The title says it all, but here are a few notes. The episodes are in
order from absolute best (#1) to thirtieth best (#30). For each episode, I
included a favorite scene. Quotes from the show are strictly from memory and
may not be precise.
I became aware of Daria Morgendorffer more than 2 years before the first
episode "Esteemsters" premiered in March 1997. I was living with my aunt at
the time, and, casually flipping through the channels one night, I happened
upon this unique bit of animation called "Beavis & Butt-head" on MTV. I had
almost never watched MTV before because I was never a big fan of music videos.
But for a few nights in a row I tuned in to see what I quickly came to regard
as a hilarious cartoon. Of the following I am a bit uncertain, but I believe
the first episode I saw Daria in was called "Walkathon", wherin Daria,
disparagingly referred to as "Diarrhea" by B&B, tricks the boys into pledging a
huge amount of money for a charity event. B&B are initally unaware that they
have been deceived - Butt-head in fact thinks quite the opposite is true. He
goes so far as to say to Beavis that "we totally ripped her (Daria) off". B&B
find out later that the reverse is true, as they owe the "Walkathon"
coordinator thousands of dollars.
Anyway, Daria quickly became my favorite supporting character on that
show, and episodes in which she appeared were always extra special to me. When
I heard around Christmas time of 1996 that Daria was to be given her own show,
I was delighted beyond belief, and now, 65 episodes and one movie later, I can
honestly say that she is my favorite fictional character. Thus, on with my
choices for the 30 best episodes of "Daria".#1 "Road Worrier"
Seeing Daria smile near the end of the story was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. This poor girl, lambasted and lampooned for years by both Beavis and Butt-head when she lived in the municipality of Highland, finally found a reason to be happy. This was simply a brilliant episode.
Favorite scene: All the scenes in the van.
#2 "See Jane Run"
The race for the distinction as the greatest Daria episode ever is between "Road Worrier" and "See Jane Run", and it is so close that even the slightest revision of my methods is likely to yield a dissimilar result. I felt so sorry for lonely Daria when she was pacing in her room. At least there was a happy (somewhat) ending. Easily the highlight of a moderately weak second season.
Favorite scene: Daria and Jane reconcile at Morgendorffer Home Base.
#3 "The Teachings of Don Jake"
The titular character shines in this episode and the Trent / Uncle Max; Jane / Grandmother interactions are hilarious. The denouement with the psychotropic berries was outstanding as well.
Favorite scene: Opening scene where Jake's financial worries get the best of him.
#4 "Jake of Hearts"
Jake is a character of amazing emotional complexity in this superb installment. Grandma Ruth is among the best "guest" characters during the five year run.
Favorite scene: Morgendorffer master bedroom, where Ruth finally admits (mostly through her son's prodding) that life with Mad Dog was no barrel of laughs:
Jake: He didn't want his boys playing with dolls.
Ruth: Oh Jake, I wanted you to have that doll.
Jake: It was an action figure!
Ruth: If I had it to do over again, I'd stand up for you against your father. In fact, I'd do a lot of things differently. (Suddenly weak) Oh, feel a little faint.
Jake: Mommy? See what you've done Old Man? See what you've done? How many more lives Dad? How many more lives?
#5 "Legends of the Mall"
From what I gather, this was not a terribly popular episode. I loved it. Sandi as the "Rattling Girl of Lawndale" was quite cute, but that was only a prelude to the fun encountered in "Metal Mouth". Anthony was great in that. Then, to top it off, we had one of my absolute favorite sequences of the series - "The House of Bad Grades" - this parody of 50's culture was hilarios beyond belief.
Favorite scene: Andrew and Jake at the barbecue grill.
Andrew: You know neighbor, you're right, weenie roasts can really promote understanding.
Jake: Your kids can come to our school anytime - they won't even need the National Guard!
#6 "The Lab Brat"
The closing dialog between Kevin and Daria is great:
Kevin: Hey Daria, I'm having a big party Friday night and I want a lot of cool people there - could you -
Daria: (suddenly intrigued and hopeful) Yes?
Kevin: Ask Quinn if she can make it?
Favorite scene: Jake lets off a little steam regarding his youth:
Jake: (to Kevin) You know, I went out for football in military school, but the other kids taunted me - said I ran funny. Well I've shown them - the smug little turds - I'm my own boss now - I've got the house, the paycheck and they're all lying dead in a stinking rice paddy halfway around the world - at least that's the way I like to think of them.
