Kevin Thompson: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Kevin destroys DeMartino.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Kevin destroys DeMartino's joy for teaching and will to leave in just five seconds ("[[Lucky Strike]]")]]

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He has an extremely cheery and friendly personality, never showing any malicious attempt and - unique for a star quarterback character in a outcast-centred story - is never shown to be a bully. He generally wanders through life with an oblivious smile.

His parents had him when they were still in high school, an unplanned event. They dote on him, with his mother thinking Brittany isn't good enough for him (and afraid she'll get pregnant and prevent him going to college). Family photos in "[[The Daria Database]]" show a baby Kevin with little baby footballs (''even when he seems newborn'') - his father was a high school football player who couldn't do it professionally, and is very keen on Kevin playing and getting state championships.

"[[Mart of Darkness]]" would present him as his parents' first child. (Kevin refers to having "big brothers" in college in "[[College Bored]]", but he could be speaking about the members of the fraternity he was visiting that day.)

His parents had him when they were still in high school, an unplanned event. They dote on him, with his mother thinking Brittany isn't good enough for him (and afraid she'll get pregnant and prevent him going to college). Family photos in "[[The Daria Database]]" show a baby Kevin with little baby footballs (''even when he seems newborn'') - his father was a high school football player who couldn't do it professionally, and is very keen on Kevin playing and getting state championships. "[[Mart of Darkness]]" would present him as his parents' first child. (Kevin refers to having "big brothers" in college in "[[College Bored]]", but he could be speaking about the members of the fraternity he was visiting that day.)

He was exaggeratedly dimwitted and was one of many extreme personalities used to balance the main character's lack of enthusiasm, as well as justify her cynicism and give her a target for sarcastic remarks. Some episodes showed that Kevin can be confused simply by asking him if he's sure or knows the answer, ''even if it's something he does actually know'' - in "[[Fair Enough]]", he never twigged that he wasn't being taken to school because [[Brittany]] just asked him "are you sure?" and Kevin immediately got confused. Once, when Mack asked Kevin is what he says ever makes any sense to ''himself'', Kevin happily replied "sometimes!". ("[[I Don't]]")

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He makes it through school entirely on the basis of getting "byes" on tests, at [[Angela Li|Principal Li's]] command: he's viewed as too important to the football team to have to worry about silly things like learning ("[[Mart of Darkness]]", "[[See Jane Run]]"). Kevin's father takes the same view, believing football and the state championship are more important goals; his mother, however, wants Kevin to go to college. Football consumes Kevin's life, to the extent that in "[[The F Word]]" and "[[A Tree Grows in Lawndale]]", he became completely despondent and depressed when he was rendered unable to play; in the latter's case, he wouldn't even drink sports drinks (as they're "for sportsmen").

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He has an extremely cheery and friendly personality, never showing any malicious attempt and - unique for a star quarterback character in a outcast-centred story - is never shown to be a bully. He generally wanders through life with an oblivious smile.

A career aptitude test in "[[It Happened One Nut]]" revealed, to Kevin's horror, that he'd likely be working at a gas station for the rest of his life. To his credit, he went out looking for a part-time job to ensure that wouldn't happen; unfortunately, he sucked at the job.

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Other interests he has include typical male activities like drinking and things with explosions & violence, as well as [[Ratboy]] comics; "[[Monster]]" reveals he also likes the Rocky Horror Picture Show (but is terrified by subtitled films); "[[Road Worrier]]" had him going to [[Alternapalooza]], an alternative rock concert. He appeared to have some natural skill with acting, as he managed to land a part in a play without realising in "Fair Enough"; "A Tree Grows" also showed him to have a rapport with young children.

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He makes it through school entirely on the basis of getting "byes" on tests, at [[Angela Li|Principal Li's]] command: he's viewed as too important to the football team to have to worry about silly things like learning ("[[Mart of Darkness]]", "[[See Jane Run]]"). Kevin's father takes the same view, believing football and the state championship are more important goals; his mother, however, wants Kevin to go to college. Football consumes Kevin's life, to the extent that in "[[The F Word]]" and "[[A Tree Grows in Lawndale]]", he became completely despondent and depressed when he was rendered unable to play; in the latter's case, he wouldn't even drink sports drinks (as they're "for sportsmen").

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Other interests include typical male activities like drinking and things with explosions & violence, as well as [[Ratboy]] comics; "[[Monster]]" reveals he also likes the Rocky Horror Picture Show (but is terrified by subtitled films); "[[Road Worrier]]" had him going to [[Alternapalooza]], an alternative rock concert. He appeared to have some natural skill with acting, as he managed to land a part in a play without realising in "Fair Enough"; "A Tree Grows" also showed him to have a rapport with young children.

To Daria's annoyance, Kevin keeps getting placed in situations with her or deliberately coming over to engage in small talk. He doesn't understand most of her insults and doesn't seem capable of realising he's being insulting when he cheerfully refers to her lack of popularity. Despite this, he seems to view her as a sort-of friend, in "[[The Big House]]" and "[[Ill]]", being concerned for her welfare, and asking her advice on frequent occasions. In "[[Partner's Complaint]]" though, he panicked at the idea of hanging out with Daria for any length of time.

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He views [[Mack]] as his main "bro" and the two are constantly hanging out. Despite frequent complaints, he still hasn't worked out Mack doesn't like being called "Mack Daddy".

In a running gag, Kevin's extreme stupidity drives teacher [[Anthony DeMartino]] to enraged despair: at one point he ''strangled'' Kevin. Being Kevin, he seems completely oblivious to how much DeMartino loathes him and takes the teacher's vicious barbs at cheery face value. Science teacher [[Janet Barch]] once tried to destroy Kevin's self esteem and happiness in "[[Too Cute]]" by making him disguise himself as ugly as a 'class assignment'.

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He views [[Mack]] as his main "bro" and the two are constantly hanging out. Despite frequent complaints, he still hasn't worked out Mack doesn't like being called "Mack Daddy".

In the ''Daria'' telemovie/finale, ''[[Is It College Yet?]],'' Kevin was the only character among Daria's classmates who did not graduate: his low grades meant he had to repeat his senior year. He was embarrassed by this and tried to keep it secret.