Aleida seises a business opportunity. An anonymous tip sends Caputo on a stakeout and Luschek tries to help Gloria, who worries she's in danger.
This episode provides examples of the following tropes:
- A Day in the Limelight: This one goes to Carol and Barb’s younger days and what led to the rivalry between the blocks.
- Cain and Abel: The older Denning siblings murder the youngest. In the present they have an intense rivalry with each other.
- Cain and Abel and Seth: Debbie wanted no part in the aggressive rivalry between Barb and Carol. It didn't make a difference in the end.
- Creepy Gym Coach: Suggested. Debbie says the Texan coach gives his gymnasts "rubdowns...everywhere." She likes her current coach though.
- Dark Reprise: Barb hums “Maniac” after leaving Debbie to drown.
- Foregone Conclusion: Carol and Barb are already established as being nicknamed "The Little Debbie Killers" and this episode's flashback introduces their younger sister Debbie. If anything except the actual method is a surprise to you, you weren't paying attention.
- Freudian Excuse: Barb's argument with her dad in the flashback implies that he's been at least passively emotionally abusive to the older two Dennings, contributing to their complete lack of emotional depth. This is still of course, literally no excuse for what happens.
- Murder Is the Best Solution: How Barb and Carol almost casually decide to kill their sister rather than just deal with moving.
- Self-Serving Memory: What splits up Carol and Barb when they get into prison is that each claims a famous waitressing moment as their own. (It later turns out it was neither of them but another waitress).
- Stage Mom: The Denning household was completely subordinated to the youngest daughter's rhythmic ribbon competitions, a state which neither of the three daughters was particularly pleased about.
- Truth in Television: Though it usually doesn't end in brutal murder, it's actually very common for the other children of Stage Parents to develop a deep resentment to their siblings in the limelight, as many memoirs of recovering child stars show.
