picket for wage concessions, Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) drafts an assortment of useless substitute instructors. The stand-in English teacher proves a little too unconventional for Lawndale's tastes, so Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) gets stuck teaching Romeo and Juliet to Quinn's class. (Quinn, of course, has been pretending that Daria is a distant relative for most of the program's five-year run.) The members of the Fashion Club ask Quinn to finagle an easy test out of "that girl you live with," but Daria refuses her sister's entreaties. As it turns out, most of the class does just fine on her exam, which stresses critical thinking over mindless regurgitation. Quinn even gets a B+, but the rest of the Fashion Club nearly flunks, leading Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) to denounce Daria. Instead of joining in, Quinn defends Daria, proudly and publicly referring to her as "my sister." When Sandi tries to use this admission against Quinn, the other Fashion Club members reveal that they knew the truth all along and were only trying to be polite by going along. Eventually, the striking teachers win a modest raise, but not without an epic battle between the sleep-deprived Mr. DeMartino and Ms. Li. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Camp Fear
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) attend an excruciating summer-camp reunion while Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) get in touch with their country side in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Camp Grizzly, site of many a miserable childhood summer for Daria, announces it's having an alumni get-together, Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) forces the reluctant teen to attend. Quinn, who was just as popular as a child as now, can't wait to meet up with the proto-Fashion Club friends she remembers; as for Daria, her only solace is that Trent and Jane are providing the transportation. While Quinn reconnects and Daria fumes, the Lane siblings embark on a quest to reignite Trent's creativity by fraternizing with the common backwoods folk. Deprived of Jane's company, Daria must hang out with Amelia, a wannabe-Daria who was her Camp Grizzly sidekick back in the day. Amelia's fawning attempts to ape Daria's every posture lead the sarcastic teen to lash out, hurting Amelia's feelings. But it's Amelia who provides the day's only triumph when, citing Daria as her tell-it-like-it-is influence, she loudly and publicly tells off Skip, the camp-obsessed lout who's been lording over the other kids since they were kindergartners. Two prominent Daria fans, Erin Mills and Michelle Klein-Häss, served as the models for some of the animated denizens of Camp Grizzly. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Sappy Anniversary
Against her will, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) experiences some remarkably conventional feelings about romance in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. It's almost six months since Daria and Tom (voice of Russell Hankin) started dating, and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes), with her frequent gifts from her many suitors, makes Daria realize that she'd actually like Tom to do something to commemorate the occasion. The trouble is, Tom and Daria's entire relationship is based on just hanging out -- on studiously avoiding the courtship rituals of their peers. It doesn't help that Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) has memories of romantic dinners back when she and Tom were an item. Daria's passive-aggressive behavior eventually gets through to Tom, but he refuses to play guessing games about why she's so upset. He's also oblivious to Quinn's hints. Finally, with some prodding from Jane, Daria confesses her latent conventionality, and the couple celebrate their anniversary in typically atypical fashion. Meanwhile, Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) finds himself in yet another mid-life crisis when a stint working for an Internet start-up called Buzzdome.com reveals his essential technological incompetence. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Fizz Ed
Soft drinks take over Lawndale High, driving the principal insane and spurring Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) to action in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. With budget woes affecting everything from Lawndale High's classes to its clubs and sports teams, the town is in desperate need of a tax increase. But when voters reject such a move for the third year in a row, Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani) signs a contract allowing the manufacturer of Ultra Cola exclusive rights to market on campus. The initial PR campaign and pervasive soda machines are bad enough. But soon, to hit the contract's sales quotas, Ms. Li must turn the entire school into a giant billboard and force-feed the sugary beverage to her students -- with disastrous results. A disgusted Daria urges Jodie (voice of Jessica Cydnee Jackson) to take a stand, but Jodie throws Daria's principles right back at her. Soon, Daria and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) are meeting with the school board superintendent and urging him to cancel the beverage contract. He reluctantly agrees to visit the school, at which point he witnesses Ms. Li on a caffeinated, sugar-crazed rampage. Soon, the marketing blitz has been reduced to an echo of its former self, but Daria is still miffed about the cola company's less pervasive but still powerful influence. "Fizz Ed" was inspired by true-life conflicts between powerful marketers and cash-strapped schools around the country. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Boxing Daria
