It's nice that Jane isn't 100% the same as Daria. The small differences in how they handle people and situations gives Jane that extra push to being my favorite character.
It's good writing, because while it's easy to write characters who are very different, it's significantly harder to write characters who are nearly the same.
Their different home lives too contribute to this. Daria is contrary more for the sake of it even though she has parents who want to connect with her despite their flaws (Helen’s workaholic nature and Jake’s neuroses). Jane’s parents are very hands off and Trent isn’t hands on in their emotional absence, so Jane lacks someone willing to be there for her and who will fight her corner. Yet Jane has let Trent in and is more empathetic as well as self-aware whereas Daria only lets in Jane because their personalities are so similar.
@@jbcatz5 Damn, that sounds like a great episode of Daria all on it's own tbh. Daria is great, but I do think people tend to oversell how correct she is at all times, or that her cynicism is always justified. Daria didn't come out at a time where deep character development and story arcs were super popular, although Daria does have a few small arcs, but I think if Daria came out now there'd definitely be high potential for an episode, or maybe an arc, to call out Daria's walls a little bit, and maybe have her learn to show slightly more kindness and patience to people, as well as letting people in a little more, while still keeping her sharp wit and not taking any undue crap.
@@gregvs.theworld451 I think there was one where Jane had a crush on a guy who Daria thought was not worth it and Daria kind of panicked. Reminds me of Mae and Bea at that college bar when bea was pretending to be dumb to get with the guy
Brittany really *is* nice. She's just a bit shallow and silly. She's never mean the way the Fashion Club are. Quite a few times she invites Daria to hang out with her because she thinks it's a nice thing to do. She keeps Daria's secret about her rash and cheers her up when she feels like a hypocrite for wanting contacts.
It really is refreshing to see a pretty popular girl in school who isn't mean for no reason in media. While a lot of "popular girls" in school are incarnations of the devil who revel in psychological torture, a greater number of them are that popular because they're genuinely nice and make an effort to talk and get to know a lot of their classmates.
Though Brittany’s voice gets on my nerves a little, I can’t bring myself to dislike her because she’s generally positive, confident, sticks up for herself and though she’s not book smart and can be very naive, she’s intuitive
It was and is refreshing how the popular kids i.e. Brittany and Kevin are never particularly mean nor malicious towards Daria, hell they're even dare I say friendly with her.
I always liked that. In any other show they would have been the stuck-up popular people looking down on everyone else. Here, they were dopey, but never mean spirited.
I was Daria growing up... That element actually made the show feel that much more real to me... The popular guys and girls were always nice to me too and didn't act all stuck up and stuff. ... Here we are 20 years later and Christina flipped her car and has a beautiful concrete angel... Cherish every single moment, young ones, I implore you
Ngl I love it when the "Popular Kids" actually earned their titles and reputation through being chill, friendly and nice people. The Popular Kids in SU were like that too and I need more of that.
When I was in high school, I had a bully. He was very popular, captain of the wrestling team and held all kinds of huge parties on his parent’s property. He used to slam me into lockers all the time, one time in swim class he called me over in front of the girls team and kneed me in the crotch so I fell in the water. He was a nightmare. One night, at one of his huge forest parties he got on his motorcycle drunk and drove head first into a tree. He was like 17. For the next month there were vigils, assemblies, and even write ups in both town papers. The wrestling room got named after him and ever kept talking about how great of a person he was. The year book was titled Year of the (his last name). As I watched everyone grieve I wondered if there was something wrong with me. He was just this monster that made my life hell and he died doing something “cool”. I felt relief no longer looking over my shoulder and worrying about being beaten up. Years later I went to my high school reunion and there was a group of all the popular kids talking about him. I sat with them, and eventually they asked me what I remembered about him. I was honest but I also said that I would love to know some good things about him. One of his friends asked my why I didn’t come to them or tell them about this abuse he did to me, that they would have talked to him. All I could think was you were there, you laughed when he shoved me into lockers or knocked my lunch out of my hands. But I didn’t say that, they were grieving a person I never met. I was think of this monster they didn’t know. I didn’t want to hurt them so I just let it go. Finally, when I was working an IT desk job an old man came in to get his computer looked at. We got to talking and it turned out he was from my home town. He asked me age and said” well, you must of known my son” That’s right, this was my dead bully’s father. I excused myself saying I just got a call on the radio and then had a panic attack in the back room. This nice old man was clearly still in a lot of pain some 20 years on. I had to have a a coworker go help him. I couldn’t accidentally let it slip how I felt about his son. I guess this made me realize that you are not always the same person to everyone. I am sure there are people out there that hate me, that find me to be an annoying jerk. And there are people who find me important in their lives and a light in their world. It is fine to feel relief when someone negative in your life dies, but you have to be able to respect others grief and let them remember their version of that person. We all deal with death in our own way and we are all different parts of peoples lives.
That wasn’t Daria’s point though... No one said or is forcing her to mourn. They are just mourning and Daria is taking her views out on them... Yes you don’t have to mourn people you don’t like. You also shouldn’t be a piece of 💩 and hate on the dead especially when it’s around people who actually do feel affected.
Or in my case? When you saw the death coming a mile away and was able to mentally and emotionally prepare. That was... That was a really awkward funeral where I was the only one who wasn't crying despite being close to my grandmother
Absolutely. If someone is a jerk, they should be remembered as a jerk. Pretending that someone is suddenly awesome because they achieved the incredible feat of dying (like the same isn't going to happen to all of us) is highly illogical, stupid and thoughtless. It's one of those things that people just mindlessly parrot, never really giving it a thought.
I really hated the entire Tom plot line. I guess it can be realistic but God it completely ruined the show for me as a teen. Wonder how I'd feel about it watching it now
I think Jodi wanted to have an honest yet cynical conversation about Tommy. In later episodes it is shown that Jodi is constantly trying to maintain a perfect image. That she does not get many chances to drop the façade and speak honestly. Daria and Jane are some of the few people that Jodi feels comfortable enough to genuinely loosen up around since they are both honest and smart enough to speak candidly themselves. Jodi isn't actually looking for advice here. She probably had a good idea of what she was going to say already. She was looking for catharsis. A chance to let release all that pent up frustration with people who actually understand.
Jodi is like Daria but she has overbearing parents that won't let her be herself.She has to be perfect,she has to be well rounded.She can't just do anything for fun.They show her parents in an episode
@@brittaniharold1880 That was addressed in the "Gifted" episode. And it also came up in the "Is It College Yet" movie, where Jodie says that she wishes to attend a HBCU as opposed to the very elite, overwhemingly white university that her father wants her to attend. Jodie feared that if she attended the university that her father wants her to attend, she would have to continue to have to be perfect, whereas Jodie feels that if she attended a HBCU she would be freer to be herself.
No, she not a liar like the rest of them better to have a honest person hurt your stupid feelings than have people not tell you make a fool out of yourself got toilet paper stuck on your shoe daria tell you but got a ass kisser fake friend they not tell you or tell you the toilet paper looks good on your shoe so good show everyone.
I think in part Tommy hitting on Brittany is in part not only showing how sleazy he is, but also shows how he "peaked" in high school, that he's stuck in the past, a person who has nothing but a past fleeting moment of "glory," and he uses it to prey on those he THINKS will fall for it.
As someone who's been called a pessimist more times than I would like, I appreciate Daria's willingness to say what she really thinks rather than going with what you're "supposed to say" in this situation. Death does not unjerkify someone. And yet the jerk's assessment of her was right, she does go out of her way to find the bad in things, so actually they had speaking their minds in common.
@Sunset's Channel It's similar in a way to the assholes that find religion and expect people to forgive and forget all the horrendous shit they've done and sadly some go along with the change of personality. I prefer to be honest and really find it distasteful when during a eulogy when just the person's good parts are highlighted and their faults are not mentioned, alluded to, or are downplayed.
@Sunset's Channel I'm of two mindsets. If someone treats you like crap but never apologizes or make amends with you then screw them. If they do and try, then it's up to you to forgive or not. Not saying you have to but its an option.
@@Nomed38 you ah must not be asked to do a lot of eulogy’s then. Because going up and pointing out bad shit a dead person did in front of their grieving loved ones is a quick way to a fist fight.
Tommy was on my hit list the minute he had his first interaction with Brittany ☠ and truthfully Daria was trying to express her own feelings regarding his death the entire episode after witnessing Tommy treat everyone and her like disposable objects and NOBODY bothered to really listen to how she feels
17:26 I view this differently. Jane saying Trent forgot is just her expecting her brother to be his typical self and just legit forgot, but Daria coming back with "no, he didn't" I think is important because it pointed out to Jane that Trent, despite his laid back go with the flow attitude is indeed thoughtful
It's funny how you don't realize how well written some of these old school cartoons were until you're older. It allows them to hold up well, especially for breakdowns like yours 👍
Yeah! That’s why I love watching deep dives into the shows I watched as a kid/tween. Also it kinda shows me why I am the person I am 😂. I feel like a lot of the cartoons I watched (I’m a 90’s kid) were often about very deep existential themes and I didn’t even realize it back then
@@FabiolaRVela True. I'm a 90s kid too. Some shows just stick with you, especially the special episodes that will air around Christmas. I watch countdowns and think 'Yeah, I remembered that episode even now as being an emotional one. Good times.' Hey Arnold's episode with helping his neighbor find his daughter is just one example.
What I think really sets Daria and Jane apart is the reasons why they are on the fringes: Daria is naturally out of step with her peers. Jane, however, chooses to be. There are a few episodes that show she has the potential to be a normal high school girl, even a popular girl (joining the track team, when she is invited to try out for the cheer squad, etc.). That option is never really presented to Daria. I think that it might be part of the reason why Daria can be somewhat hostile towards her best friend at times whenever Jane explores these possibilities. She is worried about losing the person who gets her.
Fun fact: some people smile not because they are happy, but as a defense mechanism for uncomfortable and stressful situations. Its great for reassuring people
And some people don't smile because they don't feel like it and that's also fine. Sometimes there's nothing to smile about and sometimes smiling is just more of a pain than need be.
I feel like this episode definitely touches on a big aspect of Daria's character and that is her particular way of thinking. Daria doesn't smile because she doesn't want to smile. She doesn't see a reason unless she's naturally happy and making herself smile feels like a lie/performance. In that same vein she doesn't feel very sad by the death of a man she didn't particularly care for/about. Daria knew Tommy would eventually die. She didn't expect it so soon but she's not very upset by it and doesn't really have a strong reaction. She's more preoccupied on the assembly lying about his character and legacy than the fact that he is actually dead. Her interaction with Brittney is telling because their reaction is the same lack of a strong reaction to his death. But while Britney feels guilty not feeling bad about him dying, Daria doesn't. She sees herself as a "realist" because she finds it hard to relate to the sentiment of feeling bad over some jerk's death. If anything it just makes her feel more like an "other" because everyone's reaction is completely different from her "business as usual" behavior. Even Jane her best friend is very shaken by what happened. She's not a "Misery Chick" so much as she's someone who doesn't like to pretend she isn't feeling what she's currently feeling to fit in. She could definitely be seen as being on the spectrum or Neurodivergent in some way with how she carries herself. She has the emotional intelligence to understand how people are feeling enough to help them, but she is honest about her feelings almost to a fault. She doesn't do or say anything she doesn't want to and she doesn't want to lie to herself or anyone else.
I highly agree with many things you said, despite having some differences in interpretation of Daria (but I'm not gonna dive into the differences, I just felt uncomfortable with some of the comments in the video and I'm gonna hop on your train). I saw Daria after I left high school, but I related so much to the character bc I grew up feeling misunderstood and outcasted because I behaved differently from what people expected me to. I never cared to blend in or to downsize any aspect of myself in to that effect, just as much as Daria. I always read the "It makes you think" of people acknowledging Daria doesn't give into a reaction without interpreting the situation first; she won't go "someone died = sad", and that's what the interaction with Brittney talks about, Brittney knew she was supposed to feel sad because death is a loss, but she doesn't because the guy is full of shit. She behaved like Daria or at least how she pictures Daria's behavior. Daria is wired to think about the situation and deal with it accordingly, she's not just cynical, that's why she does help people despite this actually hurt her. I honestly am completely on Daria's side in this episode till this day. I hate that people get sanctified after they die and god forbid someone say they were a prick. I also get that Jane isn't feeling like the death is a big thing, she's scared and feeling guilty that she verbally predicted the guy's death, she's feeling responsible. She's angry at Daria because Daria keeps on dragging the guy and can't see that Jane's not in the mood anymore, and she doesn't reaffirm Jane until they openly talk about that. People think Daria is the misery chick not because she's reactive to people, people think Daria is the misery chick because she's not smiling, and hence, to them, the lack of smile should have a reason (sadness, anger, misery), rather than what she thinks, that's pretty much the opposite. Outside of Jane, Jodie is possibly the only person that would see Daria as a snarky person as she truly is, one of the points of this episode is to show how people are oblivious to Daria. This show is from a generation and time in which people expect too much from one's image to define how they will interact with the person. There's not the depth of "people are actually reacting to Daria because of what she speaks", the show constantly show that people don't listen to Daria, they don't see her (let alone specific characters that bonds with her). And the fact that Daria is constantly reiterating the cynicism of things is also a reaction because she thinks the rest of the people are too worried to perform as socially expected and being overly positive and naive (which of course is her own flaw). I'm gonna drop my comment here, I lost the track but I'm satisfied with my rambling so far.
I completely agree, being neurodivergent myself, I often don't react like others do. Even though I was masked as a kid, I still very often behave uncanny for others. It's not like I don't get what they feel (sometimes I really don't) it is more like I don't see a need to behave like that myself. As an example: my friends mother died, while everyone in class was the whole week miserable and walked on egg shells, (what made my friend feel worse cause they kept reminding her of that) I just behaved normally as if nothing happend. Of course when she wanted to cry or talk I would be there for her but I never once faked being sad. Logically I know its sad and all. But I never met that women and playing the grieving daughters friend just seemed like wanting to get attention or trying to prove my condolences. Sorry this may sounds confusing.
As a neurodivergent person who was compared constantly to Daria because I was in high school back then, that makes a lot of sense. I STILL don’t understand why people are so upset at Daria for not pretending that simply dying makes you a worthy human being. I see everyone else as being negative and causing negativity in the world by only rewarding negative toxic people like the football guy and ignoring people who are actually good and do good things. I get upset about things being unfair. It’s not negative. It’s reacting to the world’s negativity
A lot of shows suffer from writers not realizing that there are serious flaws in their characters that should be called out. Many never do even when they're given the time to do it while others eventually come around to accepting that and actively doing it.
