Posted by CINCGREEN a) Happy with who they are, Given that, there are only two real candidated for "well-adjusted" characters. Mack is clearly #1. As a matter of fact, it sometimes serves as a problem in writing his character. He has no neuroses that we can obviously see, and doesn't really to do anything else but enjoy his time with Jodie and play football. Sure, he has problems -- not enough time with Jodie, Kevin calling him "Mack Daddy" all the time, but those problems have little to do with who or what he is. My next candidate is Upchuck. Note that I said, "well-adjusted", not "cognizant of reality". Yes, Upchuck is a pervy slimeball. But he seems pretty happy with being a pervy slimeball. He is just so cheerful and optimistic that he continues with his never-ending quest to creep out every girl in Lawndale in the event that one of them might agree to make out with him. No crippling self-doubt there. When Jodie and Daria have varying degrees of resentment for having to kiss ass to get the Wizard scholarship, Upchuck happily tells the interviewer anything he thinks he wants to hear. Unpleasant to be around, yes. But very happy. Daria was in the "well-adjusted category" for a little while until we began to see how screwed up she is. Jane seems to want to be someone else all the time. Kevin and Brittany fall to pieces any time their role as QB/cheerleader is threatened. Andrea doesn't want anyone to know that she works at Payday. Stacy is a basket case. Tiffany? Maybe, but she would have to have a brain to adjust to be "well-adjusted". Sandi seethes with jealousy. Quinn swings between happiness with her status and complete panic that something could impact her popularity...I wonder if she learned her coping skills from Daddy.
on January 5, 2005, 20:32:13
An interesting thought exercise: among all the major Daria characters, which ones would be considered the most "well-adjusted"? By well-adjusted, I mean:
b) Happy with what they're doing, and
c) Don't have any nagging self-doubt.
--CINCGREEN, 5 January 2005