#7 "The Invitation"
This look at the high school caste system was really well done. After seeing this episode back in March of '97, I really began to dislike Quinn. Now I love her.
Favorite scene: Jane's house, Daria and Ms. Lane discuss Brittany's upcoming party.
Daria: If you want to go, just pretend you're me. When you're popular, all unpopular people look alike anyway. (Hands Jane her glasses)
Jane: (Puts glasses on) Hi, I'm Daria. Go to hell. (Deadpans with blank stare) It won't work. My face is too expressive.
#8 "Fat Like Me"
Sensational Fashion Club episode. Sandi's plight was quite moving and Quinn's good nature really manifested itself.
Favorite scene: Stacy lampoons Tiffany in the girl's bathroom. I'll remember that one for a long, long time.
#9 "Dye! Dye! My Darling"
The series most dramatic episode
Favorite scene: Daria and Tom kiss. Even my late father, who seldom watched the show, thought it was great.
#10 "Fire"
The prelude to the excitement of "Dye! Dye! My Darling" was superb in its own right. And The Fashion Club girls - love 'em or hate 'em - are physically beautiful, as the poolside scene confirmed.
Favorite scene: Jane and Tom discover they may have less in common than they thought.
Tom: You know, the cinema can be more than bursting eyeballs.
Jane: The "cinema"?
#11 "Murder, She Snored"
Terrific, laugh a minute parody of the detective shows. Loved the Fashion Club as "Charlie's Angels". Jodie was quite amusing with her creation, and moments later, dissolution, of the "Kevin Thompson Memorial Fund" at the funeral. Mack's eulogy of Kevin was funny: "What can I say about Kevin - he never made anyone feel dumb."
Favorite scene: Opening scene in history class as Anthony suspects that something is amiss when the football team's (save Mack's) test scores soar into the stratosphere.
#12 "Sappy Anniversary"
I thought the Jake / new job subplot was even better than the primary storyline. (as interpreted by the episode's title). Jake's almost total cluelessness regarding his new position made for a number of laughs. This was the second episode of a season in which Daria's flaws were highlighted like never before. Here, it was pettiness over a forgotten six month anniversary.
Favorite scene: Jake miraculously talks the Gates - like head of a computer firm into giving him a job during lunch.
#13 "Gifted"
Excellent episode. I thought it was intriguing how some of the Grove Hills intellectuals were portrayed as creeps. My theory (that's all it is) is that such a fact may have surprised Daria just a bit. After all, she had seldom previously interacted with people of comparable intelligence at Lawndale High (save Jodie, and to a lesser extent, Jane.) I think she discovered that increased intelligence doesn't necessarily translate to increased humanity.
Favorite scene: The drive up to the academy where Daria refuses to put up with her parents feeble attempts at small talk.
Helen: So Jodie, do you belong to any clubs?
Daria: You don't have to answer that.
Jake: Daria, why aren't you on the tennis team?
Daria: Because it is classified as a sport.
Helen: I don't know why Daria doesn't hang around with his (Kevin's) gang more.
Daria: For the same reason I don't sleep with my head packed in ice.
#14 "College Bored"
The image of "College Bored" appears to be fading. Hardly anyone talks about it nowadays. It is almost certainly the series most obscure episode. But that does not prevent it from being one of the better ones. Loved the daydream sequences for Kevin, Brittany, Jane and Daria, as they shed some early light on their aspirations and desires.
Favorite scene: Daria, a high school sophomore, provides academic guidance for Middleton College students.
#15 "Boxing Daria"
Eichler closes on a strong note, as clues are provided as to why Daria is, well, Daria, through glimpses of her at age 6. Loved her self-realization bit, where she comes to terms with the fact that she is not the easiest person to deal with. Interesting to see the Morgendorffer's Highland house for the first time. I don't recall it ever being shown on B&B.
Favorite scene: Jake's Highland rant. It's easy to sympathize with the guy, because basically, he's a good person.
#16 "Lane Miserables"
Often, the introduction of several new characters to a half hour TV show with a set cast can have a deleterious effect, but not in this case. Wind, Summer, Penny, Amanda, and Mr. Lane were all integrated nicely by Anne Bernstein.
Favorite scene: Daria's vision of life with Trent (the negative one - with reference to her having to "work double shift at the gene-splicing plant") Hilarious.
#17 "Camp Fear"
I really liked this installment in the series. The flashbacks to Daria's first visit to the camp, the eerie similarities between Quinn's friends at Grizzly and The Fashion Club, and harmless, naive Amelia all made for a good story.
