Ep 6. Monster

Daria season 2 episode 6, titled "Monster," follows the misadventures of Daria Morgendorffer and her best friend Jane Lane as they navigate the usual teenage drama that plagues their small suburban town. In this particular episode, the girls find themselves sucked into an all-consuming war between two rivaling cliques when they are inadvertently recruited by Quinn, Daria's popular fashion-forward sister.

As always, Daria is less than thrilled by Quinn's antics and can't believe she's gotten herself involved in such petty drama. Meanwhile, Jane is all about the opportunity to mix things up and observe the inner workings of a very particular breed of high schoolers. But things take a turn for the truly weird when they discover that the cliques aren't just jockeying for social dominance - they're actually battling over control of a mysterious "monster."

From here on out, Daria and Jane find themselves deep in the throes of this bizarre power struggle. With each side determined to emerge victorious, it's not long before Daria and Jane's lives are completely consumed by the monster battle. As they're pushed to their limits, they start to see that maybe there's something to be said for playing along with the social order - at least, if it means escaping the clutches of teenage horror.

"Monster" is a standout episode for Daria because it takes the usual high school drama and elevates it to new levels of absurdity. The titular monster is both the center of the cliques' struggle and a complete mystery, which amps up the stakes considerably. As Daria and Jane get more and more involved with the monster and its defenders, they find themselves questioning everything they thought they knew about high school hierarchy and the shaky foundations of popularity.

The episode is full of Daria's signature deadpan humor, as well as some surprisingly sharp commentary on the destructiveness of cliques and conformity. Daria, as always, is our antihero through it all - still managing to maintain her detached cool even as she navigates the madness of high school politics. The plot itself is fast-paced and engaging, with some truly hilarious moments as the girls try to outsmart both sides and emerge unscathed.

In the end, "Monster" is a quintessential episode of Daria that manages to be both hilarious and poignant. As we watch Daria and Jane navigate the minefield of teenage social life, we can't help but root for them to come out on top - even as we recognize the futility and madness of the competition they're wrapped up in. With killer humor and some surprisingly insightful observations, "Monster" is a standout episode of this beloved series.