The Lab Brat: Difference between revisions

At [[Lawndale High]], during science class, [[Janet Barch]] presents a lesson on acquired behavior oninvolving a lab rat, interlopedinterspersed with showscomments ofregarding her hatred of men and descriptions of how she had been left by her husband. TheMs. teacher’sBarch's dislike of males isextends shownto extended even toher male students while, on the other hand, she praises [[Daria Morgendorffer|Daria’s]] imaginative answer to a question. She concludes the lesson by assigning teams of students for a home project, consisting onof training a rat to run through a maze. Daria is paired with [[Kevin Thompson|Kevin]] and [[Brittany Taylor|Brittany]] is paired with [[Charles "Upchuck" Ruttheimer III|Upchuck]].

That evening, at the Morgendorffer’s, [[Helen Morgendorffer|Helen]] asks her daughters about their day and Daria’s upcoming project, commenting that associating with Kevin could help Daria socially and ignoring Daria’s comments on Helen's lack of sincerity. Kevin arrives shortly afterafterwards and Daria distracts him from the project by turning on the Pigskin Channel, while she retires to the garage to work.

Meanwhile, Brittany has arrived to Upchuck’s house under a heavy disguise. She warns him not to get ideas about her presence, but is blackmailed by Charles (with a photograph of her and OaklandOakwood's QB in a compromising position) into doing his personal chores.

At the Morgendorffers, Kevin continues to watch football in the TV and is oblivious of Quinn's flirting and continuous servingservitude. Quinn seems intent on her efforts to seduce Kevin, even refusing Brittany's entrance to the Morgendorffers. Kevin eventually goes to the garage (breaking part of the maze Daria had already built) where he and Daria are surprised by Brittany, who quickly deduces Kevin hadn't been working and thus must have been seduced by both Morgendorffer sisters.

AtThe anothernext day, as Daria and Jane are discussing pastrecent events at pizzaPizza kingKing, they are interrupted by Kevin (intending on arranging another visit to work/watch TV), Brittany (who tells Daria to stop seducing Kevin) and [[Three Js]] (who are in awe of Kevin and try to pick Daria up).

Brittany, meanwhile, plans and kidnaps the mouse used by Daria, passingleaving it on toin her brother [[Brian Taylor|Brian's]] (lack of) care and intending on exchanging it for Kevin (who by now is believed to be dating ''both'' Morgendorffer sisters). The next day, at school, Daria is able to trick Brittany into returning the mouse for Kevin. However, its staytreatment atby Brittany'sBrian has left it traumatized and worthless for the project.

The day the presentation of the science project comes: Upchuck has built an elaborate maze and trained the mouse, but Barch's refusal to let him speak and Brittany's ignorance of the project (as she had been too busy slaving for Upchuck and spying on Kevin) cause both to fail. As to Daria, she makes an insightful presentation on the mouse's fear as negative reinforcement, playing on the teacher's neuroses, and earns a top grade - whetherwhile Kevin, who had been mute and striking poses during Daria's speech, barely receives a passing grade (which he still considers cause for celebration).

Janet Barch's rants and extreme misandry, which constitute the basis for the character and would be developed in later episodes, arehave almostbecome always displayed in Daria Fanfictionsynonymous with this character in fanfiction.

HelenQuinn's beinglong theand recipientinvolved descriptions of, Quinn'sto winningthe andrest extremeof boringthe descriptionsfamily, ofmundane experiences in her daylife, havingcausing almostHelen to practically plead for Daria to talk to her, has been ana usualcommon portrayal of the ubiquitous dinner scene in some fanfictionDaria worksfanfic.