Mike's Delayed Reaction Review-#411 (4-50), "Groped by an Angel"

Mike's Delayed Reaction Review-#411 (4-50), "Groped by an Angel"

Spoilers Space for #411 (If you don't want to know, then don't scroll!)

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Mike's Delayed Reaction Review-" Groped by an Angel"

MDRR #411(4-50) - I'm feeling preachy

In the interest of keeping the main points of this episode and my reactions to them together, I'm going to blow through all of the other points that aren't that important, but I feel need to be mentioned, fairly quickly. So think of these first few sections as the appetizers.

The Party from Hell - Brittany's party was mostly filler that was used to set up some of the meatier parts of this episode. Most of it was sort of derivative of The Invitation, like the fact that Daria, Jane and Upchuck were all there (speaking of Upchuck, there could have been a better use of his appearance). And for the record, the moment I saw the crystal bullhorn, I knew it would get broken somehow (that was telegraphed).

I Know Who Doesn't Get C's - The 3 J's are even getting dumber by the moment, if that's possible. Their little jealous fit over Quinn's guardian angel was ridiculous. Geez, don't they realize that angels can fly! They wouldn't stand a chance! But seriously, this was just padding on the episode and wasted time that could have been used for something better.

Distractive Measures - There were a couple of distractions offered at key moments. One was when Ashley-Amber distracted Brittany's, "what did they call me," which shows that she might not be completely brain dead. The other was Helen distracting Jake's, "I want a kitten" tirade with those pretty diagrams. Speaking of Jake, he got poohed on some more by everyone and everything.

But with the Wind Chill... - Trent's argument with Max, if anything, proved that he's the brains behind Mystic Spiral - though I can't imagine that being a tough thing. If it proved anything else, it would be that algebra always comes up when you least expect it - so be prepared. Also, Mystic Spiral appears to be getting better and they have been getting some good press from somewhere (but it was eerie how Trent, Jesse and Nick's arms all moved in the exact same way while they played).

OK, so those quick hits weren't quick as quick as I thought they would be. But now it's time for the heavy stuff - so wake up and pay attention! I'm breaking format a little here; I feel we're in need of a little more reverence than usual.

Starting with the very beginning of this episode, there was a very clear line in the sand drawn. It was between Daria's skepticism and Quinn's willingness to believe. Quinn pointed out that Daria "shouldn't make fun" of the story they saw on TV as Daria then pointed out that flat tires might be out of the range of things that any God or gods care about. So, right from the start, there was some built in tension. So understandably, when Quinn got obsessed with her "guardian" angel, after almost getting crushed by a chandelier, Daria naturally scoffed. Quinn saw the fact that she moved as "proof" that someone was watching over her and somehow made her move to avoid the danger. This "proof" is iffy at best - she could have been lucky or maybe some subconscious smarts kicked in (Jake did install the chandelier) - and many people wouldn't put that kind of stock in it. This happenstance started to make Quinn believe that everything that went right for her was because of this angel. Daria, the skeptical cynic that she is, obviously didn't buy it. Actually, her response was harsh, almost to the point of being intolerant of anyone that disagreed. Look at the face she made when Helen complimented Quinn on her new found spiritual pursuit, and it came out even more in her conversation with Helen. At least Helen recognized that Daria and Quinn are different and that they think different. This led to one statement that really bothered me, when Jane and Daria were walking up to the Taylor's house, Daria said, "my once rational mother said to respect Quinn's beliefs." What I would ask Daria is "what is so irrational about that?" I wouldn't have expected Daria to agree with everyone's beliefs, but I also would have thought that she was mature enough to not be so intolerant of them. Fortunately, Jane sort of called her on this, by basically saying that she doesn't respect other beliefs out of fear that she might be wrong. And I think this caused some turnaround in Daria's thinking, or at least contributed to it. After Quinn humiliated herself, Daria said the right things to cheer her up - so, for that brief moment, Daria was Quinn's guardian angel. But she was also honest to herself when asked directly what she believed. However, she did qualify the "I need compelling proof" with the reluctant "I can't disprove any of it either." Now, that was thoughtful and so was her one philosophy - treat others how you'd want to be treated (which is probably part of every religion, even if some of them don't always practice it). Also, she managed to relay to Quinn that she doesn't think any less of her just for believing in angels by telling her that if it makes her feel good then she should believe it (which didn't strike me as particularly dangerous because it was a direct response to what Quinn was saying and not a statement of Daria's philosophy, in my opinion). I think they both learned from the experience - Quinn learned not to depend on anyone or anything to bail her out all the time and Daria learned to try to accept that everyone doesn't and usually won't always see things her way. Finally, I think I've kept my personal beliefs out of this so far, but to add them, I kind of agree with both Daria and Quinn on some level. I take comfort in a belief that there is something higher out there that's keeps an eye on the world enough to keep it from self-destructing. However, I don't think that higher power bothers much with our every day lives.

