10 Best Daria Episodes
9. Pierce Me
While the series frequently challenged its eponymous hero's misanthropic worldview and aversion to interpersonal relationships during its final two seasons, there were a few, more isolated examples of Daria questioning her own values in the earlier seasons as well -- Season 3's Through a Lens Darkly being one such instance. Possibly the best example, however, is Season 2's Pierce Me.
With Daria's crush on Jane's older brother Trent having been established one season prior, Pierce Me brought things to a head when the two were tasked with finding a birthday gift for Jane. While it was always fun to see the oft-cynical Daria as the sole voice of reason, this episode did a great job at showing she wasn't infallible, and was still very much capable of acting against her better judgement relatively early in the show's run.
On top of that, Trent's tendency to be so laid-back that he's practically comatose made him one of Daria's most consistently hilarious supporting characters, so any episode that places him front-and-center is bound to be a treat for new and established fans alike.