Did everyone in The '80s dress like a disco ball?
Production Code: 202
Tired of his father's obliviousness to the Magical World getting him repeatedly grounded just for doing his dragon duties, Jake uses a magical artifact to go back in time to tell his teenage father the truth. Instead, Jake inadvertently causes the break-up of his future parents, putting his very existence in jeopardy.
This episode provides examples of:
- Action Prologue: The episode opens with Jake and the Huntsman locked in battle over the Ucrono Hourglass.
- Armor-Piercing Question: "Why put yourself in harm's way just to protect some hideous monsters?" It gets Jonathan to think about what Jake said about them being a loving family.
- Book Ends: The episode begins with Jonathan grounding Jake for two weeks due him lying about being at the library on a school night when he was actually at the baseball stadium. At the end, just when Jonathan has removed his grounding, Susan grounds him again after noticing from their scrapbook that Jake time traveled on a school night.
- Call-Forward: Jake's Dad believing Halley's Comet was pronounced "Hallie" is corrected when Susan points out it's pronounced "Halley". Saying the name "Haley" to herself, and musing that she's always liked the name, is a telling hint as to what inspired her to name her future daughter.
- Failed A Spotcheck: In the prologue, the Huntsman somehow misses seeing Jake transform back into his human self as he falls off the stadium roof. Could possibly be justified in Jake's body getting lost in the crowd.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: The Huntsman (the #4 threat to all magical beings) started out as a lowly recruit relentlessly bullied by his peers for his voice and mistakes.
- I'm Mr. [Future Pop Culture Reference]: Jake introduces himself as Beyoncé Timberlake.Susan: Beyoncé Timberlake. What kind of bogus name is that?
- Innocuously Important Episode: On the surface, this is really just a standalone episode. However, it also serves as a backstory episode for the Huntsman, revealing why he personally hates dragons so much and planting the first seeds for just why he'd resort to trying to acquire all the Aztec Skulls.
- I Was Quite a Fashion Victim: Nearly all outfits portrayed in The '80s are composed of eye-melting pastels, baggy pants, and poorly dyed hair.
- Keeping Secrets Sucks: Jake regrets that he has to keep lying to his dad day in and day out. Getting scolded and grounded for various related reasons don't make it any easier.
- Love-Obstructing Parents: Lao Shi makes it clear he disapproves his daughter’ romance with the human Johnathan. He keeps a magical compass pointed at him and celebrates when the pair break up.
- Moose and Maple Syrup: In 1986, when he has to interact with the past versions of his mom and grandfather, Jake claims that he's the Canadian Dragon, adding in the "eh?" at the end and occasionally pronouncing "About" as "Aboot."
- Now I Know What to Name Him: Near the end of the episode, we get this exchange when Jake's high school-aged parents are watching a certain comet pass by.Jonathan: Susan, look! It's Halley’s Comet!
Susan: I think it's pronounced "Haley". Haley... I've always liked that name. - Oh, Crap!: The Huntsman's three tormentors are taken aback when his voice finally develops.
- Shipper with an Agenda: The younger Lao Shi, due to disliking Johnathan and wanting Susan to marry a magical creature, tries to set her up with "Beyonce Timberlake", unaware that he is really his grandson from the future.
- Stable Time Loop: It's heavily implied Jake caused the Huntsman to become the man he is today after causing him so much trouble.
- The Stinger: Fu Dog shows Jake some of his time traveling vacation photos.
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Technology Marches On: Parodied when 1986!Fu Dog is seen playing a massively shoddy video game with basic graphics. He’s amazed by the technology advances of the day. - Underestimating Badassery: Basically, the whole story of the Huntsman's teenage years. The time traveling Jake, his huntspeers, and even his Huntsmaster predecessors treated him like a Butt-Monkey due to his undeveloped voice, even though the Huntsman successfully kidnaps Jonathan during his first hunt and, later on, when he and Jake fight during Jonathan's rescue, he has Jake on the ropes through most of it and Jake only wins once he burns the Huntsman's weapon.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: A flashback shows that Fu Dog's visit to Atlantis ended abruptly when he pulled a plug.
- Villainous Vow: "Dragons! I will slay each and every one of them if it takes until the end of time!"
- Vocal Evolution: The Huntsman's voice finally changes towards the end of the episode as he vows vengeance on all dragons.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Played for Laughs. At the end, Jonathan decides to call off grounding Jake. But when Susan finds out that Jake's been time traveling (and on a school night, no less), she reinstates the punishment.
- You Are Grounded!: In the beginning of the episode, Jake gets grounded for two weeks for lying about studying in the library when he was actually fighting the Huntsman and winding up on TV during a baseball match. In the end, his dad lets him off with a warning, but when his mom finds her photograph with Jake in it, she grounds him for two weeks once again, to his dismay.