Overall, this episode tried to wedge too much things in there and there was way too much filler in the episode that was a distraction from the main plot. I would have loved to see more of the "angel" debate in favor of a lot of the scenes of with the 3 J's and Mystic Spiral.

Grade: B

Daria as a Whole #1, Alter-Ego of the Week - Stacy as the Coppertone girl really cracked me up.

Daria as a Whole #2, Over the Hill - This is the 50th Delayed Reaction Review of an episode - I hope I get to see another fifty (though, I think that may be unlikely).

Copyright � 2000 Mike Quinn [All Rights Reserved]. "Daria" and all related characters are � 1997-2000 MTV Networks, Inc.

Got a question about a review? Drop me an email at: [email]

Missed a review? Check The Delayed Reaction Review Archive http://homestead.deja.com/user.mikequinn/mdrr_archive.html

Mike Quinn [email]

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"Michael J. Quinn" wrote in message news:[email]...

I never tire of this song... :-)

I don't think Ashley-Amber's distraction was deliberate. I think that was a matter of timing.

Considering the subject of the episode, wouldn't the DiMartino alter-ego be more appropriate?

In article , "Jeg7777" wrote:

Actually I thought that was the funniest alter-ego of them all! --.\\<-H--

Not only that, but roles seem to have been swapped...Jesse is now playing bass (he's "playing" one that looks like an early Fender Precision bass, with the pickguard going up into the upper "horn" protrusion) and Nicholas is playing guiitar...

Partridge Family Effect. ;)

-nick reffuse

**can you find dilinger at the smithsonian or not?**

(cut the "crap" to email)

In article , [email] (nick reffuse) wrote:

When I was in my last band, most of us swapped instruments for almost every song. Other than that I'd suggest that maybe the animators didn't have much knowledge with instruments maybe...I mean, in 'Depth Takes A Holiday' did you see the drum kit Haloween was playing on @ the end? I dunno about you but I'd have a hard time playing with that setup...PLUS the drumsticks were TINY! :D

plushy wrote:

At least not with drum kits. In their first appearance, Max had his hats on the right, his snare on the left, and his crash in a position where there's no way he could play the thing and avoid extensive chiropractic therapy. Since then, it seems he's got a fairly standard left handed setup. Though it's a little more crudely rendered than the other instruments.

Peace Kevin

Michael J. Quinn said:

He could have DJ'd, for instance.

It was just both too obnoxious and too fragile to survive :)

To the point of absurdity. But then again, consider the intellectual qualifications required to follow Quinn around like fools for over a year.

Angels, in real ancient and medieval legends, are hideously powerful supernatural beings. Remember, devils are supposedly fallen angels.

Thanks to the Victorians, we've turned them into flying Smurfs.

IMO Trent is creative and intelligent. His problem is that he's also lazy ... or perhaps, unmotivated or afraid of life. I think he's starting to come out of whatever his problem is.

Oh, and his explanation of why nothing can be "below subzero" was actually better than the one I would have come up with. He used set theory and explained it _perfectly_. (Not that Max really understood it).

[Ironically, Max owns a large van called "The Tank", and I own a large van called "Max". Spooky :) ]

Yep.

I suspect that Trent has been becoming more energetic in promoting his own musical career.

Either good rehearsal, or (more likely) limitations of animation.

Daria is a rationalist. Even if she became religious, she would probably be a deist or something of that sort. It's difficult to see her expecting supernatural forces to intervene, either against or for her. She believes in taking responsibility for her own life, certainly in anything as mundane as changing flat tires or getting dressed.

I would be wary of relying upon anything constructed by Jake in one of his obsessive moods.

Daria has high and sometimes overly-rigid standards, as has been mentioned before in the series. (In this regard she's similar to Elizabeth Bennett, from Jane Austen's _Pride and Prejudice_, who was probably one of the inspirations for her character). OTOH, keep in mind that Quinn commonly makes outlandish claims in bids for attention, and this is what Daria assumed it all was. At least at first.

Helen's more mature.

Come on ... you have to admit that believing that a guardian angel is protecting you from making unwise clothing purchases is a bit silly! :)

Jane's more tolerant than Daria.

That's the Golden Rule, actually.

