Ill

“Ill” (the different font is used to distinguish the word “ill” from the Roman numeral for "three") was the ninth episode of the second season of Daria (episode number 209). It first aired on MTV on July 6, 1998.

“Ill” was written by Peter Gaffney.

Summary
This episode begins with Daria and Jane at a Mystik Spiral gig. Daria suddenly contracts a strange rash (correlated with the prospect if being near Trent in a social setting, specifically getting a burger), causing her to flee from the club. The rash persists on-and-off for several days (despite Quinn's offer of anti-acne medicines such as Hydro-Eight, Poxicil, and Salosocilin), eventually leading to Daria's being put in a hospital "to be on the safe side." The rumor mill flies at school, Jane proves to be both hindrance and help in about equal amounts, and everything leads up to a climax that is perhaps the cleverest slapstick humor in the series.

Trivia
This is the first appearance of the Zon, Lawndale's grunge club.

The climax of this episode, occurring in Daria's hospital room, appears to be a riff on a famous scene from the Marx Brothers' film, A Night at the Opera, wherein many characters crammed into a room far too small for them. It also bears a similarity to the climactic scenes of Mozart's opera, The Marriage of Figaro, which similarly juggles many characters and many "voices" for comic effect.

As well as confirming some level of friendship between Daria and Jodie & Mack, this is one of several episodes that shows Brittany and Kevin treating Daria as a friend (though she appears confused by this).

Eleanor Sullivan is a character similar to Harry Lime from The Third Man, in that she is mentioned often in the episode before actually arriving. The payoff of her appearance, however, is distinctly less integral to the plot than that of Harry Lime.

“Ill” and Fanfic
A Novelization of this episode was written by Martin J. Pollard (link below).

Dr. Phillips from this episode became Hanley Phillips, an associate of DELPHI. Dr. Davidson, the other doctor from this episode, does not seem to have been used in a similar capacity at this date.

There is a fanfic also titled ill (the lower case "i" being intentional), but beside sharing a name and both stories involving Daria becoming ill they are otherwise unrelated.

On “Ill” the Episode

 * “Ill” summary at Outpost Daria, by Martin J. Pollard and Mike Quinn
 * “Ill” transcript at Outpost Daria, by Martin J. Pollard
 * “Ill” novelization at Outpost Daria, by Martin J. Pollard
 * “Ill” summary at Sick Sad World, by Wraith
 * “Ill” review at Sick Sad World, by Wraith
 * “Ill” annotations at Sick Sad World, by Wraith
 * "Repeat to Yourself, It's Just a Cartoon", essay by The Unknown with critical note about the episode
 * "50,000 Volts up the Butt," on DFB2

Fanfiction Versions of “Ill”
Curiously, while the events of “Ill” are related in numerous fanfics, both those kept in-canon and in AUs, there does not appear to be a completely alternate version of this episode, as of this writing.
 * "Ill Will," by Medea42