One of TV’s Forgotten Gems: Daria

     Although there are many highly acclaimed television shows that have aired, it is important to acknowledge the ones that have been able to make a striking statement about an aspect of life in a unique, and occasionally ingenious, way. Among these gems of television is Daria, an animated series on MTV that was broadcast between 1997 and 2002. The show was very popular during its five-year run but not many people today have even heard of it, which is quite a shame.
   
     The main character that the series centers around is Daria Morgendorffer, a smart, sarcastic, sardonic teen whose trademarks are her bored facial expression and voice that never rises above the pitch of a monotone. She is highly pessimistic and cynical, even famously saying, “I don’t have low self-esteem. I just have low esteem for everyone else.” Her favorite activity consists of observing and simultaneously mocking the people around her with her best friend, Jane Lane, an artist who shares her sense of misanthropy. Even though Daria is an outcast in both her family and her school, she is still portrayed as the voice of reason amidst a world of insane teachers, scatterbrained cheerleaders, clueless jocks, unaware parents, and obnoxious teen girls in the suburban community of Lawndale. Daria’s patience and lack of tolerance for shallowness is constantly tested by her sister, Quinn, who is materialistic and superficial—the complete opposite of Daria.

     I think the reason why Daria is such a lovable character despite her less-than-cheery qualities and misfit status is that she makes it seem cool to be the way she is. Many teenagers can relate to her opinions and thoughts, and some could even consider themselves to be a modern-day Daria (me included). Daria could also serve as a role model when it comes to the struggles of peer pressure and conformity in high school. Throughout the series, she does not make much effort to fit in with her peers and is simply happy to march to the beat of her own drum. Despite being seen as a loser, viewers of the show know that Daria is actually the hero.

     Daria views all of the high school clichés of pop culture through the lens of an outsider and satirizes them, painting an exaggerated yet still relatable picture of teen life. It is a cartoon, but its material is still suitable for people over the age of twenty to watch and be entertained by. Humor is derived not from the typical cheap laughs of comedies, but rather from subtle one-liners (mostly said by Daria) and sharp irony that deliberately makes fun of the crazy antics of the characters in Lawndale. That said, the writing for Daria is brilliant. The show is successful in amusing its audience and yet still proving a point about the issues in each episode covering the whole spectrum of life: high school and its social system, pop culture, family dysfunction, and ethics, among others.

      At the end, I highly recommend this show for teenagers everywhere. Daria’s variety of characters and clever overall portrayal of high school life will be a highly welcome change from popular current TV shows. Although it may seem outdated, the themes are universal. Lots of laughs are guaranteed too.