A Plot: Murray decides it's time for Adam to learn to drive, but there is one problem: Adam is too afraid and doesn't want to learn yet.
B Plot: Erica is despondent over having no friends and no fun at college, which is only made worse when Barry visits and seems to fit right in on campus.
- Amazing Freaking Grace: It's Erica's first choice for singing at her dorm's "Kareoga" (combined Karaoke and Toga) party, which instantly kills the mood and makes some attendees question why she chose something with religious tones.
- Be Yourself: It's the reason why Barry gains popularity so quickly when he visits Erica, and why Erica herself (who has instead been focusing on seeming cooler than everyone else) has been failing until Barry intervenes.
- Blatant Lies: Beverly's cautionary tales are these from everyone's perspective but Adam's, with topics such as "Road Pirates" and a pool cleaner that had his arm replaced with a metal scoop after a mishap when crossing train tracks (the latter of which Murray critiques in depth, asking why not replace it with a prosthetic arm, or how to prevent rusting with a job involving constant contact with water).
- Gone Horribly Wrong: Beverly attempts to terrify Adam into being a cautious driver have convinced him he shouldn't be driving at all, which is not what she intended.
- It's All About Me: Taking umbrage at Barry's immediate acceptance by her peers, Erica decides to win her peers over at her dorm's "Kareoga" party...by following up a crowd song with a solo rendition of Amazing Freaking Grace to show off her talent. Naturally, this fails, so Barry convinces her to be the "real" her instead of trying to impress everyone, and the crowd joins her in singing "Pour Some Sugar on Me".
- Like a Duck Takes to Water: Even after Erica mocks him for thinking of college life as one big party, Barry immediately gains popularity by being his regular goofy self instead of trying to impress people like she's been attempting, to the point where he helps save her own reputation by association.
- Passing the Torch: Pops, who was saddened by his declining ability to drive, encourages Adam to take up driving so they can hang out at restaurants together like they used to. In the end, after Beverly admits to lying and Murray encourages him, Adam accepts.
- Scare 'Em Straight: Adam's fears are primarily caused by his mother using this trope, telling him tales of people that didn't properly engage in safe driving in the hopes that he's be a cautious and considerate driver.
- Sequel Episode: There are various clips of, and returning locations from, the very first episode, comparing Adam's experiences on his 16th birthday and getting to drive with Barry's.
- Tempting Fate: After Adam works up the courage to drive over a train crossing despite his parents and Pops giving conflicting information, he remarks that maybe driving isn't so bad after all...and immediately T-bones a cop car.
