Larry: Why are you guys here? And why are you dressed like that?
Gumball: Because, it's the apocalypse! And because… well, it-it's the apocalypse.
The Wattersons call in for a pizza delivery after all having a bad day, but Larry quits his job at Fervidus Pizza (and the other jobs he has), after bearing the brunt of the Wattersons' bad moods all day without even being tipped for his troubles, plunging Elmore into economic turmoil of apocalyptic proportions.
Tropes:
- Accidental Misnaming: Gumball mistakenly calls Larry "Barry" then "Gary", Nicole said she thought his name was "Harry", and Richard thought he was a woman named "Mary".
- An Aesop: It's okay to be angry, but don't take it out on people who don't deserve it, especially if they deal with enough crap as it is.
- Apocalypse How: A Class 0, as Elmore becomes a post-apocalyptic wasteland 20 minutes after Larry goes on strike due to him not being appreciated for pretty much single-highhandedly keeping the town running (and the news report of increasing acts of aggressive behavior, which the Wattersons don't pay attention to). It's still in ruins at the end, but as Larry goes back to work it'll probably bounce back just as quickly.
- The Apunkalypse: The outfits people start wearing include lots of leather, goggles, pointy hair, sports equipment, spikes hats, armored helmets, face paint, and eye-patches, all references to the Mad Max movies and The Warriors.Larry: Why are you guys here? And why are you dressed like that?
Gumball: Because... it's the apocalypse! And because... well, it's the apocalypse. - Bilingual Bonus: The name of the ice cream machine in the flashback of Richard's bad day is called "Miam-Miam Ice Cream." "Miam" is the French way of saying "Yum!" (whether describing great-tasting food or an attractive person).
- Bowdlerise: The version shown on Cartoon Network Asia is edited to remove the part where Nicole grabs Leslie, bites down on his petal, and uses him as a flail against Carmen's dad while Leslie screams in pain.
- Bystander Syndrome: Since Donut Cop isn't getting his paycheck (Larry was the department accountant), he decides to participate in the looting instead of doing anything about it.
- Comically Missing the Point:
- Larry asked Gumball "How about a tip?", but he mistook it as an offer instead of a request, so he pulls money out of the jar.
- As Sal is looting a TV, Gumball points out how stupid this is during the apocalypse, but Sal just thinks he needs to get DVDs and a player because there's no signal (even though there's no electricity either).
- Richard insists the family sleep in the canoe he stole—he's saving the mattress as a raft in case the town floods.
- Continuity Nod: "Miam Miam Ice Cream" was also the name of the ice cream truck Larry was driving (and Felicity hijacked) in "The Law."
- Curbstomp Battle: Nicole, after being under the threat of cannibalism by many of the town's residents, throws Mr. Small into Tobias' parents, bites off one of Leslie's petals, uses him as a mace against Carmen's father, and begins bellowing like a seal. When Principal Brown tries to hit her from behind, even after seeing what happened to the others, she throws him so hard he's knocked into a car's windshield, shattering it on impact. Alan then decides to try to fight her himself, only to back away when she spots him. All she did was exhale, and he popped like the balloon he is. Holy crap.
- Demon Head: Nicole's head swells to enormous proportions and her voice turns demonic when she was yelling at Larry. Her head accidentally starts inflating again while recalling the event to her family.
- Dirty Cop: The Donut Cop is among those partaking in the riots, all because he didn't get his paycheck from Larry.
- Disaster Dominoes: The reason why Larry quit all of his jobs? No one gave him a tip that day.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Larry refusing to sell Richard more food after he'd already eaten several days' worth is clearly based on a bartender refusing to serve someone already visibly drunk. As he starts pouring condiments down this throat, Richard's clothes even gets messed-up and torn as if he fell asleep wearing them.Richard: (drunk-sounding) I'll tell you when I've had enough!
- Glass-Shattering Sound: After Nicole is in a minor car accident, her yelling in reaction to the repair costs ends up breaking her windows and then the entire car, costing her much more money than the actual accident.
- Gory Discretion Shot: Gumball opens the window blinds to see how Elmore is doing and then closes them right before a tiger pounces on Marvin.
- Gosh Dang It to Heck!: Donut Cop tells Gumball and family "I didn't get paid, so gosh-darn you all" after revealing that Larry is the police department accountant, so he didn't get paid, which is why he doesn't stop Sal Left Thumb from looting.
- Heroic BSoD: After putting up with abuse from everyone and the Wattersons in particular, Larry finally gives up in face of their ridiculous pizza order. He quits all his jobs and mentions leaving Elmore entirely, though he's still just sitting around in despair in front of the pizza place when the Wattersons find him.
- Ignored Vital News Reports: Sixteen minutes after placing the pizza order, the family turn on a newscast talking about a crime wave but Richard insists it be turned off because a pie chart shown makes him hungry.