Everyone always remembers how Tommy was a jerk because of how he treated Brittany, but how he treated Kevin gets glossed over when I think that shows more about just how much of a jerk this guy was. First, season 1 has made it a continual point this whole season that Kevin is very insecure about his scrawniness. That's why we never see him out of his football attire. The attire hides his scrawniness, and lets Kevin deal with it by pretending it doesn't exist. He also couldn't take the modelling job he was offered in one episode because it meant that his scrawny body would constantly be on display, and Kevin doesn't know how to handle all of the emotions and insecurity surrounding that. So we see Kevin idolizing Tommy because that's what he's supposed to do. Tommy is told that Kevin idolizes him and is his biggest fan. How does Tommy treat his BIGGEST FAN? He immediately taps into Kevin's biggest insecurity by making fun of how scrawny he is, immediately tries to sleep with his girlfriend just because he can, and he immediately makes it very clear that he does not value anything about Brittany or Kevin as people whatsoever. The difference though is the different way that Brittany and Kevin handle this. They were both treated horribly by Tommy in ways that were completely unacceptable. But only Brittany realizes this. She goes into a crisis though because she doesn't understand how to process that her own view of Tommy is now not the view she's SUPPOSED to have of him, namely, the same idolized view as everyone else. This is made even worse when he dies. She actually feels guilty because now she really thinks that she's SUPPOSED to be idolizing him, and that she must be a bad person for having a different opinion. She can't process that her view is correct while everyone else's is wrong because she has it ingrained in her that everyone else must be right. Kevin avoids this crises entirely the same way that he avoids his scrawniness insecurity. He immediately goes back to idolizing Tommy as if nothing ever happened because he also has it ingrained it him that Tommy must be awesome, and everyone else must be right about him. So much so that any uncomfortable contradictions to this belief just get glossed over and are never acknowledged. Tommy being a jerk to these two is forcing both of them to challenge some of their core beliefs because his being a jerk contradicts them. Kevin just doesn't process at all and immediately goes back to his happy place. He'd probably do this even if Tommy slept with Brittany. Brittany one the other hand at least recognizes that there is a struggle here. I think this is why Daria compliments Brittany here. She's able to have compassion for Brittany because she sees that at least Brittany is actually trying to think for once, so she rewards her for doing so. Plus Brittany is probably the only other person in the world besides Daria who knows that Tommy is not someone who should ever be idolized.
this is the same concept i noticed when i first watched this episode too. i understood that daria was insensitive about the sudden death of this guy, but she was right to call out the hypocrisy of him being idolized. its frustrating to not be able to have an honest discussion about a person’s character and how they really treated other people during a time they’re being heavily discussed, like the tragedy in this episode. britney and kevin are experiencing cognitive dissonance, while daria is not because she’s aware of tommy’s true character and doesn’t feel the need to put on airs just because he passed away
I also felt frustrated with their antagonistic attitude towards Daria. Daria wasn't trying to be mean or a "misery chic" she was a witness to horrible actions that made her immediately dislike and question the former alumni. And I'm glad Brittany also stood up for herself. And that she was able to be reassured by Daria that her feelings were valid. And that those feelings don't make her a bad person. Daria was being true to how she felt and I think Jane was spooked because she reassured Daria when she mentioned he'd have a quick death. I think that made Jane feel like the misery chic as well. Daria was labeled one but Jane is visibly spooked from the immediate misery she felt after he actually dies. She is projecting her disdain on Daria and tries avoiding her and other in order to cope with it all. Daria wasn't aware of Jane feeling spooked because she thought she would agree with her. They could both be seen as misery chics,but Jane bailed emotionally on Daria and Daria failed to acknowledge her friend could get spooked. She was confused and Jane pulling away made the label stick and perturbed Daria further. Because now she did feel miserable with her friends' sudden detachment.
This episode resonated with me because no one ever wanted my opinion on anything or cared what i thought UNTIL they needed someone to vent to. My existence mattered to them when they needed something from me. Its difficult to constantly be the one that has to listen and deal with everyone elses emotions, yet not receive the same consideration back.
That is a feeling I can relate to on a very deep level. And that's a point that the creator of this video failed to point out. Daria even pointed out that these people didn't care about Tommy Sherman dying, they are all concerned that one day they were all going to die. And the only reason why that she was considered most popular at that time was because they considered her the misery check but she wasn't miserable, she is just not like them.
Daria is a character who values authenticity above all else. What drives her feelings of frustration and anger in this episode (and throughout the show) is what she perceives as a lack of authenticity in others. Everyone who ultimately cane to her for confort had plenty of evidence that Tommy was a shit person yet "chose" to stay silent on the subject. Deep down she believes that everyone is aware of the negative things in life but choose to "lie" and pretend they don't exist instead. That's why she hates being called the misery chick: she doesn't see herself as a negative person but rather as one who says the truth.
One thing I appreciated about Jodie was that she was one of the few characters that could consistently call out Daria on her own terms. She was every bit as smart as Daria, but also had to deal with a heap of bullshit that Daria didn't. Thus, she was always in the perfect position to shut down Daria when she got a little too much on her high horse about this or that moral stance.
It wasn't that much in the way of call outs you know ? But due to the fact that Jodi being an African-American student in a predominantly white school would have more reasons to try to fit in (especially with her very demanding parents). Daria had, in an addition to being Caucasian, parents who at least let her be herself. A fact which Daria acknowledges and so does Jodi. Were they both confessed they would like to be a little bit like each other. I can relate to both Jodie and Daria. They were decent acquaintances and they had respect for each other and I can appreciate that.
I had a guy in my homeroom die in a car crash and saw all the emotions people went though from the side line. I wasn't friends with the guy but I knew about him due to his cousin being my friend and in some of my classes. He was destoryed by hearing his cousin died and had fundraisers in the school to try and raise the money for the funeral due to not being in the best financial situation. School was cool with it. I was indifferent to the guy as he was sorta annoying but I felt for his cousin as he wasn't a bad guy just loud. His girlfriend survived the crash and while I don't think she got any victim blame for it she definitely had survivors guilt from talking to the cousin. It's a lot of emotions to someone who passed even if you don't like the guy
That reminds me when I was in 6th grade and some kid died. Most of the school took the day or several days off. A teacher asked me why I didn't take off like the others and I simply told her "I didn't know the guy and people die all the time. Sure it's sad but I'm not gonna lie and pretend to be really affect by it because we went to the same school and are around the same age. I find it disingenuous that some would profit from someone else's death to get a vacation." I got an odd look from the teacher but she said "that is a logical reason and I appreciate your honesty". From that day forward I was thought of as a depression and gloomy guy but I'm a joker and find humor in most things which also makes most people uncomfortable.
I had an uncle who passed away I only met him as a baby so I didn't feel that sad instead I felt for my family that knew him mainly my grandpa who I've always been close to
I had two people die my senior year one of a heart condition and one from drowning after getting too drunk while camping. The one with the heart condition was a sweet guy who was quite and had a small group of friends his name was Rob the school spent one day after his death to help grieving friends of his only one day that grief counseling was available and only his close friends really even noticed he wasn’t there. The other kid Dane though? Football player, had popular friends, not a good person at all, bullied a lot of people. They had a week of grief counseling, a whole week dedicated solely to him, and our after prom was a night in the school with tons of activities like laser tag, escape rooms, arts and crafts all kinds of shit. They did that so that no one else would go and get drunk after prom and do dumb shit like he did. Rob was never acknowledged again after the day he passed but Dane was never no talked about by every one and it made Robs friends really mad but when they went to the school about it they said there was nothing they could do because Dane had the support of the football team and the cheerleaders so they could fundraise to the stuff that they did but because Robs like 6 friends weren’t in anything like that they didn’t even have permission to fundraise for him they would have had to do it in their personal lives and none of them had the money. Rob wasn’t even mentioned during graduation which was heartbreaking to his closest friends who I was friends or acquaintances with. It was really fucked up and it really showed me it’s doesn’t matter how terrible you are in life when you die the only thing that matters is how popular or rich you were.
@@Nomed38 I kind of know how you feel. My sophomore year of high school, this guy died in a car crash. I didn't know him, but most of my friends did. He also had many, many other friends so it hit the school pretty hard, but, of course, there were people who took advantage of the grief to "go to his funeral" when they didn't even know him. That still pisses me off, too. I didn't skip school, though, because I didn't know him. That didn't stop me from being worried about my friends. It didn't help things any that I'm an empath, so I felt their grief, despite not knowing him. Everyone's grief also hit me hard when the whole school assembled for a memorial for him. I found myself crying just as hard as everyone else who did know him.
I love how fleshed out her character was. The writers did an amazing job of not only telling you who she is, but also showing. I don’t want to spoil any part of Daria for those who are reading this, but by the time that they do the Daria movies and Jane has her own seperate storyline, you really see the payoff of how naturally Jane can be placed in a different setting with new characters, and it feels genuine to her and she can carry an entire storyline.
Diary and Jane are the main characters of the story. It was an episode about them both dealing with Tommy Sherman dying. And their views on the matter.
I fully get why Daria would antagonise Jodie - Jodie is, in a way, an opposite to Daria. While she acknowledges the problems with the world around her, she prefers to participate and benefit from it rather than reject it as Daria does (most of the time).
Yeah, Jodie was taught to "play the game" to get ahead. We see this in "Is It College Yet?" that her dad pushes her very hard. I think that's why she doesn't get upset with Daria. Daria says the things Jodie would like to say.... sometimes
@@massagebyconstance5665 especially when she opened up about how her race as a black girl or "at school, im queen of the negros, the perfect person" which does give insight on why Jodie is the way she is
Daria values sincerity, or at least is annoyed frequently enough by everyone else's insincerity, especially when it is demanded of her to conform to that insincerity. So taking any opportunities to tear down a compelled societal façade that brings her so much irritation only makes sense for her.
@@massagebyconstance5665 I think it's a game of balance, and unfortunately in our economic situation not everybody gets a choice to not play on some crappy terms. I think it's a good trait to not always follow what's being advertised and to question or even ridicule absurd societal trends and rules, but Daria goes too far in that direction where she has something to say about everyone and everything, and seems to take pride in being so walled of she can't connect with everybody. By all means don't believe in the system, I sure as hell don't, but it's also good to have friends or have the social tact to deal with people, even when you don't want to sometimes, and shitting on things just because they're mainstream without a valid critique of why mainstream thing is stupid is a tad cringe imo. On the inverse of Daria's general perception of the status quo being bad, I try to do my part to lift up people or interests on the fringes that tend to get undue bullying just for being pegged as different, even when said interest of culture doesn't harm anybody else.
At the end, I think what Jane means by 'you think and others dont' is more you think about and are aware of issues that others are willingly blind to - the difference between just eating the sausage without pause vs being aware of how it's made - I think that's why Daria sees herself as a realist vs negative, from her perspective she is simply stating reality. Meanwhile, the death forced everyone else to confront uncomfortable realities they aren't used to thinking about, so Jane's 'how do you deal with thinking until I can get back to my vegetative state' is less about being stupid and more about slipping back into the comfort of willfully blindness
As someone who lost my grandpa back in October due to a stroke most of my family would’ve been in an emotionally vulnerable state. Unfortunately 17 years prior my uncle died of colon cancer when he was 25 years old. So most of us handled our grief quite well and quickly moved on.
When you have experienced trauma in the past and dealt with it well, it prepares you for future pain in a way. It's a bittersweet silver lining to misfortune.
Grief is a weird thing. My grandma passed away earlier this year, but I felt that I'd already finished grieving for her as dementia had chipped away the person I knew for 15 years into someone who was constantly, understandably angry that she couldn't speak or eat on her own anymore. So for people to hear that I was fine or even "relieved" sounds pretty cold from the outside. Really, it was just good to know she was free and at peace now.
@@VagabondRetro I can't speak for everybody, but I can see truth in that. I lost my mom at 13. When I was in my 20s, I still am, but younger than I was, I lost a close friend about my age who had his whole life ahead of him. Obviously that hurt like hell, but I think dealing with it at 13 definitely helped not make the blow completely shatter me for awhile.
@@gregvs.theworld451 I can really relate to that though my mother is still alive and you have my condolences. I've been to more funerals than birthday parties, been the paul bearer at about a dozen funerals, and spent more time in funeral parlors than at a friend's house. People think I'm cold because I'm not depressed, weepy, and miserable when someone dies. Sure I'm usually sad about it but I grieve in my own way and privately. I hope you are doing well out there fren.
@@seeleunit2000I don't think she is as honest and upfront all the time, she actually avoids being too earnest to protect herself. She covertly loved her sister, she struggled (a lot) to admit she cared about her appearance, and she hides her jealousy towards Jane's extroverted nature many times. She is a great character in part cause' she is contradictory.
I'm like a minute in, The Misery Chick is my second favourite, while Arts N' Crass is my favourite. I can really relate to Daria in this episode. Being labelled "the misery chick" when you're not miserable. Relatable. I was hoping you spoke about both episodes, so I'm excited to hear your thoughts. EDIT: I'm glad you're enjoying the show. Yes, season 1 Daria is more rigid in her views. Your DVD set should have a little insert from the creators. They mention how they had to change all the music so they could afford to release the DVDs and mention how season 1 Daria would be mad, but season 5 wouldn't care. It's subtle, but she becomes less stern in her views. There's an episode in season 4 called Partner Complains I'd be interested to hear your view on. Daria and Jodie do a project together and Jodie questions Daria's viewpoint. Jodie does tend to hold a mirror up to Daria and she brings some changes to Daria. There's a season 2 episode called Gifted you might like to do an episode on because Jodie has a famous quote from that one when speaking with Daria. I'm also curious to hear your opinion on Tom Sloan. A lot of growth occurs due to that character, but Tom is polarizing in the community. I mostly like him, but a few parts I really don't. You'll see.
I agree. Its wonderful to see how Daria and Jane grow throughout the series and, much like us at that age, still learning who they are and how to relate to those around them.
One year I was actually made to write a eulogy in my high school year book for a personal bully in my class that died in a swimming accident I used this episode as inspiration and guidance on how to handle the issue
Since it was a bully that died, I’d say “Good riddance, to bad rubbish! We are richer for having lost this individual.” But I’m a very spiteful person.
I had to do something similar when I was still in school. I took a weeklong suspension for what I wrote, but it was worth it. "They say you should only say good things about the dead. He's dead. Good." The guy was an absolute menace, who killed three of his friends, as well as a father and his young daughter because he was driving drunk. Yet everyone acted like he was a saint who didn't kill 5 people by drinking and driving.
Tommy Sherman looked like he was 30, which made him trying to get with Brittany extra creepy. Also, in defense of Daria, I had a similar situation happen to me. A fellow football player who loved to pick on people, me included, we were both on the football team, had died from a crystal meth overdose. We all had to go to his funeral, and while I never talked smack about the guy, and I did genuinely feel bad for his family, it was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow personally. Especially when you know this person treated people you know terribly, or just straight up jumped others (he had a twin brother). Still, it was all thoughts I had to myself, but this episode was one I really identified with. Thankfully, I never had to deal with monikers Daria had thrust upon her at the time.
I think it could be argued that Daria in this episode specifically, was never given time to allow her emotions to process. Almost as soon as Tommy Sherman dies, she is bombarded with people going to her for advice. She may be seeing what everyone else is having a hard time with, and can't connect, but Jane doesn't bring up her emotions until later. She guards her emotions closely, and is something of a pragmatist as well. I know for a fact that I would feel the same way as Daria in the same situation, especially considering people die. It happens. I'll be sad for those I know and love, and uncaring for those I don't. And I don't blame Jane for her reaction to Daria's lack of emotional response, but she could have brought it up and Daria likely would have obliged, rather than hiding from her. That said, grief comes in many shapes. As for enjoying the negativity, people leave her alone in that realm, so she is able to find peace and quiet in it. So, she naturally gravitates towards it, and making others uncomfortable likely has to do with her being made uncomfortable by normal human behavior. Childish, but she does grow throughout the series as well, and ironically, makes her human. Or it can even be that she actively likes to push people into thinking. Which, considering her propensity for teaching shown in this series, makes a lot of sense, and this episode itself makes just such a statement, that the dark and depressing "Really makes you think." Edit: She also likely latched onto the fact that everyone was basically championing Tommy when he was a terrible person, either because she had already processed the emotions and that particular issue still bothered her, or because it was easier for her to process in lieu of said emotions.
OMG, Shady’s doing Daria!😮 Wonder if you like the other Mike Judge shows (yes, I know Mike Judge didn’t technically contribute but many still call it a B&B spin-off. There were even plans to feature B&B if the show wasn’t successful). Also, hey, smile!
Considering Shady has done several episodes on King of the Hill, I think he likes some of Judge's other work. I can't imagine B&B has much to analyse through a cultural lens, I haven't seen silicon valley yet to know if that's worth some video of.
I think its also how Jane did know this guy better than Daria, Daria just moved there and learned of him immediately before he died- while Jane grew up knowing of this guy. Daria has emotions, but shes very blunt and detached. And she has a very strong sense of right and wrong, and doesn’t understand why to follow social niceties- but thats something she should have to learn to grow.
remember when that wasn't something to have a total meltdown over? better times. I'm kinda disappointed in Shady for giving such a huge fuck about her age.. high school was okay back then, as well as the entire history of humanity before that. But at least he tried to take the specific contexts into mind and admitted it just "feels" creepy. Pro tip, if your logical brain says something isn't so bad, but your feelings say otherwise? You've been manipulated.
@@KairuHakubi No, it's good that we take that seriously nowadays. Someone made to still go to high school because "there's still some things you don't understand, go get educated" and being expected to listen to your parents and whatnot, still being treated like a kid in a sense... should be taken seriously when it comes to adults hitting on them. It's predatory-at least it often is, at the very least deserving a good side glance because people 18 and under are, unfortunately, targeted to be taken advantage of. My point is that it's a good thing this sort of thing isn't (or at least isn't supposed to) be taken lightly nowadays.
