Carlton stakes his pride on getting a high score on the PSATs, resulting in him spiraling when Will ends up getting a better score. Meanwhile, Geoffrey quits his job due to the poor compensation he receives from the Bankses.
Tropes:
- Achievement Test of Destiny: Carlton treats the PSAT as this, and while his parents do consider it to be quite important, his attitude toward it is shown to have gone too far after he breaks down when Will ends up doing better.
- The B Grade: Carlton ends up being in the 90th percentile with a score of 114, which objectively is quite good. However, he then considers the score to be bad upon learning that Will did better, to the point of accusing his family of lying about his score being good.
- Beg the Dog: Vivian is willing to give Geoffrey whatever he wants to get him back. Philip tries to be reasonable with Geoffrey's proposed accommodations, but quickly loses his leverage when Hilary and Ashley beg the butler to come back (though he does draw the line when Geoffrey proposes hiring a female Jamaican cook).
- Beware the Silly Ones: Coach Smiley's capability as a teacher is somewhat questionable, given that he spends his free time during class watching sports and falls for Will's Chewbacca Defense of Carlton cheating. That being said, he is observant enough to have caught Carlton cheating in the first place, and isn't oblivious enough to believe Will's alibi after Carlton completely gives them away.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: Despite putting no effort into studying for the PSAT, Will ends up getting a (just slightly) better score than Carlton.
- Cheaters Never Prosper: Despite Will attempting (and nearly succeeding) at getting Carlton off scot-free, the episode ends with the two of them being grounded for a good bit.
- Dumb Jock: Coach Smiley falls for Will's alibi that instead of cheating, Carlton actually has a neck condition that caused him to look at Will's paper, despite how silly Will's explanation is. That is, until Carlton exposes himself immediately afterward.
- Fast-Forward Gag: This is used when Will tries to get his junk put away before Philip and Vivian get home. When it backfires, the gag occurs again as Will runs up the stairs to escape.
- Freak Out: A minor version. Carlton's resentment of Will's accomplishment causes him to steadily descend into increasing self-doubt until he reaches the point of trying to cheat off Will during a pop quiz.
- Idiotic Partner Confession: After Will goes to great lengths to get Carlton out of trouble for cheating using a good dose of Chewbacca Defense which somehow works, Carlton ruins it in the span of five seconds by vocally thanking Will for getting him out of cheating...while the two of them are still in the principal's office. Cue an Oh, Crap! moment as, unlike several other instances of this trope, the principal and Coach Smiley hear it immediately.
- Inferiority Superiority Complex: Carlton's attempts to hold his status and accomplishments over Will is shown to be a result of his own insecurity. When Will gets a higher score than him on the PSAT, things turn ugly fast.
- Minor Insult Meltdown: Despite his PSAT score being lower than Will's by only a point, Carlton becomes extremely upset and refuses to let it go; even Will, who loves to gloat on him whenever given the opportunity, feels like the difference is too minor to warrant tormenting Carlton more than a little bit.
- Red Sock Ruins the Laundry: After Geoffrey quits, the Banks' attempt to do the laundry on their own results in this trope occurring.
- Take This Job and Shove It: Geoffrey walks out on the Banks household when Philip and Vivian propose only a modest raise, saying sarcastically that he can use his "newfound wealth" to buy a Happy Meal.
- You Are Grounded!: This is what happens to Will and Carlton near the end of the episode.Uncle Phil You are grounded until we can figure out something worse for you. No move it.
