Depth Takes a Holiday

Depth Takes a Holiday is the third episode of the third season of Daria (episode number 303). It aired on March 10, 1999 and was written by Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil.

Summary
Daria and Jane encounter the living embodiments of popular holidays, who have entered Lawndale through a dimensional wormhole in the back of the Good Time Chinese restaurant. The holidays, who appear to be and act like human teenagers, are in conflict because some of them wish to start a band (The Holidays) in Lawndale, while others are trying to get the renegade holidays to return to their home universe (Holiday Island, home of Holiday Island High School).

Reputation of the Episode
For the longest time, many Daria fans considered "Depth Takes a Holiday" as one of the worst episodes ever written. The bulk of the complaints come from the "off-canon" nature of the episode, where there is no disclaimer of any kind that this is a dream or some figment of Daria's imagination. However, there is a growing segment of the fandom that appreciates "Depth Takes a Holiday" for its creativity and general wackiness. "Depth Takes a Holiday" might have been found on a list of the bottom ten episodes a few years ago; fans today would place it somewhat higher.

Fanfic writers fond of alternate universe stories or or bizarre tales have used this episode many times as an "in-canon" springboard for their work.

The title can also be interpreted as the series taking a break, in that it diverted far from its standard plot lines for an episode. "Depth" representing Daria herself, and "holiday" meaning "to get away from things for a break".

Trivia

 * Since Cupid and St Patrick's Day are pointing to direct and presently-occuring problems caused by the Holidays being on Earth, this episode has to take place sometime during the autumn, before October 31st. (Notably, all three of the escapee holidays take place within a two-month space of each other) This would fit with the assumption that Daria Series 3 and Series 4 take place during Daria's junior year at Lawndale High School, placing this early S3 episode early in the academic year.


 * The holidays are described as "holiday spirits" by Daria.


 * The backgrounds used for Lawndale High School have clearly been reused for the Holiday Island High School. The locker design is the same except that the lockers are now colored blue, and murals of ocean waves have been added to the formerly bare purple walls.


 * The band that Halloween, Christmas, and Guy Fawkes Day wish to start is described as having a "hiphop-punk-electronica vibe" by Cupid.


 * UK fans are often amused (or annoyed) at Guy Fawkes Day, since they call the Fifth of November Bonfire Night instead. The St Patrick's Day/Guy Fawkes conflict is also several generations out of date, and St Patrick's Day is celebrated across Britain (as an excuse to get drunk).


 * The episode's title is derived from the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday.


 * When asked who the bulk of Holiday Island students are, Cupid replies "Bunch of saint's days. Who can keep track?". Valentine's Day is itself a saint's day, which he (read: the writers) seems to have forgotten.


 * This is the only episode in which Daria admits her feelings for Trent. This was accomplished by Cupid's interrogation.