I think Daria sees herself as a realist. As someone who can see through the bullshit. And, quite often, she can. But because there's so much bullshit, and because she's always the one calling it out as being bullshit, she does tend to bring people down. Also, I think she is aware that Jodie is going to give a speech about Tommy on behalf of the school. Not herself. Daria is smart enough to know that. What Daria is criticising is that Jodie is going to give a speech honoring a guy Jodie herself doesn't think deserves it. No matter which capacity she's giving it in. Because even if you are praising a guy on behalf of an organization you represent, and not on your own behalf, it still comes off as phoney if you yourself don't believe he deserves the praise. I'm sure Daria would argue that the right thing for Jodie to have done, when told that she had to give a speech praising Tommy Sherman, would have been to say "Sorry, but I don't think he's done anything praiseworthy. So, even though I'm on the student council, I cannot give this speech, as it wouldn't be genuine."
@@StephonZenoor people who talk about all of their good deeds. Sometimes people who smile are sick with worry and smile to cover it up but people who brag are not to be trusted.
@@Lolirock971 Sometimes a smile is just a way to lure you in until that mask inevitably falls off. I'd take agenuine frown over a fake smile any day...
I actually read the conversation between Brittney and Tommy slightly differently. I assumed it was meant to be weird because of how he was hitting on Brittney despite the fact that she was still in high school. It gave the impression that he generally didn't care in anyway that Brittney was not old enough, and not interested, and when she tried what a lot of women go to as their response to unwanted flirting anyway, the fact that she has a boyfriend, he still didn't care. And then that was also coupled with the fact that she HAD mentioned her boyfriend FIRST THING and yet he STILL wanted to hit on her despite it ALL
I believe in the late 90's that most if not all high school football goalposts had padding on the part that could be ran into it will probably still hurt but won't be knocked out and you are absolutely correct a goalpost that will shadder will be extremely dangerous
Fun fact: in the early days when camera photography wasn't as easy and simple as it is now, alot of folks and families back then didn't smile due to how long it would've taken to get a picture due to how long the process takes just to even simply as for a family group photo. Smiling in was considered inappropriate when taking a picture in the 1800's.
As easy as it is to fall into the trap that Daria and Jane are above it all and smarter than everyone else, they're still just teens and are still ignorant to a lot of things. You can't know everything.
You can be smarter than everyone and still be wrong about some things. Those two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Daria and Jane are most definitely smarter than those around them. They also get things wrong at times.
@ft1725 you can also be intelligent in some aspects and be completely ignorant in others i.e. book smart but not socially smart. That's my point. They have intelligence in certain ways, but are still young to where other categories they still need to learn.
Yeah, im completely with Daria on this topic. Even back when it aired on MTV, my version of Tommy Sherman, was a creep Teacher named Mr. Block; he was rude, nasty and personally told me i was a sheep who'd never amount to anything. Suffice to say, we didnt get along. Later, we got word he passed away after i made the honor role and while everyone was sad, i didnt feel a thing. Weird too because i had people come to me about it...maybe because i was the only person who was'nt broken up about it. It really does make me think...
My paternal grandpa passed away when I was 12 and my dad asked me if I wanted to go to the funeral. My dad didn't want to force me into that awkward event, acknowledging that I barely knew him. Yet, he wanted the choice to be mine. I hesitantly declined the invite but hugged my dad afterwards, thanking him that he gave me a choice free of pressure.
This was the 90s. Emo didn’t actually exist yet. That’s beside the point though. Daria isn’t seen as the misery chick because she doesn’t smile and it isn’t because she’s antagonistic. She’s seen as the misery chick because she’s intelligent enough to not be happy and just do whatever everyone else thinks they’re supposed to do. She goes against the grain. That makes her “miserable” because how can you be happy if you aren’t exactly like everyone else?
Right, if anything her attitude is more in line with a goth. Daria finds comfort in the reality of decay and entropy and is most often more stoic in her cynicism than emotional.
"intelligent enough to not be happy" as stupid people aren't miserable shits too a lot of the time. Intelligence has nothing to do with happiness. Happiness is a state of mind, not a byproduct of intelligence. It's just a lot over thinkers corner themselves into a box of assumed negative facts about life - all novelty will be gone as I grow older...even though giving up inherently denies you the intellectual participation and earnest inspection to actually find novelty in life and its things. It's a self fulfilling prophecy- The truth is that most people are just as smart, if not sometimes more smart than seemingly intelligent people - albeit in differeent ways - but when you're depressed, when you're cynical and got a gripe. You feel like those people are ignorant because they ain't in YOUR head and don't care about YOU care about. It's one of the reason rick and morty became so bloody obnoxious as it merged rick crappy mood with the meta-narrative and "rick was right" motive. I'd say, if anything, the reason you get people like this isn't out of an inherent inferiority or superiority but the advantage of individuality. Being yourself is great, but truly bieng yourself means accepting your flaws. Which is why the video is right. Daria can't accept she dosen't get her cake and eat it too. If she embraced that she was COMFORTABLE with a strongly more...won't say dark...more long term end of the line vision of things. She could improve while remaining true to herself. She could say "I'm comfortable here...but maybe I am a little...TOO comfortable sometimes in this mindset and it would do me good to trek out a bit:" and then disocver she was still her, no betrayal after that. That would be good. But instead it overly focuses on outside appearence, not inward reflection and so nothing is achieved. And because of that, her true awareness of WHY what she is comfortable in is not revealed because she does not reflect one bit on when it could and could not be empathetic or reasonable to outwardly practice in. Denying her the triumph of showing others its strength and proper by having a little bit of accountability and restraint.
It did, just not in the form you know. 90’s emo was about introspection and bands like Jimmy Eat World (yes, before The Middle) Mineral, Jawbreaker, Sunny Day Real Estate. If you don’t know these bands, just think of Weezer in their Pinkerton album era. I promise you, it existed. Sans eyeliner and black clothing, it was its own thing that begat the more obnoxious in your face 2000’s emo.
Oh, emo existed well before the 1990's; since at least the 1890's. It just wasn't called emo, and there weren't boutique shops selling apparel and accessories for those seeking some outward sign of their inward view on life.
Personally, the ending made me think 🤔 that the episode's message was Daria learning that the way you act is the way you're looked at by other people who aren't close to her. Dariea and since she doesn't want to change who she is she just accepts it and makes a profet out of it
I find it interesting how we as a society have gotten to the point that if anyone don’t praise the heck out of something and ignore it’s faults, that automatically means they hate whatever it is they are talking about. You can like or love something and still point out it’s flaws. Love what you do Shady Doo.
To the video maker. There's an episode where Daria explains to Jodie that her attitude is what works for her now. She does has her flaws. But that's why she's so relatable. She going by what works for her. But of course she has flaws. She's a teenaged girl coping with a world that's changing.
Everyone around Daria are people pleasers with the exception of Jane and Jody.Jane is more fun with her sarcasm and Jody is more like Daria but has overbearing parents who won't let her be herself.
I don't think Daria brings up negative things just for fun. She does it because people gloss over uncomfortable things that she thinks are actually important to acknowledge - such as high schools prioritizing sports instead of learning (at the beginning of The Misery Chick) and the ways teenagers are often socially pressured into self-destructive behaviors (the whole plot of Arts 'n Crass). She's not trying to be a jerk; she's trying to bring important truths to other people's attention ... at least, that's how she sees it. I also think it's important to recognize that Daria isn't always right about things, and I don't think the show necessarily says that she is. She misinterprets the Tennyson poem because she's talking about her own experience, and missing the poem's greater point as a result. She's smart, but she's still human and still developing as a person, so she lacks self-awareness sometimes.
I like to go back and rewatch shows I grew up with as kid and Daria is one of them. I remember being mind blown finding out the character origins came from Beavis N Butthhead which I really like watching then but as I got older rewatching Daria I felt it was obviously way better written for obvious reasons on top of Darias creator giving up the rights for the character to be used. Your commentary on this just makes all of this even better and I'm glad I randomly stumbled on your channel. Keep up the great work!!! (Subbed)
Not a bad episode to review. Especially one that shows a good reflection of how Daria and Jane were especially with what happens in the later seasons. Now I was Daria in High School and went through a lot of what Daria went through in High School. Also Shady some of us cant smile unless laughing. I being one of them. Also another few episodes Id suggest especially if you like Jodi is the episode where Daria and Jodi are invited to a prissy prep school. And when their lab partners in season 2. Also Shady the point of Daria's attitude is to poke at the ideas and mindsets that were had in the 90s and early 2000's. She points out how that blind optimism is intrinsically flawed. And how she sees how things are different and how they really are where others won't.
I think Daria is the origin or inspiration of all the animation we have now like Rick & Morty and Bojack, she was way ahead of her time and I think she deserves more recognition
From my understanding, it just cost extra money to change the background photos in school and they usually don’t allow that because it’s for the yearbooks so it’s best if everyone has the same background, but I think you can get a extra photo with a different background if you ask and had the money, I may be remembering that wrong though(of course this includes the fact that it would depend on the company who took the photos).
My school was definitely NOT rich. Our district is one step up from the absolute worst district in the city, and none of the schools here ever get any funding. Every picture day, we had the same background options. There were like 5 or so solid color backgrounds you could choose from for free, and a few specialty or patterned backgrounds you could get for an additional fee. Maybe it all depends on what photo company the school partnered with?
Please repent and find YHWH Elohim and keep the commandments in Exodus 20 and Leviticus 11. Please read Exodus 20 and pray for forgiveness 2nd Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37- 40 The bible says everything in it is to guide us. And that God wants us to be happy. The story of Job explains how even though we can lose everything from our family health and friends if we have faith we are stronger and able to endure until the end for eternity. It's okay to be depressed or upset and worrying but don't harden your heart and let go and move on to be healthy. Please read the book of Jonah, Matthew, Exodus you'll have the information you need. 💙💚💜💐🌈 I post the emojis for a reason there is a method to my madness. I know this seems random but it's a reminder that we all know need to earn salvation before we die.😊😅
Furher into the show, I feel like Daria's world view is challenged more, and that she does grow as a person. She remains pretty cynical, but she also learns to be more open to other people, too. Of course, there is a LOT of character growth and exploration in the special, "Is It Fall Yet," especially with Quinn!
I love the way you're analyzing the show so far. I remember watching it with my family, I get nostalgia but also a very refreshing review on how realistic and well-written this show was. It reminds me of how I'd like to write.
Gotta say, I agree with Daria when it comes to death. I firmly believe that people aren't owed any more respect than human decency. Ya know, don't steal or hurt them, that kinda thing. But if you want me to respect you, either your leadership, your position, whatever, you need to earn it. Dying is not an act worthy of respect. If you were a dirt bag in life, you're a dirtbag in death, and I have no qualms saying as much.
The most you'll get out of me is condolences to the family - but that said, if someone was particularly egregious, then I'm not sure even that would be appropriate. You know, like when Epstein died.
Daria tends to get bad press because she tells people what they don’t want to hear. It doesn’t come from a place of sadism or mean-spiritedness, but just blunt matter of fact observations and conclusions. She isn’t angry, she isn’t mean, or even sad. She just simply doesn’t look at the world through rose colored glasses.
I know exactly how she feels I hate how everyone chooses to delude themselves when they know better You would think it would make the illusion worse when you know the truth
I always extrapolated that Tennyson line out to an idea about living life to the fullest. My interpretation is something more along the lines of "It's better to have experiences and live life, even if that means it's not all good instead of not doing anything at all and not experiencing anything, good or bad."
My mother used to call me Daria because I wasn't goth or emo but I was very stonefaced and sarcastic - it was my way of dealing with my issues. Im a very different person now, in no small part due to the fact I moved out many years ago.
As a cynic from a young age I really enjoyed Daria, but as I got older she started to just seem mean without even trying to talk to anyone. And she just grew bland. I honestly enjoyed Jane who explored other avenues, and in a way outgrew Daria herself.
Daria has been one of my favorite characters that i wished i known about sooner. I always loved her character while also learning more about her flaws ans her virtue. Sincerity and honesty should be important but I understand how senstivie she actually is and that her having someone truelly understand her like Jane as a friend which helped show their friendship which is another aspect of the show i loved.
I think another part of Daria's viewpoint here that no one is pointing out is that Daria is diametrically opposed to the "good-washing" that this dude was receiving after his death. She doesn't want to recognize the person who just died as "good" person like the school staff was in the auditorium, and how others were remembering him as a football player - and she doesn't to her credit. She had seen this person she didn't really care for walk into her building, immediately do a bunch of sleazy, uncomfortable and rude things to people around her; saw what he said to Brittany and how it nevatively affected her, and then how he pissed off both herself and Jane directly at Daria's locker. So by the point he actually dropped dead, her opinion of him morally was already tarnished to the point she refused to even tolerate the good-washing he was recieving by default. And honestly similarly to how Brittany was handling her own experiences conflicting with societal expectations- I think Daraia was also struggling with the knowledge of everyone else not being able to see just how bad this person truly was by her own eyes and ears and it just frustrated her ontoo of the other students suddenly flooding to her for help with their mixed feelings on the situation.
You are not meant to relate to her 100% of the time, even the show sometimes proves her wrong. She is the protagonist, so we see the plot from her POV, but the show does not bend over backwards to make sure you like her.
@@zoltanszalai218 I might need to watch Daria again to see what my overall character profile of her is by the end of the series. I think first and last time I watched Daria I was in highschool and naïve enough to think Daria was always being based when she was sharp and antisocial, but I suspect now I could watch the show with more nuance, as well as see if Daria is ever meaningfully called out or suffers consequences for having walled off be her MO 100% of the time.
Ironically, a lot of the issues you've brought up will be revisited in 'Boxing Daria', the somewhat heart breaking series finale before the true end to the series with the movie.
Daria and Jodie are both outsiders but Jodie is an outsider because she’s Black. She relates to Daria as an outsider but she has the mentality and burden that she has to be twice as good as her White counterparts. She can’t afford to have Daria’s attitude. The “Gifted” episode addresses that a little bit.
Yeah that was always my thought too. I loved this show and still do. Both Jodie and Mack are shown to *have* to be high achievers due to their “otherness” compared to the other Lawndale kids. Jodie says as much. I always got the feeling that Jodie also admired Daria for having the ability (option?) to be so transparent. It’s something Jodie doesn’t ever really get a chance to do.
@@catrinacrystallinayes but Jodie literally could not afford to be as free and open as Daria and the fact that it Daria never picked up on that is one of the main traits that pissed me off so much about Daria as a character.
@@VinceroAlpha I think it’s one of the things that makes Daria just another teen and has her own flaws. I forget which episode it is, but Jodie spells it out for Daria and I think she did become aware then.
@@catrinacrystallina but that’s not a valid reason to just continue being the stereotypical smart ass. Which also demonstrates that Daria is just as ignorant as the rest of the people in her school and makes her just as much as a stereotype as everyone else, but also a hypocrite, wanting to be the outsider but also living down to the stereotype of goth depressed girl. Every teen has problems that they go through in order to learn who they are and what they want out of life, but some remain in that ignorant mindset that they are special and I see that with Daria in the fact that she is intelligent enough to know what she doesn’t want and not to be but doesn’t want to do the work to find out what she really does want her out of life.
I searched "Daria Full Episodes" and this was in the top 5 results. I am so glad this appeared. Your analysis is on point and you show all relevant clips perfectly. 10/10
The Tommy and Brittany thing is a "Dazed and confused" reference. "That's what I love about high school girls. I get older, and they stay the same age." Thank you for doing more Daria videos! Love your face and content
im so tired of people confusing bringing up negatives with being miserable. you cant make informed decisions without looking at positives and negatives. and people dont like hearing the truth because it breaks their denial. it only feels like being a downer because most people are used to quinns not darias. its like calling someone a downer when they call you and say 'your house is on fire', and replying 'why do you have to be so negative?'
As someone who watched Daria in real time. I always saw her as a realist. She was a teenager and based on her life experience and maturity in the time she had a certain world view that we watch be challenged over time and we got to watch her grow. Her mom didn't ask her to smile before the picture was taken she asked her after, Daria doesn't have a time machine, so that's a no-go. A person she met for five minutes died and she didn't have a personal connection to him. Okay. That makes sense or else she would burst into tears every time the news comes on. She antagonized Jodie her personality it set, not reactionary, but she and Jodie have a good enough relationship that Jodie knows better than be offended by Daria being herself. She went to talk to Daria for a reason. Daria says the things Jodie would never say unprovoked, that's one of the reasons they are associates or friends. If the easy answer were that she's a pessimist or misery chick people wouldn't feel so comfortable coming to her to seek solace because instead of helping she would have gone out of her way to make them feel worse.
