Jake of Hearts

"Jake of Hearts" was the ninth episode of the third season of Daria (episode number 309). It first aired on MTV on July 21st, 1999 and was written by Dan Vebber.

Summary
Jake has a mild heart attack and his mother, Ruth, comes to stay to help tend to him as he recovers. Meanwhile, Bing and the Spatula Man, two "morning zoo" DJs, arrive at Lawndale High, much to Daria's annoyance. Wacky yet poignant hijinks ensue.

Timeline headaches
Jake rants "[Dad] tried to mold me into a soldier, but did he ever let me have a G.I. Joe? Didn't want his boy playing with dolls, he said!", and that it wasn't a doll but "an action figure!". The original G.I. Joe came out in 1964, with the term "action figure" invented for it. If this happened before Jake went to military school (and it sounds like it did), then he has to go to Buxton Ridge Military Academy between 1964-8 and start at Middleton College in 1968, as "That Was Then, This Is Dumb" has him and Helen being arrested in August 1969. Unfortunately, "The Daria Diaries" has him lasting 'more than four years at Buxton and implying he was there at an earlier age than 14 (as does this episode, as he needs to learn how to shave at Buxton).

Alternatively, he wanted a G.I. Joe toy when he was at military school but then you have to wonder why.

"Jake of Hearts" and Fanfic
This episode was one of those that turned aside from disaster at the last moment, much as happened in "The Teachings of Don Jake" and "Boxing Daria." Jake's heart attack has reappeared in many fanfics. In alternate-universe stories, it is often fatal; in post-canon tales, a subsequent heart attack is nearly always fatal.

Trivia

 * When Bing and Spatula first corner Daria & Jane, they're followed by a crowd of background characters - Jennifer and "Red Cap" act like they're mugging for the camera. Except there is no camera. Unless... they're trying to get our attention...


 * Quinn's Jake-like quip of "Darn gallbladder" shows that she has some of her father's personality traits.


 * Mr. O'Neill's is quoting Hamlet in his class.