The ninth episode of the third season of Rocko's Modern Life.
Speaking Terms
A falling-out over a forgotten birthday lands Rocko and Heffer on a talk-show to tell their respective sides of the story.
Tooth And Nail
When Rocko's nail-biting habit gets out of hand, he struggles to overcome it with the help of "The Twelve Steps".
"Speaking Terms" provides examples of:
- Art Shift: Rocko and Heffer's stories have flat colors and the lines are colored instead of just solid black. The art is also simpler.
- The Complainer Is Always Wrong: Rocko gets called out by Virginia alongside Heffer for letting "a silly argument" ruin their friendship, even though Rocko does have a legitimate reason to be angry at Heffer forgetting his birthday and giving him a rather insulting "gift" at the last second.
- Crappy Homemade Gift: Having just realized it was Rocko's birthday, Heffer hastily makes a sculpture out of toothpaste and toilet paper from Rocko's bathroom. It does seem like he warms up to the gift enough to keep it when Heff points out "Hey, Rock, don't forget your gift" on their way out and he goes back to grab it.
- Feud Episode: For Rocko and Heffer.
- Forgotten Birthday: The crux of the issue between Rocko and Heffer.
- Hi, Mom!: Heffer does this before he tells his story. Conveniently, Virginia is in the audience and says hi back.
- I Take Offense to That Last One: Imagine Spot Rocko tells Heffer to take his "big fat butt and green hair" out of his life. Heffer is more offended by the "green hair" remark.
- I Resemble That Remark!:Imagine Spot!Rocko: You're so big and dumb and stupid that you probably forgot what day this is!
Heffer: Oh, Rocko! Of course I haven't! [long Beat indicating he clearly has forgotten] - Point-and-Laugh Show: Filburt puts Rocko and Heffer on one to discuss their fight.
- "Rashomon"-Style: Rocko and Heffer are on a trashy talk show discussing how Heffer forgot Rocko's birthday. Rocko portrays Heffer as a careless Hulk-like monster while Heffer portrays Rocko as an overly anal retentive grouch. An interesting wrinkle: in Heffer's version, his 'narration' claims that he had thoughtfully and lovingly picked out a gift for Rocko, while the 'visuals' clearly show him hurriedly making one on the spot. Heffer is knowingly telling a fib.
- Sudden Anatomy: Rocko's story depicts him with eyelashes, a feature he normally lacks.
- Talk Show Appearance: In this episode, a bad fight leaves Rocko and Heffer unwilling to speak to each other, so they go on the talk show Nosey! to give their sides of the story.
- Unreliable Narrator: In Rocko and Heffer's respective stories, both depict the other as a more monstrous version than how they really are.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Virginia calls out Rocko and Heffer for letting this petty issue break them apart, which in turn makes them realize that deep down they want to be friends.
- With Friends Like These...: Heffer and Filburt are this to Rocko in this episode, as Heffer gives Rocko a truly horrible makeshift birthday present, and Filburt tries to exploit their ensuing feud on daytime television.
"Tooth And Nail" provides examples of:
- Bad Future: Step 6, who looks like a miniature Grim Reaper, states that Rocko's not likely to die from nail-biting, but does show him how bad things will get if he doesn't get his addiction under control.
- Compressed Vice: Rocko's nail-biting habit has not been seen before or since this episode.
- For the Lulz: Steps 2 to 5 of the Twelve Steps just mess around with Rocko, with Step 5 admitting they're fucking around before he pulls out Step 6 who then proceeds to shock Rocko into stopping his addiction.
- The Gambling Addict: One of the Twelve Steps, as shown in the ending.
- Overly Pre-Prepared Gag: Rocko has an out-of-control nail-biting addiction, and he decides to hide his chewed-up nails from his friends. When Heff and Filb open the door, Heff notices that Rocko has his hands inside a monkey puppet and a ham. Rocko pretends not to notice, but then Filb asks if he is hiding something, to which Rocko replies, "Everybody's got something to hide except for meat and my monkey! Goodbye!"
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When they learn that Rocko is suffering from nail-biting, six of the Twelve Steps ditch the scene as they consider it not worth their time.