Daria didn’t attack Jodie. Both of them also have similar views on a lot of BS. The difference between them that’s lead to one compromising on their interactions with society is quite literally because of race and culture. Daria is a white teenage girl from the suburbs. Jodie is a Black teenage girl from the suburbs. It makes a difference in how they can interact with society. Their punishments for being contrarian will look very different because of this. Daria is an outcast, with people not listening to her. If Jodie were to be contrarian, she is very aware that those consequences would not be the only ones imposed on her. Her consequences would be much more severe due to the nature of the culture she is in and her family.
She is a realist it's just the pessimism and superiority complex which makes her problematic some episodes. If she works on becoming more humble she'll be fine.
My favorite thing about this episode is that it shows (kinda) some of the issues Daria's worldview creates for herself, and to me, it makes her seem more like a teenager. She's definitely a super mature teenager but still hasn't quite gotten herself figured out. I may be blowing smoke, but that is what it made me think.
Talking to yourself is perfectly normal and sane behavior. It is societally weird but in reality it is just a way our complicated human brains work through thoughts sometimes. Never feel the pressure to stop talking to yourself and keep the self talk firm but kind.
Now, sometimes what someone is talking about is weird and at that point I leave you to your judgment calls. Don't call someone weird because they are talking to themselves, call them weird because of what they are SAYING to themselves
I grew up in a household where my mother worked as a family court lawyer, similar to Helen except in my case, other families' divorce papers were scattered around my living room floor growing up and my garage became a mausoleum of failed marriages which had to be stored in plastic tubs for a certain amount of years. When you overhear as much upsetting crap as I did living under those circumstances it's easy to latch onto Daria, even if she isn't always right.
The older I get the more I have to conclude that Daria was intentionally written as someone on the Spectrum. This episode seems to hit it hard as she genuinely doesn't understand how/why people are feeling the way they do.
Nope! No! We don't have to pathologise every behaviour that isn't "sunny" or upbeat. We're just narrowing the field of field of what is "normal". She's normal, just pessimistic and a bit dark.
@Yinka5o I agree. There's nothing wrong with being on the spectrum at all of course. It just seems like people will automatically decide a character is autistic just based on if that character is different than the others around them. Sometimes people just have a different personality and it doesn't mean they're on the spectrum.
@@Yinka5opeople can think whatever they want and analyze media however they please , I too think she is an autistic coded character,I think there’s loads of neurodivergent coded characters (I can come to the conclusion and see that because I am a neurodivergent person ) all of us , we see ourselves in the media we consume neurodivergent or not. Not groundbreaking stuff really. No idea why your reply seems so defensive.
Daria as a character, was very much of her time, and reflective of the attitudes of many people that age who watched it. The show demonstrated that well, but it also tried to show that Daria and Jane weren't always in the right, and that those attitudes that they represented weren't always right either, even when they were genuine. Daria missing the point of Tennyson's poem is very accurate for the feelings of the average viewer of the time. I Vaguely remember thinking, 'that isn't what it says, but that is what she thinks, and that is so her.' Daria as a character was really cathartic as a character, because she was an outcast, but one by choice, or at least she was presented as choosing to be one, and for someone who was an outcast, by choice or not, she felt like she was both validating, and mildly ribbing the outsider perspective. Like she pointed out the flaws with the 'system' but also missed out on the fun aspects of student, even when there wasn't any merit to her criticisms. The vibe of the show was " This stage of life is weird and no one really has all the answers so we are just going to let all the archetypes bounce off each other and hope it is funny."
So about the guy hitting on Brittany. It -is- weird. It -is- creepy. It's showing that not only does this guy not give a shit that he's hitting on someone who is taken and doesn't want it, but a -minor-. He's already so worshipped, he thinks he can get away with it. It's also startlingly common. Ask women and they'll tell you they've been cat-called and harassed as young as 14. Of course that's not -good-. So yeah, that's not an issue on the writers' part. It's showing that this guy is /scum/ and has probably gotten away with it before in a system that doesn't really care.
19:00 I’m fine with Daria doing some projection on the poem guy. She’s a frustrated high schooler, and using this to get her point across through a ‘frustrated and making it about herself’ is pretty appropriate for the show. This episode we got to see Daria being normal.
It's interesting that you bring up that Daria doesn't engage in any real introspection here. You're correct; and it's something that makes her feel like a real person - she has a blind spot, and she's a teenager. That blind spot will come up a few times, I dare say - she holds others to high standards that even she cannot meet. And it will bite her in the ass from time to time.
I just found your channel through RUclips recommendations, and it may be one of the best things YT has ever done. I've already watched several of your videos, and you've quickly become my favorite animation reviewer. I love your style and the perspective you bring to the shows you cover, especially your focus on things such as empathy, integrity, and other such things which seem to almost be dying out. Also, as an English major, I have to agree with you on your interpretation of "In Memoriam," as an optimistic work. The focus isn't on the fact that love comes with loss, but that the joy and fullness that comes with connecting with others eclipses the pain that losing people can bring.
I think your commentary is so interesting knowing that you're only halfway through the show! A lot of how Daria acts is addressed later on and her hypocrisy and just general unpleasantness is shown to be a bad thing quite a bit and omg trust me Daria takes SO many Ls in the latter seasons she honestly gets what she deserves
I don’t think Daria was necessarily mean to Jodie here. I think she’s just extremely cynical to the school’s politics and dislikes the shallow hero worship of a local celebrity. So she’s open to mocking it, even if she was asked to help with it. The fact that Jodie has no choice in all this isn’t explored (yet).
I look at this episode from two ends. One end, Daria does have a point. Someone dying doesn't change what they did or didn't do in life and she doesn't have a reason to feel sad because, well, she didn't know that dude very well, other than that he was an asshole. However, being cynical, I can understand why people would gravitate more to her when depressing things happen. On the other end, Daria's classmates and Jane are experiencing complicated feelings around Death (don't ask why I capitalize it). Death and Mortality hits different when the person if around your age, than it would be if Tommy were much older.
Also... Frankly, I'm completely with Daria throughout this episode. If I were at Lawndale (and not poisoned by whatever makes everyone in that town crazy), I really don't think I'd be torn up about Sherman at all. I can get the reasoning behind not talking ill of the dead but...if someone was nothing but a jerk to everyone, there's really no reason in my mind to afford that courtesy. Respect for the dead is a courtesy usually aimed more at the friends and family of the dead. But in this episode, Tommy Sherman has no friends or family (well, Kevin the sycophant aside), and most of the people that Daria speaks to had absolutely nothing positive to say about him at all at best, and were outright insulted or worse by him at worst. I think that's why when I watch the episode, I zoom in more on everyone being reminded of their own mortality instead, which feels like a more reasonable reaction than treating him like he deserved much in the way of mourning.
It's such a delicate balance. It's important to be, yknow, _against_ someone dying... but ballooning things into a tragedy doesn't help one bit. It doesn't bring anyone back to life. and if it's a virtual stranger or an enemy, you can't let it destroy you or you'll feel that way a LOT. Because people die a lot. And the more you think, the more of that you have on your mind, so you can't handle it if you swung to extremes like others. I appreciate the way the Monty Python guys handled Graham Chapman's funeral. That's how you deal with tragedy.
@poisonmoon123 *hits head on wall* the problem. is that she has. a boyfriend. that's the problem she has with it, that's the problem the writers have with it. Please stop having 2020s attitudes towards sexuality, it is *not helping*
I think perhaps they feared that if anyone, even someone like him, wasn't shown any respect when they died, then maybe they would be doomed to the same kind of fate.
@@KairuHakubi Yeah I dont think that a grown man hitting on an underaged girl is some 2020s revelation that just popped up in the last few years. For the last 4 to 5 decades society's been in collective agreement that hitting on underaged girls is just rather creepy and predatory.
@@adamsturges7067 they've really done a number on you guys and implanted that false historical narrative. Please go talk to someone over 30, ask them what it was like. Or watch like, any media. or read any books.
I think Daria is "mean" to Jodi because she's a foil. She's just as smart as Daria, and Daria sees that, and doesn't understand why she is, as you put it, "performing an obligation that she doesn't believe in." In a way, Daria isn't being mean, but being critical because she might think Jodi should be smart enough to know/do better. And in that same way, Daria's lack of a smile is her not "performing an obligation." She's not so much bringing up misery as pointing out hypocrisy. Which I think is why she was kinder to Brittany, because she was showing geniune emotion and confusion, and was at least being honest, which was the opposite of Jodi's reaction to the situation. And she makes up with Jane when Jane levels with her. In all of the situations she values the honest, the *real*. But in the end she's smart enough to understand that others don't see her that way, and finds a practical way to accept it.
I think there's a difference in our feelings about what it means to be told to smile. As a female (who also doesn't smile a lot), I got told to smile, not just by family, but by complete strangers, almost always male, who weren't talking to me for any other reason. It became like a command performance kind of thing, and was really unnerving. It's tied to a whole mess of bad feelings and societal 'customs' (for lack of a better term) like having to look pretty for others, pretending to be happy when you're not just for the sake of others (to whom you have no obligations), and having to be the caretaker and responsible for others' emotions at the expense of your own, whether you like it or not. It's not so overt, but Daria is rejecting that as well. Not being positive doesn't mean she's miserable, and she didn't give everyone permission to use her as a free therapist.
Just from the title I knew what episode you were going to talk about, because it really makes you think. On a serious note, this is one of my favorite Daria episodes because it showed you there's more than one way to think about grief.
I think Daria's interpretation of Tennyson's poem is completely valid and speaks to the sort of person Daria is. Her initial comments about Tennyson (and by extension her) understanding that to open oneself to positive experiences you also need to open yourself to negative ones. While I wouldn't say this is the best explanation of the poem, it points out something we often forget while looking for the more positive spin in. What becomes even more interesting is how the poem reflects Tommy's behaviour. The ending stanza of the poem, while the most quoted, doesn't really encapsulate the entirety of section 27: is a life lived without risk truly a life lived? Fame in the face of safety, pleasure in the face of societal scorn. Tommy's behaviour is absolutely disgusting but you can't argue that he didn't live a risky, and by extension impactful, life. This is reinforced throughout the episode by how the school reacts to the event of Tommy's death.
As someone who was constantly told to "smile more" even at work, I can understand where Daria is coming from. Sometimes there's just no reason to smile BUT as an adult, I also understand why it's important to fake a smile. Everyone calls her the misery chick because that's what she is. she makes everyone miserable around her and while it doesn't bother her since she's just being herself, it does to everyone else. Now in school, there's no real consequence to this. Teachers and students have to be there but once you get into the real world, you're gonna learn real fast why being pleasant, even if it's fake, is how you keep a job. I've been fired over this due to complaints of not smiling enough and making everyone uncomfortable/not engaging enough. No student is getting kicked out of school for being a miserable loner. This lesson hurts a lot to learn in adulthood. If faking a smile makes customers more comfortable coming to the business, co-workers more comfortable working with you and friends more comfortable talking to you, then it you do it. Fake it till you make it, as the saying goes. Yes it's shallow. Yes it's stupid. That's just how humans are. We all gotta share this giant blue rock we live on, might as well not make it more difficult than it needs to be.
I had an unapproachable face too for a while. I actually fixed mine by- whenever I thought to do it- raising my eyebrows to train them out of default-scowl-mode. Eventually they just sort of stayed there. Now my resting face is blank but non-hostile.
I really appreciate your review. You recognize why this episode is important and impactful while offering more than just effusive praise. I especially liked your recognition that Jodie was acting in the role of a representative. This isn't my favorite episode of Daira (heavy subject and it's not always fun to see Daria and Jane not on the same page), but it's definitely one that sticks around in your mind and shows another side of a lot of the cast.
My personal issue with smiling for pictures is that when I force myself to smile it looks... well forced. Then I get told to, "Smile for real" and no matter how many times I do it's like it's just not good enough. So after years of this I just gave up. I still give a slight smirk, but that's all you getting.
I remember feeling like I related a lot to Daria when I watched it the first time around when it aired. There is a reason she is still a GenX icon. Lots of folks related to her.
I had a somewhat similar experience in high school. Our superintendent died. My English/humanities teacher had us write a short paper on how that made us feel/offer sympathies. I didn't know this person at all, and he was proposing a school policy that I heavily disagreed with so I didn't exactly feel fondly towards him. I wrote with MANY polite adverbs that I had nothing to say about his death and didn't really feel anything about it. Because pretending that I actually felt anything(at least positive) about a stranger would have been completely disingenuous of me. The teacher gave me a 0 for the assignment sighting that it was wrong or something that I couldn't feel bad about someone's death, even though I have 0 connection to this person. Since that day I swore to be unapologetically honest about my indifference and to be hostile to anyone who tried to shame or pressure me into pretending to feel things that I don't. And if I saw people doing it to others, I would call them out and brutally rip apart their false sense of moral superiority. I also don't believe that people become sacred cows once they die. Death does not exonerate or redeem what someone did in life.
Had a really bad cough while I was making this. Apologies if I didn't hide it well enough.
So far I haven't noticed anything
It's a really good quality video
It's OK Shady
Your congestion is now immortalized.
I’d never had known.
Would hate undertale movie?
It's nice that Jane isn't 100% the same as Daria. The small differences in how they handle people and situations gives Jane that extra push to being my favorite character.
It's good writing, because while it's easy to write characters who are very different, it's significantly harder to write characters who are nearly the same.
Their different home lives too contribute to this. Daria is contrary more for the sake of it even though she has parents who want to connect with her despite their flaws (Helen’s workaholic nature and Jake’s neuroses). Jane’s parents are very hands off and Trent isn’t hands on in their emotional absence, so Jane lacks someone willing to be there for her and who will fight her corner. Yet Jane has let Trent in and is more empathetic as well as self-aware whereas Daria only lets in Jane because their personalities are so similar.
@@jbcatz5 Damn, that sounds like a great episode of Daria all on it's own tbh. Daria is great, but I do think people tend to oversell how correct she is at all times, or that her cynicism is always justified. Daria didn't come out at a time where deep character development and story arcs were super popular, although Daria does have a few small arcs, but I think if Daria came out now there'd definitely be high potential for an episode, or maybe an arc, to call out Daria's walls a little bit, and maybe have her learn to show slightly more kindness and patience to people, as well as letting people in a little more, while still keeping her sharp wit and not taking any undue crap.
@@gregvs.theworld451 I think there was one where Jane had a crush on a guy who Daria thought was not worth it and Daria kind of panicked. Reminds me of Mae and Bea at that college bar when bea was pretending to be dumb to get with the guy
@@gregvs.theworld451through daria does work for teenagw cymicism andd does lean in the unreliable perspective in her a lot
Brittany really *is* nice. She's just a bit shallow and silly. She's never mean the way the Fashion Club are. Quite a few times she invites Daria to hang out with her because she thinks it's a nice thing to do. She keeps Daria's secret about her rash and cheers her up when she feels like a hypocrite for wanting contacts.
It really is refreshing to see a pretty popular girl in school who isn't mean for no reason in media. While a lot of "popular girls" in school are incarnations of the devil who revel in psychological torture, a greater number of them are that popular because they're genuinely nice and make an effort to talk and get to know a lot of their classmates.
Yes! I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Brittany, she IS nice!
Though Brittany’s voice gets on my nerves a little, I can’t bring myself to dislike her because she’s generally positive, confident, sticks up for herself and though she’s not book smart and can be very naive, she’s intuitive
@@ashleightompkins3200she’s also an expert tactician
She's also terrifying in a paintball tournament.
It was and is refreshing how the popular kids i.e. Brittany and Kevin are never particularly mean nor malicious towards Daria, hell they're even dare I say friendly with her.
I always liked that. In any other show they would have been the stuck-up popular people looking down on everyone else. Here, they were dopey, but never mean spirited.
that one episode where brittany was the only one who could get daria out the bathroom stall🥺🥺
I was Daria growing up...
That element actually made the show feel that much more real to me... The popular guys and girls were always nice to me too and didn't act all stuck up and stuff.
...
Here we are 20 years later and Christina flipped her car and has a beautiful concrete angel...
Cherish every single moment, young ones, I implore you
Ngl I love it when the "Popular Kids" actually earned their titles and reputation through being chill, friendly and nice people. The Popular Kids in SU were like that too and I need more of that.
