Through a Lens Darkly

"Through a Lens Darkly" was the first episode of the third season of the Daria TV series (episode number 301). It first aired on MTV on February 24, 1999. It was not, however, the first episode aired. "Daria!," whose production number was episode 307, was aired one week prior on February 17, 1999.

The title is a play on the phrase "through a glass, darkly", from 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Summary
An almost incident while Daria is practicing driving reveals that she can’t see too well on the side, as her heavy glass frames block the vision. This prompts Helen to insist she try contact lenses, an idea Daria first scorns at, because she thinks her mother only wants her to look more attractive. Helen, however, is able to shoot down her arguments.

Daria, confused, seeks advice from others: Jane is skeptic of the idea, stating glasses are part of Daria’s identity; Quinn is first delighted Daria has come to her for advice, but misunderstands her sister’s request and launches in a long and useless speech describing everything Daria should change on her appearance, prompting the later to flee; finally, Daria phones and gets good advice from her glass-wearing aunt Amy, who points out that using contact lenses is no vanity, only an option to have a slightly different appearance. This sets Daria’s mind to visit an ophthalmologist and purchase them.

The next day, Daria wears her new contact lenses instead of her glasses, eliciting reactions from colleagues and teachers: Jane thinks she looks cool; O’Neill and Mr. Li, after first failing to recognize her, are delighted and make enthusiastic comments. Daria tries to downplay her appearance by stating they are for driving, but is stuck dumb when asked why she’s using them in school then. Later, Kevin and Brittany also compliment Daria’s new look.

However, the contact lenses are very irritating to wear, so Daria takes them just as the school day ends, needing help from Jane to walk home. That night, Daria has a nightmare in which her reflection is monstrous and distorted.

The next day, with her eyes still sensitive, Daria decides not to put the contacts on and also not to wear glasses. The resulting lack of vision causes her to keep bumping into colleagues in school. At lunch, a conversation with Kevin, who had decided to start wearing glasses to “be a little smarter”, makes Jane realize Daria is not wearing glasses nor contacts. She is pleasantly surprised but Daria flees in self-disgust at being found out.

Jane and Jodie find Daria hidden in a stall in the bathroom and try to bring her out, pointing that a little vanity is nothing wrong and that Daria holds herself to a too high standard, but Daria refuses to leave, feeling ashamed and a hypocrite. It is Brittany that inadvertently brings her out when she comments that Daria caring about her appearance makes the blond cheerleader feel more at ease with her lack of intelligence, as they are just all human. Daria accepts that and leaves the stall. Jodie and Jane are struck at Brittany’s insight.

Later that day Daria and Jane talk about glasses and appearances. Daria comments that she is confused and wants her glasses back: she says she knows her glasses mark her out as different but, more importantly for her, she thinks that she has the capacity to 'see' things better than most people "so to hell with them and what they think of you and your glasses". She says she prefers herself that way to caring about her appearance.

Unfortunately, Daria won't have all afternoon to figure out how to tell her mother she's dumping the contacts: Helen just arrived for an unscheduled driving lesson, right as a man is walking a group of dogs...

Trivia

 * This episode was voted the best episode of Daria by fans in the Daria Tournament of Champions back in 2002-3.


 * In the Beavis And Butt-Head episode "Spare Me" it is revealed that Daria knows how to change a flat tire, she probably was taught that at Highland High's Driving Ed class which appeared in the episode "Safe Driving", so it's possible that Daria had earlier experience with learning how to drive a car. Still it took her until "Speedtrapped" until she fully mastered it to the point that she got her license.


 * This is the second appearance of Amy Barksdale, and the only time the inside of her home is shown.


 * Outside of Quinn, Daria had rarely had her appearance attacked (to her face) at Lawndale High. Issues of Beavis and Butt-head, however, would have Beavis and Butt-head regularly making disparaging remarks, twice genuinely angering her.


 * Coincidentally, this episode aired during the theatrical run of She's All That: a film centred around an unpopular, "unattractive" girl gaining popularity and happiness after having a makeover, including using contacts instead of glasses. (This is a recurring trope in American romantic comedies and teen dramas) Twelve years later, internet review The Nostalgia Chick would compare the episode with the film, finding both that Daria was a more believable misanthrope than All That's Laney and that Lens lacks the film's implications that conformity will lead to happiness.

Daria's Reading Material
Throughout the episode, Daria is shown reading The Chess Garden by Brooks Hansen.

"Through a Lens Darkly" and Fanfic

 * Daria having issues with her appearance would prove fodder for many a fanfic.


 * Several alternate universe fanfics have done alternate versions of this story, including Finn Morgendorffer and The Hallowed Halls of Fielding.


 * Wouter Jaegers' Dariarotica comic, "Through a Webcam Lens Darkly," parodies the title of the episode.
 * And in Wouter's story "Growing pains" Daria relates Jane's difficulty with a late growth spurt to her contact lens adventure citing that "Accepting vanity required small steps" with Jane going "Yes, yes, I can recall your 'Through a lens darkly' adventure."

On “Through a Lens Darkly” the Episode

 * “Through a Lens Darkly” summary at Outpost Daria
 * “Through a Lens Darkly” transcript at Outpost Daria

Alternate-Universe Versions of “Through a Lens Darkly”

 * The chapter Lessons of the John Lane series, by Richard Lobinske, focus on Daria and John practicing driving.

Alternate Canon Versions of “Through a Lens Darkly”
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