Driven Wild Universe: Difference between revisions
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The other major plotline of the Driven Wild Universe revolves around the changes in Helen's character, particularly her growing self awareness. Whereas Helen in the series proper shows only occasional glimpses of self doubt, Helen in the DWU is forced to regularly confront her growing dissatisfaction with her family life and career. The plotline is set in motion with Amy's visit in "[[The Tie That Chokes]]," where Amy's easy rapport with Daria provokes unexpected, intense jealousy within Helen. Helen finally admits to Amy and herself that her relationship with Daria is not what she wants it to be, and resentment toward Daria for her chilly attitude reaches an exploding point in "[[That Thing You Say]]." Even after Helen and Daria work things out, their relationship is not what Helen wants it to be, until Daria suggests that maybe the problem isn't the relationship so much as Helen's own sense of satisfaction, the lack of which might have a different cause. A bet with Daria leads Helen to join [[Amanda Lane]]'s art class ("[[Breaking the Mold]]"), which opens her up to creative possibilities that she never imagined. Feeling more at peace with herself than she has for a long time, Helen experiences just one sour note when she sees Jake's lack of interest. Their marriage hit a major speed bump in "[[None in the Family]]," but appeared to be smoothed over until this new development. As Helen commits herself to sculpting with passion, the gulf between her and Jake keeps widening. |
The other major plotline of the Driven Wild Universe revolves around the changes in Helen's character, particularly her growing self awareness. Whereas Helen in the series proper shows only occasional glimpses of self doubt, Helen in the DWU is forced to regularly confront her growing dissatisfaction with her family life and career. The plotline is set in motion with Amy's visit in "[[The Tie That Chokes]]," where Amy's easy rapport with Daria provokes unexpected, intense jealousy within Helen. Helen finally admits to Amy and herself that her relationship with Daria is not what she wants it to be, and resentment toward Daria for her chilly attitude reaches an exploding point in "[[That Thing You Say]]." Even after Helen and Daria work things out, their relationship is not what Helen wants it to be, until Daria suggests that maybe the problem isn't the relationship so much as Helen's own sense of satisfaction, the lack of which might have a different cause. A bet with Daria leads Helen to join [[Amanda Lane]]'s art class ("[[Breaking the Mold]]"), which opens her up to creative possibilities that she never imagined. Feeling more at peace with herself than she has for a long time, Helen experiences just one sour note when she sees Jake's lack of interest. Their marriage hit a major speed bump in "[[None in the Family]]," but appeared to be smoothed over until this new development. As Helen commits herself to sculpting with passion, the gulf between her and Jake keeps widening. |
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Unable to see Helen as anything other than a confident, controlling lawyer type, Jake frets that he will lose her. He views [[Greg Valmont]], Helen's sculpting instructor, whom she met in "Breaking the Mold," as his rival and joins Helen's sculpting class to keep an eye on him ("[[An Uneasy Marriage]] |
Unable to see Helen as anything other than a confident, controlling lawyer type, Jake frets that he will lose her. He views [[Greg Valmont]], Helen's sculpting instructor, whom she met in "Breaking the Mold," as his rival and joins Helen's sculpting class to keep an eye on him ("[[An Uneasy Marriage]]") Yet Jake's own enthusiasm for sculpting, coupled with his growing friendship with Anthony DeMartino, exposes to Helen just how wide the rift with Jake has grown. Tearfully, she confides in Greg, and Jake's worst fears are confirmed when Helen and Greg share an impulsive kiss. Filled with guilt and fearful of the implications, Helen starts to break down at home and at work. Emotionally absent at home, she is unable to focus on her job until strong hints that she will be fired ("[[All But Forgotten]]") prompt her to survey her life and finally flee to Amy's apartment for some much-needed perspective. After talking to (and fighting with) Amy in "[[Memory Road]]," Helen returns home to confess to Jake. However, it turns out that Jake is not innocent, either. In "All But Forgotten," Daria and Quinn learn that Jake's friendship with DeMartino instilled him with enough confidence that he started teaching classes at a community center; in "Memory Road," they learn that Jake became closer to one of his students and has come very close to committing adultery. Once Helen and Jake confess everything to one another, they agree to separate, believing that it will give them the chance to find out if they still belong together. |
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After the separation, Helen's confidence remains at a low point, and she is far less concerned with finding herself than she is with restoring some normalcy to her family life. However, as Daria and Quinn's (especially Quinn's) anger confronts her on a daily basis, she wonders whether separation was the right step. Not until Daria comes to her with a crisis ("Tomorrow Never Knows") and Quinn forgives her does she regain her confidence when it is most needed, and is finally able to look toward building a new life. |
After the separation, Helen's confidence remains at a low point, and she is far less concerned with finding herself than she is with restoring some normalcy to her family life. However, as Daria and Quinn's (especially Quinn's) anger confronts her on a daily basis, she wonders whether separation was the right step. Not until Daria comes to her with a crisis ("Tomorrow Never Knows") and Quinn forgives her does she regain her confidence when it is most needed, and is finally able to look toward building a new life. |
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