Gown and Out: When Lola advances to a regional pageant, she worries she could lose for the first time.
Breaking Dad: Dad has Mr. Grouse watch Lily while he goes to a concert, but things quickly start to go wrong.
"Gown and Out"
- Always Someone Better: Lola has a reputation for being a fierce/undefeated pageant powerhouse in Royal Woods, but she's never competed in anything other than small/local pageants in her hometownnote . But after getting the chance to compete in Little Miss Southeastern Michigan (which is a regional pageant), Lola quickly discovers that the girls she's going to be competing against are, overall, much more talented/experienced than she is when it comes to these types of pageants (and pageants in general).
- An Aesop: Don't feel overwhelmed by the competition. Just Be Yourself, do the best that you can, and keep your chin up even when you don't win.
- Beauty Contest: In this episode, Lola advances to a regional pageant, and she worries she could lose for the first time. She does, but is ultimately glad she went through with competing and wins the respect of her opponents.
- Bittersweet Ending: While Lola doesn't win or even place in the Little Miss Southeastern Michigan pageant, she's ultimately glad that she went through with competing. Additionally, Lola wins the respect of her opponents as well, with Jackie noting that she and the other girls will have to watch out for her next year.
- Cape Snag: When Lola has to perform her ribbon dance at a rehearsal for Little Miss Southeastern Michigan, her ribbon snags onto a nail sticking out of the floor. She gets catapulted off the stage as a result.
- Continuity Nod:
- Lincoln references the events of "Toads and Tiaras" when Lynn questions his enthusiasm for Lola's pageant. The pageant host from said episode also shows up, now having undergone a gender transition in the time since.
- Lincoln reminds Lola, "Eyes forward, chin up, tushy clenched," the same advice he took from Lola in a flashback from "Roughin' it Up".
- Cool Crown: The title card shows Lola wearing a tiara decorated with ornaments shaped like Lincoln's head.
- A Day in the Limelight: For Lola (and Lori to a lesser extent).
- Every Man Has His Price: Lori's not interested in chaperoning Lola during the Little Miss Southeastern Michigan pageant, but instantly agrees when her parents offer her a weekend at the spa in return.
- Gagging on Your Words: Lola has great trouble to even so much as telling Lincoln that she's worried she might lose. She almost vomits when doing so.
- Gilligan Cut: When Lori has dropped off Lola’s luggage at her room and intends to go to the spa, only to find out it’s full.
- Growling Gut: The mere thought of defeat upsets Lola's stomach while she's talking to Lincoln, which is made apparent by a brief gurgling noise.
- Letting the Air out of the Band: When Lori is primping Lola for a pretend pageant, she sings a tube while background music plays. But then Lola starts crying with guilt, which causes the music to falter down.
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: While pretending to be sick, Lori dotes on Lola and buys her expensive gifts, believing that she is disappointed about not being able to compete in the pageant, making Lola feel more and more guilty until she finally admits the truth.
- "Oh, Crap!" Smile: When Lola first meets some of her competitors for the Little Miss Southeastern Michigan pageant, she gives off a nervous laugh when she realizes that they're much tougher than any other opponent she's gone up against in a beauty pageant.
- Playing Sick: Lola does this by covering herself in spots, using makeup, so she'll have an excuse not to compete in the pageant.
- Running Gag: Lola having trouble saying the word "lose."
- Spell My Name With An S: One of the Little Miss Southeastern Michigan conestants is named Chinah, who notes that her name is spelled with two Hs.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Prior to competing in Little Miss Southeastern Michigan (which is a regional pageant), the biggest pageant that Lola had ever competed in was Little Miss Royal Woods—and prior to that, Lola had only ever competed in small/local pageants in her hometown (which had names like "Little Miss Prim-and-Perfect" or "Little Miss Fusion Cuisine"). But Lola discovers the hard way that competition in general only gets harder when you move up the ladder, meaning that victory isn't always guaranteed (no matter how hard you try).
"Breaking Dad"
- Babysitting Episode: In the first half of this episode, Lynn Sr. hires Mr. Grouse to babysit Lily while he goes to the cowbell music festival.
- Balloonacy: In an attempt to win Lily back, Lynn Sr. buys her so many balloons they lift her up in the air. Fortunately, they are inside the mall, so she can’t get too far up.
- Comedic Sociopathy: Seeing someone make a pratfall is the only thing that can counter Lily's midday cranky time.
- A Day in the Limelight: For Lynn Sr..
- Five-Second Foreshadowing: When Mr. Grouse gives Lynn Sr.'s sweater back to him, you can see Lily look in awe at the sweater before calling Lynn Sr. "dada". Then comes The Reveal that Lily called Mr. Grouse "dada" because he was wearing Lynn Sr.'s sweater.
- Fun with Flushing: It is revealed that the reason the daycare center closed and is unable to watch Lily is because one of the toddlers flushed a whole diaper down the toilet, causing the whole place to get flooded.
- Inelegant Blubbering: Lynn Sr. is so heartbroken at the thought of losing Lily forever that he weeps inconsolably.
- Loose Lips: When Lynn Sr. calls Rita to tell her daycare is closed due to the flood and needs her to watch Lily, Rita cannot do so because she is busy all day filling all five of the Fox Quintuplets' cavities. While Rita is treating Pam, the sole female of the quintuplets, she accidentally lets it slip that there's only enough nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for four of them, and Pam becomes worried that she won't be getting gassed for her treatment.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Lynn Sr. has this reaction when Lily keeps referring to Mr. Grouse as "dada."
- Ocular Gushers: Lily cries like this when she has to be left with Mr. Grouse.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Lynn Sr. turns down his second day of going to the cowbell music festival so he can spend that day with Lily.
- Pungeon Master: Lynn Sr. makes several bell-related puns throughout the episode.
- Running Gag: Mr. Grouse calling Lynn Sr. because he can't handle Lily.
- Shout-Out: This episode's title is a reference to Breaking Bad.
- Toilet Humor: The third time Mr. Grouse calls him, Lynn Sr. is just about to use one of the portable toilets. Then he forgets to hang up before doing his business, much to Mr. Grouse’s dismay.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Mr. Grouse's love for Lynn-sagna is best exemplified in this episode; he has Lynn Sr. make seven of them in exchange for babysitting Lily, and the following day, when Lynn Sr. invites him into his house to talk about Lily calling him "Dada", Mr. Grouse asks him if he's making lasagna. At one point, Lynn Sr. even calls Mr. Grouse a lasagna addict.
- Troubled Fetal Position: Rita finds Lynn Sr. in this position on the couch sobbing because he thinks Lily now sees Mr. Grouse as her father.
