User Reviews

Without giving too much away this episode shows some genuine character development . Helen once again shows she can be the most on the ball parent of the show. Daria and Quinn's relationship not only grows but deepens. Daria shows her faith in her sister's intelligence and Quinn openly sticks up for Daria and herself and in turn the rest of the fashion club against Sandi . The teachers strike also shows the history teacher and chief negotiator to stick it out until they get more than some were willing to settle for.

Jake as usual seems a little oblivious but that provided some of the funniest moments.

Overall an outstanding episode.

While this is not among my very favorite episodes of "Daria", it is a very good one and I'd say it's probably about #5 on my list. Its strength is in its plot and characterizations, not its humor, as the comedy is clearly secondary here.

The teachers of Lawndale are going on strike, as offers from Ms. Li on their new contracts are insultingly low. Now, you must ignore the fact that in a public school a principal NEVER negotiates salaries--this is the job of the school board or superintendent! Regardless, the teachers appear to have no other options. So, when they are on strike, their jobs are covered by incompetent substitutes (the pedo guy was really creepy). Finally, in desperation, Ms. Li has Daria teach a class--and this was the best aspect of the show. I won't say more, but really liked where this went. I also liked the comedy involving the strike and the teachers during the strike.

Overall, a very well written and nice episode for the way it shows growth in Quinn and Daria and their relationship. Well worth seeing.

This is a landmark episode of Daria. It's the sixth episode of Daria, and was screened about 2 months after the inauguration of Bush-Cheney in 2000.

Here Daria is called on to be a substitute teacher in a class which happens to have the Fashion Club. The end of the episode is inspiring when Quinn admits to the Fashion Club during a class that Daria is her sister. Sandi is shocked. Stacy and Tiffany aren't shocked because they knew all along, but didn't say anything out of politeness to Quinn. How considerate of Stacy and Tiffany.

The teachers go on strike, and one of the substitute teachers gets fired after getting a bit too close to the Fashion Club in class.

(*MINOR SPOILER*)

Season five of Daria may have been the reluctant last season of Daria, but it was the best season. Fan favorites from S5 include "Fat Like Me," "Life in the Past Lane," "My Night at Daria's" and even "Boxing Daria." But none of them compare to "Lucky Strike," although some feel that "Boxing Daria" either comes close or exceeds the greatness of this one.

Principal Angela Li has once again shown her lack of appreciation for the rest of Lawndale High, by not giving her teachers an apparently needed raise. She refuses, and the teachers go on strike, much to the delight of the kids at school, as expected. But just when the students of Lawndale High think they're free, Ms. Li brings in substitutes. The first of which is a nearsighted, barely competent old lady who thinks her class is made up of first-graders. She even goes so far as to try to rename Daria & Kevin. The second is a pervert who has a thing for teenage girls, and wants to write a book based on his exploits. Needless to say, his first conquest is a member of the fashion club. However, rather than preying on the vulnerable and emotionally fragile Stacy Rowe as one might expect, his target is air-headed Tiffany Blum-Deckler. As soon as Quinn tells her mother about the incident, he's gone! I love how Daria gets the phone for Helen before she even realizes what's going on. But still, all does not go well for the Morgendorffers, or any of the other kids when Ms. Li insists that Daria herself replaces the perverted substitute, and becomes a scab. Though she's not exactly pleased with her position, she uses it to let Jane out of class to help the striking teachers, and gets Quinn to realize something about herself that we learned in "Is It Fall Yet?," which she apparently tried to forget. Even Trent gets roped into helping the cause of the teachers of Lawndale High.

However, it's Quinn's struggles of dealing with her own intelligence, social status, and familial relationship that make this episode so great, although the scenes of the strike are good too. When Sandi forces Quinn try to get Daria to let the fashion club slide on the test, Daria won't budge. So she goes to Jake for help, who not only proves to be unreliable, but actually makes her realize that Daria was right -- she CAN pass the test, and does. And then she proudly drops a bombshell about herself that we as the audience knew all along. If I have to go further than that, you are not familiar with the show.

When the staff of Lawndale High go on strike Ms. Li gets in substitute teachers who really aren't up to the job; Daria's new teacher insists on calling her Darlene because Daria is clearly a hippy name and Quinn's new teacher has a less than professional, and decidedly creepy, attraction to Tiffany. When Helen hears about the latter she calls the school which leads to Ms Li making Daria take the class, which mortifies Quinn. Daria tells the class that they will be tested on 'Romeo and Juliet' which leads to Quinn trying to get preferential treatment for the fashion club; however when she goes through the work with Jake she realises that she doesn't need an unfair advantage; she knows the material. Meanwhile Jane has got out of class and, along with her brother, is helping the strikers.

This was one of the best episodes for a while; it had plenty of funny moments... the creepy substitute was hilarious right up to the point where he departed in tears! Having Daria take over the teaching of her sister's class may have been a little far fetched but it provided some good laughs and more importantly it developed Quinn's character significantly and revealed that she cares for her sister far more than she'd usually admit. This is definitely one to watch.

A teachers strike at Lawndale High has Daria replacing an inappropriate teacher ( Helen makes sure he's removed) , Jane recruited to help with the slogans for the picket line and Trent recruited to write an anthem for the teachers. Mr. DeMartino locked into tense negotiations with Ms. Li .

Quinn is initially horrified to have Daria as a teacher but finds herself enjoying and learning , she's also growing fed up with Sandi's remarks about her and Daria and finally reclaims her sister to the entire class. Sandi tries to make an issue of it but gets schooled by Stacy and Tiffany .

History class gets what seems to be a retired first grade teacher. As she is telling the class "and so the people asked George Washington will you be our king ( Jane meanwhile enters the room and the substitute says young lady you're tardy " Brittany " Gee , he wasn't very focused!" Good one Brittany!

Mr. DeMartino gets the deal they have been after but he still has to deal with Kevin in class!

Definitely one of the best episode of the series.