Sick of being Gumball's sidekick, Darwin wants to be the leader in retrieving a game from Tobias — and ends up abducting Tobias' mother, Jackie.
Tropes:
- Bowdlerization: On Cartoon Network's Middle Eastern/North African channel, this episode is severely edited. Besides cutting Darwin's mocking line about Gumball being with Penny ("...cuz I'm in love with Penny or something"), the entire second half of the episode where Gumball freaks out over Darwin abducting Tobias' mother, Jackie, and the duo trying to get her back without getting caught was cut, making the episode end with Gumball yelling, "You stole his mom?!"
- Continuity Nod: A school yearbook has a picture of Alan with a human-like face, as "The Photo" would elaborate upon.
- Disproportionate Retribution:
- Gumball ignores Darwin's concerns. Darwin responds by letting him fall two stories into Tobias's cellar and abandoning him there overnight.
- Darwin tries to get Tobias to give back a game he borrowed by kidnapping his mom. He admits it was a terrible idea and he only did it because it sounded like something Gumball would do, but even Gumball wouldn't go that far.
- Epic Fail: Darwin's computer inbox is so empty that the page itself is falling apart and bug-infested.Gumball (pokes screen) What the? Is that cockroach inside your inbox?
- Jerkass Has a Point: Gumball was right when he said that Darwin isn't capable of being the leader. He kidnapped Tobias' mom, something Gumball would never do in retaliation for a stolen video game.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Tobias is willing to give the game back, but the only one who knows where it is is his mom, who neither Gumball nor Darwin can talk to because they kidnapped her.Gumball: (timidly) You know what? Just keep it.
- Left the Background Music On: Sad music begins playing when Darwin says he feels like nothing but a sidekick, then Gumball stops him for a second to close the door to a room behind them where Leslie is playing violin.
- Morality Pet: Gumball states that this is the role that Darwin plays (not a "sidekick") when the former is doing some kind of crazy antic.
- Not Helping Your Case: Gumball tries to placate Darwin's dissatisfaction with being a "sidekick" by calling him other things that really aren't any better.Fine, you're not a sidekick you're an assistant—I mean a deputy! You're my vice-Gumball!
- Sudden Video-Game Moment: The episode begins with Gumball trying to control Darwin like he's a video game character, but they have to quit because Darwin can't fly to get over an obstacle.
- This Means War!: Gumball delivers the trope name after Tobias refuses to give back their property for over a month.
- Visual Pun: Darwin and Gumball have a conversation where the latter follows the former out the cafeteria as he tries to walk away. Eventually they end up circling around back into the cafeteria, causing Darwin to remark "This conversation is getting us nowhere."
- You Can Talk?: Colin is surprised Darwin can talk, and it's not because Darwin is a goldfish.Darwin: Look me in the eye and tell me you don't think I'm Gumball's sidekick.
Colin: By Rubik's cube, you can talk!? I always thought you were Gumball's orange bag.
Gumball: Oh, that reminds me, can I have my math book?
Darwin: Oh sure.
(Darwin pulls Gumball's book out of his mouth and hands it to Gumball).
