Storytelling: Stacy and Upchuck

There are two more minor background characters that have to be examined before we can look at Daria’s two great loves, Trent Lane and Tom Sloane. One is probably the most favorite member of the Fashion Club, and she’s probably the favorite character of many Daria fans. The other is probably nobody’s favorite character.

Stacy Rowe is the fourth member of the Fashion Club. Unlike Sandi and Tiffany, who are sort of inferior versions of Quinn, Stacy has a character trait which is almost in opposition to the very purpose of a popular girls’ club: massive insecurity. Whereas the other four girls are fairly confident that they are the most loved, most admired, etc. etc. Stacy is a bundle of neuroses, one step away from a nervous breakdown.

Stacy’s original goal was to provide comedic chaos. In “Road Worrier” she gleefully draws a triangle with her fingers to indicate a nearby outlet mall (triangle=coat hanger=outlet mall), but when visiting a diner Stacy is driven into hyperventilation because Tiffany makes a dismissive remark about stretch pants…and Stacy is wearing stretch pants. Sandi’s quick redefinition of stretch pants into “leggings” saves the day, but we get the impression that poor Stacy is one French fry away from being dragged away in a jacket with very long sleeves.

Even Quinn, who can get along with almost anyone, stays at Stacy’s house only as a manner of last resort in “Fair Enough”. The fact that Stacy wants to dress like Quinn and even change her hair color to please Quinn rightly creeps Quinn out. Daria and Jane are subjected to one of Stacy’s crying jags while trapped at the top of a Ferris wheel in “Fair Enough”.

Stacy became quite popular with Daria fans. Some internet writer stated that insecure characters always become popular, because the audience can see the character’s good qualities before the character can. Another reason is the natural sympathy people feel for the helpless. (I personally suspect that Stacy played to the insecurities among male Daria fans. What shy guy wouldn’t want a girl who was so loyal that she’d change herself to please him?)

Regardless of the reasons for Stacy’s popularity, I suspect the writers adjusted their portrayals of Stacy to be more sympathetic. (Perhaps this adjustment was brought on by the awareness that the fans liked Stacy.) “Fat Like Me” was the beginning of a sea change for Stacy. Circumstances remove both Quinn and Sandi as leaders of the Fashion Club, and Tiffany ascends to the Presidency with Stacy as her Vice-President. Unfortunately, vapid Tiffany isn’t much of a leader and Stacy’s frustrations get the best of her and she lets Tiffany have it in a rant.

” I tried my best, and even if it wasn't as good as Sandi's or Quinn's, a chain is only as strong as its weakest round thingy, and you refused to lift one freakin' finger! I'm through running the Fashion Club all by myself while you (imitates Tiffany) stare... in the mirror... and talk... about yourself... (normal voice) and I, I, I quit”!

Stacy also gets a more perceptive portrayal. In “Art Burn”, she quietly steals the Fashion Club caricature that has her portrayed as the most attractive member. In “Life in the Past Lane”, she is even Upchuck’s attractive magician’s assistant, and even goes as far to gently chide Sandi for being “naïve” in response to a similar remark Sandi made to her earlier in the episode.

One might argue that next to Daria herself, the character that has made the most drastic change during the five seasons of Daria is Stacy Rowe. It’s simply a television rule – if a character with annoying traits becomes a fan favorite, those traits have to be either amplified (if they make the character popular) or changed (if they prove an impediment to the character’s popularity). Stacy’s case is clearly the latter.

The final less seen character I want to write about is Charles Ruttheimer the Third, better known as “Upchuck”. He’s called “Upchuck” not because of his appearance (more on that later), but because it’s what females want to do when they see him.

Upchuck is the definition of teen lust. To cement the point, Upchuck is the least attractive of the background characters (because lechery is never attractive), with curly red hair, freckles, a large nose and a rictus grin.

He is written as the prototypical nerd. His intelligence matches Daria’s, but his role as Rico Suave gives no impression of real respect for his achievements – how could someone so smart be so stupid? His attempts to secure a woman – ANY woman – lead at times to wildly different portrayals. At times, he’s portrayed as merely annoying (“The Invitation”, “Fair Enough”) or actively creepy (“The Lab Brat” where he blackmails Brittany with long range photos; “Is It College Yet?” where he’s more than happy to chauffeur a drunk Lindy) depending on what the plot needs at the time. Is Upchuck a figure of menace among the females of LHS, or is he such a complete loser, or both, or neither? (See “I Loathe a Parade” where “Don Guano” is beaten to a pulp by two policewomen.)

The portrayals can even swing from one extreme to another in the same episode. Upchuck goes from potential bad guy to lonely guy looking for love in “Is It College Yet?” He puts his smooth moves on Andrea, who is surprised that Upchuck is even trying with her…and then accepts. Upchuck is taken aback…for a second…then shifts back into “Upchuck mode”, almost reflexively.

Upchuck is written as the kind of character you really don’t want to know more about. His inconsistent portrayal makes it impossible to build sympathy for him. Let’s hope that now that the series is over, Upchuck has dropped the act and found love and acceptance with someone…far away from Lawndale.