Mike's Initial Reaction Review-"Pierce Me"

Spoilers for 2-25 "Pierce Me"

MIRR- "Pierce Me"

Loveline- The scenes with Daria and trent on the phone were priceless. Heck, all of the phone interaction was great. First, Jake thinks it's for Quinn, then Quinn thinks it's a telemarketer and gives it to Helen to "tell him off" and realizes it was for Daria. Daria really got flushed when she realized that Trent wanted to talk to her. Tren't actions and facial expression when Jane walked by were some of the most laugh out loud moments of the season(even if they were drawn out a bit too long). It was almost surprising that Jane took so long to question Trent.

Green Monster- Daria's envious side comes through subtlely in this episode. First instance: while Daria and Trent are sitting on the curb talking and Trent says "anything for Janey." Daria responds by repeating that phrase in a tone that could cut through steel. Second instance: while trent is gushing over Monique, Daria gives her an annoyed grunt and a dirty look. She really wants Trent but isn't to the point where she would try to cause anyone bodily harm, yet.

Pierced- The whole piercing thing was a bit contrived, but it worked on some levels. Its relatively quick closing(from what I hear, I don't really know how long the ring would have to stay out for it to close) upset Daria at first but then worked to her advantage. Jodie's comment summed it up nicely: "it's cool, unless you did it for a guy." Of course she did do it for a guy but she did rationalize it quickly by thinking she did it as part of the discount.

Fashion Emergency- I had the same reaction to the fashion show subplot as Helen, it made me want to go to sleep. The whole rivalry between Helen and Linda and Sandi and Quinn is being beaten to death. Even the introduction of Linda by itself is a bit redundant. Like mother, like daughter I guess.

Metahumor of the Week- Did anyone else notice what Trent was pointing at when he told Daria that she would "look good in that?" It looked like the go-go outfit from the alter-ego credit pictures. I guess that one is the Daria staff's favorite.

The best word I can use to describe "Pierce Me" is surreal. From the fantasy sequence on to the 'shopping spree' everything seemed to be happening in a different plane of existance. This episode did suffer from 'split story syndrome'(the A/B plots basically had no interaction until the last minute of the show) but didn't suffer from 'Kevin is being stupid syndrome'(a big plus). Daria is really starting to explore her dark side, back in the first season she provavly wouldn't have even went into that store with anyone let alone get talked into getting a "hole in her body." She really will do anything for Trent but she isn't sure that he know how much he "appriciates" her. The fashion show subplot was tired and didn't do anything for me(except when they fell, a little predictable but still amusing). An above average performance worthy of a B+.

On Tue, 28 Jul 1998 13:13:21 GMT, [email] wrote:

That all was hilarious...nobody expected Daria to have any sort of attention of that sort paid to her. And on the other side of the line, Trent's attempts to avoid Jane getting any sort of idea of what he was doing was similarly hilarious.

It seems like Trent and Jane have a very good relationship as siblings go. Jane thinks he's a slacker, Trent? I don't have a total picture of what he sees her as, except he occasionally "pulls rank" on her and refers to her as his "kid sister." He knows that gets under her skin a little. But it's all very good-natured. It's not the internecine warfare of the Daria/Quinn relationship.

I think she was just throwing the line back in Trent's face because it strikes her as absurd. She's constantly looking at sibling relationships through the filter of the bad one she has with Quinn. She has no concept of sibling relationships being anything other than war.

Gushing? I think Trent was happy to see Monique but the kiss he gave her was strictly "friend greeting friend" not anything more. However, Trent is still a little conflicted about his feelings about Daria. He's attracted, make no mistake, but he's not sure what he wants to do with it. His actions, however, speak volumes more than his words...like I mentioned to Steven McAllister, when Daria got her navel pierced, he didn't do the "take my hand and squeeze" thing that a friend would do with another friend...he took her hand into both of his and stroked it gently. I think there might be a little kinkiness afoot with Trent's libido...I think he might like light S&M and although I know the series won't go there because they want to keep it airable during the day, I suspect that might be a little sticking point should Trent and Daria get serious.

That payoff, when Quinn tries to nail her hated sister with revealing the surreptitious piercing done without parental permission, was hilarious.

I only have experience with ear-holes but the natural tendency for skin with a fresh hole in it is to heal up as quickly as possible.

Note that he said to Daria that she would "look hot" in that. Not merely good, but hot.

Either Trent is interested or he's a total sadist who's stringing Daria along. He's giving the signals that he's interested, subtle as they are. If Trent was more demonstrative he would break character.

--.\\<-H--

[email] (Michelle Klein-Hass) writes:

Two comments: 1. Why are you assuming that Trent is kinked? I haven't seen anything to suggest it.

2. Why are you assuming that Daria *isn't* kinked? Daria sets off my kink-dar more that anyone else on the show -- which isn't a lot, mind you; it's a cartoon. But I've never met anyone with Daria's outlook that *wasn't* kinked, even if it took them a number of years to realize the fact.

Daria is clearly a dom. She just doesn't know it yet.

• Ian

On 28 Jul 98 17:03:45 GMT, [email] (Xiphias Gladius) wrote:

Y'know Xiphias...that conjures up a very odd picture of Daria & Trent...might give me nightmares! ;-)

--.\\<-H--

On Tue, 28 Jul 1998 13:13:21 GMT, [email] wrote:

I'm pretty sure it was. The "Daria" writers are starting to take clues from "The Simpsons". :-) Did you also notice that the long black formal dress next to it was the same one that the alter-ego "High Society Daria" is wearing?

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.

In article ,

No, I didn't, I'll have to look out for that next time. It is good to see some self references here and there, it shows they know not to take themselves to seriously. As for the "Simpsons" they are the best at the self references that I have ever seen(If you can't make fun of yourself, then who can you make fun of?)

I agree with absolutly everything in this post. If you didn't see it, you missed a good ep!

David

Heck,

realized

and