Ep 6. I Loathe a Parade

Daria season 4 episode 6, titled "I Loathe a Parade," is another clever and biting commentary on the mundane and ridiculous aspects of everyday life. As usual, Daria and her best friend Jane are the sharp-witted commentators on everything they encounter, and in this episode, they set their sights on the annual Lawndale parade.

The episode opens with Daria and Jane discussing their summer plans, which include the parade and its requisite marching bands, floats, and beauty pageants. Daria, predictably, is less than thrilled at the prospect of attending a parade, but Jane insists that it will be an opportunity to mock the "pomp and circumstance" of the event. Once they arrive at the parade, however, the two quickly realize that their plan to be snarky observers is easier said than done.

The parade is a hot, crowded mess, with Daria and Jane jostling for space amongst the crowds and competing with other spectators to catch glimpses of the passing floats. Daria's pessimism is only amplified when she learns that her younger sister Quinn is participating in the parade as a member of the local cheerleading squad.

As the parade progresses, Daria and Jane find themselves drawn into its absurdity, mocking the over-the-top pageantry of the beauty queen contestants and the cheesy float themes. They also take notice of a group of anti-parade protesters, who are staging a small demonstration on the sidelines of the event. At first, Daria and Jane dismiss the protesters as a bunch of bored, privileged kids looking for a cause to latch onto. But as the episode continues, they begin to see the group's point of view and start to understand their frustration and anger towards the parade and the society it represents.

The episode's climax comes when the parade is interrupted by a surprise appearance from the protesters, who rush onto the parade route and begin staging a disruptive, chaotic protest. Daria and Jane, caught up in the chaos, find themselves in the middle of the melee and are forced to confront the question of where they stand in the debate between the parade-goers and the protesters.

Overall, "I Loathe a Parade" is another smart and funny episode of Daria that manages to deliver sharp social commentary while still being highly entertaining. While the episode does take a somewhat predictable turn towards the end with the sudden appearance of the protesters, it still manages to be a great example of Daria's ability to skewer the absurdity of everyday life. Fans of the show are sure to enjoy this episode and its clever commentary on the nature of parades and protests.