Ep 1. Daria!

Daria! is the first episode of the third season of the animated television show, Daria. It opens with Daria and her best friend, Jane, starting their junior year of high school. They both have an air of nonchalance as they enter their first class, knowing well that school is definitely not their favorite place.

However, the tables seem to have turned for Daria, as her school starts to actively acknowledge her intelligence and success. Her teachers want to turn her into a model student, while the students who didn't previously acknowledge her existence, start noticing her.

Daria is in a bit of a daze with the new attention she is receiving, and it doesn't sit well with her. She still sees everything and everyone in her school as a big joke. Her outlook on life is pretty cynical, and her thoughts are often portrayed in monologues throughout the episode. She has no desire to play sports or join any clubs, and she doesn't understand why everyone can't just leave her alone.

As she becomes more well known in her school, she starts to feel uncomfortable. She is unsure why everyone is suddenly talking about her. Her teacher, Mr. O’Neil, starts to push her in the direction of joining the debate club, but Daria is not interested in the slightest.

One character who is definitely not impressed by Daria is her sister Quinn. Quinn is the complete opposite of Daria in every way. Quinn is outgoing, popular, and all about appearances. She can't understand why Daria is not interested in taking this opportunity to "become somebody." However, Daria doesn't care about fitting in or pleasing anyone else, and this is something Quinn can't wrap her head around.

The episode continues on with Daria trying to navigate her newfound popularity and her disdain for it. It's quite comical to watch her interact with other students who don't quite know how to talk to her now that she's "famous." Her monotone responses to their questions and comments just highlight how out of place she feels.

While dealing with all of this, Daria is also facing some struggles with Jane, who is feeling left out and replaced by Daria's newfound popularity. This creates tension between them and Daria struggles to try and get them back on track.

In the end, Daria finds a way to balance her popularity in school with her need to stay true to herself. She doesn't want to be someone she's not, and she doesn't care about what other people think. She decides to focus on what she wants to do, which is to write, and she starts writing creatively again.

This episode is a great way to start off the third season of Daria, as it highlights the themes that the show is known for – individualism, cynicism, and a focus on the arts. The writing is sharp and witty, and the characters are all unique and memorable in their own way. If you're a fan of the show, this is definitely an episode you won't want to miss!