The Beginning of the End of the Beginning

It was, alas, the first episode of the final season of Daria. "Fizz Ed" aired eight years ago tonight on MTV. Right after IICY? however, the fandom entered Stage Two: Never Say Die.

What puzzles me is that a lot of people don't like "Fizz Ed." I do, very much. It was an excellent way of showcasing Daria's life changes, going from someone who bitches all the time to someone who takes a stand and tries to change things. Her victory over the system was a qualified one, but it greatly benefited her school and her fellow students. It was the old "Daria Triumphant" idea brought to a new level.

The DariaWiki page for this episode needs some tweaking and more discussion, plus pictures. Wanna help?

Anyway, good job, you MTV folks.

Nine years ago today, Kara Wild finished "The Off-Canon Approach," an essay on fanfiction. She has since rethought the issue.

OUTPOST DARIA has updated! Sorry I missed this one before. Got sidetracked.

Father Martin is still tempting couch-potato Daria fans to throw off their chains of lethargy and fly to Hong Kong for a Dariacon. If you yield easily to temptation, by all means read the thread.

DariaWiki has a legion of supporters this week. Cheers go out to João Paulo Costa, BlackHole, Doggieboy, Disco316, Derek, Richard Lobinske, Brother Grimace, and Nighthawk for their superb work. The latest page: Korallrahu. NO! WAIT! It's Happy Herb.

1,159 fans at the Daria Fan Club. Do it to it!

ART NEWS: Go see Wouter's new image of Daria as Avatar. I have no idea who Avatar is, however.

Prince Charon has unleashed Iron Chef: Daria is Raven's Apprentice on PPMB. Daria is naked. Not her fault, though.


FF.net

• Daria and Jane Go to the Moon, by Echopapa (Part 2): Started in 2003, the story now continues! Hooray! To the Moon!
  
• Daria's New Look, by Stevenie Ellis (COMPLETE!): What if Daria examined her own relationship with her sister in the aftermath of Erin's wedding?
• Harry Butt-head, by Deep Metal (Part 2): “I don’t entirely like Butt-head being raised by such a narrow-minded family,” Van Driessen explained. “But this is for the best, mmkay?” [You know you want to read this. Daria is Hermione. Click the liiiiink. Click the liiiiiink....]
  
• John Lane 38: Yeah, It's Summer, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): "I kissed your boyfriend," said Alison. "I kissed John. Oh, right, and I kissed you, too."
• Liquid Diet, by Smileyfax (Part 5): "Now there's a sight you don't see every day," Jane said to Daria. They had entered the library on the off chance that there were any practical books on vampirism, and spotted Sandi Griffin at one of the tables, actually reading a book.
• Long Trek Home, by Ranger Thorne (continued): M’Kell tried to breath as the restraints tried to squeeze the air back out. “God . . . dess,” he managed to hiss.
• While the Bat's Away, by Echopapa (Part 1): The curtains of the darkened Gotham apartment window rustled briefly, marking the entrance of a shadow. After pulling the curtains closed, the shadow quietly crossed the room; a moment later, a lone table lamp was lit, revealing a cat-suited figure.

PPMB

• The Cynic and the Defender, by Doggieboy (Part 11): “I consider macaroni in chili to be an aberration,” Robert said.
• The Fall of the Angst Lords, Part 1: Rebels Without a Clue, by Gouka Ryuu (continued): Gouka continued to follow Petrel (who was also CINCGREEN) for nearly half an hour, going down main streets, side streets and alleys, and then doubling back around to make the same trip over again. They had gone in four different cycles around the city since they had left Nick’s Corner. Of course, this was to ensure that they were not being followed.
• The Other (Part 4): Jake Morgendorffer drove his two daughters to the local high school to start their academic year, saving them from the horror of walking the short distance and possibly getting sweaty. (Quinn was very insistent on this point.) They were still two blocks from their destination when Jake decided, against his better judgment, to give his daughters a quick pep talk.
• Size Does Matter, by BlackHole (Part 37): Her camouflaged beer in hand, Jane returned to the booth, just to find a familiar face occupying the seat opposite to hers. Her toy from the last Saturday was there again. Unsure what to do, Jane kept standing and waited for him to make the first move. (SFMB)
  
• Turnabout Confusion, Part II: All the King's Men, by Dennis (continued): Daria slipped into the school, heart pounding. Her mind flashed back to the momentous Friday of a couple of months ago. That day she had been a mostly innocent bystander, taken down by the plotting of others. This time she was if not the spinner, then at least at the very center of the web.