SEE JANE RUN

SEE JANE RUN was another smart episode. One of my favorite aspects of DARIA has always been the clever title they give to each program. SJR was no exception.

The episode started out kind of flat. There had been predictions around the usenet and other Daria related bulletin boards that SJR was going to be another DARIA HUNTER or FAIR EOUGH et al. That the episode was going to consist of a series of disjointed subplots with Daria limited to a few walk-ons. So, it was with fear and loathing that I watched the first few minutes of SJR.

Happily the episode got better with every passing scene. Until it culminated in the poignant fight between Daria and Jane in the pizza parlor. When Daria dumped her pop onto her pizza, I forgot this was supposed to be a comedy�it was pure drama.

Every relationship has conflict, and relationships between best friends are no exception. Conflict in moderate amounts is healthy and normal for a good relationship. Unfortunately, Daria carries around in her head what amounts to a verbal loaded gun. Jane is her best friend, and Jane broke the cardinal rule in their relationship. Daria holds sports and jocks in particularly low esteem. The mere thought of Jane participating in organized sports was simply more than she could stand! Daria snapped, and unloaded a full broadside of cynicism and sardonic wit right into Jane�s topsails. Jane was visibly hurt, and Daria knew she�d done bad even before the words were finished coming out of her mouth, but before she even had a chance to recoup�along comes Kevin and makes a further mess of the situation. Our Daria is left sitting alone in the pizza parlor, egg on her face, and the knowledge that she�d just unleashed a vicious retributive strike onto her best friend.

So what have we learned? Daria has definite chinks in her armor. That the sardonic wit she wields like a two-handed sword can be dangerous. Daria normally uses her vorpal tongue to protect the vulnerable girl inside. This time, she carelessly used it to lop off the head of her best friend. Like a child who plays with matches, she knew it was wrong from the onset, but succumbed to the temptation. And what was the evil that Jane had perpetrated that caused Daria to so impulsively unleash the Kraken? Jane had dared try out for sports! She�d winked at a boy, and took a passing grade on a test that she hadn�t earned. Fortunately for the two friend, the true triviality of the issue came crashing down on Daria, and the two girls make up. Now their relationship is stronger than before.

�S. Mc Allister

In article , [email] says...

I agree that SJR was a good episode. However, like someone else mentioned it was also a bit of a downer episode, probably because I think we have all had a verbal "knockdown-drag out" with a best friend.

I know Daria is down on "team sports", but I wished she could have supported Jane just a little bit. Jane was trying to prove to the gym teacher that all Lanes weren't "losers". Making the team was her way to avenge the family name (which was something that was obviously important to Jane. Of course, hooking up with the "cute" teammate was just a little added gravy). However, Daria was only seeing it from her own perspective which was she perceived she was "losing her best friend to jockdom."

What I found touching was Helen's concern for Daria. She never confronted Daria about it (that could have been an interesting scene in itself. Jake and Helen don't seem to have a lot of friends), but forcing Quinn to spend time with her wasn't really the answer either. But she gets brownie points for trying. She knows Daria normally can take care of herself, but she could sense that Daria was floundering in her loneliness.

It is hard to believe this is a cartoon. There's more drama and pathos in this show than you see in most "live action" dramas.

My only real complaint is a minor one. The speech Trent gives about Janie's courage that turns into a whine about his own life sounded too much like something Jake would say. Maybe Jake would have given a similar speech if they could have figured out how to have Jake there instead of Trent.

Barb

Barbara A. Carr wrote in article ...

I'm sure this sounds harsher than I intend it:

So what! That is what is called "life". That is what makes Daria great, a realistic representation of one girls life. I don't know about you, but I'm living HS right now, and it sure doesn't seem like Dawson's Creek or Saved By The Bell.

In article , "Kyle" wrote:

And if it ever does, that's when you know something is wrong:)

Mike

Maybe with SBTB, but I could use a little Dawson's Creek in my life. I will know I've arrived when my main worry in life is which 26 year old "teenager" to go out with.

[email] wrote in article ...

great, a

but

or

I hate the show Dawson's Creek. It turns my stomach. *shivers* They might as well re-name it "Sex Ed by Dawson."

wrote: >

I like tha show.... I want Joey to get me out of alt. celibacy. involuntary. ;) Jewlya

"Don't worry, I don't have low self esteem. It's a mistake. I have low esteem for everyone else."---Daria ("Esteemsters") " I gotta cover my butt cause I covet another man's wife"- a.d. Still a member of alt. celibacy. involuntary...

