Fed up with Madoka's refusal to listen to her, Homura makes an alliance with Kyoko where she can be allowed to take care of Sayaka personally. Worried that her friend is becoming more abrasive and reckless with her new lifestyle, Madoka goes to her mom who gives her some advice to try out. This turns out to be both helpful and devastating when she tries it on Sayaka.
This episode provides examples of:
- Diegetic Soundtrack Usage: An electronic pop version of the theme song "Connect" plays while Homura makes her deal with Kyoko who's busy playing Dance Dance Revolution.
- Do Wrong, Right: Junko's advises her daughter that sometimes it's best to interfere when it looks like her friend is about to make a mistake or do something bad. Her friend may hate her for awhile, but it will subside as the interference will be beneficial in the long run.
- Duel to the Death: Discussed. Sayaka clarifies to Madoka that her fight with Kyoko was a serious one in which she seriously intended to kill Kyoko.
- Everyone Has Standards: Despite disliking Sayaka’s idealism to the point of trying to kill her for it, Kyoko is just as horrified and shocked as Madoka is to see Sayaka turn into a lifeless corpse without her Soul Gem, and becomes furious when Kyubey reveals that Soul Gems actually hold the Magical Girl’s soul itself and he turned them into liches.
- Florence Nightingale Effect: Played for Horror. After learning that Sayaka used her wish to heal a boy she like likes, Kyoko suggests that she should break every bone in Kyuusuke's body so he'd be overly reliant on Sayaka's nursing that he'd eventually love her back. Naturally, Sayaka is disgusted with the idea.
- In Medias Res: The episode picks off with Homura graciously appearing to stop the Duel to the Death.
- Internal Reveal: Madoka informs Sayaka that Homura was actually trying to help Mami when they were inside Charlotte's Labyrinth.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": Everyone has this reaction after Madoka throws away Sayaka's Soul Gem followed by her collapsing on the floor.
- Never My Fault: Kyuubey's first instinct is to chastise Madoka for throwing aways Sayaka's Soul Gem. Mind you this is the same abomination who transferred Sayaka's soul into the gem and made no mention of it beforehand.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Madoka tries to stop the fight between Sayaka, Kyoko, and Homura by throwing Sayaka’s Soul Gem off a bridge. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know that the Soul Gem actually holds Sayaka’s soul and the moment it gets too far away from her body, Sayaka becomes a lifeless corpse. But then again, had she not done this then none of the girls would have learned of Kyuubey's true colors.
- Obliviously Evil: Downplayed. Kyubey does know that people find it horrible to be turned into Liches, as his word choice to Madoka’s reaction to this revelation makes it clear this is not the first time it’s happened, but he can’t understand why they do.Madoka: That’s horrible… That’s horrible! [Proceeds to cry over Sayaka’s body]
Kyubey: It never fails. Whenever I tell you humans the simple facts, you always react the same way. It makes no sense at all. Why are humans so sensitive about the kind of container their souls are housed in? - Soul Jar: Kyuubey reveals that Soul Gems actually carry the souls of the Magical Girls he contracts which turns their physical bodies into avatars for them to control. Basically becoming liches.
- Stealth Insult: When Madoka appears to stop her friend from fighting, Kyoko jokes about "the annoying bitch having an annoying friend". Homura then appears and wonders out loud what type of friends Kyoko has.
- This Is Unforgivable!: Sayaka says this after Kyoko offers to break every bone in Kyuusuke's body.
- Vagueness Is Coming: The girl in black tells the red one that a powerful witch named Walpurgisnacht is coming to town and she'll need her assistance to destroy her.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Homura chews out Madoka for her willingness to make a contract despite being warned repeatedly not to do so.
- Wham Line: Just after Madoka throws Sayaka’s Soul Gem off the bridge in an attempt to stop her from fighting Kyoko and Homura, Sayaka collapses into Madoka’s arms, leading to this exchange.Kyubey: Oh Madoka, that was really bad.
Madoka: Huh?
Kyubey: What's wrong with you, are you out of your mind? How could you throw your friend away like that? - You Monster!: Kyoko calls Kyuubey a bastard after it finishes explaining the concept of Soul Gems.
