Rather than Kisegach, Bykov gets visited by Kupitman, who tries to fix his friend's relationship before it collapses completely. Victor is actually working to show himself as superior to Bykov, while Bykov just sits on his ass doing nothing. Bykov only agrees to go because he wants to see how Victor would make a fool out of himself. Victor already prepared quite a show for Kisegach, and Bykov expected that it would make it all the more satisfying when Victor fails... but Kisegach lets him inside. It seems that the things aren't under control, despite what Bykov believed. Rather than go inside and confront them, Bykov just silently leaves, not learning that Kisegach actually refused Victor's advances. But Victor isn't gonna give up, and "delicately" tells Gleb about his plans for his mother, which rather shocks hi. Gleb tells Kisegach what Victor just told him, and she tells that she has no plans to marry Victor: no matter how bad things goes with Bykov (and they aren't smooth), Victor has no chance either: he showed up after being absent for twenty years, acting like nothing happened, and now outright tries to make her return to him. Then Bykov goes to Kisegach himself, and starts annoying her by (in very aggressive and audacious manner) suggesting to marry Victor after all (he even took Lyuba's "non-wedding" dress to see how it looks on Anastasia), so she may then divorce him and take his money. Unsurprisingly, it makes her angry at him. But Bykov doesn't stop there, and later mockingly proposes to Rita, publicly. Kisegach orders him to stop, and tells that she's not gonna marry Victor — but after this, she's not gonna stay with Bykov either. However, Bykov claims that he has another plan left, so it's not over yet...
Levin continues acting very strictly and demanding, to Rita's and Semyon's annoyance. When Lobanov complains about Bykov leaving someone as unpleasant in his place, Rita asks him whether he would've been better, and describes rather bleak world where Lobanov was allowed to rule. Semyon, offended by her blatantly exaggerating his incompetence, says that she would've been no better, as her only interests are to look good and to gather rumours. When Alexei hears this and laughs, Rita readily tells how his version of the Therapy would be — primitive, run entirely on folk medicine. They only stops when Levin intervenes and tells them to stop wasting time. Levin asks Alexei what they discussed; when Lyosha hastily says "nothing", Levin presumes that people started making anecdotes about him, and takes it as a good sign: it means that people are starting being accustomed to him as their boss. When he leaves, Rita offers a good alternative to Levin as the Head of Therapy — Polina: nice, friendly and with healthy sense of humour; Lyosha disagrees, pointing that she's too lazy. Then Lobanov comes with another candidate, Phil, but he gets rejects for being too similar to Levin, but even more persistent. But Lobanov then tells them that they didn't listen to the whole idea: Phil is gonna become the great Head of Therapy, because he's dating Polina; all she needs is to smile, and he would do anything! The three starts laughing over this version, and that's when Levin busts them again. Levin tells them to go and start working. When Lobanov tries to troll him, and everyone laughs at that, Levin just gives all three night shifts. Semyon isn't happy, but Gleb points that Levin actually values his experience, and respects him, so if Lobanov was punished, then maybe there's a reason? Semyon remembers that he slacked for half a day, and realises that not only Gleb is right, but Levin actually let him off much easier than Bykov would've done on his place. Unknowingly to Lobanov, all of this was a lie, and Levin actually despises him, believing that Lobanov is dumb like a monkey. But for now, the conflict is defused, and for Gleb, that's enough.
This episode provides examples of:
- Book Ends: The episode starts with Bykov agreeing to go and see Victor's attempt to propose to Anastasia, just so he may watch how Victor makes himself look like an idiot and gets rejected. Five minutes away from the ending, Kisegach goes to stop Bykov's public tantrum, with Victor (who had called her just before that) begging her to take the phone with her, as he can't miss it: not everyday you can see how a man ruins his life like this all by himself.
- Epic Fail: In the version of the hospital which is run by Lobanov (as described by Rita), everything goes into complete chaos and disrepair, to the point that goes beyond absurd. There's barely any light, hobos are burning stuff in the barrels to warm up (as it's also very cold), Pasha is covertly selling drugs, and Levin is locked up, so they can ask him whenever they need someone who actually knows how to treat patients. Oh, and Lobanov's office is in an elevator.
