Hey everyone, hope you’re all as rejuvenated as I am after taking last week off! Needed a bit of time to actually read again and spark my brain and calm down from the ever-mounting pressures of, well, living — as we all do from time to time. Like many sheltered kids in the 90s, MTV was forbidden in my house growing up — and just like with
I love your take on Daria's character, also I appreciate that you don't sugarcoat her but are also objective about her best and worst points.
For me, Daria is a flawed individual who is trying to make her way in a world of perceived and real stereotypes to become her own person.
The beauty of her character comes from her imperfections: she is sardonic, melancholic, ridiculous, sometimes brutal, and inflexible, but at the same time a vulnerable and sensitive character, with aspirations and intellectual humor who can actually make us reflect about our best and worst attitudes, our inconsistencies as humans.
As you also pointed out, I think that Daria is far from a one dimensional character, who is incapable of growth. She proves us on the later seasons, specially within the Tom arc, that she's capable of taking action and owning her mistakes, if properly encouraged, and of loving her family and being vulnerable with them, despite her rivalries with Quinn and her apparent aloofness with her parents.
I also believe that despite the popular opinion about Tom being worst character to be added in the show, he was a good influence for her, in taking action about her complaints:
Like in the episode "Fizz Ed" where Jodie points out that if she is discontented about the soda advertising around Lawndale High, she should go and complain to the superintendent. Tom is the one who convinces her to file the complaint, while pointing out that she can only complain if she does something about the situation, something only she can do.
Similarly when he supports her to present her work to the musings magazine, but also points out her childish behavior, and she had to apologize for her stubbornness.
In sum, I loved the article and I believe Daria also remains as one of my most loved cartoon characters too. Thanks for writing this.
I love your take on Daria's character, also I appreciate that you don't sugarcoat her but are also objective about her best and worst points.
For me, Daria is a flawed individual who is trying to make her way in a world of perceived and real stereotypes to become her own person.
The beauty of her character comes from her imperfections: she is sardonic, melancholic, ridiculous, sometimes brutal, and inflexible, but at the same time a vulnerable and sensitive character, with aspirations and intellectual humor who can actually make us reflect about our best and worst attitudes, our inconsistencies as humans.
As you also pointed out, I think that Daria is far from a one dimensional character, who is incapable of growth. She proves us on the later seasons, specially within the Tom arc, that she's capable of taking action and owning her mistakes, if properly encouraged, and of loving her family and being vulnerable with them, despite her rivalries with Quinn and her apparent aloofness with her parents.
I also believe that despite the popular opinion about Tom being worst character to be added in the show, he was a good influence for her, in taking action about her complaints:
Like in the episode "Fizz Ed" where Jodie points out that if she is discontented about the soda advertising around Lawndale High, she should go and complain to the superintendent. Tom is the one who convinces her to file the complaint, while pointing out that she can only complain if she does something about the situation, something only she can do.
Similarly when he supports her to present her work to the musings magazine, but also points out her childish behavior, and she had to apologize for her stubbornness.
In sum, I loved the article and I believe Daria also remains as one of my most loved cartoon characters too. Thanks for writing this.