I came across Daria long after it's original run, around 2019 on an Amazon Prime trial, and it blew me away. Like the titular character, the show Daria is not perfect. It is frequently too ridiculous for words, it has the leads seem smart by having everyone else be an idiot, it sometimes pulls its punches, and frequently comes off as trite; but even given all that I might rank this show up with My So Called Life as a truly wonderful coming of age show.
Honestly, I am not qualified to discuss any teenage girls' experiences, so I'll try and stay in my lane.
I can just offer that I found this show disturbingly engaging, however ridiculous. Daria and Jane entertainingly offer a constant brutal stream of their sarcastic nihilistic Sick Sad World view; but just when the show feels like it is getting way too full of itself, Michael and Jodie are there (being the only two characters in the show who always come off as having fully developed personalities) to kick Daria down a notch or two. The show at least knows better than to punch down. The majority of the other characters offer bizarre caricature after bizarre caricature; but hey, the show knows what it is doing.
The relationship mellow drama feels a bit trite, but it also does feel real. Jane and Daria's friendship, which is the centre of the show, is frequently tricky and really that works for them.
Through more modern eyes, I do think the show would have benefitted by having more, and less creepy, LGBTQ+ representation.
Daria's family really only stands out in the off-format moments there they break-out of their caricatures. It is rare but that only helps make those moments shine more.
My selection of "CHERENT BEST..." tries to tighten up the show a bit by removing some of the more ridiculous episodes, keeping what is needed for the thin serialized story, and focus on the moments where this show shines so brightly.
Oh, and if you can find it, there is fan-edit called the Daria Restoration Project which tries to reinsert all the original (oh so '90s) music.
COHERENT BEST...Season 1: 01: Esteemsters 04: Cafe Disaffecto 05: Malled 08: Pinch Sitter 09: Too Cute 10: The Big House 11: Road Worrier 13: The Misery Chick Season 2: 01: Arts 'N Crass 03: Quinn the Brain 04: I Don't 06: Monster 08: Gifted 11: See Jane Run 12: Pierce Me 13: Write Where It Hurts Season 3: 01: Daria! 02: Through a Lens Darkly 05: Daria Dance Party 06: The Lost Girls 08: Lane Miserables 09: Jake of Hearts 10: Speedtrapped 13: Jane's Addition Season 4: 01: Partner's Complaint 05: The F Word 06: I Loathe a Parade 08: Psycho Therapy 09: Mart of Darkness 12: Fire! 13: Dye! Dye! My Darling Film: "Is It Fall Yet?" Season 5: 02: Sappy Anniversary 04: Camp Fear 05: The Story of D 06: Lucky Strike 07: Art Burn 09: Life in the Past Lane 11: Prize Fighters 12: My Night at Daria's 13: Boxing Daria Film: "Is It College Yet?" Episode Count: 42 |