Sincerely Yours, Jordan

angel is

silly! :)

Yeah, I agree and I considered that, but that wasn't all of Quinn was falling for and for Daria to take that statement of Helen's and equate it with irrationality, struck a nerve with me and I didn't like it. I'm not saying Daria shouldn't think it's ridiculous, just that she shouldn't be *so* quick to ridicule.

Mike Quinn [email]

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Rather like some Daria characters.

Anyone else hear the Three Stooges music whenever the 3 J are around?

It's the End of Evangelion! Or a Rob Zombie song. <ahem> Okay, that's only going to make sense to anime fans.

Indeed. IIRC, whenever angels in the Old Testament would appear before a human they'd usually say something like "Fear not!" right off the bat.

I'm laying the blame for Trent on the wacky weed. Just think about what it'd be like if you were to get him together with Otto from the Simpsons and Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

Skyrocket

But that's the thing, really...Trent doesn't come off anywhere near as dumb as the typical cartoon (or movie, for that matter) stoner guy. How many "duh, I uh..." moments has he had?

I wouldn't be so quick as to label the character as being a complete and total pothead. More like a slack-faced suburban guy who partakes of it occasional and more often is just bored. Ever sleep just to make time go by faster?

Jesse, on the other hand, is a different story...

-nick reffuse

**can you find dilinger at the smithsonian or not?**

(cut the "crap" to email)

Nick Reffuse said:

I

And this ep he had a _smart_ moment.

I don't know about "complete and total." He also may be getting out of it.

Oh, _definitely_ bored. And maybe more than a bit depressed sometimes.

Oh, yes.

He's _dumb_.

Sincerely Yours, Jordan

Yeah, I guess you're right. :)

-nick reffuse

**can you find dilinger at the smithsonian or not?**

(cut the "crap" to email)

The preferred spelling is "Mystik Spiral."

*krimren* c.a.t.a.t.o.n.i.a it's all over the front page/you give me road rage/racing through the best days/and it's up to you boy driving me crazy/thinking you may be losing your mind/

Saw-reee

Mike Quinn [email]

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"Michael J. Quinn" wrote:

Ever wonder whatever happened to Helpful Corn?

Skyrocket

sorry. i wasn't trying to be mean. just i've seen it misspelled everywhere lately.

That's OK.

Mike Quinn [email]

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I agree. This is the same problem with Mart of Darkness. Get the main thrust of the epsiode and have everything revolve around that. I know they'd like to throw in development for each character but write a separate episode for it, ok?

If we shut our eyes and clap our hands together........

Seriously, if we can get a sixth episode I'll be happy.

Jeff M.

In article ,

Would have been nice to see the result of his pursuit of Ashley-Amber, even though I have a fairly good idea now.

I must be the only one who didn't see that one coming until Mystik Spirals sound check.

Definitely, though the "I thought that was demons"...."No that's aliens, doofus!" line was hilarious. They're not getting dumber as much as they're getting more desperate.

We saw evidence of this as far back as "Speedtrapped"

Yep. Seems as though they're improving with each new song we hear.

They set up the groundwork for this one right off the bat.

Daria prolly saw it as one on Quinn's popularity schemes, which she turned it into at some points, though I think she really did believe. And would you trust anything Jake did like a chandelier or soething of the sort?

I was surprised at how petulant she seemed over this "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude. Daria is the type who thinks that the only ones who are going to make a change in your life is you yourself, no one should help you but you and you alone.

I think because it was brought up all of a sudden, she thought this would be one of Quinn's passing fancies, and why would you want to take that seriously? She sees it as irrational that out of the blue someone can change their thinking on a matter just like that. It's not irrational for Helen to support her daughters beliefs, though as said elsewhere, believing in something like angels worrying over such petty stuff as black spots on jeans is irregular. Again it was pettiness of Daria's showing up again.

Yep.

Daria's relenting proves she cares somewhat for her sister. Believe in whatever makes you feel right, for Quinn it was to believe in angels for Daria it wasn't, neither is wrong. She really didn't compromise her beliefs, and she got her point across, and to treat others as you would wish to be treated is The Golden Rule, applied by nearly all belief systems, which is solid and a good code to live by and I believe Daria knows this, which is partially why she slightly relented, that and love for her sister.

Exactly.

I believe in this, too.

Lose the 3 J's scenes anyways.

Still was done well, another serious topic, done with a humorous tone, a few too many distractions, but not enough to lower the grade that much, B+.

Agreed, in fact I"ve actually agreed here on 10 of the 11 so far.

If you believe in the theme of the ep. pray to your guardian angel for a 6th season, and then we'll take it one season at a time.

A.J.