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) becomes obsessed with half-remembered childhood traumas in the final episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The empty box from the Morgendorffer family's new refrigerator is the unlikely trigger of murky memories about a terrible fight Daria caused between her parents when she was young. Unfortunately, Daria dredges up this phantom recollection right after her father, Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo), has left town suddenly on a supposed business trip. A parade of additional memories, in which Daria is always the catalyst of family discord, soon overwhelms her. She becomes convinced that her parents are splitting up and that it's all her fault. It doesn't help that Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) won't stop bugging her about volunteering as a tour guide for incoming students at Lawndale High. He attacks her typical, principled apathy, further convincing her that her misfit persona is the cause of all the world's grief. Ultimately, though, after a stint holed up in the empty refrigerator box and a tearful heart-to-heart with best friend Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), Daria sits down with Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and the newly returned Jake for a reassuring and warm parent/child chat. Delighted finally to know that her folks are proud of her intelligence and convictions, she agrees to work with Jane on hosting a student tour -- although not, of course, without a Daria twist. Although "Boxing Daria" was the final episode of the regular series, the disaffected teen and her friends would return for one last outing in the movie-length special Is It College Yet? ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Fat Like Me
The Fashion Club comes to a crisis and its haughty leader learns a bit of a lesson in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Shortly after imperious Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) decrees a reduction in the maximum allowable weight of Fashion Club members, she breaks her leg. By the time she returns to school, she has put on some pudge of her own thanks to the inactivity of convalescence. Sandi decides to play the martyr and bow out of her presidency, but she guilt-trips vice-president and rival Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) into stepping down with her. Soon, the malleable Stacy (voice of Sarah Drew) and vacuous Tiffany (voice of Ashley Albert) are riding each other's last nerves and realizing that the club simply can't survive with a caucus of two. Lucky for them, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) have a wager going on whether or not the club will survive, and Daria -- who came down on the side of the trend-worshippers -- proves even sneakier than Jane in her methods of achieving victory. Thanks to Daria's machinations, a svelte, gym-toned Sandi soon regains her crown, although she does exhibit a little more empathy toward the differently sized. The repercussions of this Fashion Club shake-up will be apparent for the rest of the show's fifth and final season, culminating in one last blowout in the Daria movie Is It College Yet? ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: The Story of D
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) both suffer publishing-related setbacks in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Encouragement from boyfriend Tom (voice of Russell Hankin) convinces Daria to send a short story she's written off to Musings Magazine, a literary journal. What was meant to be a secret submission soon goes public after Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson) spies her dropping the manuscript in the mailbox. When Daria eventually receives a rejection letter, she takes out her anger and disappointment on Tom. Meanwhile, Quinn and the Fashion Club publish a newsletter so they can raise money to make a "charitable" donation of a new mirror for the girls' bathroom at school. Unfortunately, all of their prognostications about upcoming trends are invalidated by an actual fashion magazine called Waif. Humiliated, they have to buy back all copies of their publication in order to save their (imagined) reputations. Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo), no stranger to failure himself, helps Daria realize that she shouldn't let one setback discourage her forever. Daria and Tom subsequently make up with a kiss, but their physical affection freaks the heck out of the prudish Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes). ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Aunt Nauseam
Sisterly dynamics complicate the lives of two generations of Morgendorffers in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes), relieved to have some time off from her high-pressure job in corporate law, grows horrified at the intrusion of her bossy sister Rita (voice of Rita Pietropinto), who demands that Helen handle her daughter Erin's divorce. (Rita and Helen previously feuded during Erin's recent wedding -- see "I Don't"). Helen reluctantly agrees to take the case but gets even angrier when Rita, not Erin, turns up in Lawndale to supervise the case. Rita's unexpected visit turns the Morgendorffer home into a war zone and disrupts the lives of Helen's family. Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) decides to hide out in a sleeping bag in the garage. Meanwhile, Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) grows strangely solicitous of Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and even takes to mediating the Fashion Club's petty little tiffs. Daria gets annoyed by the concerned ministrations of boyfriend Tom (voice of Russell Hankin), which she mistakenly interprets as interference in her family business; she also grows convinced that Quinn wants something from her. As it turns out, Quinn just wants to make sure she and Daria don't end up bickering for life like their mother and Rita -- and like Aunt Amy (also voice of Rita Pietropinto), who arrives to referee the melee but ends up getting drawn into it herself. Exasperated, Daria and Quinn mock their squabbling aunts and mother, leading to outrage, then epiphanies and group hugs all around. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: One J at a Time
