While attempting to track down the identity of one of her haters, Carly dates a man who has supposedly never seen her webshow, but is horrified to learn that he is actually a stalker and the iCarly hater in question. Meanwhile, Spencer accidentally blinds himself with pepper spray and asks Freddie to assist him in his day-to-day activities.
Tropes:
- Amusing Injuries: Spencer, trying to both taser and pepper-spray Nora, accidentally tases and blinds himself. He later blinds himself again while spraying cologne.
- Basement-Dweller: Nora still lives with her parents. Freddie starts to laugh at her, until he remembers that he's back living with his mom.
- Becoming the Mask: Justin pretends to be a charming Nice Guy, even though he's secretly Carly's online hater. After spending time with her, his opinions of her change for the better and he's on the verge of telling her the truth, but circumstances lead to Carly finding out before he can tell her.
- Broken Pedestal: Justin was a fan of iCarly when he was a boy, up until a video he submitted to the show was rejected. The pedestal is rebuilt once he meets Carly in person.
- The Bus Came Back: Nora Dershlit makes a reappearance, claiming to be a lot better than she was as a teenager. She probably was... until she met Carly and Freddie again.
- Contrived Coincidence: How coincidental is it that "iHateCarly57" just happened to be a resident of Seattle, allowing Carly the chance to set up a meeting between them?
- Crying Wolf: After blinding himself a second time, Spencer goes back to Freddie for help, and Freddie doesn't believe him, since he had previously pretended to still be blind after his sight came back.
- Curse Cut Short: Carly sends the hater a positive message and is not at all amused by their response.Carly: Oh. They already replied with..."Do better." To my olive branch. Oh, I'll do better. I'll lodge that branch so far up—.
Freddie: Ah, yes. Love and light. - Disproportionate Retribution: The reason why Justin has been harassing Carly online? Because a video he submitted for iCarly when he was eleven was never played on the show.
- Don't Tell Mama: After coming into Carly's apartment uninvited, Nora begs Carly and Freddie not to tell her parents that she's been stalking them again.
- Freudian Excuse: The reason why Justin has been attacking Carly is because when he was a boy, he submitted a clip for the original iCarly web show of him reciting a poem he wrote. The clip was rejected and Justin had held a grudge ever since.
- Heel–Face Turn: Nora claims to have changed for the better since the last time she and the iCarly gang met. This rings hollow when she starts stalking Carly and Freddie again. However, Nora never attempts to physically harm them and even makes an effort to apologize for her behavior, saying that she hadn't thought of them in years but seeing them again at Skybucks caused her to revert to her old self.
- I Know Karate: Millicent says she knows Capoeira. Carly's not impressed, claiming that it's just dancing.
- Immediate Self-Contradiction: After finishing up her latest iCarly, Carly says that she does it for the love of it, not for praise. Then immediately asks Freddie about the fan feedback.
- Internal Reveal: The audience discovers Justin's true identity early on in the episode. Carly finds out when Millicent begins liking all of "IHateCarly57"'s posts, with Justin's phone getting a notification chime after every like.
- Meaningful Echo: After ordering Justin out of her apartment, Carly has these departing words for him:Carly: You were right about one thing, though. I can "do better".
Millicent: Ooh.
Harper: Flipped it, reversed it, never once rehearsed it. - Minor Flaw, Major Breakup: Discussed throughout the episode, with Harper referring to such flaws as "the ick". Harper herself ends up turning off her date by wearing Carly's bunny suit during sex, and while Carly is able to forgive Justin for his online attacks towards her, she doesn't like his poetry.
- Not Me This Time: When Carly encounters Nora at Skybucks, she denies being "IHateCarly57". She's telling the truth, and the culprit turns out to be Justin.
- "Not So Different" Remark: At first, Carly refuses to forgive Justin for his trolling. But after thinking it over, she realizes that hanging on to that anger means she's no better than him.
- Obfuscating Disability: Spencer pretends to still be blind for some time after his sight returns. Freddie, who has been waiting on Spencer hand and foot, is pissed when he finds out the truth.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: For some reason, Freddie wears a fake mustache to Skybucks when Carly is to meet her hater.
- Red Herring: Carly runs into Nora at the coffee shop and immediately assumes she's iHateCarly57. Nora denies it, but Carly isn't convinced. The hater's true identity is Justin, the guy she met in line.
- Reformed, but Not Tamed: Nora really is trying to redeem herself, but even after ten years of therapy, she is still obsessed with Carly and Freddie. That said, she never attempts to hurt or kidnap them again, and when Carly orders Nora to get out of her apartment, Nora obliges without resistance, so she is making progress.
- Rejected Apology:
- Carly initially rejects Justin's apology, but after having thought it over, she realizes that carrying a grudge would make her no better than him and she decides to give him a second chance, even bringing him on the new iCarly to recite his poem. The poem is horrible and his delivery is terribly hammy, which turns off Carly completely.
- When Nora climbs into Carly's apartment to apologize, neither Carly nor Freddie seem to buy it and Carly orders Nora to leave.
- Single-Episode Handicap: Spencer temporarily loses his sight. He forces Freddie to act as his guide.
- Somebody Doesn't Love Raymond: At first, Carly isn't all that bothered by her hater, until she sends him a kind message only for him to respond with more nastiness. She then becomes determined to track him down.
- Stalker with a Crush:
- "IHateCarly57". Carly initially thinks that it's Nora, but she later finds out that it's Justin, the cute guy she met at Skybucks.
- Nora, who still has a crush on Freddie.
- Stalker without a Crush: Nora for Carly. She scales the side of the Bushwell building and comes in through Carly's window. Sure, it was to apologize for barging in on her date with Justin, but Carly and Freddie are understandably creeped out nonetheless.
- Third Wheel: Nora, when she butts in on Carly and Justin's date.
- Too Dumb to Live: Spencer tries to drive himself to the hospital while blind.
- Troll: "IHateCarly57" is a particularly nasty one who leave defamatory comments on all of Carly's content, ending them each with the phrase "Do better". Carly ignores them at first, but after a failed attempt to appeal to their good nature, sets up a meeting to settle their beef. Millicent also acts like a troll, as usual, laughing at all of IHateCarly57’s insults and giving them likes right in front of Carly, which allows Carly to figure out the troll's identity.
- Was It All a Lie?: Said by Carly to Justin after his true identity is discovered.Carly: You lied about seeing the show. And you lied about being "IHateCarly57". Was anything you said true? What about the homeless kids? Or the tacos?
Justin: No, no, Carly, I swear everything since we met has been real. - Wham Line: After Carly leaves Skybucks, an employee asks for Justin's opinion on the banana nut muffin. Justin says, "Do better", which is what "IHateCarly57" says at the end of all of their posts.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Nora's pet chicken Maurice is no where to be found and isn't even mentioned. Given the length of time between the two series, he's likely long dead at this point.
