When Bob buys a defective RC helicopter, he takes Gene on a quest to get his money back. Meanwhile, Linda and Louise help Tina cram for a book report.
L'il Hard Tropes:
- Ambiguously Christian: During the montage of Bob saying "It's the Principle of the Thing", he can be seen at a church. This is the only time any of the Belchers are seen in church, and the context of the scene is never explained, leaving it unclear why he's there.
- And This Is for...: Right before Bob shoots down the Vanquisherer:Bob: This one's for Jamie Lee!
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Gene tells Bob to his face that he's his hero. Bob tells Gene the same.
- Bystander Syndrome: Gene follows Bob throughout the episode to learn how to defy this, as he's worried that he'll just freeze under pressure when people need him. The inciting incident for this belief was when a pair of boots nearly fell on Tina and Gene (who saw the boots about to fall) just stood there while Bob took action to save Tina.
- Conversation Cut: Lampshaded by Gene. Bob finally reflects on their day when they get home, and Gene remarks that he was wondering when Bob was going to say something.
- Could Say It, But...: Terry loudly denies that Hobby Hole sells helicopters capable of actual warfare, before taking Bob and Gene to the backroom.
- Crazy-Prepared: Sheldon was prepared for Bob siccing a Vanquisher on him, bringing a Vanquisher of his own customized specifically to destroy Vanquishers (aptly called the Vanquisherer). He also prepares a second drone after Bob manages to shoot down the Vanquisherer.
- Department of Redundancy Department: "300 dollars, of money?!"
- Distinction Without a Difference: When Bob ordered the helicopter, he wasn't "drunk shopping", he was "nighttime shopping with wine".
- Honor Before Reason: Bob, all the while saying "it's the principle of the thing!"
- I Meant to Do That: Tina has a nervous breakdown during her book report, but Ms. Jacobson interprets it as perfectly representative of The Call of the Wild.
- Ironic Echo: Gene uses his keyboard to literally throw Bob's own words about letting things go back at him.
- It's the Principle of the Thing: Bob's motive. He even denies that he says this, before a montage of saying it at various locations.
- Jerkass: Sheldon, who deliberately sells shoddy helicopters to people to fund his habit of building elaborate drones and customized versions of said helicopters, refuses refunds on them when they break ridiculously easily and was fired from the RC shop he used to work in for eating other peoples' marked lunches. He also attacks people for the fun of it, with Terry having a BB lodged in his leg and Bob getting repeatedly Shot in the Ass during their confrontation.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: Gene says at the end that Bob and Sheldon's feud has gotten ridiculous and one of them should just let it go.
- Mandatory Line: Teddy literally only appears in the final five seconds of the episode, asking if he missed everything.
- Noodle Incident: Bob didn't notice the helicopter package arriving because he had to put out a grease fire.
- Only Sane Man: Gene, surprisingly enough, who sees how ridiculously the situation has escalated.Gene: I came here to learn how to be a man of action. But you hobbyists are all nuts!
- A Rare Sentence:Bob: Now, how about we go inside and ice my butt?
Gene: I wonder how many other dads are saying that to their sons right now. I bet a lot! - "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Gene calls Bob and the remote control helicopter hobbyists out on their ridiculousness at the end.
- Sanity Ball: Gene has it glued to his hand during his and Bob's plotline, as the normally straight-laced Bob gradually loses his mind during his quest to get a refund.
- Sarcasm Mode: Louise constantly lavishes praise onto Linda's idea for the book report, but it's very obvious she thinks it's stupid. Linda doesn't quite get it.
- Shot in the Ass: Bob gets several darts in the butt from one of Sheldon's copters.
- Shout-Out:
- Many references are made to True Lies, which is because Bob's defective helicopter is based on one from the movie.
- Upon seeing fish flying in the sky (which are fish RC drones), Gene says "This was in Revelations! Kirk Cameron was right!"
- Stating the Simple Solution: Terry has a BB embedded in his leg due to Sheldon's helicopter, which makes him too self-conscious to wear shorts anymore. At the end of the episode, Gene tells him to just go to a doctor to have it removed.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: Sheldon claims he didn't eat Terry's "delicious roast beef and cheddar sandwich." He does admit to stealing his lunch in the end.
- Title Drop: Gene says that he's going to go with Bob to learn how to be tough, and tells his family to call him "Little Hard Dad".
- Too Dumb to Live: Gene calls Bob out on this near the end. He was already having second thoughts about how Bob and the hobbyists were handling Sheldon, but Bob nearly falling off the side of a building and then refusing a ladder so the others can "defeat Sheldon" was the last straw.
