Mike's Delayed Reaction Review-203(2-16) "Quinn the Brain"

Mike's Delayed Reaction Review- "Quinn the Brain"

MDRR 203(2-16) Just try and stop those higher numbers, they're tough

Not a Clue- Did Mr. O'Niell actually go to school to become a teacher, or did Miss Li just find him on the nearest street corner. First, he gave Quinn a good grade while she used words that don't really exist, like 'imprisoners,' and then he didn't even know that Daria and Quinn are sisters(how many different Morgendorffers could there possibly be at Lawndale. My guess:2). The only non-idiotic thing that he said was that he was sure that Quinn didn't copy the essay that got her into trouble.

Backup Singers- Who has more experience at parenting(this stuff about parenting seems to be a running theme of the series)- Jake or Helen? It doesn't really matter here since neither of them can get through to Quinn about the importance of doing well in school. A little bit of constructive threatening from Daria("you'll be the oldest freshman at Lawndale") lights the proverbial fire under her ass. Maybe she was held back before and didn't like it too much.

Unapproachable- The fashion club as well as Quinn's fan club treat Daria like she's the Wizard of freakin' Oz. They are all supposedly so tough(especially Sandi) but none of them could get off more than a sentence before they give up. Spineless Jellyfish!!! At least they were using their 'brains' in trying to solve their own little problems.

A Scary, But Necessary Evil- Daria knew all along how she could stop Quinn's new found 'braininess' but couldn't bring herself to do it until the very end. I wonder why. If she thought it would work like it did(maybe she didn't; but based on the way she counted and waited for Quinn to run out, I think the scheme went exactly as planned), then no one else would ever see her dressed up like Quinn.

I had my doubts about 'Quinn the Brain' during the first few minutes of the show. I was thinking things like "How is this Quinn as a brain thing going to hold up an entire episode?" and "Is this enough plot?" However, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the episode as a whole. Not a classic but definitely better than last week(A test pattern would have better than 'The Daria Hunter') It gets a B.

Daria as a Whole- A trend that(in my eyes) has been present in the second season is that of Daria and Quinn 'finding common ground.' Quinn is becoming more like Daria in some respects and Daria is realizing that Quinn isn't all that bad(but she isn't really becoming Quinn), they're staring to become more empathetic to each other. I am well aware that this trend has turned some people off to the show(you know who you are- but probably aren't reading this anyway) but I see this as growth and at least I get the impression that they are going somewhere, that the characters aren't static and are always changing(and ergo, more interesting from my point of view). This all ties into my Quinn and Daria ladder theory which is way too long to get into here.

Note(not part of the review): will be taking an extended 'leave of absence' from the group starting next week, and I thought I should get as many of these out as I can before that happens(I want to be through by the time new episodes start) -- Mike Quinn I can be reached through e-mail at: [email]

One thing you failed to mention:

There was a recurring theme in several Daria episodes of the second season, where Daria wins, yet still loses.

"So... Fashion, good. Brains, bad. We win, right?"

This is one of my all time favorite lines on the show.

We see this theme again in The New Kid, where Daria attempts to bring Ted out into the real world, but in doing so, he dumps her.

I'm sure there are others that are escaping me at this moment. ___

Uh-oh, someone just put me in a position of responsibility! The day has suddenly turned sinister...

Another Nugget of Knowledge from the Wonderful World of Kyle(TM), ICQ#12773280

In article , [email] wrote:

'See Jane Run' could fit that mold. Daria got her friend back but didn't 'change the system.'

[email] wrote:

You forget what was said of Mr. O. in TDD, "Never forgets a face, just the name of person attached to it," (or something like that), and, of course, his vain attempts to remember the names of his students as well. "Daria, rhymes with 'Sari'..." Also, remember from TYM "Normandy?" "Brittany!" and of course, from Esteemsters, "You look familiar somehow" (this said to Jane, who had already taken the course 6 times.)

I love watching Jake and Helen's attempts to "parent." It's a great running theme in the show. As for the better parent, after WWIH, I'll give Helen the nod for now.

Having fought various psychological battles with my own sibling, after a while you learn exactly which buttons to push. Given 14.5 years of practice, Daria should know exactly which ones to push.

I got the feeling that Daria and Jane set her up for the whole thing-- who submitted the essay to the school paper-- everyone assumes O'Neill did, but if Daria did it just to torment Quinn, it would definitely add a different POV to the episode, as the plan blows up in her face. Just a thought.

Yeah, all siblings go through that, or wind up on Springer, I guess. I used not to be able to get along with my sister at all. Now, we're closer than ever. (Of course, since we don't have to share a house and especially a bathroom, that's made it easier to get along. <g>)

But post it before your sabbatical. I'm curious. And, yes, in spite of what some (who have disappeared from the group) feel, I agree with you that growth is crucial for any show to improve, otherwise it'll turn into just another sitcom. *shudder*

Well, have fun. You know where to find us. Just go to your local cybercafe and look us up. (Or just put a Mr. Coffee in the computer room of the nearest local Kinko's.)

rich.

Daria: He said master *painters.*

In article , [email] wrote:

I'll have to formalize it first, but I should be able to post it by the time I leave. It's not really as long as I made it sound but it could get complicated.

I'll be back sometime in January, I already can't wait;)

Huh? Sabatical?

-Daerith

[email] writes:

Quinn the Brain is one of my favourite episodes, and is one of the few I've actually seen before. I'm not sure exactly what I like about it though. One disconcerting bit is where Daria says to her dad that she didn't want the identity she has but it's the only thing she has, thus reinforcing the message in the episode (Gifted, I think) where she says to Jodie in effect that she's been forced into being how she is as a defence against the world. This is the dark underpinning to Daria's scathing exterior coming out again, similar to how Quinn's character is defined essentially by the building of her personality on top of an internal void.

You know, this dark depressing stuff is really kind of fun.

-Shez.