Esteemsters

"Esteemsters" was the first episode of the first season of the Daria TV series.

Plot Summary
The Morgendorffers have just moved to Lawndale and it is the first day of school to teenage sisters Daria Morgendorffer and Quinn Morgendorrfer]], so their father, Jake Morgendorffer drives them to school, while counseling them on a possible necessary period of adjustment, especially for the oldest, Daria. Arriving to school, Quinn is immediately taken a linking by some popular girls, and asked on a date by a young man (later identified as Corey), as Daria seems ignored. During the school tour by the principal Angela Li, Daria displays a cynic side, making sarcastic comments on some declarations by the Principal.

Both girls, as new arrivals, are subjected to a psychological test, consisting of inventing a story based on a picture of two human silhouettes. Quinn immediately creates a nice typical teenage story. Daria, on the other hand, gives sarcastic answers to the questions, sidestepping the issue, to the psychologist Mrs. Manson annoyance. After that, at history class, Daria knows and provides the right answers, in contrast to classmantes Kevin and Brittany, who show a high level of ignorance, fueling the wrath of history teacher Anthony DeMartino.

That evening, as the Morgendorffers are having dinner at home, both daughters talk about their day: Quinn is the new vice-president of the Fashion Club and has been invited to the peep squad, whether Daria only makes cynical observations about her colleagues and teacher. They then receive a call from school regarding the psy test taken: Daria has to attend a Self-Esteem Class.

The following day, at self-esteem class, presented by the English teacher Timothy O'Neill, Daria is confused by the expressions used, even more when the teacher refuses to explain them. Another student, Jane Lane tells Daria even the teacher doesn't known their meaning and advices her to relax, further informing she has already taken the class six times. After school, Daria and Jane befriend each other as they walk home and talk calmly about self-esteem class and other stuff. Arriving Home, Daria is surprised Helen is there, having taken the day off to be with her daughter, and they end up going shopping.

The next day, prompted by O'Neill's advice during self-esteem, Daria convinces her family to go to Pizza Forest, a kid's restaurant where singers, dressed as animals, try to join families in singing: Quinn is bored, and Jake and Helen are unease, but Daria seems content with the situation (implied as making her family uncomfortable).

Some days later, as Daria is at Jane's, they agree to use Jane's knowledge of self-esteem exam questions to pass the exam earlier than usual, and do so during the following class, answering O'Neill's questions with upbeat and stock answers. The teacher is so impressed with the girls graduation three weeks ahead of schedule that he decides to annouce it in an assembly. At the assembly, while on podium, Jane fakes a sudden embarrassing feeling and runs off stage amidst laughter from students. Daria, on the other hand, gives a small speech about self-esteem, concluding with a big thanks for her sister Quinn, in front of all their colleagues (taking revenge on earlier Quinn's statements that she is an only child). Quinn is furious Daria has addressed her in front of the whole school and, that evening, at home, she raves and drammatically declares she will lock herself in her room for the rest of the life, in typical teenage fashion. This decision, however, lasts only until she takes a call from another male student, Mathew, which immediately lifts her spirits.

Having graduated early from self-esteem class, Daria is able to convince her parents to spend even more time together: this time, they attend the UFO convention being held at Lawndale. While Daria is much at easy and Helen and Jake go along, Quinn refuses to enter the geeky space, until being contacted by Artie... by which she runs to be with her family.

The Daria Diaries

The events of "Esteemsters" are supplemented by entries from Daria’s notes, as given in The Daria Diaries, which detail the move to Lawndale and the barricading of Jane’s home to prevent its repossession.

"Esteemsters" and Fanfic
"Esteemsters" has a curious place in the hearts and minds of Daria fanfic writers. See "Esteemsters" and Daria Fanfic for an extensive discussion of this topic.