A binge guide to the series

Daria's best (and most skippable) episodes

While Daria left airwaves in 2002, the MTV series remains one of the more specific yet universal shows about being an American teenager. To freshen up on the series' most important moments, click through to our binge guide.

Season 1

Daria moved from Highland, Tex. (and Beavis and Butt-Head), to Lawndale, where she found brainless jocks, clueless teachers, mind-numbing classes...and a real best friend.

Must-Watch Episode: "The Invitation"

Jane persuaded Daria to come to a rager at cheerleader Brittany's house — the perfect introduction to the show's off-kilter take on high school social politics.

Skippable Episode: "Too Cute"

Quinn worried she might need plastic surgery to maximize her cuteness. Usually, when Daria skewed cutting, it was sharper than this.

Season 2

It was Daria and Jane against the world as they faced overbearing administrators, jerks with paintball guns, a faulty Ferris wheel at the medieval fair, and Quinn.

Must-Watch Episode: "Write Where It Hurts"

Come for Daria's amusing attempts at writing a short story; stay for the surprisingly touching, sincere conclusion. (It made even unflappable Helen cry.)

Skippable Episode: "That Was Then, This Is Dumb"

Exploring Jake and Helen's hippie past wasn't nearly as fun as exploring the wilds of Lawndale.

Season 3

Daria had to handle her driver's test and her father's heart attack — but her greatest challenge might have been coming to terms with her crush on Trent.

Must-Watch Episode: "Daria!"

The pro side of experimental Daria: this toe-tapping musical ep, featuring catchy tunes like "Morning in the 'Burbs" and "God, God, Dammit!"

Skippable Episode: "Depth Takes a Holiday"

The con side of experimental Daria: this special, in which Daria had to help the personifications of Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day. Quoth Daria: "Should I care that none of this makes any sense?"

Season 4

Things started to get serious between Jane and Tom, who began dating at the end of season 3. At first, Daria resented the guy — but it got complicated when she saw how much they had in common.

Must-Watch Episode: "Dye! Dye! My Darling"

Tom and Jane's breakup forced Daria and Tom to face their feelings for each other — and to take a step that would change Daria, Jane, and the show itself, for good.

Skippable Episode: "Legends of the Mall"

A series of vignettes told in the form of urban legends recited by three separate characters. Amusing, but the very definition of filler.

Is It Fall Yet?

After four years of 11th grade, Daria's timeline moved forward via this 75-minute special, in which Daria takes a summer job as a camp counselor and Quinn realizes she's smarter than she thought she was — thanks to a tutor voiced by Carson Daly.

Season 5

Senior year at Lawndale brought big changes: Daria and Tom were officially a thing, Jane and her best pal reached an uneasy truce, and college was looming.

Must-Watch Episode: "Lucky Strike"

A teachers' strike thrusted Daria to the front of the classroom, where she found herself forging an unlikely bond with Quinn — who finally called D her "sister" in front of the Fashion Club.

Skippable Episode: "Camp Fear"

Hey, did you know Quinn was popular and Daria wasn't? If not, this camp-reunion-set episode reinforced that old dynamic — one the show should've moved past by this point.

Is It College Yet?

The end of Daria's high school career — and all of her college angst — gets bundled into the series finale, a model all TV writers should study when trying to craft a satisfying conclusion.

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