Airdate: November 18, 2016
Strong Bad continues the tradition of making fun of his fans' Homestar Runner-based Halloween costumes, from the recursive (like a costume based on a crappy licensed Bubs costume) to the obscure (like Anonymous Contributor) to the unsettling (like Modestly-Hot Homsar) to the just plain sloppily-made (like the many, many Homestar costumes).
Tropes:
- Call-Back: Strong Bad's star-drawing tutorial plays out like a similar segment in the sbemail "dragon".
- Continuity Nod: The "Bubs costume costume" is based on the one seen in the 2008 Halloween short "Costume Commercial".
- Gender Flip: A female fan is dressed as Gunhaver, though Strong Bad assumes she's dressed as Gunhavette, a limited edition female Cheat Commando that was only available by mail-order, and was recalled when the words "Ob'm know. Maybe eat it, kids." were printed on her packaging.
- Lampshaded the Obscure Reference: One of the fans is dressed up as Anonymous Contributor from the Strong Bad Email "rock opera", a character obscure enough that Strong Bad has to look it up on the Real Life Homestar Wiki.
- My Little Panzer: According to Strong Bad, the Gunhavette action figures were recalled because their packaging encouraged children to eat the toys.
- Nightmare Fuel: In-Universe. Seeing the fan dressed as Modestly Hot Homsar sitting in a box causes Strong Bad to declare he won't sleep for weeks.
- Rage Breaking Point: Strong Bad has a bit of a Freak Out at the end after seeing one too many bad Homestar costumes featuring t-shirts with crudely-drawn stars on them."Feel free to follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions. I make drawing... (mumbles) Okay, (he quickly draws a proper sketch of a star) first, draw a star... for a star. Then DRAW A FREAKIN' STAR!! JUST DRAW A STAR! IT'S LIKE THE EASIEST SHAPE TO DRAW, MAN! EVERYBODY LEARNS HOW TO DRAW STARS WHEN THEY'RE LIKE THREE YEARS OLD! BABY TOYS ARE COVERED IN STARS, BECAUSE IT'S A SHAPE THAT BABIES CAN UNDERSTAND!"
- The fact that the person in question dressed like Homestar has painted his clearly-hairy legs white only adds to Strong Bad's frustration."WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!? NEXT TIME, SHAVE YOUR LEGS BEFORE YOU PAINT THEM WHITE!"
- The fact that the person in question dressed like Homestar has painted his clearly-hairy legs white only adds to Strong Bad's frustration.
- Take That, Audience!: The entire episode is just Strong Bad making fun of fans and their Halloween costumes. The only costume he genuinely compliments is a very well-made Strong Bad mask and some boxing gloves (though he claims the boxing gloves aren't the right brand he actually uses).
