Off-Canon Canon: Difference between revisions

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==Fantasy Episodes and Scenes==

Though ''Daria'' was a fairly realistic animated show, certain episodes raised the ire of fans because their treatment of reality was regarded as cavalier. Six episodes in particular, from the third and fourth seasons, are often assumed by sticklers for "realistic canon" to be events that never actually occurred. Some fanfic writers assume they were dreams, hallucinations brought on by a variety of ailments, or fictional works created by one of the show's characters, usually [[Daria Morgendorffer]]. (One of the episodes below actually ''was'' a dream.) A few stories, nearly always fantasies like "[[Deus Jane]]," assume most of these events occurred exactly as shown.

Though ''Daria'' was a fairly realistic animated show, certain episodes raised the ire of fans because their treatment of reality was regarded as cavalier. Six episodes in particular, from the third and fourth seasons, are often assumed by sticklers for "realistic canon" to be events that never actually occurred. Some fanfic writers assume they were dreams, hallucinations brought on by a variety of ailments, or fictional works created by one of the show's characters, usually [[Daria Morgendorffer]]. (One of the episodes below actually ''was'' a dream.) A few stories, nearly always fantasies like "[[Deus Jane]]," assume most of these events occurred exactly as shown. The fact all these episodes were shown '''after''' Write Where It Hurts supports the "Daria's wrightings" explanation.

=== “[[Depth Takes a Holiday]]”===

This is the most notorious of the fantasy episodes, in which various popular holidays appear as [[Holiday Island]] teenagers, wandering around [[Lawndale]] and interacting with Daria, Jane, and others. In the [[Last Summer]] tale, "[[Comforting a Confused Soul]]," [[Richard Lobinske]] has Daria write a short story called "Depth Takes a Holiday," which follows the episode as given. (In the succeeding [[Falling Into College]] series, Daria even dresses up as the character [[Halloween (character)|Halloween]] for a party.) [[Kara Wild|Kara Wild's]] second fanfic, "[[A Desperately Needed Ending (to "Depth Takes a Holiday")]]," speculated that Daria ate a tainted piece of fruitcake at school, which led to a drug trip that produced the fantasy episode. However, some fantasy and science-fiction fanfics assume the dimensional wormhole in the back of the [[Good Time Chinese restaurant]] was real, leading to fairly wild universe-crossing tales (e.g., "[[Illusions]]," "[[Three]]," "[[Luuuv Story]]," "[[Scarlett (story)|Scarlett]]," and "[[A Hard Days' Night]]").

This is the most notorious of the fantasy episodes, in which various popular holidays appear as [[Holiday Island]] teenagers, wandering around [[Lawndale]] and interacting with Daria, Jane, and others. In the [[Last Summer]] tale, "[[Comforting a Confused Soul]]," [[Richard Lobinske]] has Daria write a short story called "Depth Takes a Holiday," which follows the episode as given. (In the succeeding [[Falling Into College]] series, Daria even dresses up as the character [[Halloween (character)|Halloween]] for a party.) [[Kara Wild|Kara Wild's]] second fanfic, "[[A Desperately Needed Ending (to "Depth Takes a Holiday")]]," speculated that Daria ate a tainted piece of fruitcake at school, which led to a drug trip that produced the fantasy episode. However, some fantasy and science-fiction fanfics assume the dimensional wormhole in the back of the [[Good Time Chinese restaurant]] was real, leading to fairly wild universe-crossing tales (e.g., "[[Illusions]]," "[[Three]]," "[[Luuuv Story]]," "[[Scarlett (story)|Scarlett]]," and "[[A Hard Days' Night]]"). In this episode, Daria never reveals any knowledge about things she can't know. This makes the "Daria's writings" explanation perfect.

[[Image:quinnquinn.gif|left|frame|Quinn has a conversation with her reflection in "Daria!"]]

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A musical set during a hurricane? Daria and Jane dancing and singing? Again, most fanfic writers assume this did not actually occur. In [[Richard Lobinske|Richard Lobinske's]] story "[[Freshman Spread]]," Daria mentions that it was a dream of Trent's and, from the snippet of lyrics, had written down at least part of it. "[[A Hard Days' Night]]" suggests the episode happened as shown, but was caused by alien invaders spraying [[Lawndale]] with psychoactive chemicals before a hurricane swooped by.

In some ways this episode may be considered even more in violation of reality than "[[Depth Takes a Holiday]]" because the characters violate the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall fourth wall] and speak, sing, and dance directly for the audience, as if on a stage. They make eye contact with the audience in acknowledgment of their true status as animated characters. This does not occur in "Depth Takes a Holiday," which is a point in the latter's favor.

In some ways this episode may be considered even more in violation of reality than "[[Depth Takes a Holiday]]" because the characters violate the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall fourth wall] and speak, sing, and dance directly for the audience, as if on a stage. They make eye contact with the audience in acknowledgment of their true status as animated characters. This does not occur in "Depth Takes a Holiday," which is a point in the latter's favor. However, this episode can be explained by "Daria's writings" version, too: it explains everything from "singing Jane" to fourth wall violation.

=== “[[Murder, She Snored]]” ===

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=== “[[A Tree Grows in Lawndale]]” ===

The pink flower that sprouts from Kevin Thompson's "planted" crutch is a reality violation of the first order, though it does respond to the general theme in the episode about miracles occurring. One [[horror]] story that assumes this actually occurred is [[TAG]]'s "[[Sudden Death Overtime]]."

The pink flower that sprouts from Kevin Thompson's "planted" crutch is a reality violation of the first order, though it does respond to the general theme in the episode about miracles occurring. One [[horror]] story that assumes this actually occurred is [[TAG]]'s "[[Sudden Death Overtime]]." In this episode, we can see:

*An attempt to wipe every last memory about Thompson from the face of the planet.

*A sarcasm about people who pays too much attention to school football team.

*A sarcasm about teenagers of B&B's age who thinks about nothing but girls.

It's a safe bet this episode is a Daria's fictional work.

[[Image:teeth.gif|right|frame|Metalmouth's teeth on Helen's SUV, in "Legends of the Mall"]]

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=== “[[Legends of the Mall]]” ===

The steel teeth of [[Anthony DeMartino|Metalmouth]] hanging on the door handle of [[Helen Morgendorffer|Helen's]] SUV at the show's end were a problem for many viewers. Interestingly, Helen's SUV was, up until this time in the series, probably a Chevrolet Blazer, but hereafter turns into a Ford Explorer (another information conflict). Was she so upset at finding the teeth on her car that she bought a new vehicle? (For details, see [http://www.outpost-daria.com/transportation.html "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" by D. T. Dey], at [[Outpost Daria]].)

The "Daria's writings" explanation does not work here. It's hard to imagine Daria writing that "Spirit of the Nerdy Girl" story. It's possible Daria has collected all three stories but first one was told without her presence and Daria does not chat with Quinn enough to hear it from her. So most realistic explanation is:

*All conversations taken place in the Canon Universe.

*All stories were told, including the last one where Jane is mocking about Daria, probably giving her an innuendo about "Trent is here, stop being too quiet".

*Helen damaged her car and tells about it.

*A funny thing comes to Daria's mind: "Was it the Metalmouth?" - and this her imaginary scene is shown.

[[Image:angeldevil.gif|left|frame|Decisions, decisions, from "Lucky Strike"]]