I Don't

	I Don't
Production Number	204
Original Airdate	March 9, 1998
Special Guest Voices
Written By	Peter Gaffney
Directed By	Tony Kluck

“I Don't” was the fourth episode of the second season of Daria (episode number 204). It first aired on MTV on March 9, 1998. Amy Barksdale, Erin, Brian Danielson, Rita Barksdale, Paul Meyerson, Daphne, Garret and Luhrman made their first (and, in some cases, only) appearances here.

"I Don't" was written by Peter Gaffney.

Plot Summary

Daria’s cousin, Erin, is getting married and the Morgendorffers are invited. The news and the invitation open up Helen’s old wounds regarding her family, specifically her resentment regarding their mother’s perceived favoritism towards Rita, the bride’s mother.

Daria and Quinn are to serve as bridesmaids, so Daria has to go downtown to try and fit a bridesmaid dress, being humiliated by an ill-tempered sales women and the fact that Quinn looks lovely in her dress. At the shop, she meets Jodie and Brittany, who are preparing an extra-curriculum appearance at a bridal expo.

The wedding takes place at the Windsor Hills, a luxury resort place. The Morgendorffers meet Rita and, a few moments later, Aunt Amy arrives. The later immediately starts throwing verbal barbs at her sisters, Jake and even Paul, Rita's current beau. She compliments only Daria when the later reveals the same use of sarcastic humor. Later, Daria and Quinn are received by the other bridesmaids and presented to their escorts. Daria’s is Luhrman, a seemingly bored young man who snipes away at her attempts of conversation, while Garret, Quinn’s escort, immediately fawns over her.The wedding ceremony goes without a glitch, except when Amy provokes Daria’s laugh by doing faces at her at a particularly emotional part of the sermon.

At the same time, in Lawndale at the bride expo, Mack and Kevin have sneaked in to watch their respective girlfriends, despite Mack’s worries that Jodie and Brittany wouldn’t want them there. This proofs correct when Kevin makes himself noticed when Brittany’s on stage, provoking her walking off in disgust and later berating him.

Meanwhile, the wedding reception is now taking place: Jake and Paul, who had known each other previously form boy scouts, talk about their respective spouses. Daria amuses herself by telling outlandish stories about her fictional occupations to the credulous bridesmaids. Luhrman shows himself to be even more cynical than Daria, though he discreetly helps Daria with her stories. Erin and her groom Brian make the rounds, with the bride only too eager to reveal Brian's work in government intelligence. Later, Daria has a private talk with Amy at the restroom, with her aunt telling some childhood memories and that she tries to handle her sisters using sarcasm.

At the head table, however, a drunk Helen starts loudly complaining about the wedding costs and the favoritism their mother is showing, first to Rita and now to Erin. The rant bring the attention of the whole family and quickly escalates into a fight. Meanwhile, the minister’s continuous attempts to hit on Quinn eventually draw the ire of Garret, and, after a few harsh words, the two start throwing punches (to Quinn’s delight). The two fights degenerate in a full scale brawl that trashes the reception.

Daria and Amy, seeing the carnage enfold, make a discreet escape to a nearby bowling alley, where they continue to talk and bond. They find Brian there, also escaping from the fight, but take no notice of him.

At the end of the night, at what remains of the reception, Helen and Rita end up drunkenly proclaiming their eternal love, Paul is able to bribe the police away and Jake finally has some fun when he goes golfing in the middle of the night.

“I Don't” and Fanfic

This episode introduced the character of Aunt Amy, who has, despite her small role in the actual series, become a very, very, very common character in fan fiction. A list all of the fan fiction that uses her, in one fashion or another, would reach from here to Hell.

The threat that Daria will kill Jane and bury her with her bridesmaid dress, often quoted in fanfiction, comes from this episode, specifically as a response to Jane's teasing in seeing Daria in the mentioned dress.

External Links

On “I Don't” the Episode

Episode Guide at Outpost Daria
Transcript at Outpost Daria

Alternate Universe Versions of “I Don't”

Preceded by Quinn the Brain (203)	Daria Episodes "I Don't," Season 2 Episode 4 (204)	Succeeded by That Was Then, This Is Dumb

I Don't

Production Number	204
Original Airdate	March 9, 1998
Special Guest Voices
Written By	Peter Gaffney
Directed By	Tony Kluck