Sir, why do you keep coming back here? This is literally the only house on the block!
Mugman stays behind for some much-needed peace and quiet. As he takes the time to read his favorite book, he is constantly interrupted by the sounds of an ice cream truck's jingle.Tropes
- Actor Allusion: Mugbeard's facial hair resembles that of Mugman's voice actor himself, Frank Todaro.
- Bad Humor Truck: The ice cream truck definitely takes this vibe during The Chase when it relentlessly chases Mugman in a horror-fashion.
- Bait-and-Switch: Mugman runs away terrified thinking that the ice cream man has become Ax-Crazy and wants to run him over with his truck, but once he's cornered it's revealed that he just wanted to thank him for his earlier "advice" about the hat.
- Call-Back: Mugman still has a crush on Cala Maria, as indicated by his fantasies depicting him courting her.
- On a smaller scale, even the Cala Maria in the fantasy gets bored at Captain Mugbeard talking too much and grimaces when he asks for a kiss calling her "baby".
- The Cameo: Cala Maria returns as a character of Mugman's fantasy in in his book as well Ms. Chalice being part of Mugbeard's crew.
- A Day in the Limelight: The main focus of the episode is Mugman and his feud with the ice-cream man.
- Did Not Think This Through: Mugman decides to take the book with him while he attempts to apologize for driving the Ice Cream Man away. When the man spots the book, he inadvertently spoils the ending.
- Dramatic Irony: Mugman states twice that "One must go to extremes to do the things one wishes to do". He deliberately misses out on doing errands for some alone time and drives away the ice cream man and insult his crooked hat. He never counted on the ice cream man going as far as chasing him back home like a madman, just to thank him for the "critique" of said hat.
- Disproportionate Retribution: When the Ice cream man chases Mugman with his truck, it may look like he’s going run him over with it for yelling at him about the music, but it turns out he did that only to thank Mugman. Double subverted when Mugman attempts to beat the Ice Cream man up for spoiling his book. Thankfully, it doesn’t do anything.
- Felony Misdemeanor: Mugman is more enraged by the ice cream man's lopsided hat than the truck's jingle interrupting his reading.
- The Hero Dies: Mugbeard's fate in the end of Mugman's book. Mugman does not take it well when the Ice Cream Man spoils this, having recognized and read the same book.
- Incredibly Lame Fun: The whole family is enamored with running errands. Cuphead and Elder Kettle comment on how much Mugman loves running errands, and they drive off to town excitedly yelling “Errands!”
- Laser-Guided Karma: All Mugman wants is to have peace and quiet while reading his book. But faking being sick leads to the episode's hijinks that leave the ending to his book spoiled and his alone time ruined.
- Laughing Mad: This is Mugman's reaction to the ice cream man spoiling the ending of his book.
- No-Sell: Mugman finally snaps when the ice cream man accidentally spoils the ending to his book. Mugman proceeds to beat him up, but his cupcake body absorbs the blows.
- Nose Tapping: When Mugman, in shock, asks if the ice cream man chased him straight across town only to gush about his new hat, the ice cream man scratches his nose with a smile in reply as if to say, "Right on the money."
- Out of Focus: Cuphead and Elder Kettle are away on errands, appearing only at the beginning and end of the episode, as well showing up as part of Mugbeard's crew in the story alongside Ms. Chalice for a short moment.
- Playing Sick: Mugman pretends to be bedridden so he can have the house to himself while Cuphead and Elder Kettle go shopping.
- Rage Breaking Point: Mugman hits his after the Ice Cream Man spoils the book he was reading, which is the Last Straw after everything else he has been put through. He goes Laughing Mad and lunges at the Ice Cream Man with fangs and a jungle cat shriek, trying to maul the guy.
- Spanner in the Works: The Ice Cream Man serves as the foil to Mugman's plan for some alone time.
- Standard Snippet: Tchaikovsky's "Love Theme" when Mugbeard and the fantasy Cala Maria Almost Kiss before being interrupted by the ice cream truck's jingle.
- The Unreveal: We never find out the Flavor of the Day the Ice Cream Man was trying to promote.
- Was Too Hard on Him: After yelling at the ice cream man for ignoring him, Mugman wonders if he took things a little too far. The fantasy Cala Maria breaking up with him for being harsh gets him to find the man and apologize.
