User Reviews

Personally, this is one of my favorite episodes from the fifth season of "Daria" (Along with "Boxing Daria") mostly because as a writer I felt identified with the plot. Just like "Daria" I have sent collaborations to magazines and participated in many literary contests...And just like Daria in this episode, most of the time I had to face the rejection from the so-called prestigious literary media on several occasions.

Maybe for that reason I found the frustration Daria felt in this episode to be more than understandable, as it is something many writers experience during their careers, especially for those who try to make different and unusual stuff. It even happened to several iconic authors like William Golding, Isaac Asimov and William Faulkner.

Like most of the episodes from the series, the plot is handled with a down-to-earth (yet optimistic)approach, doing a very convincing balance of comedy and seriousness without falling into cheap sentimentality or forced morals. Personally, I think the script of this episode was simply brilliant, and it is definitely one of the highest points of the entire series.

Daria is a tough girlfriend in this episode--more about this in a moment. The show begins with Daria deciding to send a story in to a magazine...or not! After showing it to Jane and getting a lukewarm reaction, she then shows it to Tom--who loves it. So, Daria decides to send it--and is filled with tons of self-doubt about this. When the story is rejected, she acts rather nasty towards Tom--making you wonder why he ever put up with her! At the same time, the Fashion Club decides to do some community service--not because they care about others, but because they want a plaque! So, to help the world, they publish a magazine offering their banal insights. And, in the end, it's all a big waste of time--so they just buy themselves a plaque! This is a pretty good episode though not a great one. Once again, like most of season four and five, Daria is filled with tons of self-doubt and Tom somehow puts up with it. And, for comedy relief, we have the plot involving the idiot friends of Quinn. Decent...not great.

Daria displays her emotions when she submits a short story for publication. I'm surprised she would do this given her attempts not to be in the public eye. Publication rejections are painful, but quite common for all famous writers. It's hard to think of a famous writer who didn't get rejected. In fact (maybe I'm wrong) I read of a book publishing editor who got fired for rejecting the first Harry Potter book, but maybe I'm wrong you know.

Anyway, the Fashion Club also feature in this episode, as they launch their own publication with a mixture of success to be kind.

I wish Daria was rebooted. This episode was screened about 2 months into the Bush-Cheney administration, and I would love to know Daria's thoughts now about the effects of 9/11, Wikileaks, Edward Snowden, Pokemon Go, Facebook, Mario Brothers.

Having written a story Daria lets Tom persuade her to submit it for publication in a magazine; she has no intention of letting anybody else know about it but Mr O'Neill bumps into her at the post office and his promise not to tell anybody else is swiftly broken when he not only announces that she has submitted a story but claims that it is going to be published! As it happens it doesn't get published leading Daria to get upset with Tom for setting her up for a rejection... oblivious to the fact that that he was being supportive. Meanwhile the fashion club decide to put out a news letter to raise funds for a 'less fattening' mirror in the girls lavatories and inform their fellow students about what will be in and what will be out next season; unfortunately their predictions don't match with those in the fashion magazine they follow! It isn't just the girls who are showing a creative side; Jake recalls the criticism a song he wrote in school received and wants Daria to give her opinion of it.

This episode contains some good laughs and also some decent drama; I couldn't help cringing in sympathy with Daria when Mr. O'Neill told the class about her story the day after promising not to tell anybody... the fact that he means well almost makes it worse! Tom comes off as a good boyfriend as he supports Daria even when she can't see that he is only trying to help. Helen's attempts to check that Daria and Tom weren't doing anything 'inappropriate' while alone in Daria's room were pretty funny and it was hilarious when she walking in just as they kissed! Overall this was another fun episode.