During the trip to Big City to return Gramma and Remy home, Bill, Cricket, and Tilly find themselves unwilling to let them leave and having to say goodbye. As a result, they end up having to face off against not only Vasquez and Gloria, but their own big decision as well.
"Long Goodbye" contains examples of:
- 2D Visuals, 3D Effects: Almost every shot of the Kludge driving, turning, and swerving out of control is rendered with 3D.
- Anime Hair: Officer Keys missed the Greens so much, he got an anime-style haircut to keep his life interesting.
- At the Crossroads: When the truck runs out of gas, the kids notice two signs informing them that Smalton and Big City are both 80 miles away, meaning they are smack dab in-between the two places they have called home, and are torn between staying in one or the other.
- Bittersweet Ending: The Greens can finally return to their true home in Big City while Nancy chooses to stay in the country, meaning they will be far apart, but they can still keep in touch and go back and forth whenever they like; unaware to them though, Chip Whistler is revealed to be alive and plotting even bigger revenge against them and their troubles are not completely solved yet.
- Breaking Old Trends: This is the first double-length episode to not start with a cold open like the others.
- Cliffhanger: The episode, and the season, ends with a huge one revealing: Chip Whistler survived the helicopter crash and faked his death, and is now promising even bigger ruin and destruction for the Green family and their troubles have just begun, setting him up as the Arc Villain for Season 4.
- Continuity Cavalcade:
- While on their tour of Big City, the Greens visit various places related to past episodes, including riding the elevator from "Elevator Action" and having a giant sundae at Crispy's like in "Desserted".
- Enforced when Officer Keys has a group text of all the citizens that have met the Greens and calls them as soon as he realizes they're back so they can reunite at the farmer's market.
- Funny Background Event: During the scene where Vasquez sits impatient at the Remingtons' diner table, the deflated Remy balloons behind him are frowning.
- I Choose to Stay:
- In the end, Bill, Cricket, and Tilly realize that while they still and always will love the country life, their true homes now lie in the Big City with all their newfound friends and family.
- Nancy, on the other hand, admits that she prefers life in the country as opposed to Big City life, adding that the only thing that she really ever liked about the latter was that her family was there. This is what leads to a resolution in the end where Bill, Cricket, and Tilly decide to return home to Big City with Gramma and give the farm to Nancy to take care of, with the group all promising to visit each other regularly.
- Last Disrespects: Chip Whistler's tombstone is revealed to be inscribed with "Beloved Son, Local Pariah" on it. The man who tends to the graveyard even describes Chip as "The biggest jerk who ever died."
- Mood Whiplash: Following The Stinger with Chip, it cuts right to the show's happy closing theme.
- Mouth Screen: The episode and season closes with Chip Whistler's mouth filling up the camera as he vows to get back at the Greens.
- Race Against the Clock: Both Remy and Alice have to be back home at 6:00 PM, Remy to attend a welcome back dinner, and Alice to sign permits to sell cheese at the cafe. Unfortunately, they are at the mercy of the Greens' obsession with staying at Big City as long as possible.
- Remember the New Guy?: Subverted; After several supporting characters make cameo appearances, a guy named Fabian the Puzzle Master shows up, acting as if we’ve seen him before. The Greens have no more idea who he is than the audience does.
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: The stinger reveals that Chip Whistler is not only back, but has apparently faked his death.
- Rule of Symbolism: The moon in the sky over the Greens as they are at the crossroads in the climax is half-lit, which represents their indecisiveness and conundrum over whether to stay in Smalton or move back to Big City.
- Special Guest: Danny DeVito as Merv Stampington.
- Status Quo Is God: By the end of the episode, the Greens (minus Nancy) are back to staying in Big City.
- Tempting Fate: After the Greens decide to move back to Big City, Tilly remarks all their problems are solved. Immediately after saying this, Chip Whistler is revealed to be alive, plotting bigger revenge on the family.
- Wham Episode: Cricket, Tilly, Bill, and Gramma decide to stay in Big City while Nancy gains control of the old farm. Meanwhile, Chip Whistler is revealed to still be out there, once again plotting his revenge.
- Wham Line: As a gravedigger tries guessing the Greens' name, a figure in a hoodie corrects him in the only way a certain someone would.Chip Whistler: The Greens. It was the Greens. (he smiles, revealing Chip's signature tooth gap) And their troubles are just beginning.
