Jughead doesn't see the downside of having his room a complete mess...until Archie drags him to a mad scientist convention to interview star scientist Dr. Doomsburg. When they unwittingly enter a shrinking machine, the two set themselves a time limit. If they don't reach the doctor before he leaves on vacation at 5:00, they may never regain their normal sizes and the safety that comes with them.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Androcles' Lion: After Archie and Jughead save him from a fungus monster, Jughead's hamster Fluffy gives them a ride to the top of the desk, saving them a lot of time in their race to contact Dr. Doomsburg.
- Chekhov's Gun:
- When Archie asks to postpone the interview, Dr. Doomsburg mentions that he'll have to do it before 5:00 when he leaves on vacation to another dimension. Naturally, this comes into play when Archie and Jughead end up shrunken and have to contact the doctor to save themselves.
- When Mrs. Jones contemplates cleaning her son's room, she sees something moving in the mess and changes her mind. Presumably, the moving thing was Fluffy, Jughead's hamster, who becomes first an obstacle and then an ally in their effort to reach the phone and contact Dr. Doomsburg.
- Herr Doctor: Dr. Doomsburg, the mad scientist Archie plans to interview, speaks in a German accent and drops words like "mein" and "gutentag."
- Incredible Shrinking Man: Archie and Jughead end up shrinking after using a booth at a mad scientist convention. Luckily, the effect seems to stop after a while. Unluckily, by that time, they're smaller than a hamster.
- Insult to Rocks: Jughead asks Archie if he's calling his room a pigsty. Archie retorts that saying that would insult pigs. Given that they've wasted a long time trying to get across the room, Jughead finally agrees.
- Like Father, Like Son: According to Mrs. Jones, Jughead's stubbornness resembles his father's.
- Running Gag: People seem to keep picking up Doomsburg's balding ray.
- Smoking Barrel Blowout: Dr. Doomsburg blows the smoke off the barrel of his paralyzer pistol.
- Space Whale Aesop: Keep your room clean, or you might get stuck tiny forever.
- Tempting Fate: In the opening, Dr. Doomsburg notes a fungus monster and comments that at least such a creature could never become large enough to cause people problems. A fungus monster ends up getting enlarged along with Archie and Jughead. Luckily, Dr. Doomsburg has a stun gun on display.
