Recap / Phineas And Ferb Love At First Byte

Linda is overwhelmed by planning a block party and asks Phineas and Ferb to help her find a company to do a laser light show. The boys instead decide to just set up a laser light show themselves. When Candace tries to bust the boys to their mother, she's horrified to find out that Linda asked the boys to help.

Meanwhile, Perry is sent to spy on Doofenshmirtz to make sure he really is attending the party "just for fun". Doofenshmirtz tries to help Norm hit it off with a female giant robot named Chloe.

Tropes:

• Artistic License – Physics: When the PHLASER is activated, a bunch of lasers somehow remove all the tattoos from a bulky man, which is not how that works.
• Buffy Speak: Both Stacy and Candace refer to Phineas and Ferb's invention as a "giant insect robot thingy".
• The Cameo: Caricatures of Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh are seen at the block party.
• Cats Love Laser Pointers: When the PHLASER activates, it attracts the attention of some alley cats who chase the lasers.
  Stacy: Okay, that's, like, a lot of cats.
• Comeback Tomorrow: As always, after Rodney insults Norm, Doof fails to come up with a comeback.
  Doofenshmirtz: Oh, yeah, well... well... I'm too flustered to come up with an insult, so I'll call you later, and give it to you then!
• Dance of Romance: Norm and Chloe share one during the block party.
• Did Not Get the Girl: Norm ends up losing Chloe due to her creator Rodney showing up and taking her away.
• Eye Pop: Invoked by Norm when he sees Chloe, since he's a robot.
• Falling-in-Love Montage: Between Chloe and Norm as they share a dance together.
• Fun with Acronyms: Phineas and Ferb's invention of the week is the Pyrotechnic Holographic Light and Audio Simulator and Electromagnetic Radioscope, or PHLASER.
• Goofy Suit: Agent P is assigned to spy on Doof at the block party, but since it is in close proximity to his host family, he will have to wear a disguise. He is given a balloon animal style costume, that he is clearly not thrilled about.
• Gratuitous French: After he gives Perry his assignment, Monogram tells Perry to "Laissez le bon temps rouler", which is the Cajun French slogan associated with Mardi Gras and Louisiana and literally translates to "Let the good times roll!"
• Heroic BSoD: Candace goes through a rather deep one throughout the episode, upon realizing Phineas and Ferb were helping Mom with the block party and realizes the situation is un-bustable.
• Literal-Minded:
  • Doof suggests to Norm that he go "stag" to the party. Norm assumes he means dressing like a wild forest animal with antlers, which Doof did apparently, and as revealed in a Cutaway Gag, somehow ended up tied to the front of a Jeep like a hunting trophy.
    Doofenshmirtz: H-hello? I think I may have come to the wrong address.
  • Also, when Doof tells Norm to stay cool, he assures him his compressor is from a refrigerator.
    Doofenshmirtz: What are you telling me for? I'm the guy who installed it!
• Meaningless Villain Victory: Linda finally busts the boys on something - getting her good guest towels filthy and leaving them in the yard. Their punishment? Cleaning up the towels.
  Candace: Way to make a mockery of my life goal, mom!
• Out of Holiday Episode: The block party is themed for Mardi Gras, but almost the entire show takes place in the summer, and Mardis Gras is famously in February.
• Star-Crossed Lovers: Norm and Chloe, as Chloe was built by Doofenshmirtz's rival Rodney. They even quote Romeo and Juliet to each other.
• Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Lawrence, always the Cloudcuckoolander, doesn't seem bothered by the sight of two giant robots.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: After Monogram and Carl meet Agent P in person, all three characters are not seen for the rest of the episode. We don't even get a "Oh, there you are, Perry".
• You Are Grounded!: Linda asked Phineas and Ferb to help with the block party, but she still ended up busting them... for leaving all of her towels in the backyard. This is a very hollow victory for Candace, obviously.