I WISH I WAS IN DAWSON'S CREEK! Joey! come to me!!!!! Jewlya

"Don't worry, I don't have low self esteem. It's a mistake. I have low esteem for everyone else."---Daria ("Esteemsters") " I gotta cover my butt cause I covet another man's wife"- a.d. Still a member of alt. celibacy. involuntary...

<<I WISH I WAS IN DAWSON'S CREEK! Joey! come to me!!!!! Jewlya>>

You like Joey too? Alright!!!!

said:>You like Joey too? Alright!!!!

Hells yea, baby! She is my cutie! Jewlya

"Don't worry, I don't have low self esteem. It's a mistake. I have low esteem for everyone else."---Daria ("Esteemsters") " I gotta cover my butt cause I covet another man's wife"- a.d. Still a member of alt. celibacy. involuntary...

<<Hells yea, baby! She is my cutie! Jewlya>>

Uh, uh, I got dibs on her first!!!

said: ><<Hells yea, baby! She is my cutie!

WHAAA!!! MEMEMEMEMEME F IRST! I WANT HER MORE;) J

"Don't worry, I don't have low self esteem. It's a mistake. I have low esteem for everyone else."---Daria ("Esteemsters") " I gotta cover my butt cause I covet another man's wife"- a.d. Still a member of alt. celibacy. involuntary...

<<WHAAA!!! MEMEMEMEMEME F IRST! I WANT HER MORE;) J>>

But I deserve her. You've probably had plenty of girlfriends in the past. Time for me to catch up.

If we go over least girlfriends, I've got at least a tie here.

Jsd19 wrote in article ...

past.

<<If we go over least girlfriends, I've got at least a tie here.>>

So, are you saying you've had none???

yes

Jsd19 wrote in article ...

Ouch!!! Well, I'm older, I have more to complain about.

But I don't have any reason to think that my situation is going to change anytime soon.

<<But I don't have any reason to think that my situation is going to change anytime soon.>>

Neither do I.

Ok, in the spirit of generosity, I'll let you win.

Jsd19 wrote in article ...

change

<<Ok, in the spirit of generosity, I'll let you win.>>

There's nothing to win, it's not a contest. I just thought I should have a bit of seniority on the topic.

OK, I bow to your seniority. It's just semantics.

Jsd19 wrote in article ...

a bit

<<OK, I bow to your seniority. It's just semantics.>>

That's a little out of line. There's no need to bow, I'm just saying that never having a girlfriend at 19 is alot worse than never having a girlfriend at 16.

In article ,

at

I tried to resist entering this particular discussion, but I'm 20 and in college and have never had a girlfriend. Boy, am I pathetic or what? -- Mike Quinn I can be reached through by e-mail at: [email]

[email] (Jsd19) writes:

I can't see that either of you have anything to complain about. Sixteen, nineteen, it's not worth worrying about. If you get to twenty-eight, have never had a date, and it's not for lack of trying, THEN you can start worrying. But, even then, there may not be a problem. One of our friends never really had a date until he was twenty-eight, at which point he realized that he was gay, and has done much better romantically now that he's going after the right type of people.

Me, my first date ever was in college. Just after Orientation Week, I went to a party. I ended up going home with a woman who picked me up. The next night, I ended up going home with a different woman.

In the next two years, I more than made up for lost time.

Y'see, if you learn something when you are older, you have to *un*learn less. As far as sex goes, the absolutely *best* person I know started when she was twelve, but all the other really skilled people I know didn't start until they were over eighteen.

My own fiancee' didn't start dating until she was nineteen, and was a sophomore in college. Even then, she didn't have a *serious* relationship until she graduated from college. And she's really good in bed -- she spent the time to actually talk to friends, read books, and just plain practice.

The rule is, don't worry about it. When the time is right, stuff will happen.

Until that time: make friends of both sexes. If you have friends of the sex which you are interested in, you will be in a better position to have sucessful romantic relationship.

Make sure that you are reasonably hygenic. That should be obvious, but it isn't always.

It can't hurt to pick up a couple textbooks on communications. Of course, I'm biased; I'm a communications major. Still, Dale Carnagie's "How To Make Friends And Influence People", (you know, the book Jodie was reading) is actually a darn fine book.

Do things that you like to do, with other people. Don't ever do something *in order to* meet people -- if you don't like hanging out at bars, and you hang out at bars to meet people, you will meet people who like hanging out at bars, and you won't get along with them. Instead, if you like swing dancing, for instance, go to swing dancing places. That way, you'll meet other people who like swing dancing, and you'll have stuff in common.