- Flanderisation In-universe, each version of alternative reality where one of characters takes over the Therapy runs entirely on exaggerating some of associated traits to ridiculous levels.
- Lobanov is dumb, corrupt and indifferent, so his Therapy is the anarchic hellhole in the state of a horrible disrepair.
- Rita is a gossiper, and her Therapy runs entirely on who's the best with collecting rumours (while Lyosha serves as her personal slave).
- Alexei is a simple provincial guy from the simple provincial town, so his version gets exaggerated into him being an adept of folk medicine and bringing in priests.
- When Rita suggests that Polina may take that role, the only thing she can come up with is her sitting, eating cakes and chatting with people. Lyosha readily points that if it would be the only thing she does, she would become obese very soon (along with Rita, who's the one chatting with her most often).
- Lobanov suggests that they may take Phil. Rita disagrees: Phil is just like Levin, in that he's prone to be rather stubborn and persuasive when it comes to following the rules. Cut to the scene where Phil shows everyone countless graphics (it's "brief variant"), forces them to take the books with new working ethic, written by him (for now, free of charge), and announcing that now all doctors must smile all the time.
- Gave Up Too Soon: Had Bykov actually went to Kisegach and asked her what the hell is going on, it's likely that he would've avoided escalating conflict to the point of risking permanent breakup. But he leaved without a fight, allowing Victor to press Anastasia further — and Bykov to screw up even worse.
- Gossipy Hens: Lobanov's version of how Therapy would run under Rita involves her judging subordinates' performance by their ability to gather rumours. Polina raised into her number two, while Levin is on the very bottom of the hierarchy.
- Henpecked Husband: Lobanov's idea of the best new Head of the Therapy is Phil, because he would do whatever Polina tells him — and Polina would tell him what her friends would ask her to do; Phil can't disobey her, all she needs is to smile.
- History Repeats: Invoked by Victor. He intentionally imitates how he proposed to Anastasia twenty seven years ago by climbing up to her room on the third room of medical institute's dormitory, to propose; back then, he was heard only by the people living in the dormitory, now he wants everyone to hear it — that he asks her to marry him... again. This time, he fails, as she still can't forgive him for their first breakup.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: When Victor calls Kisegach again soon after Bykov's antics with a wedding dress, Kisegach lies to his question about how Bykov reacted with that he'd reacted adequately. Then Alexei rushes into office and asks to calm down Bykov, who's proposing to Rita.
- Manchild: Bykov acts even more childish than usually, this time acting almost insanely — all as part of his tantrum over Anastasia not doing as he wants and letting Victor near her. This is what convinces Kisegach to dump Bykov.
- Mugging the Monster: Downplayed. When making fun at Levin, Lobanov completely forgot that Levin now has the power to punish him if he wishes; after another joke at his expense, Levin gives Semyon (and Rita and Lyosha, who laughed at it) a night shift.
- Poor Communication Kills: Both Bykov and Kisegach, in their own ways:
- Bykov never bothers to talk to Kisegach beyond complaints about Victor being nearby, resulting in him never learning that she grew tired of Victor being too persistent, despite previously wasting twenty years without helping her in any way. Instead, Bykov throws tantrums and stupid antics, which only annoys Anastasia and makes her rethink her options.
- Kisegach makes only bare minimum of efforts to inform Bykov that she actually refused Victor's proposal, only talking to him when he goes into her office, and even then, only telling about not planning to marry anyone. As result, Bykov thinks that he has to continue, with disastrous results.
- "Rashomon"-Style: What Gleb says to Lobanov: Levin considers Semyon to be an experienced, responsible specialist, whom Levin deeply respects. What really happened: Levin considers Semyon to be dumb, lazy monkey, whom he needs to teach till he gains some brains. Both are shown as separate flashbacks.
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Bykov's moronic behaviour throughout the episode is what convinces Anastasia to kick Bykov out of her life, as she's fed up with his antics.
- The Slacker: Lobanov at first is angry at Levin for giving him a night shift, but Gleb lies that Levin is valuing him as specialist (he doesn't) and only punished him because Semyon force his hand, which makes Semyon think, and then he remember that he wasted half a day; Bykov would've done something way worse than mere night shift!
