Hop Pop takes the kids to a Newtopian shopping mall to buy souvenirs, and Anne will do anything to get the perfect gift for her mom back home... including teaming up with Sprig to enter a shopping cart demolition derby.
Full Recap
TBA...
Tropes:
- Badass Adorable: Despite being small and cute, Pearl is just as dangerous as her mom Priscilla, as seen when she wields a mace during the Smash and Mash Derby.
- Break the Cutie: Both Anne and Sprig miss their respective moms, crying as they think about them. Worse of all, Sprig and Polly's mom died when they were both young and they never knew her. Anne hugs Sprig to comfort him which Sprig, who is tearful, hugs her back.
- Bittersweet Ending: Anne finds the perfect gift for her mom, but is saddened to learn that Sprig and Polly's mom passed away when they were young. Anne's response is a comforting hug as a silent way of telling Sprig, "It's OK, Sprig. I'm here."
- Call-Back:
- Sprig is still dating Ivy, which started in "Anne of the Year".
- He is also wearing the "Big Frog" shirt he bought back in "The Plantars Check In" as part of his nighttime wear.
- Credits Pushback: The somber credits scene was removed in the premiere broadcast and is replaced by interspersing the credits in the last 30 seconds.
- Dangerous Forbidden Technique: Pearl notes that her mother's tail hasn't fully recovered from the last derby, so she won't be able to use it in the competition. Priscilla is forced to use it to stop her cart from running over Polly.
- Do You Want to Haggle?: Hop Pop suggests that the kids could haggle for their souvenirs. Polly becomes a master haggler and somehow gets an intricately decorated bucket and a baby snail to haul it for 2 coppers.
- The Ending Changes Everything: Anne and the Plantars are satisfied with the souvenirs they brought and as they settled for the night at the hotel...Anne and Sprig bring up their moms and are saddened about missing them, with Sprig devastated about not even being able to remember his. However, Anne manages to lighten up the situation by hugging Sprig. The two embracing brought Anne and Sprig closer together.
- Everybody Cries: Anne and Sprig comfort each other in tears after remembering their moms and that they miss them.
- Hypocritical Humor: Hop Pop says everyone has to spend 2 coppers of their own money instead of using the Unlimited Credit Card for souvenirs because it will be more meaningful. He then gives in to temptation and buys an expensive massage chair with the credit card.
- Missing Mom: Spring reveals that his and Polly's mom died when they were very young—Sprig barely remembers anything about her, suggesting that she must have died sometime after Polly born but when Sprig was still a tadpole.
- Mood Whiplash: Don't let the shopping plot fool you! The episode is for the most part completely comedic, but the last minute has Anne telling Sprig about her mom and hopes that she'll see her again if she finds a way to get back. After hearing this, Sprig explains that his own mother died when he was too young to really remember anything about her. The episode ends with Anne realizing that Sprig lost his parents and hugs him comfortingly; Sprig hugs her back. If that's not enough to make you cry, the credits make the mood even sadder as a soft version of "Anne's Theme" plays in the background.
- Offscreen Teleportation: It's the only explanation for how Sprig managed to find a bamboo staff for 2 copper in the time Anne looked away from him.
- "Pan Up to the Sky" Ending: How the episode ends.
- The Reveal:
- It turns out Penny Paddock, the artist who made the butterfly teapot, was Priscilla's mother, which is why she wanted it so badly—Priscilla also claims that the butterfly teapot was the last piece of artwork that her mom made prior to passing away.
- Sprig confirms that his and Polly's mom died when they were really young—Sprig claims that he can't even remember what their mom looked like.
- Shout-Out: Anne and Sprig defeat a derby competitor with a Super Smash Bros.-style KO. What's more, Anne and Sprig parrying the competitor's attack (complete with golden pupils), and then knocking them out as a red lightning bolt special effect appears, is specifically reminiscent of its latest installment, Ultimate. One of the newt opponents highly resembles Yoshi, while another is dressed in a parka wielding a hammer, similar to the Ice Climbers.
- Special Edition Title: The end credits still show the outside of the hotel exterior with a heartwarming sober tone just to reflect on Anne's realization that Sprig doesn't remember anything about his deceased parents and consoling him.
- Sweet and Sour Grapes: Anne gives up the teapot she won to Priscilla after learning it was the last piece made by Priscilla's late mother—Pearl (Priscilla's daughter) thanks Anne by giving her a butterfly-shaped pin so Anne can give it to her own mom.
- The Ugly Guy's Hot Daughter: Priscilla the Killa is a scar-covered, Blood-hungry brute of a mom; while her daughter Pearl is small and adorable, though she does have a similar X-shaped scar on her cheek to one of Priscilla's many examples, showing that she's not that different to her mom.
- Vehicular Combat: Anne and Sprig enter a demolition derby-like competition with shopping carts.
- Wham Episode: We finally learn what happened to Sprig and Polly's mom. She died when they were both young and that Sprig doesn't really remember her.
- Wouldn't Hurt a Child: Priscilla stops her cart from striking Polly.
