The JSA attempts to learn the identity of the Gambler's killer.
Tropes:
- Ambiguous Situation: At the end of the episode, Cindy is shown to have stolen the Gambler's laptop, while Paula and Crusher are concerned that the JSA will figure out they've done an unspecified misdeed and Cameron's grandparents allude to him having a greater purpose, casting suspicion on all of these parties. At the same time, Thunderbolt's vague message and various clues cast doubt that any of them could be responsible.
- Armor-Piercing Question: When Courtney defends Cindy, Yolanda asks her that if she is so sure about Cindy's innocence, then why isn't Cindy at the meeting with them.
- Asshole Victim: Discussed in-universe, with Courtney being upset about the fact that nobody but her really cares about the Gambler's murder.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: Swift initially seems poised to once again denigrate Maria's attempt at tea, only to gush that it's the finest Earl Grey he's ever had.
- Bathroom Stall Graffiti: When a wish is made for Thunderbolt to identify the Gambler's killer, he not only provides the least helpful answer possible ("the killer has many names"), but feels compelled to etch it into the bathroom wall in giant, glittery cursive. Mike is just as annoyed by the latter as he is the wasted wish.
- Break the Haughty: This happens to the Shade, with his powers becoming a problem and Sylvester doing a Curb-Stomp Battle on him.
- Brick Joke: A short one. Mike says that the bathroom says "Men" on the door, not "Boys", as part of his attempt to psyche Jakeem up. Jakeem isn't confident about that, but Mike talks him out of checking. As both leave, the door is in fact labeled "Boys".
- Bullying a Dragon: See also Underestimating Badassery and Kick the Dog.
- But Now I Must Go: The Shade decides to leave Blue Valley for a while. Although he says it's because he can't stand Sylvester's presence and has no interest in finding Sharpe's killer, it's implied to really be linked to the Green Lantern energy traces in his shadows, which are rather conspicuous as he disappears for the final time.
- Call-Back: Back in the first season, Paula complained, "I can't take much more of this town, with its rotary clubs and bake sales!" Fast forward to this episode, where she reveals (with a very forced smile) that she joined a rotary club and took up baking in order to fit in.
- Do Wrong, Right:
- Paula goes to Barbara, telling her that she and her husband didn't kill the Gambler - they would've disposed of the body.
- Also, the Shade objects to being a suspect for the murder, saying he would've done it much more gracefully and with style.
- Epic Fail: Barbara and Paula's attempts to bake a cake sure qualify as the closest they get is a mess of pudding and ingredients mashed in a sloppy mess.
- Idiot Ball: The Shade holds this, deciding it is a good idea to taunt someone whose friends he killed while his own powers are deteriorating. This results in him almost dying. Again.
- I Have Many Names: By proxy. When Mike and Jakeem wish to know who killed the Gambler, Thunderbolt writes on the wall that the killer has many names, a thoroughly unhelpful answer made worse by the fact that they now don't have the ability to wish for a more specific answer because It Only Works Once.
- It's All My Fault: While he does blame the Shade, Sylvester also blames himself for killing Bruce Gordon, for it led to the JSA disbanding and then being destroyed by the ISA.
- Kick the Dog: When Sylvester yells at him for killing his friends, the Shade decides to give a Breaking Speech about how Pat was the sole person at his funeral and that no one wants him around. This earns him a beatdown.
- Lethal Chef: Barb and Paula work together to bake a chocolate cake. Their two attempts are, frankly, horrifying.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Pat thinks it is a good idea for Sylvester to question the people who killed the JSA. The Shade is assaulted twice instead.
- Non-Answer: Mike and Jakeem ask the Thunderbolt who murdered the Gambler. All the genie can tell the boys is "the killer has many names".
- Numerological Motif: Ever the gambler, Steven Sharpe shows a preference for the number seven, a traditionally lucky number. It's his address in the trailer park, and the combination to his suitcase is 7-7-7.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
- The Shade decides to leave after being attacked by Sylvester, without being of much help to Rick about Grundy. This could means that he is really freaked out about the following: a) his powers being out of control, and b) being in the same town as someone (Sylvester) who hates him so much that he may end up killing him one day.
- Sylvester's own behavior is this. He controlled himself in the premiere, but with his two attacks on the Shade, he is really dealing with his own trauma/guilt over being resurrected and his friends being dead.
- The Reveal:
- Crusher was the one who was driving away from Sharpe's trailer.
- The Shade killed Jay Garrick and Wesley Dodds.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: The Shade pulls this after Sylvester nearly kills him in his present and weakened state.
- Summon to Hand: When Sylvester loses his temper and attacks the Shade, he wills the Cosmic Staff to his hand from Courtney. Courtney then wills it back when she yells at him to stop.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome:
- Only Courtney is upset that the Gambler is dead. Everyone else doesn't care.
- Yolanda is still eager to be rid of Cindy for ruining her life and accuses her multiple times of being Sharpe's killer just to do so.
- Pat realizes that having Sylvester question the people who killed their friends is a terrible idea when the latter attacks the Shade in public.
- Afterwards, Pat lets Sylvester know that he is no longer his sidekick, and that his behavior isn't going to work in a small town like Blue Valley. He also points out that all Sylvester did was scare everyone in the diner, and they are just there to eat.
- Sylvester takes Courtney out of school in the middle of the day to train. Sure enough, Pat is informed of this and goes to tell Barbara. Neither one is happy with Sylvester for this.
- Sylvester hates the Shade for killing Jay Garrick and Wesley Dodds.
- The Shade and the Crocks may have helped everyone last season, but they are still bad guys who feel little remorse over their roles in the deaths of the JSA members. They also talk a little too easily of killing whenever they try to prove their innocence.
- The Shade decides to taunt Sylvester over his dead friends and his lack of purpose, only to be violently attacked afterwards. He would have died if Courtney didn't stop the fight.
- Barbara and Paula have no experience baking. Their attempts at doing so are failures as a result.
- Survivor's Guilt: Sylvester has this in spades.
- Underestimating Badassery: The Shade thinks that insulting someone whose friends he murdered and who still has a connection to the staff while his own powers are acting up is a good idea. He soon learns otherwise.
- Wham Shot: Cindy has the Gambler's laptop.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Sylvester gets this from everyone for taking Courtney out of school for training and attacking the Shade multiple times.
