Artistic License – Biology: In reality, urinating on a jellyfish sting not only doesn't help but it can even make things worse.
Beach Bury: Happened once again to Joey. Not from being buried in the sand, like in the last episode, but rather from the beach water entering the large hole he dug right where the waves collapse. Monica and Chandler actually have to help him get out of there.
Beach Episode: The bad weather from the previous episode has broken so Monica, Chandler and Joey can finally head to the beach.
Big "OMG!": Chandler's frustrated reaction to Ross once again insisting that he and Rachel were on a break.
Dark Secret: Parodied with what Chandler, Joey, and Monica experienced on the beach.
Joey: A lot of things happened on that trip that [looks towards Chandler] we should never ever talk about. Ross: What the hell happened on that beach? Joey: It's between us and the sea, Ross! [Ross looks incredulous, but Chandler silently nods to agree with Joey]
Don't Ask: Chandler, Joey, and Monica when asked about what happened at the beach. Eventually, though, they crack.
Door Stopper: As a condition of getting back together with Ross, Rachel makes him read a letter ("Eighteen pages! Front and back!") that he has to accept in full. In much of it Rachel "rambles" (according to Ross), writing it like if she were speaking to him face-to-face. No wonder Ross falls asleep while reading the letter (at 5:30 a.m.) and then says he accepts it in full, only discovering later that he assumed full responsibility for the previous breakup of their relationship, when they were "on a break" (because he slept with Chloe the copy center girl).
Downer Ending: Ross ruins his chances of getting back together with Rachel when he finally confesses to not reading the paper for taking responsibilities for their breakup and this results in them not only breaking up again but also breaking ties with each other for good.
Electric Jellyfish: Monica gets stung by one while she and Chandler were helping Joey get out of the hole he dug, which sets the B-plot involving her, him, and Chandler. It hurts her really badly.
Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: During the explanation of how Monica got stung by jellyfish, Joey mentions the documentary he saw on the Discovery Channel. Ross says he saw that one, too, and realizes mid-sentence what this means.
Failed Attempt at Drama: Phoebe storms out of Phoebe Abbott's house yelling that she never wants to see her again...and then awkwardly walks back in with her hand over her eyes because she forgot her purse.
Friendship Moment: Joey saying that if it was necessary, he'd pee on any one of his friends. Ross gets what he means and gives a somewhat appreciative nod.
Godzilla Threshold: In the face of Ross, Rachel, and Phoebe being grossed out, Monica insists that the sheer pain caused by the jellyfish sting meant she had to go ahead with the only available remedy.
Goodbye, Cruel World!: When Phoebe goes to tell Ursula about finding their birth mother Ursula reveals that she's known for years as their adoptive mother mentioned it in her suicide note, which Phoebe didn't know existed. Ursula then tries to pass off a hastily scribbled note as the real thing which Phoebe immediately sees through.
Honor Before Reason: Double subverted with Ross. He is immediately outraged upon learning from the letter that Rachel wants him to take full responsibility for their break-up, but Chandler and Joey caution him that picking his "We were on a break" fight again will cost him the relationship he so badly wanted back. Ross acknowledges they're right and initially bites his tongue in the face of Rachel talking about him owning up to what he did, but he eventually cracks under the pressure of Rachel condescendingly talking about him "cheating".
Innocently Insensitive: In bed, Rachel talks about how Ross owned up to what caused their break-up. She has no idea how much this irritates him, until he reveals he still believes they were on a break.
Rachel: And hey, just so you know: It's not that common, it doesn't happen to every guy and it IS a big deal! (slams the door) Chandler:I KNEW IT!
Never My Fault: Ross and Rachel finalize their breakup because neither of them are willing to acknowledge their role in why it ended the first time around.
Rachel, to the point of making Ross sign her own written document confirming everything that went wrong in their relationship was his fault. When he feigns approving it, she acts incredibly smug about it, to the point Ross cracks and decides it's not worth it.
Ross:*snaps* And for the record, it took two people to break up this relationship! Rachel:*outraged* Yeah! You, and that girl from the copy place!
Ross goes back insisting that they were "on a break," ignoring his previous acknowledgement after Rachel pushed the point that he would have been devastated if the situation had been reversed.
Polyamory: Phoebe Abbott admits that she, Lily and Frank Buffay were a couple, to her biological daughter Phoebe Buffay.
Phoebe Abbott: Frank, Lily and I... The three of us were... a couple.
Previously on…: Done by Joey, only he has no idea how the various plot lines that don't involve him ended. He ends the recap by offering to get Chandler so he can explain things.
Rhetorical Question Blunder: When Phoebe Abbott explains giving up her children and admitting she was scared and stupid.
Phoebe Abbott: I mean, you were remember what it was like to be 18 years old, don't you? Phoebe Buffay: Yeah, let's see, my mom had killed herself, my dad had run off, and I was living in a Gremlin with a man named Cindy who talked to his hand.
Rhetorical Request Blunder: In response to Polyamory, Phoebe says she doesn't even know how that would work. Just as Phoebe Abbott starts to explain, our Phoebe asserts she wasn't asking to find out.
The Scream: The camera cuts to the kitchen just before Ross shouts, "WE WERE ON A BREAK!" Chandler and Joey enter immediately afterwards, having been able to hear him from across the hall. The audience will later get to see the moment from inside the room in "TOW The Invitation".
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Upon Ross cracking and shouting he and Rachel were on a break, Chandler and Joey ask Monica if she'd like to go to Central Perk. Of course, they don't manage to get out of there before Ross and Rachel storm out of the bedroom yelling at each other.
Sequel Episode: Begins where the last episode of the previous season, "The One at the Beach", ended.
Ross gets in a few examples, first when finishing the letter and later when fighting with Rachel.
"It so does NOT!" "WE WERE ON A BREAK!" "It was five thirty in the morning. And you had rambled on for eighteen pages. FRONT AND BACK!" [on Rachel saying they're over] "FINE BY ME!" "Don't you worry about me falling asleep. I STILL HAVE YOUR LETTER!"
Rachel gets in some, as well, particularly when telling Ross about how a certain something doesn't happen to every guy.
Monica when denouncing all jellyfish.
Urine Trouble: Joey has to pee on Monica to treat her jellyfish sting but gets "the stage fright" and can't do it. Chandler steps up but apparently has some aiming issues.
Joey: That's right, I stepped up. She's my friend and she needed help. If I had to, I'd pee on any one of you.