@@fenrirsrage4609 I was recently rewatching SU and I always loved that whole social dynamic... But I'm also a pizza delivery girl so... XD
When I was in high school, I had a bully. He was very popular, captain of the wrestling team and held all kinds of huge parties on his parent’s property. He used to slam me into lockers all the time, one time in swim class he called me over in front of the girls team and kneed me in the crotch so I fell in the water. He was a nightmare. One night, at one of his huge forest parties he got on his motorcycle drunk and drove head first into a tree. He was like 17. For the next month there were vigils, assemblies, and even write ups in both town papers. The wrestling room got named after him and ever kept talking about how great of a person he was. The year book was titled Year of the (his last name). As I watched everyone grieve I wondered if there was something wrong with me. He was just this monster that made my life hell and he died doing something “cool”. I felt relief no longer looking over my shoulder and worrying about being beaten up. Years later I went to my high school reunion and there was a group of all the popular kids talking about him. I sat with them, and eventually they asked me what I remembered about him. I was honest but I also said that I would love to know some good things about him. One of his friends asked my why I didn’t come to them or tell them about this abuse he did to me, that they would have talked to him. All I could think was you were there, you laughed when he shoved me into lockers or knocked my lunch out of my hands. But I didn’t say that, they were grieving a person I never met. I was think of this monster they didn’t know. I didn’t want to hurt them so I just let it go. Finally, when I was working an IT desk job an old man came in to get his computer looked at. We got to talking and it turned out he was from my home town. He asked me age and said” well, you must of known my son” That’s right, this was my dead bully’s father. I excused myself saying I just got a call on the radio and then had a panic attack in the back room. This nice old man was clearly still in a lot of pain some 20 years on. I had to have a a coworker go help him. I couldn’t accidentally let it slip how I felt about his son.
I guess this made me realize that you are not always the same person to everyone. I am sure there are people out there that hate me, that find me to be an annoying jerk. And there are people who find me important in their lives and a light in their world. It is fine to feel relief when someone negative in your life dies, but you have to be able to respect others grief and let them remember their version of that person. We all deal with death in our own way and we are all different parts of peoples lives.
Thank you for sharing that.
I deeply admire you. I really do. I'm sure it wasn't easy
Fun Fact: In almost every episode the Morgendorffer's have lasagna for dinner.
Is that a reference to her mood and Garfield.
Lasanga, Caserole, and occassionally Pasta. Those are the three tenants of Morgandorffer family dinners.
I feel like I saw a garden salad at some point that Helen is using wooden salad tossers with.
I swear they had meatloaf once
Don't forget tacos too
Daria was right. You don't have to mourn when people you don't like die.
Yes but you don't have to go on and on when others are mourning either.
That wasn’t Daria’s point though...
No one said or is forcing her to mourn. They are just mourning and Daria is taking her views out on them...
Yes you don’t have to mourn people you don’t like. You also shouldn’t be a piece of 💩 and hate on the dead especially when it’s around people who actually do feel affected.
Or in my case? When you saw the death coming a mile away and was able to mentally and emotionally prepare. That was... That was a really awkward funeral where I was the only one who wasn't crying despite being close to my grandmother
Absolutely. If someone is a jerk, they should be remembered as a jerk. Pretending that someone is suddenly awesome because they achieved the incredible feat of dying (like the same isn't going to happen to all of us) is highly illogical, stupid and thoughtless. It's one of those things that people just mindlessly parrot, never really giving it a thought.
@@beabea5985Agreed.
If you want to see Jane and Daria's friendship get tested just wait until you get to Tom.
Oh he's going to haaaaate that
I really hated the entire Tom plot line. I guess it can be realistic but God it completely ruined the show for me as a teen. Wonder how I'd feel about it watching it now
I was not crazy about the Tom story line but they make up for it with a great final episode.
Shhh, in due time. Let’s let him enjoy the journey!
When he made that friendship comment, I thought the same thing! Such complexity & nuance it added.
I think Jodi wanted to have an honest yet cynical conversation about Tommy. In later episodes it is shown that Jodi is constantly trying to maintain a perfect image. That she does not get many chances to drop the façade and speak honestly. Daria and Jane are some of the few people that Jodi feels comfortable enough to genuinely loosen up around since they are both honest and smart enough to speak candidly themselves. Jodi isn't actually looking for advice here. She probably had a good idea of what she was going to say already. She was looking for catharsis. A chance to let release all that pent up frustration with people who actually understand.
Jodi is like Daria but she has overbearing parents that won't let her be herself.She has to be perfect,she has to be well rounded.She can't just do anything for fun.They show her parents in an episode
@@brittaniharold1880 That was addressed in the "Gifted" episode. And it also came up in the "Is It College Yet" movie, where Jodie says that she wishes to attend a HBCU as opposed to the very elite, overwhemingly white university that her father wants her to attend. Jodie feared that if she attended the university that her father wants her to attend, she would have to continue to have to be perfect, whereas Jodie feels that if she attended a HBCU she would be freer to be herself.
Exactly.
The thing is Daria is that person with no filter on meaning she always honest but she also uses snark and sass to cover up her own insecurities.
Reminds me of my ex 😂
Exactly
she's just tsundere, i think
No, she not a liar like the rest of them better to have a honest person hurt your stupid feelings than have people not tell you make a fool out of yourself got toilet paper stuck on your shoe daria tell you but got a ass kisser fake friend they not tell you or tell you the toilet paper looks good on your shoe so good show everyone.
It's not that she doesn't have a filter it's just she doesn't see a need for a filter. It's very common for someone like me who is autistic
a little note: Daria's color pallette is noticably lighter in this episode compared to her other appearances
I think in part Tommy hitting on Brittany is in part not only showing how sleazy he is, but also shows how he "peaked" in high school, that he's stuck in the past, a person who has nothing but a past fleeting moment of "glory," and he uses it to prey on those he THINKS will fall for it.
It also shows that he really would make a good youtuber
Yep, he was a creep.
As someone who's been called a pessimist more times than I would like, I appreciate Daria's willingness to say what she really thinks rather than going with what you're "supposed to say" in this situation. Death does not unjerkify someone. And yet the jerk's assessment of her was right, she does go out of her way to find the bad in things, so actually they had speaking their minds in common.
I disagree
@Sunset's Channel It's similar in a way to the assholes that find religion and expect people to forgive and forget all the horrendous shit they've done and sadly some go along with the change of personality. I prefer to be honest and really find it distasteful when during a eulogy when just the person's good parts are highlighted and their faults are not mentioned, alluded to, or are downplayed.
@Sunset's Channel I'm of two mindsets. If someone treats you like crap but never apologizes or make amends with you then screw them. If they do and try, then it's up to you to forgive or not. Not saying you have to but its an option.
He may have been a jerk, but he was a jerk with a point.
@@Nomed38 you ah must not be asked to do a lot of eulogy’s then. Because going up and pointing out bad shit a dead person did in front of their grieving loved ones is a quick way to a fist fight.
Tommy was on my hit list the minute he had his first interaction with Brittany ☠ and truthfully Daria was trying to express her own feelings regarding his death the entire episode after witnessing Tommy treat everyone and her like disposable objects and NOBODY bothered to really listen to how she feels
@@Lolirock971 Wtf? Keep your 'madness' in the privacy of your home please.
You make a point.
I mean true
17:26 I view this differently. Jane saying Trent forgot is just her expecting her brother to be his typical self and just legit forgot, but Daria coming back with "no, he didn't" I think is important because it pointed out to Jane that Trent, despite his laid back go with the flow attitude is indeed thoughtful
Indeed. Trent is just very subtle about it. But he is very observant.
It's funny how you don't realize how well written some of these old school cartoons were until you're older. It allows them to hold up well, especially for breakdowns like yours 👍
Real shit
Yep
Yeah! That’s why I love watching deep dives into the shows I watched as a kid/tween. Also it kinda shows me why I am the person I am 😂. I feel like a lot of the cartoons I watched (I’m a 90’s kid) were often about very deep existential themes and I didn’t even realize it back then
@@FabiolaRVela True. I'm a 90s kid too. Some shows just stick with you, especially the special episodes that will air around Christmas. I watch countdowns and think 'Yeah, I remembered that episode even now as being an emotional one. Good times.' Hey Arnold's episode with helping his neighbor find his daughter is just one example.
What I think really sets Daria and Jane apart is the reasons why they are on the fringes: Daria is naturally out of step with her peers. Jane, however, chooses to be. There are a few episodes that show she has the potential to be a normal high school girl, even a popular girl (joining the track team, when she is invited to try out for the cheer squad, etc.). That option is never really presented to Daria. I think that it might be part of the reason why Daria can be somewhat hostile towards her best friend at times whenever Jane explores these possibilities. She is worried about losing the person who gets her.
BINGO!!!!!!!!!
Fun fact: some people smile not because they are happy, but as a defense mechanism for uncomfortable and stressful situations. Its great for reassuring people
You are totally right
And some people don't smile because they don't feel like it and that's also fine.
Sometimes there's nothing to smile about and sometimes smiling is just more of a pain than need be.
I feel like this episode definitely touches on a big aspect of Daria's character and that is her particular way of thinking. Daria doesn't smile because she doesn't want to smile. She doesn't see a reason unless she's naturally happy and making herself smile feels like a lie/performance. In that same vein she doesn't feel very sad by the death of a man she didn't particularly care for/about. Daria knew Tommy would eventually die. She didn't expect it so soon but she's not very upset by it and doesn't really have a strong reaction. She's more preoccupied on the assembly lying about his character and legacy than the fact that he is actually dead.
Her interaction with Brittney is telling because their reaction is the same lack of a strong reaction to his death. But while Britney feels guilty not feeling bad about him dying, Daria doesn't. She sees herself as a "realist" because she finds it hard to relate to the sentiment of feeling bad over some jerk's death. If anything it just makes her feel more like an "other" because everyone's reaction is completely different from her "business as usual" behavior. Even Jane her best friend is very shaken by what happened. She's not a "Misery Chick" so much as she's someone who doesn't like to pretend she isn't feeling what she's currently feeling to fit in.
She could definitely be seen as being on the spectrum or Neurodivergent in some way with how she carries herself. She has the emotional intelligence to understand how people are feeling enough to help them, but she is honest about her feelings almost to a fault. She doesn't do or say anything she doesn't want to and she doesn't want to lie to herself or anyone else.
The best assessment on here. I don't know what Shady Doorags was talking about, but this comment is spot on.
I highly agree with many things you said, despite having some differences in interpretation of Daria (but I'm not gonna dive into the differences, I just felt uncomfortable with some of the comments in the video and I'm gonna hop on your train).
I saw Daria after I left high school, but I related so much to the character bc I grew up feeling misunderstood and outcasted because I behaved differently from what people expected me to. I never cared to blend in or to downsize any aspect of myself in to that effect, just as much as Daria. I always read the "It makes you think" of people acknowledging Daria doesn't give into a reaction without interpreting the situation first; she won't go "someone died = sad", and that's what the interaction with Brittney talks about, Brittney knew she was supposed to feel sad because death is a loss, but she doesn't because the guy is full of shit. She behaved like Daria or at least how she pictures Daria's behavior. Daria is wired to think about the situation and deal with it accordingly, she's not just cynical, that's why she does help people despite this actually hurt her.
I honestly am completely on Daria's side in this episode till this day. I hate that people get sanctified after they die and god forbid someone say they were a prick. I also get that Jane isn't feeling like the death is a big thing, she's scared and feeling guilty that she verbally predicted the guy's death, she's feeling responsible. She's angry at Daria because Daria keeps on dragging the guy and can't see that Jane's not in the mood anymore, and she doesn't reaffirm Jane until they openly talk about that.
People think Daria is the misery chick not because she's reactive to people, people think Daria is the misery chick because she's not smiling, and hence, to them, the lack of smile should have a reason (sadness, anger, misery), rather than what she thinks, that's pretty much the opposite.
Outside of Jane, Jodie is possibly the only person that would see Daria as a snarky person as she truly is, one of the points of this episode is to show how people are oblivious to Daria. This show is from a generation and time in which people expect too much from one's image to define how they will interact with the person. There's not the depth of "people are actually reacting to Daria because of what she speaks", the show constantly show that people don't listen to Daria, they don't see her (let alone specific characters that bonds with her). And the fact that Daria is constantly reiterating the cynicism of things is also a reaction because she thinks the rest of the people are too worried to perform as socially expected and being overly positive and naive (which of course is her own flaw).
I'm gonna drop my comment here, I lost the track but I'm satisfied with my rambling so far.
She is on the spectrum actually. :) They go more into detail about it in another season or 2.
I completely agree, being neurodivergent myself, I often don't react like others do.
Even though I was masked as a kid, I still very often behave uncanny for others.
It's not like I don't get what they feel (sometimes I really don't) it is more like I don't see a need to behave like that myself.
As an example:
my friends mother died, while everyone in class was the whole week miserable and walked on egg shells, (what made my friend feel worse cause they kept reminding her of that) I just behaved normally as if nothing happend.
Of course when she wanted to cry or talk I would be there for her but I never once faked being sad.
Logically I know its sad and all.
But I never met that women and playing the grieving daughters friend just seemed like wanting to get attention or trying to prove my condolences.
Sorry this may sounds confusing.
As a neurodivergent person who was compared constantly to Daria because I was in high school back then, that makes a lot of sense. I STILL don’t understand why people are so upset at Daria for not pretending that simply dying makes you a worthy human being. I see everyone else as being negative and causing negativity in the world by only rewarding negative toxic people like the football guy and ignoring people who are actually good and do good things. I get upset about things being unfair. It’s not negative. It’s reacting to the world’s negativity
Hey, it’s that show that did cynicism right. Take notes, HBO Velma.
It really makes you think.
A lot of shows suffer from writers not realizing that there are serious flaws in their characters that should be called out. Many never do even when they're given the time to do it while others eventually come around to accepting that and actively doing it.
She's... i dunno about cynicism. She isn't bothered by death
No.
If that show actually learns about good writing theirs a chance it could get renewed (again?)
@@LTNetjak It really makes you think. About hitting Velma writers with a steel chair.
Everyone always remembers how Tommy was a jerk because of how he treated Brittany, but how he treated Kevin gets glossed over when I think that shows more about just how much of a jerk this guy was. First, season 1 has made it a continual point this whole season that Kevin is very insecure about his scrawniness. That's why we never see him out of his football attire. The attire hides his scrawniness, and lets Kevin deal with it by pretending it doesn't exist. He also couldn't take the modelling job he was offered in one episode because it meant that his scrawny body would constantly be on display, and Kevin doesn't know how to handle all of the emotions and insecurity surrounding that.
So we see Kevin idolizing Tommy because that's what he's supposed to do. Tommy is told that Kevin idolizes him and is his biggest fan. How does Tommy treat his BIGGEST FAN? He immediately taps into Kevin's biggest insecurity by making fun of how scrawny he is, immediately tries to sleep with his girlfriend just because he can, and he immediately makes it very clear that he does not value anything about Brittany or Kevin as people whatsoever.
The difference though is the different way that Brittany and Kevin handle this. They were both treated horribly by Tommy in ways that were completely unacceptable. But only Brittany realizes this. She goes into a crisis though because she doesn't understand how to process that her own view of Tommy is now not the view she's SUPPOSED to have of him, namely, the same idolized view as everyone else. This is made even worse when he dies. She actually feels guilty because now she really thinks that she's SUPPOSED to be idolizing him, and that she must be a bad person for having a different opinion. She can't process that her view is correct while everyone else's is wrong because she has it ingrained in her that everyone else must be right.
Kevin avoids this crises entirely the same way that he avoids his scrawniness insecurity. He immediately goes back to idolizing Tommy as if nothing ever happened because he also has it ingrained it him that Tommy must be awesome, and everyone else must be right about him. So much so that any uncomfortable contradictions to this belief just get glossed over and are never acknowledged.
