"Daria" was marked throughout its run by shipper debate, primarily over whether the title character should have a relationship with Trent Lane. A common argument was that it would signal a turning away from the more subversive aspects of Daria's character, such as bitter criticism of romantic relationships. The show's writers responded by having Daria develop a crush on Trent, who remained involved with his off-and-on girlfriend Monique who became a target of shipper ire. The crush ended in the third-season finale.