DJ and Stephanie are fed up with Danny refusing to punish Michelle no matter how many rules she breaks. Meanwhile, Jesse wants to buy Rebecca an engagement ring but has to sell his autographed Elvis guitar to pay for it.
Tropes in the episode:
- Belated Child Discipline: Of his three daughters, Danny finds it the hardest to discipline Michelle, his youngest, due in part to the fact that his wife, Pamela, was killed in a car accident when Michelle was a baby. This becomes a plot point in this episode, where he blames D.J. and Stephanie for things Michelle did, such as bringing her kiddie pool intro the kitchen when she wants to go swimming. The two girls call Danny out for this, saying that he lets Michelle do whatever she wants even when she's clearly at fault. When Danny tries to deny it, Michelle confirms it by telling him that she's her little princess. It is at this point that he realizes that the two older girls are right and that he has to punish Michelle, which he does by giving her a Time Out.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Dj and Stephanie eventually have enough with their father blaming them for Michelle’s bratty antics and call him out over his blatant favoritism. They rightfully point out that Michelle is entirely at fault for bringing her kiddie pool inside, but Danny bluntly asks them why they didn’t bother preventing it, only to be told that he lets her do whatever she wants. Danny denies it, only to be Instantly Proven Wrong when Michelle proudly declare “Yes, you do! I’m a little princess!”, leading him to regret his poor parenting.
- Karma Houdini: The plot is about how Danny continually lets Michelle get away with breaking the rules. He finally realizes he was letting her get away with too much and he gives her first punishment...at 4 years old.
- Loophole Abuse: Having gotten away multiple times with breaking the rules, Michelle takes Danny telling her she can't swim because it's cold outside to mean she can bring her baby pool inside to swim in.
- Nap-Inducing Speak: Danny, Uncle Jesse, and Joey try everything to get Michelle to go to sleep, but nothing works. Eventually, Danny gives Michelle a lecture on the importance of sleep, and she promptly falls asleep. This is brought up towards the end of the episode, when Michelle gets punished for the first time after bringing her kiddie pool into the kitchen.Danny: Listening to me talk is not punishment, although it does seem to help you go to sleep.
- Not Supposed to Be a Punishment: Danny explains to Michelle he's let her get away with a lot for being the baby of the family but now she's old enough to be punished when breaks the rules. She asks him if it's over, and Danny has to clarify listening to him talk is not the punishment.
- Parental Favoritism: Danny clearly favors Michelle over DJ and Stephanie in this episode, blaming them for something she did, such as bringing Michelle's kiddie pool in the kitchen. Eventually, the girls have finally had enough of being blamed for Michelle's troublemaking and stand up for themselves, saying it's all Michelle's fault and that Danny lets her do whatever she wants. Danny tries to deny this, but when he hears Michelle's bratty confirmation, he realizes the girls are right and knows he has to punish Michelle.
- Puppy-Dog Eyes: Michelle attempts this when Danny finally puts his foot down. Though he still goes through with it, DJ advises him that if she tries to pull any cute stuff to think of his wet shoe (courtesy of Michelle setting up her baby pool inside for swimming after Danny told her outside was too cold for swimming).
- Pushover Parents: Danny is this to Michelle, letting her do whatever she wants while punishing DJ and Stephanie for something that she did. Even when the evidence is right as his face with the whole kiddie pool fiasco, he’s still blaming Dj and Stephanie. They have to remind him that it’s all Michelle’s fault, not them, that she broke the rules. With Michelle’s bratty confirmation of being a “little princess” since he lets her do whatever she wants, Danny breaks out of this trope and gives her a Time Out.
- Time Out: Danny gives one to Michelle as punishment for bringing her kiddie pool into the kitchen.Michelle: This no fun, no fun, looking at the wall...
- Undisclosed Funds: Jesse looks to buy an engagement ring with a traveling salesman. He's actually able to find a genuinely good one, but when the salesman calculates the cost, Jesse later sells his Elvis Presley autographed guitar to pay for it.Jesse: Have mercy! I hope that's your telephone number.