Tommy being a jerk to these two is forcing both of them to challenge some of their core beliefs because his being a jerk contradicts them. Kevin just doesn't process at all and immediately goes back to his happy place. He'd probably do this even if Tommy slept with Brittany. Brittany one the other hand at least recognizes that there is a struggle here. I think this is why Daria compliments Brittany here. She's able to have compassion for Brittany because she sees that at least Brittany is actually trying to think for once, so she rewards her for doing so. Plus Brittany is probably the only other person in the world besides Daria who knows that Tommy is not someone who should ever be idolized.
this is the same concept i noticed when i first watched this episode too. i understood that daria was insensitive about the sudden death of this guy, but she was right to call out the hypocrisy of him being idolized. its frustrating to not be able to have an honest discussion about a person’s character and how they really treated other people during a time they’re being heavily discussed, like the tragedy in this episode. britney and kevin are experiencing cognitive dissonance, while daria is not because she’s aware of tommy’s true character and doesn’t feel the need to put on airs just because he passed away
I also felt frustrated with their antagonistic attitude towards Daria. Daria wasn't trying to be mean or a "misery chic" she was a witness to horrible actions that made her immediately dislike and question the former alumni. And I'm glad Brittany also stood up for herself. And that she was able to be reassured by Daria that her feelings were valid. And that those feelings don't make her a bad person. Daria was being true to how she felt and I think Jane was spooked because she reassured Daria when she mentioned he'd have a quick death. I think that made Jane feel like the misery chic as well. Daria was labeled one but Jane is visibly spooked from the immediate misery she felt after he actually dies. She is projecting her disdain on Daria and tries avoiding her and other in order to cope with it all. Daria wasn't aware of Jane feeling spooked because she thought she would agree with her. They could both be seen as misery chics,but Jane bailed emotionally on Daria and Daria failed to acknowledge her friend could get spooked. She was confused and Jane pulling away made the label stick and perturbed Daria further. Because now she did feel miserable with her friends' sudden detachment.
This episode resonated with me because no one ever wanted my opinion on anything or cared what i thought UNTIL they needed someone to vent to. My existence mattered to them when they needed something from me. Its difficult to constantly be the one that has to listen and deal with everyone elses emotions, yet not receive the same consideration back.
Totally agree with you, I don’t hear from people unless they have a problem. It sucks.
@@natz20100Add me to that club. When I saw this show, I realized that I must be seen as the misery chick.
That is a feeling I can relate to on a very deep level. And that's a point that the creator of this video failed to point out.
Daria even pointed out that these people didn't care about Tommy Sherman dying, they are all concerned that one day they were all going to die.
And the only reason why that she was considered most popular at that time was because they considered her the misery check but she wasn't miserable, she is just not like them.
No spoilers, but Daria's world view is eventually challenged and she goes grow throughout the series.
Yes she does
Good ending
Daria is a character who values authenticity above all else. What drives her feelings of frustration and anger in this episode (and throughout the show) is what she perceives as a lack of authenticity in others. Everyone who ultimately cane to her for confort had plenty of evidence that Tommy was a shit person yet "chose" to stay silent on the subject. Deep down she believes that everyone is aware of the negative things in life but choose to "lie" and pretend they don't exist instead. That's why she hates being called the misery chick: she doesn't see herself as a negative person but rather as one who says the truth.
And, feeling as though you're the only person in life who sees through the facades of life is unbearable
This blew my mind. Wow. ❤
One thing I appreciated about Jodie was that she was one of the few characters that could consistently call out Daria on her own terms. She was every bit as smart as Daria, but also had to deal with a heap of bullshit that Daria didn't. Thus, she was always in the perfect position to shut down Daria when she got a little too much on her high horse about this or that moral stance.
It wasn't that much in the way of call outs you know ? But due to the fact that Jodi being an African-American student in a predominantly white school would have more reasons to try to fit in (especially with her very demanding parents).
Daria had, in an addition to being Caucasian, parents who at least let her be herself.
A fact which Daria acknowledges and so does Jodi. Were they both confessed they would like to be a little bit like each other.
I can relate to both Jodie and Daria. They were decent acquaintances and they had respect for each other and I can appreciate that.
I think Daria viewed the student council as being just as shallow as sports and the fashion club.
I had a guy in my homeroom die in a car crash and saw all the emotions people went though from the side line.
I wasn't friends with the guy but I knew about him due to his cousin being my friend and in some of my classes. He was destoryed by hearing his cousin died and had fundraisers in the school to try and raise the money for the funeral due to not being in the best financial situation. School was cool with it.
I was indifferent to the guy as he was sorta annoying but I felt for his cousin as he wasn't a bad guy just loud. His girlfriend survived the crash and while I don't think she got any victim blame for it she definitely had survivors guilt from talking to the cousin. It's a lot of emotions to someone who passed even if you don't like the guy
That reminds me when I was in 6th grade and some kid died. Most of the school took the day or several days off. A teacher asked me why I didn't take off like the others and I simply told her "I didn't know the guy and people die all the time. Sure it's sad but I'm not gonna lie and pretend to be really affect by it because we went to the same school and are around the same age. I find it disingenuous that some would profit from someone else's death to get a vacation." I got an odd look from the teacher but she said "that is a logical reason and I appreciate your honesty". From that day forward I was thought of as a depression and gloomy guy but I'm a joker and find humor in most things which also makes most people uncomfortable.
I had an uncle who passed away I only met him as a baby so I didn't feel that sad instead I felt for my family that knew him mainly my grandpa who I've always been close to
@SassyGworl trying to do your username justice, huh?
I had two people die my senior year one of a heart condition and one from drowning after getting too drunk while camping. The one with the heart condition was a sweet guy who was quite and had a small group of friends his name was Rob the school spent one day after his death to help grieving friends of his only one day that grief counseling was available and only his close friends really even noticed he wasn’t there. The other kid Dane though? Football player, had popular friends, not a good person at all, bullied a lot of people. They had a week of grief counseling, a whole week dedicated solely to him, and our after prom was a night in the school with tons of activities like laser tag, escape rooms, arts and crafts all kinds of shit. They did that so that no one else would go and get drunk after prom and do dumb shit like he did. Rob was never acknowledged again after the day he passed but Dane was never no talked about by every one and it made Robs friends really mad but when they went to the school about it they said there was nothing they could do because Dane had the support of the football team and the cheerleaders so they could fundraise to the stuff that they did but because Robs like 6 friends weren’t in anything like that they didn’t even have permission to fundraise for him they would have had to do it in their personal lives and none of them had the money. Rob wasn’t even mentioned during graduation which was heartbreaking to his closest friends who I was friends or acquaintances with. It was really fucked up and it really showed me it’s doesn’t matter how terrible you are in life when you die the only thing that matters is how popular or rich you were.
@@Nomed38 I kind of know how you feel. My sophomore year of high school, this guy died in a car crash. I didn't know him, but most of my friends did. He also had many, many other friends so it hit the school pretty hard, but, of course, there were people who took advantage of the grief to "go to his funeral" when they didn't even know him. That still pisses me off, too. I didn't skip school, though, because I didn't know him. That didn't stop me from being worried about my friends. It didn't help things any that I'm an empath, so I felt their grief, despite not knowing him. Everyone's grief also hit me hard when the whole school assembled for a memorial for him. I found myself crying just as hard as everyone else who did know him.
This is a great Jane episode. I didn't notice how well-written she is until my second viewing of the show. Best quips by far
Most of the characters in Daria are overlooked, especially Jane, Quinn and Helen
Jane was always my favorite character
I love how fleshed out her character was. The writers did an amazing job of not only telling you who she is, but also showing. I don’t want to spoil any part of Daria for those who are reading this, but by the time that they do the Daria movies and Jane has her own seperate storyline, you really see the payoff of how naturally Jane can be placed in a different setting with new characters, and it feels genuine to her and she can carry an entire storyline.
She’s my favorite character
Diary and Jane are the main characters of the story. It was an episode about them both dealing with Tommy Sherman dying.
And their views on the matter.
I fully get why Daria would antagonise Jodie - Jodie is, in a way, an opposite to Daria. While she acknowledges the problems with the world around her, she prefers to participate and benefit from it rather than reject it as Daria does (most of the time).
Yeah, Jodie was taught to "play the game" to get ahead. We see this in "Is It College Yet?" that her dad pushes her very hard. I think that's why she doesn't get upset with Daria. Daria says the things Jodie would like to say.... sometimes
@@massagebyconstance5665 especially when she opened up about how her race as a black girl or "at school, im queen of the negros, the perfect person" which does give insight on why Jodie is the way she is
She also considers that to be performative.
To use an analogy; Daria would prefer a delicious meal while everyone around her is buying "the sizzle"
Daria values sincerity, or at least is annoyed frequently enough by everyone else's insincerity, especially when it is demanded of her to conform to that insincerity. So taking any opportunities to tear down a compelled societal façade that brings her so much irritation only makes sense for her.
@@massagebyconstance5665 I think it's a game of balance, and unfortunately in our economic situation not everybody gets a choice to not play on some crappy terms. I think it's a good trait to not always follow what's being advertised and to question or even ridicule absurd societal trends and rules, but Daria goes too far in that direction where she has something to say about everyone and everything, and seems to take pride in being so walled of she can't connect with everybody. By all means don't believe in the system, I sure as hell don't, but it's also good to have friends or have the social tact to deal with people, even when you don't want to sometimes, and shitting on things just because they're mainstream without a valid critique of why mainstream thing is stupid is a tad cringe imo. On the inverse of Daria's general perception of the status quo being bad, I try to do my part to lift up people or interests on the fringes that tend to get undue bullying just for being pegged as different, even when said interest of culture doesn't harm anybody else.
At the end, I think what Jane means by 'you think and others dont' is more you think about and are aware of issues that others are willingly blind to - the difference between just eating the sausage without pause vs being aware of how it's made - I think that's why Daria sees herself as a realist vs negative, from her perspective she is simply stating reality. Meanwhile, the death forced everyone else to confront uncomfortable realities they aren't used to thinking about, so Jane's 'how do you deal with thinking until I can get back to my vegetative state' is less about being stupid and more about slipping back into the comfort of willfully blindness
As someone who lost my grandpa back in October due to a stroke most of my family would’ve been in an emotionally vulnerable state. Unfortunately 17 years prior my uncle died of colon cancer when he was 25 years old. So most of us handled our grief quite well and quickly moved on.
When you have experienced trauma in the past and dealt with it well, it prepares you for future pain in a way. It's a bittersweet silver lining to misfortune.
Grief is a weird thing. My grandma passed away earlier this year, but I felt that I'd already finished grieving for her as dementia had chipped away the person I knew for 15 years into someone who was constantly, understandably angry that she couldn't speak or eat on her own anymore. So for people to hear that I was fine or even "relieved" sounds pretty cold from the outside. Really, it was just good to know she was free and at peace now.
@@VagabondRetro I can't speak for everybody, but I can see truth in that. I lost my mom at 13. When I was in my 20s, I still am, but younger than I was, I lost a close friend about my age who had his whole life ahead of him. Obviously that hurt like hell, but I think dealing with it at 13 definitely helped not make the blow completely shatter me for awhile.
@@gregvs.theworld451 I can really relate to that though my mother is still alive and you have my condolences. I've been to more funerals than birthday parties, been the paul bearer at about a dozen funerals, and spent more time in funeral parlors than at a friend's house. People think I'm cold because I'm not depressed, weepy, and miserable when someone dies. Sure I'm usually sad about it but I grieve in my own way and privately. I hope you are doing well out there fren.
Okay, death from colon cancer at 25 would probably make Daria say "God-DAMN that's fucked."
Tbh, Brittany is the most emotionally honest character on the show. We can all learn from Brittany.
Dude, have you not seen the show ? Daria is very honest about her emotions and very upfront about being authentic...
She's cynical. That's her whole thing. Brittany is just Brittany and she just wishes the best for everyone.
@@seeleunit2000I don't think she is as honest and upfront all the time, she actually avoids being too earnest to protect herself. She covertly loved her sister, she struggled (a lot) to admit she cared about her appearance, and she hides her jealousy towards Jane's extroverted nature many times.
She is a great character in part cause' she is contradictory.
I'm like a minute in, The Misery Chick is my second favourite, while Arts N' Crass is my favourite. I can really relate to Daria in this episode. Being labelled "the misery chick" when you're not miserable. Relatable. I was hoping you spoke about both episodes, so I'm excited to hear your thoughts.
EDIT: I'm glad you're enjoying the show. Yes, season 1 Daria is more rigid in her views. Your DVD set should have a little insert from the creators. They mention how they had to change all the music so they could afford to release the DVDs and mention how season 1 Daria would be mad, but season 5 wouldn't care. It's subtle, but she becomes less stern in her views. There's an episode in season 4 called Partner Complains I'd be interested to hear your view on. Daria and Jodie do a project together and Jodie questions Daria's viewpoint. Jodie does tend to hold a mirror up to Daria and she brings some changes to Daria. There's a season 2 episode called Gifted you might like to do an episode on because Jodie has a famous quote from that one when speaking with Daria. I'm also curious to hear your opinion on Tom Sloan. A lot of growth occurs due to that character, but Tom is polarizing in the community. I mostly like him, but a few parts I really don't. You'll see.
I agree. Its wonderful to see how Daria and Jane grow throughout the series and, much like us at that age, still learning who they are and how to relate to those around them.
One year I was actually made to write a eulogy in my high school year book for a personal bully in my class that died in a swimming accident I used this episode as inspiration and guidance on how to handle the issue
Since it was a bully that died, I’d say “Good riddance, to bad rubbish! We are richer for having lost this individual.” But I’m a very spiteful person.
I had to do something similar when I was still in school.
I took a weeklong suspension for what I wrote, but it was worth it.
"They say you should only say good things about the dead. He's dead. Good."
The guy was an absolute menace, who killed three of his friends, as well as a father and his young daughter because he was driving drunk.
Yet everyone acted like he was a saint who didn't kill 5 people by drinking and driving.
@@princessmarlena1359 I totally feel the same way
@@river7874 Awesome job you did there! 👍 Unfortunately there are those who would root for someone that awful, no matter what.
That must have been a lot to put up with. I hope everything worked out.
Tommy Sherman looked like he was 30, which made him trying to get with Brittany extra creepy. Also, in defense of Daria, I had a similar situation happen to me. A fellow football player who loved to pick on people, me included, we were both on the football team, had died from a crystal meth overdose. We all had to go to his funeral, and while I never talked smack about the guy, and I did genuinely feel bad for his family, it was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow personally. Especially when you know this person treated people you know terribly, or just straight up jumped others (he had a twin brother). Still, it was all thoughts I had to myself, but this episode was one I really identified with. Thankfully, I never had to deal with monikers Daria had thrust upon her at the time.
My condolences.
I think Tommy was about the same age as Trent actually, it's mentioned in this episode that they went to school together.
I think it could be argued that Daria in this episode specifically, was never given time to allow her emotions to process. Almost as soon as Tommy Sherman dies, she is bombarded with people going to her for advice. She may be seeing what everyone else is having a hard time with, and can't connect, but Jane doesn't bring up her emotions until later. She guards her emotions closely, and is something of a pragmatist as well. I know for a fact that I would feel the same way as Daria in the same situation, especially considering people die. It happens. I'll be sad for those I know and love, and uncaring for those I don't. And I don't blame Jane for her reaction to Daria's lack of emotional response, but she could have brought it up and Daria likely would have obliged, rather than hiding from her. That said, grief comes in many shapes.
As for enjoying the negativity, people leave her alone in that realm, so she is able to find peace and quiet in it. So, she naturally gravitates towards it, and making others uncomfortable likely has to do with her being made uncomfortable by normal human behavior. Childish, but she does grow throughout the series as well, and ironically, makes her human.
Or it can even be that she actively likes to push people into thinking. Which, considering her propensity for teaching shown in this series, makes a lot of sense, and this episode itself makes just such a statement, that the dark and depressing "Really makes you think."
Edit: She also likely latched onto the fact that everyone was basically championing Tommy when he was a terrible person, either because she had already processed the emotions and that particular issue still bothered her, or because it was easier for her to process in lieu of said emotions.
OMG, Shady’s doing Daria!😮 Wonder if you like the other Mike Judge shows (yes, I know Mike Judge didn’t technically contribute but many still call it a B&B spin-off. There were even plans to feature B&B if the show wasn’t successful).
Also, hey, smile!
Phrasing?
Considering Shady has done several episodes on King of the Hill, I think he likes some of Judge's other work. I can't imagine B&B has much to analyse through a cultural lens, I haven't seen silicon valley yet to know if that's worth some video of.
🤘
@@gregvs.theworld451with B&B there is the theory that Beavis is a good person who’s just easily influenced
Daria does have a cameo in Beavis and Butthead do America.
