28 Years Later, This 95%-Rated Animated Series Is Still the Best Teenage Show Ever

I am a real fan of different sorts of animated series, from old ones to new creations. But it took me a long time to start watching this iconic series. After binging it all in less than a week, I can say for sure that Daria is one of the greatest shows ever created and is probably the best one for teenagers.

Daria is a 1997 show created as a sort of spinoff from MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head, where Daria Morgendorffer appeared several times as a side character. In this show, she is the title character, a high school student with an exceptional intellect and rather radical views on almost everything.

As an older daughter, she has always felt unique. Compared to her younger sister Quinn, who is a popular girl with lots of friends, Daria can be described as an outcast who has trouble fitting in with the rest of the mainstream world. It's hard to be a teenager, let alone the one who understands how idiotic the world usually is.

Unlike the typical teenage protagonists of the time, Daria's dry humour and sceptical attitude made her a relatable character for anyone who had ever felt disconnected from typical school life. That’s the first reason why I can definitely recommend this series to everyone. But there are a few more.

Daria makes many mistakes during the series, although she is really smart. But her mistakes are not about academic things — they are about life. For instance, she sort of betrayed the one friend she managed to make, Jane, although she never intended to hurt her. And the show shows the harsh realities the two of them face while trying to find a way to cope with that and still remain friends.

The show also doesn't shy away from depicting the never-ending dilemmas faced by students. It also gives the viewers a chance to realize that having doubts and finding the right answer from the second or even third take is okay.

It's also okay to do something that's not typical of you, and Daria does that a lot. At first, she laughs with Jane at the very idea that she could ever date someone, but later she actually ends up in a stable relationship. Yes, she is still turbulent and makes a lot of mistakes, but that is what the teen years are for, right?

Despite the fact that Daria can be easily categorized as old, it’s still a standout and stays relevant. And 95% score from viewers on RT just proves my point.

Daria is available to stream on Paramount+.