Mike's Initial Reaction Review-"Write Where It Hurts"

Spoilers for 2-26 "Write Where It Hurts"

Daria's second season comes to an end with the usual MTV fanfare(i.e. NONE) Spoiler Space

MIRR-"Write Where It Hurts"

Recycled Joke of the Week- Usually, I don't pick up on this sort of thing, but I've heard the line "What's the number for 911" on The Simpsons before. I'm not accusing the writers of this episode of stealing material; but if they did at least they used one of the best. However, I just hope this doesn't become a consistant thing; in other words, I'll let this one pass.

Self Reference of the Week- In Daria's final 'story,' Helen says something to the affect that "Daria couldn't be on TV...." Well, we are all watching her on TV. Also in the third 'story'(where Quinn wants to be more like Daria), Jake tells Quinn that she lacks depth, which she did(at least at the begining of the series). The self references are refreshing and if you can't make fun of yourself...

You've Got Me Feeling Emotions- Daria's angry side really comes out in her conversation with Helen. "How dare you talk about Quinn." The tone of her voice puts to rest any debate about wether she is monotone. Daria's response to Helen's crying('It can't be that bad') while Helen reads the story is a defenxe mechanism. She wrote a touching story that affected her mother and Daria's first response is to think Helen thought it was bad. Perhaps, she needs to go through self-esteem class again. The girl needs some confidance.

Vivid Imagination- Daria's attempts at story telling using people she knows could be insightful to her character. It doesn't take much inspiration for her to come up with those scenarios. Jane only had to say "Kevin and Brittany's wedding" for that one and we all know where the second one came from; her semi-intense on Lord Lane. And as always, the idea of marriage scares away the boys(hey, it scares me). The third attempt was reactionary more than anything. She used her anger at her mother to provide the spark for that idea. Daria is (or could be) a better writer than she gives herself credit for. I would think that anyone that could come up with ideas that quickly(even if they are 'bad') is capable of being a good writer.

Parental Guidance- Of all the advice Helen has tried to give, this was by far the the best advice she's ever given. 'Write about how it should be, not how it is.' Mothers know their children better than anyone(kids don't think so) and Helen knows what Daria's talents are and gives her a new perspective that is different enough for Daria to shine with it.

Sappy Story- Daria's final story may have been a bit on the sappy side, but it was poignant. It does show how Daria would like thins to turn out. Daria is a sucessful writer, Quinn grows up a lot(made some mistakes, but who doesn't) and both Helen and Jake are approachable and a lot more mellow(a triple bypass will do that to you). But her story was good even if she's is noy quite ready to accept it, yet.

As far as season finales go, this episode did its job(Unlike "The Misery Chick" which was a great episode but really truly end the season). It did take some of the major themes of the second season and started to bring it all together. All most every character is becoming three-dimensional. The story of this episode by itself is an original idea and it was done well and brought a small sense of finality to the second season, I look forward to next season already. A-

Next Week(in my own fantasy land)- Jane is still crying over the thought of actually falling in love with Kevin, Mr. O'Neill is just crying and Daria has dropped out of school and become the ringmaster of a travelling circus.

Next Week(in reality)- Reruns, Reruns and more Reruns!!!

[email] wrote:

That was *nicely* handled. Daria didn't, perhaps, *literally* think Helen thought the story was bad; I think the "It can't be *that* bad" line was an attempt to defuse the situation -- because she genuinely doesn't believe that Helen, or anyone, could find one of her stories that *good*.

As hilarious as "Kevin and Brittany's wedding" was, I can see -- from Daria's POV -- why she was dissatisfied with it. "All my ideas have been done before," she said. She's seen enough TV that she *has* to be familiar with that scene from _The Graduate_; she was upset because a good idea wasn't *original*.

I *liked* seeing Helen's realization, through the episode, that she was shortchanging Daria. I think Helen's beginning to realize that her job is cutting too much into her private life (having her tell all the callers, in increasingly vehement tones, "Call me back during working hours!" was a *good* touch).

"How do you know all that about me?" "Well, Daria, I suppose when you give birth to someone, you just have an urge to keep tabs on them ... "

Daria doesn't entirely realize that her parents are her *parents*. In some sense, I think she regards the four of them -- herself, Quinn, Helen, and Jake -- as four people, randomly thrown together. She was genuinely surprised in "Ill" to realize that Helen and Jake were concerned for her. And in "WWIH," she's just as surprised to learn that Helen *does* have some capacity for maternal insight.

Interesting comparison between the story she wrote and the "real" world. She can imagine being, someday, able to write a weekly (newspaper? magazine?) column; being, *someday*, able to use words to influence how people think, and perhaps to move them. *Someday*. But the thought that she could use words *today* to make her mother feel that deeply astonished her ... and, I think, scared her a little.

Random observations and questions:

Daria envisions a future where she can *laugh*. Easily and comfortably. With her *family*, no less.

She seems to have every intention of remaining childfree. And none <I note with a hint of smugness> of giving up her glasses.

What was the pendant around her neck? I didn't see it clearly, and my VCR won't record cable.

When Helen said that about wanting to keep tabs on someone you gave birth to, did Daria's mouth quirk for just a moment? As if she *almost* smiled?

Grrrrrrrrrrr ...

Think globally, act locally. Susan

"Susan C. Mitchell" writes:

She can't really deal with sucess. Handling rejection is easy once you've had enough practice. Handling *acceptance* -- that's tough.

Notice that Jane really *did* want to read the story, too, but Daria wouldn't let her. She doesn't want to let anyone into her armor -- not her mother, not her best friend. Letting someone know what you actually feel is a truly intimate process, and she's not ready to be that intimate with anybody.

• Ian

Which is why she is doomed, which is what makes the show interesting to me. Xiphias Gladius wrote in article ...

I hardly think she's doomed. She's actually done things which indicate that there's more to her than the sarcastic, uncaring, so-called "misery chick." Her final story was the one where she displayed her hopes for how her future (and that of her family) would turn out. If she had NO hope, then maybe she'd be doomed.

I thought it was a surprisingly sweet way to end the season, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Keeping in mind (YET AGAIN!!!!!!!!) that I haven't (AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!) seen any of the new eps (OMIGAWDIUNDERSTANDIUNDERSTANDITALL!!!). It seemed to be a central theme in the first half of season 2 that no matter how many temporary victories she gets, she loses in the end.

Jeg7777 wrote in article ...

me.

not

actually

intimate

On 5 Aug 1998 05:19:47 GMT, "Kyle" wrote:

You'd be surprised, Kyle. And anyway, what you're talking about applies more to the battles between Quinn & Sandi and Helen & Linda, not Daria. :-)

Actually, the only episode I can think of where that really did come to pass was "See Jane Run". "Write Where it Hurts" ended up on a positive note for Daria: She got past her writer's block, and got a little closer to Helen (and both actually learned some things about each other in the process). The same can be said of "Ill", but you'll find out about both when you see them. :-)

Martin ---- Quinn: Daria, you can't leave me here with those, those yuppies! Daria: Yuppies are from the 80s. Quinn: So, what do you call people with funny outfits who talk about peace and love and stuff? Daria: Trekkies. ---- To send E-mail, remove the "nospam" from my E-mail address.