Ep 7. Dan Vs. Traffic

Dan Vs. Traffic is the seventh episode of the first season of the American animated television series Dan Vs. The episode follows the show's titular character, Dan, as he takes on his biggest challenge yet: Los Angeles traffic.

As the episode begins, Dan is seen driving in his car on a busy freeway, grumbling about the terrible traffic that surrounds him. He is determined to make it to a job interview on time, but as he creeps along at a snail's pace, his frustration boils over. He begins to curse, yell, and honk his horn, much to the annoyance of the other drivers around him.

Dan's anger is not without cause, however. As we soon learn, he has been laid off from his previous job and is desperate to find new employment. The interview he is headed to is his last chance to turn things around. But with the traffic at a standstill, it seems like he may never make it there.

As he sits in his car, stewing with anger and frustration, Dan notices a man in a flashy sports car speeding past him in the carpool lane. This inspires him to take matters into his own hands and create his own carpool lane, despite the fact that he is driving alone. He decides to use a discarded mannequin from a nearby store as his "carpool buddy," dressing it in a disguise and propping it up in the passenger seat.

With his new "friend" by his side, Dan sets out to conquer the traffic. He proceeds to drive recklessly, weaving in and out of lanes and generally causing chaos on the road. His actions provoke the anger of other drivers, who begin to honk, curse, and even chase him. But Dan remains undeterred, convinced that he is the rightful king of the road.

Throughout the episode, Dan's misadventures on the freeway are interspersed with scenes of his friend Chris (who is also unemployed) attempting to navigate the city's public transportation system. Chris's experiences are presented as a hilarious alternative to Dan's road rage, as he struggles to read maps, ride buses, and deal with surly bus drivers. But despite the comedic tone of Chris's journey, it also serves to highlight the absurdity of the various systems we rely on to get around.

Meanwhile, back on the freeway, Dan's reckless driving has caught the attention of the police. A high-speed chase ensues, with Dan careening through the streets in a desperate attempt to avoid arrest. Eventually, he crashes his car into a police blockade and is taken into custody.

In the end, Dan misses his job interview and is left to reflect on the destructive nature of his own anger. Through his misadventures on the road, he learns that taking out his frustrations on others only leads to more problems in the long run. He resolves to change his ways and find a more constructive outlet for his emotions.

Dan Vs. Traffic is a hilariously satirical take on the frustrations of modern transportation, particularly the nightmare of rush-hour traffic. Throughout the episode, the show's creators use absurdity and humor to highlight the absurdity of navigating complex systems, whether by car or by public transportation. The episode effectively skewers the ways in which our reliance on technology, infrastructure, and societal norms can turn us into angry, irrational beasts. By the end of the episode, Dan has learned an important lesson about the importance of patience, empathy, and self-reflection.