The Morgendorffer women discover unlikely similarities between their significant others in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) decides she needs to get a steady boyfriend so her mother will think she's more mature. The Fashion Club is aghast, but Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) supports Quinn's decision so there will be more guys for her to date. Unfortunately, Quinn's limited conversational repertoire and demanding nature scuttle her would-be couplehood with first Jamie (voice of Marc Thompson), then Joey (voice of Steven Huppert). She finally settles on Jeffy (voice of Tim Novikoff) and invites him to attend a family dinner. Tom (voice of Russell Hankin) also plans to attend, much to the consternation of Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), who dreads her father's antics and Tom's reaction to them. The meal gets off on a good note, but soon Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) begins ranting about the squirrels that have been upsetting his garbage cans. Jake, Tom, and Jeffy soon retire to the yard, where they hunt down the offending critters and engage in male bonding. Meanwhile, Quinn despairs of ever finding a suitable steady -- until Helen advises her that true maturity means doing what makes you happy. Delighted, Quinn goes back to playing the field. As for the guys, they end the evening with a road trip and a visit to the go-cart rink, confirming Daria's worst fears about pack behavior in the human male. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Art Burn
Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and the Fashion Club run afoul of two very different areas of the art world in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Jane's troubles begin when the gazebo in her parents' backyard collapses while she's filming a Mystik Spiral video in it. She and Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) decide they'd better fix it before their parents return home. To fund the construction, Jane tries to sell some of her paintings at a local art fair, but her disturbing imagery doesn't do much business. An irreverent Van Gogh knockoff, however, catches the eye of local gallery owner Gary, who hires her to make copies of various masterpieces on commission. Soon, Jane's copies are selling like hotcakes and she becomes addicted to the lucre. The trouble is, she's so tired from her work for Gary that she has no time to craft her own pieces. It's only when Jane realizes that the audience for her copies consists of people like Brittany's nouveau riche dad that she remembers how much her own artwork means to her. As for the Fashion Club, they're obviously unaware that caricatures aren't supposed to be flattering. When they commission one at Lawndale's art fair, they're so incensed by the results that they try to hire Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) to sue the artists -- or to find somebody who will break his fingers! Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz), Tiffany (voice of Ashley Albert), and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) are even more horrified when they realize that the offending artwork has gone missing. They don't know that it now adorns the bedroom of Stacy (voice of Sarah Drew), who is delighted to be the only Fashion Club member portrayed in a favorable artistic light. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: Life in the Past Lane
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) learns to hate another one of Jane's (voice of Wendy Hoopes) boyfriends in this especially fashion-conscious episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The romance begins when Jane spies a nattily dressed hunk at the office supply store and sparks up some witty banter with him. Soon this smooth-as-silk Nathan is squiring Jane around town and educating her about his singular obsession: a carefully reconstructed neo-'30s lifestyle replete with retro clothes and swing dancing. Once again, Daria is unimpressed with her friend's choice of paramours. Tom (voice of Russell Hankin) concurs, though he's a little more diplomatic about it. Ultimately, though, even Jane begins to tire of Nathan's obsession with perfect period detail and his insistence that every interaction be staged like a pre-World War I cocktail party. Meanwhile, Upchuck (voice of Marc Thompson) finally earns some attention from the fairer sex when junior fashionista Stacy (voice of Sarah Drew) grows obsessed with his career as an amateur magician and agrees to perform as his assistant during a show to be held at Lawndale High. The entire school -- minus Jane, who's busy dumping Nathan -- turns out for the event. Upon seeing her underling onstage with a known nerd, Fashion Club dominatrix Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz) reacts with typical venom. And indeed, the malleable Stacy seems to be a rather bumbling assistant -- until her onstage breakdown turns out to be part of an elaborate ruse to inject some novelty and surprise into Upchuck's seemingly ho-hum bag of tricks. Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Tiffany (voice of Ashley Albert) are suitably impressed by Stacy's triumph, leaving Sandi to fume impotently once again. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Daria: My Night at Daria's
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) becomes the subject of kinky rumors around the school in the penultimate episode of the animated MTV series Daria. The gossip starts after Tom (voice of Russell Hankin) accidentally falls asleep in Daria's room during a study break. At 4 a.m., Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo), tipsy from a client dinner, stumbles onto the impromptu sleepover and immediately spills the beans to Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes). Daria convinces her irate mother that the entire situation is innocent, but Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) overhears parts of their conversation and can't wait to share her sexual misinformation with the Fashion Club. Once the rumors spread, they get back to Daria via her best friend, Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes). She heads straight to the source, but Quinn, convinced that Daria and Tom really are doing it, is so weirded out that she won't even discuss the matter. Daria retaliates with a rumor of her own about Quinn, but all the gossip gets her and Tom to talking. They decide they really are ready to have sex. On the night in question, however, Daria chickens out, giving Tom yet another opportunity to prove what a standup guy he is. In the end, Daria convinces her mother that there's nothing physical going on between her and Tom; emotionally, however, their relationship is growing by leaps and bounds. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
