Originally released as the third episode of Sanders Asides, since September 2023 it is officially considered an episode of Sanders Sides.
Release Date: July 31, 2021
WARNING: Untagged spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
Tropes
- Bait-and-Switch: When Remus gets a knife in his eye after a failed Rube Goldberg Device, he screams in pain. However, this is from the soap on the knife rather than the knife itself.Remus: It's got soap on it! I'm allergic to soap, you (beep)! I don't care about the knife but the soap!
- Bittersweet Ending: Thomas doesn't deal with his dangerously messy apartment or accomplish anything on his checklist, which upsets Logan, and he spends the better part of the day being hounded by intrusive thoughts. On the upside, he and Nico finally get to talk and Nico obviously still likes him, and even invites him out. The end card has all the Sides watching (albeit with tension, as Logan is unhappy about being ignored and Virgil clearly still has issues with Patton), glad it's going well, with everyone agreeing Thomas needs this right now. But even that ends on a downbeat note when Janus appears.Janus: Yes. Everything is just... fine.
[The screen goes black, and a pair of glowing orange eyes flash at the audience.] - Breaking the Fourth Wall: When, while setting up a trap, Remus discovers that the porch door has been left open all night, he talks directly to the viewer critizicing Thomas' apparent lack of concern for home security.
- Burning with Anger: Logan's eyes burst in fire when he has an outburst of anger. Even the sound of flames is heard.
- Chekhov's Gun: When Thomas goes to the kitchen to get his breakfast, there's a first shot of him pushing the wrong switch and turning the garbage disposer instead of the light on. Later in the middle of the chain reactions set by Remus, the last one is a book falling right on the garbage disposer switch, so that the knife can be propelled by the garbage disposer as the Duke intended.
- Even Evil Has Standards: For all his causing of trouble, Remus is actually leaving Thomas alone except subconsciously, which he may not be able to control.
- Eye Scream: Played for Laughs. During one of his intrusive thought attempts, involving a knife stuck in the garbage disposal, Remus ultimately winds up with said knife lodged in his eye. He’s more concerned about the fact that the knife has soap on it, which he claims he’s allergic to.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: Two examples:
- If you look closely at Thomas' phone throughout the episode, you see that the date is April 20th, which means that this takes place only a week after "Selfishness v. Selflessness Redux", which would explain why tensions seem to be so high between the Sides.
- In certain scenes, you can see on the kitchen counter several figurines of the Sanders Sides, including the four core, Roman, Logan, Patton and Virgil. The interesting thing is the position in which they're placed, mimicking the current state of the relationship between the Sides, with Patton and Virgil with their backs to each other and Roman laying down.
- Hot for Teacher: Played with. Remus poses with a dunce cap, takes out a paddle, and asks if Logan is going to spank him.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: When Remus is messing with Logan in the kitchen, Logan dumps his coffee into the sink and replaces it with wine.
- Manipulative Bastard: It's heavily implied that Remus wasn't just causing trouble to mess with Thomas, but to get a rise out of Logan, which he ultimately succeeds at when Logan snaps at him.Remus: Oooh-wee, Logan... now you're speaking my language. But who do you really want to scream that at?
- Reasonable Authority Figure: To his immense credit, Logan goes all out for Thomas. He pushes the schedule, yes, and is obviously upset when he's ignored, but when Remus is really tormenting Thomas, he immediately puts a pin in his plan and focuses his energy on helping. He does his best to soothe Thomas, and even tries to reason with Remus.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Logan's eyes suddenly glow orange when he screams at Remus, "Stop IGNORING ME!!"
- Rube Goldberg Device: Most of Remus's schemes revolve around these. They even mostly work, aside from some minor hiccups.
- Suddenly Shouting: The above moment.
- Too Kinky to Torture: When Remus falls victim of his own trap and is stabbed again and again by the killer, he screams and swears in pain... but he can't help let go a sugestive "Oooh" of pleasure in-between screams.
- Wham Shot: Logan's eyes glowing orange when he loses his temper, especially since orange is assumed to be the color of the much-hyped final Dark Side.