Favorite scene: Amelia shows some spine, castigates the head counselor, and trumpets everything Daria stands for.
#18 "This Year's Model"
A very underrated episode I had to watch it a couple of times to catch all the subtle humor. Jane's drawing of the talent scouts as vultures was superb.
Favorite scene: Jake's discomfort with Quinn's graphic description of her body relative to her modeling prospects.
Jake: Can I go upstairs? This conversation is making me really uncomfortable.
Helen: Sit down Jake!
#19 "The Lawndale File"
Really funny episode centered around a series of misunderstandings. Good to see Artie for the first time since "Esteemsters", I think.
Favorite scene: Anthony is taken away in handcuffs.
Anthony: This isn't Stalingrad!
Agent: You're damn right buddy, and it isn't gonna be, either.
#20 "The Misery Chick"
A somber tone prevailed throughout the Season One Finale, but it provided a revealing, no-nonsense look at death and the way in which we react to it.
Favorite scene: Daria puts Sherman in his place.
#21 "Just Add Water"
The best of the Peggy Nicol "ensemble" episodes. The nods to Titanic were great - I so love a good parody. Anthony's gambling addiction was also funny.
Favorite scene: Daria and Jane taking in the Sick, Sad World marathon.
SSW Announcer: Meet the cannibal with a heart. Quick, before he eats it!
#22 "Cafe Disaffecto"
Wry, clever episode. Thought the scene where Kevin and Brittany tried to sell candy to DeMartino was hilarious.
Favorite scene: Daria ponders what story she will write for the coffeehouse project, while Jane provides advice.
Daria: How about, "The Bleakness That Lies Ahead"?
Jane: Too sentimental.
Daria: "No Life, No Hope, No Future"
Jane: Too "pie in the sky".
Daria: "Mommy's Little Hypocrite"?
Jane: Too much like a children's book.
Daria: I wish I were dead.
Jane: That sounds promising.
#23 "Life in the Past Lane"
Perhaps the most offbeat episode of the series, but still an engaging one. Like Ruth, Nathan was one of the most effective guest characters. Stacy and Charles were the last two people I expected to hook up, but frankly I was glad for both of them.
Favorite scene: The combination of Rowe and Ruttheimer perform their disappearing act to perfection in the school auditorium. Had me fooled.
#24 "Esteemsters"
The show's initial episode, which premiered in March of 1997, impressed me. I had no idea what to expect, although I had fallen in love with the title character over two years before, when she had a supporting role on B&B. I had been curious if there would be any reference to the Two Cretins, and of course there was none, although the town of Highland was mentioned by Helen.
Favorite scene: Daria flexes her considerable intellectual muscle in history class, only to be chastised by her instructor.
DeMartino: Daria, stop showing off!
#25 "Antisocial Climbers"
For me, the most outstanding feature of this pleasant episode was the magnificent artwork. The winter scenes in the park were gorgeous. One of the better "ensemble" efforts.
Favorite scene: Barch pays homage to "Gone With The Wind".
#26 "Arts n Crass"
Season Two opener was one of the better 1998 episodes. Miss Li was her usual nasty self and the scene where Jake got dinner over his head was rather amusing.
Favorite scene: Helen does her Clarence Darrow impersonation over the phone, informing the principal about First Ammendment law and property rights.
#27 "Of Human Bonding"
Nice look at the father / daughter relationship. And the Fashion Club party that Helen joined (much to Quinn's chagrin) really made me laugh.
Favorite scene: Sandi offers Helen a makeover.
#28 "PsychoTherapy"
Quinn is at her egotistical best in one of the more Helen-centered episodes.
Favorite scene: Helen and Jake engage in role playing at the Spa.
#29 "Lucky Strike"
Quinn's finest half hour.
Favorite scene: The vice president of the Fashion Club publicly proclaims that the substitute English teacher is her sister. Could there be any other?
#30 "One J At A Time"
Quinn's amusing escapades in her quest to secure a steady boyfriend make for a lot of laughs.
Favorite scene: The dinner party and the unexpected way in turns out.
Well, that will about do it. But in closing I'd like to add one thought. One of the show's most important themes is irony, and I found it truly ironic in the first film Daria is conversing with Jane in the bar, hoping that Trent does not sing the song "You Are So Beautiful" Isn't that ironic, because that melody sums up what Daria Morgendorffer has been, is, and always will be to me: Beautiful. Thanks for reading.
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