"One thing they did well so far is the friendship between daria and jane" oh shady, the writers have such things in store for you
I think its also how Jane did know this guy better than Daria, Daria just moved there and learned of him immediately before he died- while Jane grew up knowing of this guy. Daria has emotions, but shes very blunt and detached. And she has a very strong sense of right and wrong, and doesn’t understand why to follow social niceties- but thats something she should have to learn to grow.
One time a grown sleazy car salesman tried to hit on Brittney, calling her "sweetheart" and offering to take her for a drive.
In front of her classmate, no less,
Hey 9 here god why does that sound like a youtube video
@PJSmooth Oh yeah!! "I just wanted you to call me Ken... :' (" I really disliked Angela in that episode afterward.
remember when that wasn't something to have a total meltdown over? better times. I'm kinda disappointed in Shady for giving such a huge fuck about her age.. high school was okay back then, as well as the entire history of humanity before that. But at least he tried to take the specific contexts into mind and admitted it just "feels" creepy. Pro tip, if your logical brain says something isn't so bad, but your feelings say otherwise? You've been manipulated.
@@KairuHakubi No, it's good that we take that seriously nowadays. Someone made to still go to high school because "there's still some things you don't understand, go get educated" and being expected to listen to your parents and whatnot, still being treated like a kid in a sense... should be taken seriously when it comes to adults hitting on them. It's predatory-at least it often is, at the very least deserving a good side glance because people 18 and under are, unfortunately, targeted to be taken advantage of.
My point is that it's a good thing this sort of thing isn't (or at least isn't supposed to) be taken lightly nowadays.
I think Daria sees herself as a realist. As someone who can see through the bullshit. And, quite often, she can. But because there's so much bullshit, and because she's always the one calling it out as being bullshit, she does tend to bring people down.
Also, I think she is aware that Jodie is going to give a speech about Tommy on behalf of the school. Not herself. Daria is smart enough to know that. What Daria is criticising is that Jodie is going to give a speech honoring a guy Jodie herself doesn't think deserves it. No matter which capacity she's giving it in. Because even if you are praising a guy on behalf of an organization you represent, and not on your own behalf, it still comes off as phoney if you yourself don't believe he deserves the praise. I'm sure Daria would argue that the right thing for Jodie to have done, when told that she had to give a speech praising Tommy Sherman, would have been to say "Sorry, but I don't think he's done anything praiseworthy. So, even though I'm on the student council, I cannot give this speech, as it wouldn't be genuine."
If only we could be happy being completely honest all the time
I mean she sees herself that way.
She's seen as a downer but she and the show makes it clear nialisim isn't her view point. Hell she says it's stupid
Dang, I can relate. I constantly get asked why I don't smile very much. I am not unhappy, BUT that doesn't mean we HAVE to smile all the time. 😂🤣😂
If you ask me, I don't trust people who smile all the damn time.
@@StephonZenoor people who talk about all of their good deeds. Sometimes people who smile are sick with worry and smile to cover it up but people who brag are not to be trusted.
@@Lolirock971 Sometimes a smile is just a way to lure you in until that mask inevitably falls off. I'd take agenuine frown over a fake smile any day...
I actually read the conversation between Brittney and Tommy slightly differently. I assumed it was meant to be weird because of how he was hitting on Brittney despite the fact that she was still in high school. It gave the impression that he generally didn't care in anyway that Brittney was not old enough, and not interested, and when she tried what a lot of women go to as their response to unwanted flirting anyway, the fact that she has a boyfriend, he still didn't care. And then that was also coupled with the fact that she HAD mentioned her boyfriend FIRST THING and yet he STILL wanted to hit on her despite it ALL
That's the point. Tommy Sherman is (or was) a creep. He's a shitbag. Plain and simple. There's no need overanalyze this.
I believe in the late 90's that most if not all high school football goalposts had padding on the part that could be ran into it will probably still hurt but won't be knocked out and you are absolutely correct a goalpost that will shadder will be extremely dangerous
Fun fact: in the early days when camera photography wasn't as easy and simple as it is now, alot of folks and families back then didn't smile due to how long it would've taken to get a picture due to how long the process takes just to even simply as for a family group photo. Smiling in was considered inappropriate when taking a picture in the 1800's.
As easy as it is to fall into the trap that Daria and Jane are above it all and smarter than everyone else, they're still just teens and are still ignorant to a lot of things. You can't know everything.
You can be smarter than everyone and still be wrong about some things. Those two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Daria and Jane are most definitely smarter than those around them. They also get things wrong at times.
@ft1725 you can also be intelligent in some aspects and be completely ignorant in others i.e. book smart but not socially smart. That's my point. They have intelligence in certain ways, but are still young to where other categories they still need to learn.
@@ft1725they're not smarter than Joey or D-Mac they're realists without being overtly pessimistic and instead try to live positively.
Yeah, im completely with Daria on this topic. Even back when it aired on MTV, my version of Tommy Sherman, was a creep Teacher named Mr. Block; he was rude, nasty and personally told me i was a sheep who'd never amount to anything. Suffice to say, we didnt get along. Later, we got word he passed away after i made the honor role and while everyone was sad, i didnt feel a thing. Weird too because i had people come to me about it...maybe because i was the only person who was'nt broken up about it. It really does make me think...
My paternal grandpa passed away when I was 12 and my dad asked me if I wanted to go to the funeral. My dad didn't want to force me into that awkward event, acknowledging that I barely knew him. Yet, he wanted the choice to be mine. I hesitantly declined the invite but hugged my dad afterwards, thanking him that he gave me a choice free of pressure.
This was the 90s. Emo didn’t actually exist yet. That’s beside the point though.
Daria isn’t seen as the misery chick because she doesn’t smile and it isn’t because she’s antagonistic. She’s seen as the misery chick because she’s intelligent enough to not be happy and just do whatever everyone else thinks they’re supposed to do. She goes against the grain. That makes her “miserable” because how can you be happy if you aren’t exactly like everyone else?
Right, if anything her attitude is more in line with a goth. Daria finds comfort in the reality of decay and entropy and is most often more stoic in her cynicism than emotional.
"intelligent enough to not be happy" as stupid people aren't miserable shits too a lot of the time. Intelligence has nothing to do with happiness. Happiness is a state of mind, not a byproduct of intelligence. It's just a lot over thinkers corner themselves into a box of assumed negative facts about life - all novelty will be gone as I grow older...even though giving up inherently denies you the intellectual participation and earnest inspection to actually find novelty in life and its things. It's a self fulfilling prophecy-
The truth is that most people are just as smart, if not sometimes more smart than seemingly intelligent people - albeit in differeent ways - but when you're depressed, when you're cynical and got a gripe. You feel like those people are ignorant because they ain't in YOUR head and don't care about YOU care about. It's one of the reason rick and morty became so bloody obnoxious as it merged rick crappy mood with the meta-narrative and "rick was right" motive.
I'd say, if anything, the reason you get people like this isn't out of an inherent inferiority or superiority but the advantage of individuality. Being yourself is great, but truly bieng yourself means accepting your flaws. Which is why the video is right. Daria can't accept she dosen't get her cake and eat it too. If she embraced that she was COMFORTABLE with a strongly more...won't say dark...more long term end of the line vision of things. She could improve while remaining true to herself. She could say "I'm comfortable here...but maybe I am a little...TOO comfortable sometimes in this mindset and it would do me good to trek out a bit:" and then disocver she was still her, no betrayal after that. That would be good. But instead it overly focuses on outside appearence, not inward reflection and so nothing is achieved. And because of that, her true awareness of WHY what she is comfortable in is not revealed because she does not reflect one bit on when it could and could not be empathetic or reasonable to outwardly practice in. Denying her the triumph of showing others its strength and proper by having a little bit of accountability and restraint.
Emo didn’t come into the fray until the mid to late 2000s
It did, just not in the form you know. 90’s emo was about introspection and bands like Jimmy Eat World (yes, before The Middle) Mineral, Jawbreaker, Sunny Day Real Estate. If you don’t know these bands, just think of Weezer in their Pinkerton album era. I promise you, it existed. Sans eyeliner and black clothing, it was its own thing that begat the more obnoxious in your face 2000’s emo.
Oh, emo existed well before the 1990's; since at least the 1890's. It just wasn't called emo, and there weren't boutique shops selling apparel and accessories for those seeking some outward sign of their inward view on life.
Personally, the ending made me think 🤔 that the episode's message was Daria learning that the way you act is the way you're looked at by other people who aren't close to her. Dariea and since she doesn't want to change who she is she just accepts it and makes a profet out of it
I find it interesting how we as a society have gotten to the point that if anyone don’t praise the heck out of something and ignore it’s faults, that automatically means they hate whatever it is they are talking about. You can like or love something and still point out it’s flaws. Love what you do Shady Doo.
To the video maker. There's an episode where Daria explains to Jodie that her attitude is what works for her now. She does has her flaws. But that's why she's so relatable. She going by what works for her. But of course she has flaws. She's a teenaged girl coping with a world that's changing.
Everyone around Daria are people pleasers with the exception of Jane and Jody.Jane is more fun with her sarcasm and Jody is more like Daria but has overbearing parents who won't let her be herself.
I don't think Daria brings up negative things just for fun. She does it because people gloss over uncomfortable things that she thinks are actually important to acknowledge - such as high schools prioritizing sports instead of learning (at the beginning of The Misery Chick) and the ways teenagers are often socially pressured into self-destructive behaviors (the whole plot of Arts 'n Crass). She's not trying to be a jerk; she's trying to bring important truths to other people's attention ... at least, that's how she sees it.
I also think it's important to recognize that Daria isn't always right about things, and I don't think the show necessarily says that she is. She misinterprets the Tennyson poem because she's talking about her own experience, and missing the poem's greater point as a result. She's smart, but she's still human and still developing as a person, so she lacks self-awareness sometimes.
I like to go back and rewatch shows I grew up with as kid and Daria is one of them. I remember being mind blown finding out the character origins came from Beavis N Butthhead which I really like watching then but as I got older rewatching Daria I felt it was obviously way better written for obvious reasons on top of Darias creator giving up the rights for the character to be used. Your commentary on this just makes all of this even better and I'm glad I randomly stumbled on your channel. Keep up the great work!!! (Subbed)
Not a bad episode to review. Especially one that shows a good reflection of how Daria and Jane were especially with what happens in the later seasons.
Now I was Daria in High School and went through a lot of what Daria went through in High School.
Also Shady some of us cant smile unless laughing. I being one of them.
Also another few episodes Id suggest especially if you like Jodi is the episode where Daria and Jodi are invited to a prissy prep school. And when their lab partners in season 2.
Also Shady the point of Daria's attitude is to poke at the ideas and mindsets that were had in the 90s and early 2000's.
She points out how that blind optimism is intrinsically flawed. And how she sees how things are different and how they really are where others won't.
I think Daria is the origin or inspiration of all the animation we have now like Rick & Morty and Bojack, she was way ahead of her time and I think she deserves more recognition
From my understanding, it just cost extra money to change the background photos in school and they usually don’t allow that because it’s for the yearbooks so it’s best if everyone has the same background, but I think you can get a extra photo with a different background if you ask and had the money, I may be remembering that wrong though(of course this includes the fact that it would depend on the company who took the photos).
yeah I think that's a common thing in rich public schools.
My school was definitely NOT rich. Our district is one step up from the absolute worst district in the city, and none of the schools here ever get any funding. Every picture day, we had the same background options. There were like 5 or so solid color backgrounds you could choose from for free, and a few specialty or patterned backgrounds you could get for an additional fee. Maybe it all depends on what photo company the school partnered with?
Please repent and find YHWH Elohim and keep the commandments in Exodus 20 and Leviticus 11.
Please read Exodus 20 and pray for forgiveness
2nd Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37- 40
The bible says everything in it is to guide us. And that God wants us to be happy. The story of Job explains how even though we can lose everything from our family health and friends if we have faith we are stronger and able to endure until the end for eternity. It's okay to be depressed or upset and worrying but don't harden your heart and let go and move on to be healthy.
Please read the book of Jonah, Matthew, Exodus you'll have the information you need. 💙💚💜💐🌈
I post the emojis for a reason there is a method to my madness. I know this seems random but it's a reminder that we all know need to earn salvation before we die.😊😅
Furher into the show, I feel like Daria's world view is challenged more, and that she does grow as a person. She remains pretty cynical, but she also learns to be more open to other people, too. Of course, there is a LOT of character growth and exploration in the special, "Is It Fall Yet," especially with Quinn!
I love the way you're analyzing the show so far. I remember watching it with my family, I get nostalgia but also a very refreshing review on how realistic and well-written this show was. It reminds me of how I'd like to write.
Gotta say, I agree with Daria when it comes to death.
I firmly believe that people aren't owed any more respect than human decency. Ya know, don't steal or hurt them, that kinda thing.
But if you want me to respect you, either your leadership, your position, whatever, you need to earn it.
Dying is not an act worthy of respect. If you were a dirt bag in life, you're a dirtbag in death, and I have no qualms saying as much.
The most you'll get out of me is condolences to the family - but that said, if someone was particularly egregious, then I'm not sure even that would be appropriate. You know, like when Epstein died.
That's fair.
Daria tends to get bad press because she tells people what they don’t want to hear. It doesn’t come from a place of sadism or mean-spiritedness, but just blunt matter of fact observations and conclusions. She isn’t angry, she isn’t mean, or even sad. She just simply doesn’t look at the world through rose colored glasses.
I know exactly how she feels
I hate how everyone chooses to delude themselves when they know better
You would think it would make the illusion worse when you know the truth
Exactly.
I always extrapolated that Tennyson line out to an idea about living life to the fullest. My interpretation is something more along the lines of "It's better to have experiences and live life, even if that means it's not all good instead of not doing anything at all and not experiencing anything, good or bad."
My mother used to call me Daria because I wasn't goth or emo but I was very stonefaced and sarcastic - it was my way of dealing with my issues. Im a very different person now, in no small part due to the fact I moved out many years ago.
As a cynic from a young age I really enjoyed Daria, but as I got older she started to just seem mean without even trying to talk to anyone. And she just grew bland. I honestly enjoyed Jane who explored other avenues, and in a way outgrew Daria herself.
Daria has been one of my favorite characters that i wished i known about sooner. I always loved her character while also learning more about her flaws ans her virtue. Sincerity and honesty should be important but I understand how senstivie she actually is and that her having someone truelly understand her like Jane as a friend which helped show their friendship which is another aspect of the show i loved.
I think another part of Daria's viewpoint here that no one is pointing out is that Daria is diametrically opposed to the "good-washing" that this dude was receiving after his death. She doesn't want to recognize the person who just died as "good" person like the school staff was in the auditorium, and how others were remembering him as a football player - and she doesn't to her credit. She had seen this person she didn't really care for walk into her building, immediately do a bunch of sleazy, uncomfortable and rude things to people around her; saw what he said to Brittany and how it nevatively affected her, and then how he pissed off both herself and Jane directly at Daria's locker. So by the point he actually dropped dead, her opinion of him morally was already tarnished to the point she refused to even tolerate the good-washing he was recieving by default. And honestly similarly to how Brittany was handling her own experiences conflicting with societal expectations- I think Daraia was also struggling with the knowledge of everyone else not being able to see just how bad this person truly was by her own eyes and ears and it just frustrated her ontoo of the other students suddenly flooding to her for help with their mixed feelings on the situation.
Seems like a show I'd like. Wouldn't relate to Daria 100 percent just seeing she is even though I'm put in bad situations that aren't my fault
You are not meant to relate to her 100% of the time, even the show sometimes proves her wrong. She is the protagonist, so we see the plot from her POV, but the show does not bend over backwards to make sure you like her.
@@zoltanszalai218 I might need to watch Daria again to see what my overall character profile of her is by the end of the series. I think first and last time I watched Daria I was in highschool and naïve enough to think Daria was always being based when she was sharp and antisocial, but I suspect now I could watch the show with more nuance, as well as see if Daria is ever meaningfully called out or suffers consequences for having walled off be her MO 100% of the time.
Ironically, a lot of the issues you've brought up will be revisited in 'Boxing Daria', the somewhat heart breaking series finale before the true end to the series with the movie.
