Mike's Delayed Reaction Review-#306 (3-33), "It Happened One Nut"

Mike's Delayed Reaction Review-#306 (3-33), "It Happened One Nut"

Spoilers Space for #306 (If you don't want to know, then don't scroll!)

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Mike's Delayed Reaction Review- "It Happened One Nut"

MDRR #306 (3-33) I was on Nyquil when I wrote this.

Join the Workforce - It's understandable that Daria would be apprehensive about getting a job. Most teenagers are. However, Daria is more concerned about getting the job Helen wants her to have (the one that requires personal interaction and helps her "career"). Remember Daria only smiles when she has a reason. It also seemed that her entire family was out to foil her plan to only look for a job. Quinn found a job at the first place she went and Jake actually got Daria a job (probably at Helen's urging). How does a high school job do anything for your career, except to motivate you to get one?

Slow Down There, Fellow - I would be remiss if I didn't mention Tiffany's volunteer work. Daria said it all by mentioning that this situation was just "too ironic." No matter how slow she went, the fact that she can read at all is a minor miracle. I especially liked Daria's attempts to finish the sentences because I do that all of the time (I get frustrated with even the shortest of pauses in a conversation, I don't know how I would've handled this). There is no doubt in my mind that Tiffany is still sitting there, counseling away.

Self-References of the Week - I'm a big fan of self-referential humor (a lot of my humor is that way). So I liked the two self-references that I caught. The first is the whole "not smile unless I have a reason" thing. Daria had a reason, but it wasn't because she was happy. The second was Daria telling Jane that she's already seen too many of Daria's humiliating experiences. So have we. That was just too clever.

Not So Out of It - I was thinking of making the 'Trent Oblivion Factor' one of the next Daria Theories, but he is being portrayed as much more perceptive, lately. It was Daria's worst nightmare for Trent to see her working at the nut hut and as soon as he realized she was there, he respected her boundaries and didn't embarrass her. If you want oblivion, look no further than Jesse.

Nuts, Nuts, Nuts - Both Quinn and Daria may have fared better in their first attempt at working if they had gotten each other's job. Daria's responsibility is more suited for taking care of animals in the pet store environment. On the other hand, Quinn's bubbly personality could make for a happy nut dispenser (who wouldn't have bought $15 worth by not smiling). We all know she belongs in the nut house.

My Savior - Jane comes to the rescue again. She may have felt guilty that she couldn't stop Trent and Jesse from getting to the nut house (they were a bit single-minded - their brains were hijacked). That bit of guilt translated into convincing Helen that Daria was being oppressed. Brilliant.

It Happened One Nut didn't really make too much of an impact on me. Maybe it was just me, but this episode felt like it went right through me. It moved a bit too slow at times and some of the scenes seemed out of place (like the whole opening sequence with the career aptitude tests). The way that Jane and Daria related in this episode really worked (I would expect Daria to get mad in that situation). There were some very funny one-liners and visuals (like the three J's running from the pet store screaming). To sum it up, I can't say it was bad, but I can't say it was good, either.

The Bottom Line - It went through me like a gallon of Mexican water (not that that's always a bad thing).

Grade: B

Next Week- All of the Lanes return home to make up for all of those reunions they missed.

Copyright � 1999 Mike Quinn [All Rights Reserved]. "Daria" and all related characters are � 1999 MTV Networks, Inc.

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Dude, isn't it supposed to be a delayed reaction?

OK spoiler space here:

that'll do

I thought that that really showed how much Jane understands Helen that THAT particular scheme would get her down there right away. Very perceptive.

Dagny- cynic, general loony

http://urbanspacemen.arecool.net

"I'm not different for the sake of being different, only for the desperate sake of being myself. I can't join your gang: you'd think I was a phoney and I'd know it." Vivian Stanshall

On Mon, 12 Jul 1999 14:40:28 GMT, some letters randomly coalesced from individual pixels, claiming to be from Mike Quinn , and it said:

Well, first of all, the longer a work record you have, and more positive, the more positively a potential employer will see your application. Somebody with both a college education, and having survived the treanches of McDonalds or whatever with flying colors, will likely do better than one with the same education but never having known real work. This isn't a perfect predictor, but it is usually the way it goes, at least for the first few weeks. Of corse, Helen very clealy understood the value you found in it, as well.

She doesn't just read slowly, she speaks slowly. From the first few words she said ("It's.. volunteer... work..."). Though, when I think of it, I think, had they given it a chance, Tiffiany could've gained something if Daria'd stuck around for a while. She might've learned something.

Then again... Nah.

<snip self-referencing humor>

Ha hah! We win! We win! Nyaaa nyaaa nya nyaaa nyaaa. ;p

Yeah, that would've worked out, but then we never would've gotten to see Daria attacked by hungry rodents. ;)

Perhaps, but I still think Daria'd benefit from having to work in the trenches with the rest of us, even if it is such a humiliating job as "Nutty Nutty Nutty World." Come to think of it, the very concept of the place is preposterous, but "Daria" does tend to be a parody on real life.

You said it better than I did. It just didn't... hit me. It wasn't glaringly annoying (like DTAH or TLG) or poorly pasted together (like Fair Enough). It was just... mediocre.

In article ,

Maybe being fry cook at McDonald's would be right up Daria's alley, she would only have to answer to her boss and the fries. Your points about having a longer work record are well taken (these jobs are good preparation) but how often do recent college gradtuates who have worked at fast food restaurants put that on their resume (unless it was very recent). I worked in a dining hall my first two years and that has long been zapped by more important stuff. My point is that I would think that most potetial employers (of those looking for carrers) think these kind of jobs are important to have had but that they don't really want to know specifics about them.

What did we win? Did I miss something?

Come to think of it, Helen is almost contradicting herself by bailing Daria out. She wants Daria to have an experience working that best represents a working environment. There are a lot of managers of things out there that are real a**holes. The guy at 'nuts for lunch crunch munch' may or may not have been one of them, but that's besides the point. Why should Daria not be exposed to that aspect of work? Not every situation is going to be choclate and sunshine. Deep down she may want Daria to be exposed to this but she becomes overbearing and overprotective.