The Past
Ned and his only friend, Eugene Mulchandani, are playing soldiers in the woods around school when they find the body of a hunter. Eugene runs off, but Ned, who has formulated the idea that solving the hunter's murder will make him a hero and bring his father back, stays and wakes him. But the hunter had died in an accident, and the authorities arrive just in time to see him slump back into death. Both boys are arrested, but Eugene's parents quickly come for him. Ned learns that he cannot count on his father to extricate him from his own messes.The Present
Charles Charles has just fled—in Ned's car—leaving a worried Ned and a devastated Charlotte behind. Emerson reminds them that Charles Charles needs finding, preferably before anyone sees his "corpse face" or discovers that the missing Dwight Dixon's body is in his grave. Olive offers her help, but is rebuffed.Tropes
- Borrowed Catchphrase: The narrator borrows Emerson's "Oh, hell no!"`
- Confusing Multiple Negatives: Ned's confession of his feelings towards Olive.Olive: My one regret is that you never looked at me the same way you look at Chuck.Ned: I wouldn't say never...
- Fun with Acronyms: The Norwegians' trailer lab (which they call "Mother") is referred to as a Mobile Interactive Lab Facility.
- I Got You a Drawer: Vivian comes to her P.I. acquaintaince Emerson Cod for help finding her disappeared beau, Dwight Dixon. Emerson, who has his own reasons for declining the request, asks a number of questions about how intimate their relationship is (including whether or not Dwight has given her a sock drawer) and suggests that Dwight has merely ghosted her rather than disappeared.
- Literal Cliffhanger: Ned and Olive end up hanging from a branch after "Mother" goes over the cliff.
- Similar Squad: The Norwegians, for Emerson, Ned, and Chuck.
- Wham Shot: The figure in the hat is not Charles Charles, but Ned's father.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: This is the final episode to feature a Young Ned flashback, and it ends with him in prison for a murder he did not commit with no one bailing him out. It is never revealed how he got out or what happened between his time in jail and the time he became the Pie Maker.
