After repeatedly losing to Lawson and the Fifth Graders at dodgeball, TJ and the gang learn that Gus used to be a star player.
Tropes:
- Aspect Ratio Switch: The climax of the episode takes place in 16:9 aspect ratio.
- Big Brother Instinct: When Hector wanders into the dodgeball area to chase marbles, Vince shouts at him to run and save himself. He likely would have run over to escort him from the danger zone if the fifth-graders hadn't pinned him down. Likewise, TJ sees him about to be hit and yells for Lawson not to, which attracts Gus's attention to what's happening. Then Lawson hits Hector, and Gus gains a Let's Get Dangerous! look.
- Contrived Coincidence: A kid from one of Gus's old schools, specifically the one where Gus excelled at dodgeball, comes to Kelso's while the gang is there and recognizes him.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Lawson and the Fifth Graders repeatedly trounce the Fourth Graders. Then Gus takes the field...
- Didn't Think This Through: TJ doesn't check to see if Gus even wants to partake in the match until after he has made the arrangements with Lawson.
- Freudian Excuse: Why is Gus such a Shrinking Violet and afraid of making mistakes? Because one time he ruined a kid's love of recess forever, and the mistake has haunted him since. Gus is afraid of his own strength and power, and what he can do even if by accident.
- Let's Get Dangerous!: Gus refuses to play dodgeball for his friends because as he puts it, he's a monster on the field. He can't, however, stand by after Lawson hits Hector on purpose. Gus gives the guy a Death Glare, suits up, and proceeds to wipe out everyone.
- My Greatest Failure: Gus stopped playing dodgeball when he got swept up in the moment and hurled one at a little kid. That it was an accident didn't matter to him because he ruined that kid's love of recess.Mikey: (after hearing Gus' story) Will the human tragedy never cease?!
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Gus used to be known as "El Diablo," which is Spanish for "the devil."
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Lawson would have won the whole game if he hadn't targeted Hector for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Gus gets a Death Glare for Lawson being so mean, and takes the field. Not to even mention what sort of hell the other kindergartners put on Lawson after the event for hurting one of their own.
- Retired Badass: At one of his old schools, Gus was the greatest dodgeball player on the playground, able to single-handedly take out entire teams.
- Riding into the Sunset: After winning the match, Gus declares that his dodgeball days are finally over, and he begins to walk off into the sunset. Hector calls out for him to come back, because school isn't over yet.
- This Is Gonna Suck: During the match, the Fifth Graders manage to grab all of the dodgeballs before the Fourth Graders.
- While Rome Burns: Mikey references this when Gus keeps playing his guitar while the Fourth Grade is being massacred."Fiddle on, thoughtless Nero, as your precious empire burns all around you!"
- Whole-Plot Reference: The episode borrows from multiple westerns. Gus dresses like Clint Eastwood in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and the ending parodies Shane.
- Would Hurt a Child: Lawson deliberately targets Hector after he wanders into the dodgeball match, calling him a "short fourth-grader". Seeing this is what convinces Gus to join in because you don't ruin someone's fun of recess.
