After traveling to Steamland, Elfo enthralls the denizens of an upscale explorers' club while Bean infiltrates a factory in search of the Arch-Druidess.
Tropes:
- Adventurer's Club: Elfo ends up in one briefly due to a case of mistaken identity, unfortunately it doesn't last long.
- Ambiguous Situation: It's not clear if Alva Gunderson genuinely likes Bean and thinks a political alliance between Dreamland's magic and Steamland's science would be beneficial for the greater good, or if he has sinister ulterior motives. (At the very least, he's revealed to be the one who sent Sky Gunderson last season, presumably to have Sky drop off the gun that the Archdruidess would use to assassinate Zog. Again, whether for the greater good or for greed has yet to be seen.)
- Anything but That!: The Arch-Druidess's last words as she's dragged off are "not the little door!"
- Brick Joke:
- On hearing about the mandatory carnival, Bean declares that she's going to get her face painted like a tiger. After a few scenes, she has indeed gotten her face painted.
- At the cafeteria, Gordie mentions that the sandwich makers are highly strung, and Bean should try avoiding them. A while later, they run into one such sandwich maker, who is indeed very tightly wound.
- Call-Back: This episode contains many Call Back and Continuity Nods:
- Malfus the Philosopher and the Laughing Horse return.
- Harriet returns too and recognizes Bean, although the latter cannot do the same.
- Elfo recounts his escape from Hell and many of his journeys to various previous places in the show (Dankmire, Heaven, Mermaids' Island and the Lost City of Cremorrah) to catch the attention of the League of Gallivanting Scrutinators members.
- Continuity Nod:
- In the Archdruidess' hideout, many battery potatoes can be seen, using the same way than Sky (the first character openly from Steamland we saw) to find electricity ;
- When Bean and Elfo enter the Cave of the Single Trap (In Two Parts), the skeletons of the two knights who died in this trap in the first season can also be seen ;
- Elfo remembering Heaven (even if he mistaked Steamland's smog with the Heaven's clouds);
- Bean amazed by a light switch and who cannot help but play with it (much to the chagrin of the workers trying to sleep).
- Even Evil Has Standards: Downplayed, as Gunderson is more greedy than evil. He wanted the Archdruidess to lure Bean into Steamland, and keeps her here. However, he is chocked when he learns about the unnecessary murders and attempts of murders the Archdruidess comited to accomplish her mission, and fires her immediately.
- Foreshadowing:
- Inside the episode: A picture of Gunderson with his fake moustache can be seen at the beginning, in the Archdruidess' hiding place; later, a sign reading "Stew's on!" can be seen in the behind Bean and in Gunderson's field-of-view at the moment where he presents himself as "Stewson".
- Some of the Freak show posters feature Edith and Mora, who will appear in following episode.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: Almost every time a sign, book or photo appears on the screen, it contains a joke or foreshadowing.
- Freudian Slip: Subverted when Bean says she'll "drink about [Gunderson's offer]""I know what I said!"
- Fridge Logic: In-universe, when the Arch-Druidess tells Bean not to trust Alva. Bean points out the unreliable advice of someone who has tried to kill her several times already. Her only response? "Shaaadap!"
- Funny Background Event: Other workers giving Gordie weird looks as he sings out "Foggy Mountain Blimp Crash".
- Is This Thing Still On?: Archdruidess informs the workers at Gunderson's factory about the upcoming company party, but forgets to switch the intercom off before revealing her own contempt for this party.
- Line-of-Sight Name: Done subtly when an employee smoothly gives Bean the name "Gordie Stewson" before revealing himself at the climax to be the company's owner, Alva Gunderson. There was a poster in the background, in the cafeteria, that said "Stew's on!".
- Marilyn Maneuver: A deadly and accidental one is done by the monk who got caught by the steam.
- Married to the Job: Oona tells Zog that she's married to the ocean now.
- The Reveal: The Arch-druidess is not only a resident of Steamland but an employee of Alva Gunderson, who paid her to lure Bean to Dreamland so he could court her and propose a political marriage to harness Dreamland's magic with Steamland's science. "Skybert" from last season is also revealed to be Alva Gunderson's brother, and Alva sent him on his mission to Dreamland (presumably to drop off the gun to assassinate King Zog).
- Shout-Out:
- The wide shot of the workers looks like Metropolis.
- The carnival ride about the history of steam is The Calliope of Progress.
- Stalker with a Crush: Bean's coworker Gordy Stewson is revealed to be the company's owner, Alva Gunderson. He had the Arch-druidess lure Bean to Steamland and his factory, and then pretended to be a common grunt to get to know her. He seems to genuinely like her, but also did some pretty underhanded things to get her attention, and get to know her without her consent.
- Utopia Justifies the Means: Alva Gunderson is revealed to be behind Sky Gunderson's gun delivery meant to assassinate King Zog and the Arch-druidess's meddling in Dreamland's political affairs. He claims it's to arrange a romantic political alliance between Bean and himself, so they can harness Dreamland's magic with Steamland's science for the greater good. Whether this is true, he merely believes it to be true, or it's all a lie has yet to be seen.
- Take That!: When Bean describes the Archdruidess to Gordy, including how evil she is and how she likes to scheme, she concludes that the most likely place to find her is at Human Resources.
- Woman Scorned: The Arch-druidess seems to have a genuine crush on Alva Gunderson and manipulated Bean on his orders, and doesn't seem to take his rejection well. When he fires her, she tackles Bean, but also warns her not to trust Alva Gunderson. (Since he sent Sky last season, who dropped off a gun meant to assassinate Zog, this might hold some water.)
- Your Mom: When one of the League of Gallivanting Scrutinators tries calling Elfo out, Elfo makes a "your mom" joke at the guy, which causes him to retract his statement.
