Daria!

"Daria!" was the season premiere episode of the third season of the Daria TV series. It is sometimes called "Daria! The Musical."

Despite its first air date, it had originally been intended to have this episode air in the middle of the season, so its episode number is 307.

It first aired on MTV on February 17, 1999 and was written by Glenn Eichler and Peter Elwell.

Plot Summary
The day starts at Lawndale! At the Morgendorffers, the family gets up to start another day, full of optimism and joy for the beautiful day ("Morning in the Burbs"). Even the announcement of a possible hurricane in Lawndale does not get their spirits down.

At Lawndale High, during lunchtime, Brittany mentions in passing that it is Pep rally day, prompting Daria and Jane to make plans to spend the afternoon at the roof. During the pep rally, however, Ms. Li anxiously informs the staff and students present that the hurricane is confirmed and heading in their direction: the game is cancelled and all must go home. Students and staff leave the school wondering how Lawndale and their lives could be affected by the storm ("If the Town Blows Away").

At the roof, Daria reads the news of the coming of the hurricane in the newspaper and she and Jane also speculate on the consequences of its passing ("If the Town Blows Away"). On their way out they meet Kevin and Brittany, who had sneak out of the gym to make out. After convincing both that the hurricane is real, they inadvertently get stuck on the roof when Kevin knocks down stair door brake. They then lament over the fact that they are probably going to die ("If the Town Blows Away").

Meanwhile, more places in Lawndale are preparing for the Hurricane. In shroder…s Law firm, all are fleeing to get home: first Marianne, then Eric (after almost revealing some of his feeling to Helen), then Helen, who still stays for some moments, commenting to herself that she loves to work ("Don't They Know I Can't Leave Yet", sang in duet with Quinn). At the same time, in Cashman's, the Fashion Club and other clients have to leave, as the shop is going to close. A despondent Quinn laments over the fact she can't get her perfect dresses that day ("Don't They Know I Can't Leave Yet", sang in duet with Helen).

Jake is also coming home, driving and trying to call his house. The despair over the lack of answer and the traffic makes him drive recklessly and hope that both his daughters are safe ("Gah, Gah, Dammit!").

At the Morgendorffers, Quinn prepares some cocoa while Helen meticulous prepares for the hurricane. When Jake arrives and none of them knows Daria's whereabouts, they call the Lane's and Helen insists for Trent (who had been sleeping, oblivious to the everything) to come and stay with them for the storm's duration.

Daria, for her part, is still struck at the school roof with Jane, Brittany and Kevin. For lack of a better option, they decide to hide in a small shack. While inside, all think about their respective families and how they must be worrying about them ("They Must be Worried").

At the Morgendorffer's, Trent has arrived and all are enjoying some cocoa. Jake laments his usefulness over not being searching for Daria. As Helen intervenes, pointing that it's no use playing superman and going outside with the rain and wind, Jake snaps, saying that, in an emergency, a thought man is necessary ("Manly"). In a show of bravado, Jake and Trent leave to search for Daria and Jane. Unfortunately, they quickly crash the car.

Meanwhile, in the sack on the school roof, the four inside see it is slowly falling apart and decide to leave before it breaks down completely. Kevin tries to open the door, but it is stuck. Prompted by Brittany, Daria and Jane ("Manly"), he strucks the door down. When they leave, loa and behold: the storm has passed and a clear sky with a rainbow greets them!

The four sing and dance with the joy of having survived the hurricane ("The Big Wet Rainstorm's Over"), a song that is shared by some other of Lawndale's inhabitants: The Fashion Club, happy that they can shop once again; Mack and Jodie, depressed that Lawndale has stayed the same; Jake and Trent, who recuperate while Jake rants about the car accident.

As Jake and Trent leave the car, they meet Daria and Jane (who presumably walked home). All greet and embrace each other enthusiastically and are soon joined by Helen and Quinn, also happy they are all right. Daria then breaks the fourth wall and comments to the audience the strangeness of the day and the hope another weird day will come. All Lawndale citizens then join the group, while singing about the next morning in Lawndale ("Morning in the Burbs").

Trivia
This episode is semi-controversial among some Daria fans as it is a musical and not a typical episode. When word got out the third season premiere was to be a musical episode, some fans had an extremely negative reaction before they had even had a chance to see the episode, possibly because up until "Daria!" premiered the show was generally viewed as something firmly grounded in reality and not prone to frivolity or flights of fancy.

This episode features Trike Girl's most prominent role. She is seen riding her tricycle at both the beginning and end of the episode, leading some to ponder if she had been riding the entire time through the hurricane.

"Daria!" and Fanfic
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On “Daria!” the Episode
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Alternate-Universe Versions of “Daria!”
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Alternate Canon Versions of “Daria!”
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