That's a helluva way to start the season.
After losing his pitchfork to Cuphead, Devil decides to take Cuphead's brother Mugman down below to get even. While Cuphead finds a way to rescue his brother, the Devil tries to break Mugsy.There is also a little wager with Henchman to see if he can do it.
Tropes:
- Arc Words: "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers!"note
- The Bet: While he decides on what to do with Cuphead, the Devil and Henchman make a bet to see if the former can break Mugsy's spirit, before the clock strikes twelve, while he’s trapped in the Underworld. If the Devil fails, Henchman is allowed to go on vacation to anywhere of his choosing.
- Break the Cutie: To win a bet against Henchman, the Devil has to break Mugman's spirit before the clock strikes twelve, whether by making his captivity as uncomfortable and torturous as possible, or make him believe Cuphead has already given up on him. Unfortunately, Mugman remains upbeat throughout.
- Call-Back: Mugman recounts the shoe story he told Porkrind previously.
- Chekhov's Gun: Cuphead makes use of the Devil's pitchfork and the makeshift tandem bike Mugman made for them from last episode.
- Everyone Has Standards: Capturing helpless souls is one thing, but Henchman points out that it's against the rules to capture a live person, even if the Devil did it as an Equivalent Exchange for his pitchfork.
- Get Out!: After exchanging Mugman for his pitchfork back, the Devil casts them out to avoid any more trouble.
- Here We Go Again!: Cuphead is relieved that his Soul Debt has expired and vows to go straight. But what's the first thing he does? Go back to the Carn-Evil and play another round of Soul Ball, though he's lucky enough to not lose the game again.
- Hope Spot: The Cups finally evade the Devil and make it to the elevator, but after a few moments they notice the elevator isn't moving. Turns out they were at a decoy elevator that is now inside the Devil's mouth.
- Immediate Sequel: Implied as Cuphead, still holding the pitchfork, is shaken from seeing Mugman abducted by the Devil.
- Insane Troll Logic: The Devil tries to convince Mugman with a lie, that he is stuck in the Underworld for 80 years and Cuphead is likely not only dead, but sent to Heaven. Mugsy is more than positive that Cuphead will still come after him because he's too much of a troublemaker to be sent up above. So, by that logic, either Cuphead's soul is sent downwards to join Mugman or he's still alive to save him.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Elder Kettle doesn't know about Mugman's abduction, so Cuphead says he just lost his pocket knife to avoid the truth.
- Madness Mantra:Cuphead: Mugman... Mugman... Mugman...
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: When Elder Kettle asks Cuphead what's wrong, instead of saying Mugman, Cuphead says he lost his pocket knife. Elder Kettle assures him that it's easily replaceable, and it's not like he lost Mugman. This sends Cuphead crying out the door.Elder Kettle: They're so emotional at that age.
- Pity the Kidnapper: The Devil tries to break Mugman's spirit to even the score with Cuphead, starting by turning up the heat and then trying to demotivate him by saying that Cuphead's dead after 80 years, but not in the Underworld, only sent to Heaven. However, Mugman doesn't buy it and still remains hopeful Cuphead will save him. By the time Cuphead has reached the Underworld, the Devil himself is the one who's having his spirit broken.The Devil: Oh, come on! I've been torturing you all day. Will you just break already?
Mugman: I really don't know what you're talking about.
The Devil: [grumbles and walks away in a huff] - Pulled from Your Day Off: Cuphead interrupts Quadratus's vacation in order to get advice on how to rescue Mugman.
- Revenge of the Sequel Episode: This aptly titled episode is, after all, the sequel to "The Devil's Pitchfork".
- Running Gag: One of the slaves in the Underworld keeps screaming whenever Mugman talks to him.
- Scooby-Dooby Doors: When the Devil chases the cups through the columns of his throne hall.
- Shapes of Disappearance: When the Devil sees that Cuphead has come to rescue Mugman from the Underworld, he attempts to teleport to them by using his pitchfork, only to remember that he doesn't have it anymore, which is shown with a pitchfork-shaped dotted line blinking in his hand.
- Spanner in the Works: In his quest to save Mugman, Cuphead not only trashes the Devil's lair and breaks out all of the trapped souls, but indirectly keeps the Devil himself too busy to keep track of his bet, allowing Henchman to win.
- Time for Plan B: When Cuphead begs Quadratus for help how to find the Devil's lair, he tells Cup that he can use the pitchfork to instantly teleport there. With little experience and fearing for Mugman's life, Quadratus gives him another, albeit riskier, method: a magic chalk to summon an elevator to take him straight down.
