Driven Wild Universe: Difference between revisions

Related to the "Life is Never Easy" theme is the idea that life is a continuous struggle that you have to be willing to engage in so as to get the best out of it. Even "redeemed" characters are neither perfect nor permanently redeemed. One obvious example is the coupling of Amy and Joel; although they appear to be closer by the end of "Memory Road," it would be a mistake to assume that they wereare headed for an untroubled life. In the unfinished novella, <i>The Winter Chill</i> (a sequel to the Driven Wild Universe), stong hints are left that Amy is feeling overwhelmed by her new life with Joel and their child. Another example within the Driven Wild Universe is Helen's new self discovery. While one would think that after separating from Jake, she might revel in her newfound freedom and independence, she is instead fearful and sad, and more focused on keeping things normal than on sculpting or dating. That is not to say that Helen will never find happiness, and there are signs that she is adapting to single life toward the end of "Tomorrow Never Knows." Wild finds "happily ever afters" to be boring and unrealistic, and is bothered by the number of episodes in <i>Daria</i> Seasons Four and Five that suggest a character has achieved a permanent state of happiness or maturity (such as suddenly newly mature Quinn of "Lucky Strike").