- Written and storyboarded by Owen Dennis and Toby Jones.
Feeling like he's being taken advantage of by Mordecai and ridiculed for being useless, Rigby quits his job at the park and gets hired by a moving company called "Lift With Your Back"note .
The episode has the following tropes:
- Both Sides Have a Point:
- Rigby and the other park workers have differing yet equally valid opinions about his own skill as a worker. Rigby is actually a very capable employee when he needs to be and takes somewhat justifiable offense when the others imply he never is but the other park workers also raise the fact that most of the time he is an irresponsible slacker, with Mordecai especially pointing out that Rigby only has his current job because Mordecai vouched for him.
- Another example is the You Owe Me between Mordecai and Rigby. Mordecai rightly points out that Rigby has caused him a lot of trouble in the past, often as a result of Rigby trying ruin things for him out of sheer spitefulness while Rigby feels that Mordecai is forgetting all the things that he has done for him without having to be asked.
- Bowdlerization: The UK version does not show the title to this episode, as they feel it will encourage more impressionable viewers to practice unsafe lifting.
- Can't Take Criticism: Rigby is upset that everyone at the park, including Mordecai, thinks he is a poor worker.
- Continuity Nod:
- Rigby brings up the numerous times he's helped Mordecai such as helping him get together with C.J., using the time machine to try to undo the bad kiss with Margaret, helping him get over Margaret after she leaves him for college, and trying to stop him from returning her sweater.
- This episode arguably calls out Mordecai for the numerous times he has been a jerk to Rigby (whether or not Rigby deserved it).
- Jerkass Ball: While not malicious, Mordecai does come off as rather callous in this episode which Rigby calls him out for. Mordecai does realise this and apologises for it.
- Jerkass Has a Point:
- Mordecai points out that Rigby owes him for all the trouble he has caused in the past. It's hard to refute the claim given how much of a Jerkass Rigby has been for no good reason in such episodes as "Do Me a Solid" and "Wall Buddy".
- Rigby in turn throws back that he actually had been a more reliable friend towards Mordecai than the latter was willing to give him credit for by helping him so much with his romantic life.
- Meaningful Name: "Lift With Your Back" isn't just the episode title, or the name of the moving company. It's what the the company does when carrying things.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Rigby develops a stronger back during his time at the moving company. As expected, though, he is still injured in the end because putting all your effort on your back, instead of your legs, is a very bad idea.
- Take This Job and Shove It: Rigby is willing to get some work done, but no one give him a chance. Mordecai's You Owe Me is what leads to Rigby quitting park duties.
- This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself: Both Rigby and the moving company owner insist that Rigby be the one to unload the truck by himself by lifting with his back.
- Wham Line: What kicked off the plot:Rigby: So, the whole time, I've been covering for you and CJ?
Mordecai: Well, I mean... it's the least you could do.
Rigby: "The least... I could..." I quit. - What the Hell, Hero?: Rigby gives Mordecai one for having him covering up for him but taking him for granted.
- You Owe Me: Mordecai claims this as a reason for why Rigby should be covering for him.