Desperation is not attractive. Understand that, when the time is right, stuff will happen. Until that point, go out and just have fun without worrying about it.

• Ian

<<The rule is, don't worry about it. When the time is right, stuff will happen.>>

Don't take any offense, but that entire post is bullshit. When the time is right??? Look, if you knew me you'd understand, believe when I say it has nothing to do with patience and time.

I found that in society, being yourself isn't worth a half dollar. I watch Daria because to me it's fantasy. If I were to ever act like her in real life (Which I do sometimes) I have people hating me, and wanting to get into fights. Add to the fact that I don't do what normal young people do anyway, so where does that leave me????

I can definately second that. I am known for making societal/behavioral commentary (it's just..part of who I am..;), and this pisses off a lot of people. Especially my parents. If I say anything to my parents, no matter how wrong or unfair they are and how right I am, they haul off and beat me. They just can't handle knowing that they're wrong. I wouldn't even have half those problems if they let me do things by myself. And when I'm not happy, ie, not smiling and giddy and bouncing off the walls with joy, my mother yells at me and lectures me on how nobody likes to be around a downer. Right, and nobody wants to listen to their mother lecture about personality problems. That's a downer. And if I ever say anything during class, I get made fun of, yelled at, blah blah. People suck. So it ~is~ fantasy. But it's nice to pretend.

aeroplane wrote:

I dunno. I thought that I had to be a certain way and do certain things for quite a while... up until my sophomore year in high school ("quite a while" is relatively speaking; I'm only a senior now). At my old school, everyone thought I was just some weirdo not worth talking to 'cause I was so strange. So I tried to be something I wasn't just to fit in. Then I moved, and I realized... WOW! There ARE people out there who won't hate me if I act the true way I am! I now have a wonderful group of friends, half of which are cynics and the other half of which are bubbly optimists... and somehow we all get along. After that, I even managed to get into the frame of mind that no guy would ever like me. Then, out of nowhere, I suddenly meet the guy who I feel is my true love.

What have I learned from all this? Well, for me... I know that now I could never go back to how I once was. If someone doesn't like me: Screw them. I wouldn't want to be around them anyway, if they think I'm such a freak. I'd be more unhappy pretending to be something I'm not than I would not fitting in any day. I know its going to be different for everyone, though. But I truly wish you all the best of luck in finding others who can accept you. Whether it happens in kindergarden or after you're out of college, its worth it.

Jessica :-)

<<Then I moved, and I realized... WOW! There ARE people out there who won't hate me if I act the true way I am! I now have a wonderful group of friends, half of which are cynics and the other half of which are bubbly optimists... and somehow we all get along.>>

Well, I thought college was my Lawndale, big mistake. That mytho about college being a time of experimentation and open mindedness is a crock.

<<If someone doesn't like me: Screw them.>>

I'll bet you wouldn't be saying this, if you had no boyfriend.

Jsd19 wrote:

I admit it; I AM biased.

I wouldn't have believed me a year and a half ago. Its really up to the individual person's experience, I think. Its impossible to tell someone, "This is how it is," and expect them to always totally understand and agree with you, because they AREN'T you. They haven't seen what you have and done what you've done. Maybe after they have, their opinions will change. Maybe they won't. Its all relative.

I was just tryin' to state how the world looks through my plaid colored glasses. ;-)

Jessica :-)

On Tue, 28 Jul 1998 15:34:47 -0500, aeroplane wrote:

Yeah, but look at it this way, when you get older you can move out and not see her for ten or fifteen years and have her beg you to come home a lot.... : )

--- Gun control, the theory that Black people will be better off when only Mark Fuhrman has a gun.

Check out:

Well neither have I (but not for the same reason, I'll bet).

<<Well neither have I (but not for the same reason, I'll bet).

Because I'm gay, of course.

<<Because I'm gay, of course.

In article , [email] (Barbara A. Carr) wrote:

That's why this series is so strong. It's *REAL*. Very real.

That speech sounded a hell of a lot like my husband Richie talking...he's been a musician for 30 years. Trent will probably be saying as much for the rest of his life. The music industry SUCKS. Pure and simple. Yet another example of just how real "Daria" truly is. Considering that a lot of animators are also musicians, I suspect it's taken verbatim from a conversation between "Daria" staffers at MTV Animation.

--.\\<-H--

Actually, this may be an important scene. It's the first time that Trent has shown discontent towards his "rock 'n roll lifestyle".

Shadowcloak [email] http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Museum/7252/

"Must... stick... head... cold... water..." - Jane Lane