Life in the Past Lane

"Life in the Past Lane"' was the ninth episode of the fifth season of Daria (episode number 509). It first aired on MTV on May 28, 2001.

"Life in the Past Lane" was written by Anne D. Bernstein.

Summary
Jane takes a boyfriend, Nathan, who is obsessed with swing dancing and the style and manners of the 1940s.

In the meanwhile, Daria and Tom Sloane wonder if their relationship is in a rut, and Upchuck performs magic tricks with Stacy as his assistant.

Trivia
In her interview with Kara Wild, Anne Bernstein says that she was very much involved in swing dancing culture when she wrote "Life in the Past Lane," saying "[i]f you are into swing/retro culture, you will get the subtle nuances."

Jane again makes barbed jokes about Daria and Tom's relationship, joking "if I didn't pick up perfect strangers, you wouldn't have a boyfriend". This time, Daria lands one back by asking "will I have to date this guy too?" (offending Tom) and Tom later makes a joke about Nathan being Daria's future boyfriend (offending Daria).

"Life in the Past Lane" and Fanfic
Jane recalls her relationship with Nathan in the Dariarotica comic Keeping Track of Fantasies by Wouter Jaegers when passing one of the shops that she and Nathan used to go and buy those forties style dresses she wore in the episode, Jane remarks that the dresses looked on her too and wonders how Nathan's doing, what became of him.

LongSnakeMoan's "It Felt Like A Kiss" spins out of Nathan's last scene, presenting him as an abusive, controlling boyfriend.

On “Life in the Past Lane” the Episode

 * "Life in the Past Lane" Summary in Outpost-Daria.
 * "Life in the Past Lane" Transcript in Outpost-Daria.

Alternate-Universe Versions of “Life in the Past Lane”
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Alternate Canon Versions of “Life in the Past Lane”
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