Match Maker, Match Maker? an essay by Brielle Potter Being a Daria 'enthusiast', I've read a countless amount of fan fiction, on many topics and by many authors, some better writers than others. A topic that is often mentioned in fan fic is the one storyline that fans wish to see as much as possible on the actual show: Daria and Trent. Apparently, the bits and pieces of Trent and Daria romance that the show's writers toss at us aren't enough to satisfy some, so 'shipper writers create episodes so chock full of mushy T+D it could make someone sick! Practically every writer of fan fic has taken a stab at a romantic story between Trent and Daria, myself included, but a related idea is almost always incorporated along with the 'shipper aspect. This idea brings up the question I'd like to address: Am I the only one who doesn't see Jane as some crazed yenta??? Read any fan fic where Trent and Daria get together in any respect, and you're likely see that it was Jane's idea/plot/treachery that connected the two misguided persons. I've seen everything from Jane tricking Trent into staying overnight at the Morgendorffers', to Jane handcuffing them together in the basement! Now, I may be mistaken, but don't you think these writers have severly exaggerated the Jane-as-matchmaker theme? If you look at the show Daria, and watch a few choice episodes, you will see that there are actually very few occasions where Jane has done any more than a little hinting or persuading between Trent and Daria. "Road Worrier" was the first episode to directly address this little crush, and also the first to show Jane doing a little meddling. In the episode, all Jane did was try to get Daria to sit next to him, and pencil in a little 'alone time' between the two! Fan fic writers seem to take the few instances where Jane tried to "help" Daria out and turn them into some crazy attempt to get the two together by any means necessary! The only other episode where Jane made a direct attempt to join the two together was in "That Was Then, This is Dumb". Even then, it seemed fairly innocent, and perhaps just a way to make Daria a little uncomfortable. The reason why Jane might have done these MAY have been a hidden desire to see her best friend and her brother together, but more likely she just wanted to make Daria unconsciously drop her defensive wall of cynicism and make her squirm a little. So, if you choose to write a realistic fan fic, please be logical, and take a little perspective before you portray Jane as some insane matchmaker. Written by Brielle Potter E-mail comments to Janey1025@hotmail.com August 10th, 1999