Aunt Nauseam

"Aunt Nauseam" was the tenth episode of the fifth season of Daria (episode number 510). It first aired on MTV on June 4, 2001. This episode is frequently misspelled as "Aunt Nauseum."

"Aunt Nauseam" was written by Jacquelyn Reingold.

Summary
Helen is persuaded, against her better judgment, to handle Erin's (Helen's niece) divorce. (Erin was married two years prior, in I Don't. When Rita Barksdale (Erin's mom, Helen's estranged sister) comes to stay with the Morgendorffer family -- thus touching off the latest round of decades-old conflicts between them -- everyone reacts differently.  Jake runs away to have a long "lost weekend."  Daria reaches out to Aunt Amy, which proves to be an error in judgment.  Daria and Quinn seek to solidify their relationship.  And Daria begins acting strangely toward boyfriend Tom Sloane.

"Aunt Nauseam" and Fanfic

 * Daria mentions sarcastically that Amy came to "save the day" and showed herself to be no better than her sisters. Yet "I Don't" and "Through a Lens Darkly" gave no indication that the writers viewed Amy as a deux ex machina.  However, many fanfics did, such as C.E. Forman's "Quinntet".  The show's writers might have learned indirectly of Amy's popularity and challenged it in the show itself.


 * However, "Aunt Nauseam" was not the first time Amy was exposed as fallible. In Kara Wild's "None in the Family," Helen and Rita repeatedly take Amy to task for being distant and cold.

On “Aunt Nauseam” the Episode

 * "Aunt Nauseam" Summary in Outpost-Daria.
 * "Aunt Nauseam" Transcript in Outpost-Daria.

Alternate-Universe Versions of “Aunt Nauseam”
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Alternate Canon Versions of “Aunt Nauseam”
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