Recap / Junior Officers S1E21 "Even the Best Fall Down Sometimes"

"Even the Best Fall Down Sometimes" is the 21st chapter of Junior Officers.

Tensions are rising in the Octopod as the guilt and anger proves to be too much for Barnacles.

Tropes:

• Call-Back: Banracles tells Shellington the real reason his books were misplaced back in "The Queensland Lungfish".
• Manly Tears: In this chapter, Barnacles cries for the first time in five years.
• Misdirected Outburst: The climax of this chapter; Barnacles lashes out at Deborah over his own guilt.
• Inelegant Blubbering: Deborah does this after Barnacles shouts at her.
• It's All My Fault:
  • This is Barnacles' reaction to Shellington's mental breakdown.
  • Shellington has this reaction upon hearing about Barnacles and Deborah's falling-out.
• Precision F-Strike:
  Deborah: You're^note Barnacles just like my dad, you bastard!
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Two back-to-back:
  • Barnacles gives Deborah a major dressing-down for trying to remain optimistic despite what happened at the end of "The Swell Shark", culminating in declaring that he should never have chosen her to be an Octonaut.
  • Deborah gives Barnacles one right back for taking his anger out on her.
• Tears of Remorse: The chapter ends with Barnacles doing this, regretting what he said to Deborah.
• Trying Not to Cry: "Barnacles stiffened his expression. His eyes were stinging, but he resisted the urge to cry."
• Vomit Indiscretion Shot: Unlike in "The Swell Shark", here we get a lovely shot of Shellington throwing up onscreen.
• You Are Better Than You Think You Are:
  Captain Barnacles: I aimed to treat you^note Shellington respectfully from the moment I found you. And to this day, you've proven time and time again that you still deserve that respect.
• You Called Me "X"; It Must Be Serious: Meta example; Barnacles is referred to without his title^note so, he is called "Barnacles" and not "Captain Barnacles", signaling how royally he has screwed up.

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