Mart of Darkness

"Mart of Darkness" was the ninth episode of the fourth season of the Daria TV series (episode number 409). It first aired on MTV on July 5th, 2000. This episode was written by Rachelle Romberg.

Summary
Payday, a new "big box" warehouse store, painfully modeled after Sam's Club or BJ's Wholesale, opens in Lawndale. Due to a bizarre chain of events involving a pre-episode fight between Tom Sloane and Jane, Quinn's theft of Daria's shoelace, and various occurrences at a barbeque at Kevin Thompson's house, almost every single major character winds up shopping there, getting considerably more than they were looking for.

Trivia

 * This is the only episode that does not contain an appearance by Helen and Jake.


 * The title is derived from the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.


 * We meet Kevin's parents Doug and Charlene, who first appeared in the 1998 book "The Daria Database": the episode uses their look, their age, and Charlene's issues with Brittany. "Database" was written by this season's story editor, Peggy Nicoll.


 * Andrea's reaction to Daria and Jane in this episode is interesting in that it might reflect the attitude their fellow students in general have toward them, namely that they expect the pair to cruelly insult and humiliate anyone who crosses their path. Of course she could just be projecting her own resentment toward her job upon them.

"Mart of Darkness" and Fanfic

 * "Mart of Darkness" Summary in Outpost-Daria.
 * "Mart of Darkness" Transcript in Outpost-Daria.

On “Mart of Darkness” the Episode
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Alternate-Universe Versions of “Mart of Darkness”
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Alternate Canon Versions of “Mart of Darkness”
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