Daria and Jodie are both outsiders but Jodie is an outsider because she’s Black. She relates to Daria as an outsider but she has the mentality and burden that she has to be twice as good as her White counterparts. She can’t afford to have Daria’s attitude. The “Gifted” episode addresses that a little bit.
ive never watched the show but as soon as she came on, that’s exactly what I thought
Yeah that was always my thought too. I loved this show and still do. Both Jodie and Mack are shown to *have* to be high achievers due to their “otherness” compared to the other Lawndale kids. Jodie says as much. I always got the feeling that Jodie also admired Daria for having the ability (option?) to be so transparent. It’s something Jodie doesn’t ever really get a chance to do.
@@catrinacrystallinayes but Jodie literally could not afford to be as free and open as Daria and the fact that it Daria never picked up on that is one of the main traits that pissed me off so much about Daria as a character.
@@VinceroAlpha I think it’s one of the things that makes Daria just another teen and has her own flaws. I forget which episode it is, but Jodie spells it out for Daria and I think she did become aware then.
@@catrinacrystallina but that’s not a valid reason to just continue being the stereotypical smart ass. Which also demonstrates that Daria is just as ignorant as the rest of the people in her school and makes her just as much as a stereotype as everyone else, but also a hypocrite, wanting to be the outsider but also living down to the stereotype of goth depressed girl. Every teen has problems that they go through in order to learn who they are and what they want out of life, but some remain in that ignorant mindset that they are special and I see that with Daria in the fact that she is intelligent enough to know what she doesn’t want and not to be but doesn’t want to do the work to find out what she really does want her out of life.
I searched "Daria Full Episodes" and this was in the top 5 results. I am so glad this appeared. Your analysis is on point and you show all relevant clips perfectly. 10/10
I was really hoping you would cover this one! One of the best early season episodes for sure.
The Tommy and Brittany thing is a "Dazed and confused" reference. "That's what I love about high school girls. I get older, and they stay the same age." Thank you for doing more Daria videos! Love your face and content
im so tired of people confusing bringing up negatives with being miserable. you cant make informed decisions without looking at positives and negatives.
and people dont like hearing the truth because it breaks their denial. it only feels like being a downer because most people are used to quinns not darias. its like calling someone a downer when they call you and say 'your house is on fire', and replying 'why do you have to be so negative?'
As someone who watched Daria in real time. I always saw her as a realist. She was a teenager and based on her life experience and maturity in the time she had a certain world view that we watch be challenged over time and we got to watch her grow. Her mom didn't ask her to smile before the picture was taken she asked her after, Daria doesn't have a time machine, so that's a no-go. A person she met for five minutes died and she didn't have a personal connection to him. Okay. That makes sense or else she would burst into tears every time the news comes on. She antagonized Jodie her personality it set, not reactionary, but she and Jodie have a good enough relationship that Jodie knows better than be offended by Daria being herself. She went to talk to Daria for a reason. Daria says the things Jodie would never say unprovoked, that's one of the reasons they are associates or friends. If the easy answer were that she's a pessimist or misery chick people wouldn't feel so comfortable coming to her to seek solace because instead of helping she would have gone out of her way to make them feel worse.
Daria didn’t attack Jodie. Both of them also have similar views on a lot of BS. The difference between them that’s lead to one compromising on their interactions with society is quite literally because of race and culture. Daria is a white teenage girl from the suburbs. Jodie is a Black teenage girl from the suburbs. It makes a difference in how they can interact with society. Their punishments for being contrarian will look very different because of this. Daria is an outcast, with people not listening to her. If Jodie were to be contrarian, she is very aware that those consequences would not be the only ones imposed on her. Her consequences would be much more severe due to the nature of the culture she is in and her family.
She is a realist it's just the pessimism and superiority complex which makes her problematic some episodes. If she works on becoming more humble she'll be fine.
My favorite thing about this episode is that it shows (kinda) some of the issues Daria's worldview creates for herself, and to me, it makes her seem more like a teenager. She's definitely a super mature teenager but still hasn't quite gotten herself figured out. I may be blowing smoke, but that is what it made me think.
Talking to yourself is perfectly normal and sane behavior. It is societally weird but in reality it is just a way our complicated human brains work through thoughts sometimes.
Never feel the pressure to stop talking to yourself and keep the self talk firm but kind.
Now, sometimes what someone is talking about is weird and at that point I leave you to your judgment calls.
Don't call someone weird because they are talking to themselves, call them weird because of what they are SAYING to themselves
I grew up in a household where my mother worked as a family court lawyer, similar to Helen except in my case, other families' divorce papers were scattered around my living room floor growing up and my garage became a mausoleum of failed marriages which had to be stored in plastic tubs for a certain amount of years. When you overhear as much upsetting crap as I did living under those circumstances it's easy to latch onto Daria, even if she isn't always right.
The older I get the more I have to conclude that Daria was intentionally written as someone on the Spectrum. This episode seems to hit it hard as she genuinely doesn't understand how/why people are feeling the way they do.
Nope! No! We don't have to pathologise every behaviour that isn't "sunny" or upbeat. We're just narrowing the field of field of what is "normal". She's normal, just pessimistic and a bit dark.
@Yinka5o I agree. There's nothing wrong with being on the spectrum at all of course. It just seems like people will automatically decide a character is autistic just based on if that character is different than the others around them. Sometimes people just have a different personality and it doesn't mean they're on the spectrum.
Stop projecting.
Yep as someone who also is neurodivergent I see it so CLEARLY. But people hate to hear it 🤷 (just look at your replies , they prove my point)
@@Yinka5opeople can think whatever they want and analyze media however they please , I too think she is an autistic coded character,I think there’s loads of neurodivergent coded characters (I can come to the conclusion and see that because I am a neurodivergent person ) all of us , we see ourselves in the media we consume neurodivergent or not. Not groundbreaking stuff really. No idea why your reply seems so defensive.
you never disappoint shady. i always look forward to your videos and the editing you do makes me laugh every time :)
Daria as a character, was very much of her time, and reflective of the attitudes of many people that age who watched it. The show demonstrated that well, but it also tried to show that Daria and Jane weren't always in the right, and that those attitudes that they represented weren't always right either, even when they were genuine. Daria missing the point of Tennyson's poem is very accurate for the feelings of the average viewer of the time. I Vaguely remember thinking, 'that isn't what it says, but that is what she thinks, and that is so her.'
Daria as a character was really cathartic as a character, because she was an outcast, but one by choice, or at least she was presented as choosing to be one, and for someone who was an outcast, by choice or not, she felt like she was both validating, and mildly ribbing the outsider perspective. Like she pointed out the flaws with the 'system' but also missed out on the fun aspects of student, even when there wasn't any merit to her criticisms. The vibe of the show was " This stage of life is weird and no one really has all the answers so we are just going to let all the archetypes bounce off each other and hope it is funny."
So about the guy hitting on Brittany.
It -is- weird. It -is- creepy. It's showing that not only does this guy not give a shit that he's hitting on someone who is taken and doesn't want it, but a -minor-. He's already so worshipped, he thinks he can get away with it.
It's also startlingly common. Ask women and they'll tell you they've been cat-called and harassed as young as 14. Of course that's not -good-.
So yeah, that's not an issue on the writers' part. It's showing that this guy is /scum/ and has probably gotten away with it before in a system that doesn't really care.
19:00
I’m fine with Daria doing some projection on the poem guy. She’s a frustrated high schooler, and using this to get her point across through a ‘frustrated and making it about herself’ is pretty appropriate for the show. This episode we got to see Daria being normal.
It's interesting that you bring up that Daria doesn't engage in any real introspection here. You're correct; and it's something that makes her feel like a real person - she has a blind spot, and she's a teenager. That blind spot will come up a few times, I dare say - she holds others to high standards that even she cannot meet. And it will bite her in the ass from time to time.
I just found your channel through RUclips recommendations, and it may be one of the best things YT has ever done. I've already watched several of your videos, and you've quickly become my favorite animation reviewer. I love your style and the perspective you bring to the shows you cover, especially your focus on things such as empathy, integrity, and other such things which seem to almost be dying out.
Also, as an English major, I have to agree with you on your interpretation of "In Memoriam," as an optimistic work. The focus isn't on the fact that love comes with loss, but that the joy and fullness that comes with connecting with others eclipses the pain that losing people can bring.
I think your commentary is so interesting knowing that you're only halfway through the show! A lot of how Daria acts is addressed later on and her hypocrisy and just general unpleasantness is shown to be a bad thing quite a bit and omg trust me Daria takes SO many Ls in the latter seasons she honestly gets what she deserves
I love your profile pic
Daria sees the world and life differently. She's not miserable she's real.
I don’t think Daria was necessarily mean to Jodie here. I think she’s just extremely cynical to the school’s politics and dislikes the shallow hero worship of a local celebrity. So she’s open to mocking it, even if she was asked to help with it. The fact that Jodie has no choice in all this isn’t explored (yet).
I look at this episode from two ends.
One end, Daria does have a point. Someone dying doesn't change what they did or didn't do in life and she doesn't have a reason to feel sad because, well, she didn't know that dude very well, other than that he was an asshole. However, being cynical, I can understand why people would gravitate more to her when depressing things happen.
On the other end, Daria's classmates and Jane are experiencing complicated feelings around Death (don't ask why I capitalize it). Death and Mortality hits different when the person if around your age, than it would be if Tommy were much older.
Also... Frankly, I'm completely with Daria throughout this episode. If I were at Lawndale (and not poisoned by whatever makes everyone in that town crazy), I really don't think I'd be torn up about Sherman at all. I can get the reasoning behind not talking ill of the dead but...if someone was nothing but a jerk to everyone, there's really no reason in my mind to afford that courtesy. Respect for the dead is a courtesy usually aimed more at the friends and family of the dead. But in this episode, Tommy Sherman has no friends or family (well, Kevin the sycophant aside), and most of the people that Daria speaks to had absolutely nothing positive to say about him at all at best, and were outright insulted or worse by him at worst.
I think that's why when I watch the episode, I zoom in more on everyone being reminded of their own mortality instead, which feels like a more reasonable reaction than treating him like he deserved much in the way of mourning.
It's such a delicate balance. It's important to be, yknow, _against_ someone dying... but ballooning things into a tragedy doesn't help one bit. It doesn't bring anyone back to life. and if it's a virtual stranger or an enemy, you can't let it destroy you or you'll feel that way a LOT. Because people die a lot. And the more you think, the more of that you have on your mind, so you can't handle it if you swung to extremes like others. I appreciate the way the Monty Python guys handled Graham Chapman's funeral. That's how you deal with tragedy.
@poisonmoon123 *hits head on wall*
the problem. is that she has. a boyfriend. that's the problem she has with it, that's the problem the writers have with it. Please stop having 2020s attitudes towards sexuality, it is *not helping*
I think perhaps they feared that if anyone, even someone like him, wasn't shown any respect when they died, then maybe they would be doomed to the same kind of fate.
@@KairuHakubi Yeah I dont think that a grown man hitting on an underaged girl is some 2020s revelation that just popped up in the last few years. For the last 4 to 5 decades society's been in collective agreement that hitting on underaged girls is just rather creepy and predatory.
@@adamsturges7067 they've really done a number on you guys and implanted that false historical narrative.
Please go talk to someone over 30, ask them what it was like. Or watch like, any media. or read any books.
Daria, a freaking amazing all time show. I recently rewached it and it STILL holds up so well. Comically geniously written
I think Daria is "mean" to Jodi because she's a foil. She's just as smart as Daria, and Daria sees that, and doesn't understand why she is, as you put it, "performing an obligation that she doesn't believe in." In a way, Daria isn't being mean, but being critical because she might think Jodi should be smart enough to know/do better. And in that same way, Daria's lack of a smile is her not "performing an obligation." She's not so much bringing up misery as pointing out hypocrisy. Which I think is why she was kinder to Brittany, because she was showing geniune emotion and confusion, and was at least being honest, which was the opposite of Jodi's reaction to the situation. And she makes up with Jane when Jane levels with her. In all of the situations she values the honest, the *real*. But in the end she's smart enough to understand that others don't see her that way, and finds a practical way to accept it.
I think there's a difference in our feelings about what it means to be told to smile. As a female (who also doesn't smile a lot), I got told to smile, not just by family, but by complete strangers, almost always male, who weren't talking to me for any other reason. It became like a command performance kind of thing, and was really unnerving. It's tied to a whole mess of bad feelings and societal 'customs' (for lack of a better term) like having to look pretty for others, pretending to be happy when you're not just for the sake of others (to whom you have no obligations), and having to be the caretaker and responsible for others' emotions at the expense of your own, whether you like it or not. It's not so overt, but Daria is rejecting that as well. Not being positive doesn't mean she's miserable, and she didn't give everyone permission to use her as a free therapist.
Just from the title I knew what episode you were going to talk about, because it really makes you think.
On a serious note, this is one of my favorite Daria episodes because it showed you there's more than one way to think about grief.
I think Daria's interpretation of Tennyson's poem is completely valid and speaks to the sort of person Daria is. Her initial comments about Tennyson (and by extension her) understanding that to open oneself to positive experiences you also need to open yourself to negative ones. While I wouldn't say this is the best explanation of the poem, it points out something we often forget while looking for the more positive spin in.
What becomes even more interesting is how the poem reflects Tommy's behaviour. The ending stanza of the poem, while the most quoted, doesn't really encapsulate the entirety of section 27: is a life lived without risk truly a life lived? Fame in the face of safety, pleasure in the face of societal scorn. Tommy's behaviour is absolutely disgusting but you can't argue that he didn't live a risky, and by extension impactful, life. This is reinforced throughout the episode by how the school reacts to the event of Tommy's death.
As someone who was constantly told to "smile more" even at work, I can understand where Daria is coming from. Sometimes there's just no reason to smile BUT as an adult, I also understand why it's important to fake a smile. Everyone calls her the misery chick because that's what she is. she makes everyone miserable around her and while it doesn't bother her since she's just being herself, it does to everyone else.
Now in school, there's no real consequence to this. Teachers and students have to be there but once you get into the real world, you're gonna learn real fast why being pleasant, even if it's fake, is how you keep a job. I've been fired over this due to complaints of not smiling enough and making everyone uncomfortable/not engaging enough. No student is getting kicked out of school for being a miserable loner. This lesson hurts a lot to learn in adulthood.
If faking a smile makes customers more comfortable coming to the business, co-workers more comfortable working with you and friends more comfortable talking to you, then it you do it. Fake it till you make it, as the saying goes. Yes it's shallow. Yes it's stupid. That's just how humans are. We all gotta share this giant blue rock we live on, might as well not make it more difficult than it needs to be.
I had an unapproachable face too for a while. I actually fixed mine by- whenever I thought to do it- raising my eyebrows to train them out of default-scowl-mode. Eventually they just sort of stayed there. Now my resting face is blank but non-hostile.
I really appreciate your review. You recognize why this episode is important and impactful while offering more than just effusive praise. I especially liked your recognition that Jodie was acting in the role of a representative. This isn't my favorite episode of Daira (heavy subject and it's not always fun to see Daria and Jane not on the same page), but it's definitely one that sticks around in your mind and shows another side of a lot of the cast.
My personal issue with smiling for pictures is that when I force myself to smile it looks... well forced. Then I get told to, "Smile for real" and no matter how many times I do it's like it's just not good enough. So after years of this I just gave up. I still give a slight smirk, but that's all you getting.
I'm glad you're getting into this show. Its a time-travel moment for me because this is JUST before everyone had cell phones.
I remember feeling like I related a lot to Daria when I watched it the first time around when it aired. There is a reason she is still a GenX icon. Lots of folks related to her.
I had a somewhat similar experience in high school. Our superintendent died. My English/humanities teacher had us write a short paper on how that made us feel/offer sympathies. I didn't know this person at all, and he was proposing a school policy that I heavily disagreed with so I didn't exactly feel fondly towards him. I wrote with MANY polite adverbs that I had nothing to say about his death and didn't really feel anything about it. Because pretending that I actually felt anything(at least positive) about a stranger would have been completely disingenuous of me. The teacher gave me a 0 for the assignment sighting that it was wrong or something that I couldn't feel bad about someone's death, even though I have 0 connection to this person. Since that day I swore to be unapologetically honest about my indifference and to be hostile to anyone who tried to shame or pressure me into pretending to feel things that I don't. And if I saw people doing it to others, I would call them out and brutally rip apart their false sense of moral superiority. I also don't believe that people become sacred cows once they die. Death does not exonerate or redeem what someone did in life.