- Is It Something You Eat?: Richard mistakes Larry's suggestion for a tip as a suggestion for something to eat along with his pizza order.
- It's All About Me: It takes Anais spelling out how horrible they've been for the family to realize they didn't have the worst day, Larry did.
- It's Been Done: Richard thinks he invented a new food, but the rest of the family realize pizza already fits his exact description. He still thinks "potato sticks fried in oil" is his invention.
- Jerkass Ball: Everyone in Elmore (the Wattersons in particular) grabs the ball with their horrible treatment of Larry.
- Jerkass Realization: Anais realizes that Larry is really the one who's been having a bad day, which the family have been making worse, and eventually gets the rest of them to do the same.
- Left the Background Music On: The nuclear siren sound heard right after Larry quits is revealed to be Richard whining about the family not being able to get their pizza.
- Man Bites Man: Nicole bites one of Leslie's petals off.
- Meat-O-Vision: While waiting for the pizza, Gumball sees his family members as food. Darwin sees Gumball as a purse.Darwin: I'm so hungry I can't even hallucinate right.
- Mugging the Monster: A gang of cannibals (Tobias and his parents, Alan, Carmen's dad, Principal Brown, and Mr. Small) attack the Watterson family, with Mr. Small even invoking "survival of the fittest" as they do so. Nicole easily beats them all to a pulp, and given Mr. Small gave her anger management classes in "The Club" (in which she once threw him out the door window and into a wall as soon as she came in), he really should have seen it coming.
- New Job as the Plot Demands: A deconstruction. Larry holds so many jobs across town that when he quits the entire economy collapses in on itself.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The entire plot kicks off because the Wattersons treated Larry so badly that he finally got sick of it and quit all of his jobs, resulting in all of Elmore falling into chaos.
- Noodle Incident: While the family talk to Larry, they're interrupted by an enormous explosion in the distance forming a mushroom cloud. They quickly resume talking. It's also not explained how they ended up in the Mad Max-inspired apocalyptic gear, since earlier they were in their normal clothes, or if they had anything to do with the explosion in the background.
- No Party Like a Donner Party: A gang is formed that hunts and tries to eat anyone who steps into their territory. Its membership includes Tobias and his parents (Jackie channeling Luther from The Warriors and her husband, Harold, on a leash and acting like a feral dog), Carmen's dad, Principal Brown, Leslie, Alan, and even Mr. Small ("I ran out of tofu and soy milk..."), who will only eat the Wattersons if they don't have antibiotics in them since he prefers his meat organic.
- Not Even Bothering with an Excuse: Richard's reason as to why Gumball should make dinner instead of him is that he's "too angry to think of a valid excuse". Darwin's attempt to pass the job back to Gumball or on to Anais are simply met with hissing and a slap in the face.
- Not So Above It All:
- Alan ends up as part of Mr. Small's gang of cannibals.
- Mr Small's gang of cannibals.
- Police Are Useless: The Donut Cop not only refuses to do anything to stop the riots, but he actively participates in them.
- Practical Currency: Larry notes that, after the apocalypse, Fervidus Pizza now accepts payment in uranium, antibiotics, and melee weapons. Richard gives him a bundle of dead rats as a "tip".
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: During Nicole's flashback, she gives one to Larry when he charges her $750 to repair her car (even though it was originally only $100 and the extra $650 is because she kept damaging the car herself)Nicole: (head grows, voice deepens) You are a worm! You're a thieving, bottom-feeding, money-grubbing crook! People like you are squeezing the very last cent out of hard-working families! You're the reason ice caps are melting and baby polar bears are homeless!
- After he asks for a tip, she begins giving him another one before the flashback ends.Nicole: You're a worthless maggot, a pointless little—
- After he asks for a tip, she begins giving him another one before the flashback ends.
- Shoot the Messenger: Nicole acknowledges that how much she's charged for car repairs isn't Larry's fault, but someone has to suffer for it and he's the only one around, so she yells at him until he falls over on the ground.
- Shout-Out: Nicole does the Tusken Raider pose with Leslie after getting jumped by Mr. Small's gang (albeit with seal barks).
- Skewed Priorities: Mr. Small is OK with eating the Watterson family, but only if they're not on any antibiotics so they'll count as "organic".
- Terminally Dependent Society: Elmore turns out to be terminally dependent on one person because that guy does most of the town's jobs.
- Trailers Always Spoil: Gumball, Darwin, and Anais complain that movie trailers these days basically show you the whole movie barring the credits. Then they spoil the plots of several movie for other people in line while making examples.
- Ungrateful Townsfolk: The town of Elmore. They take Larry for granted, barely acknowledge his existence as a person, and have the nerve to turn against him when he justifiably quits. Even the police force are involved.
- Unsatisfiable Customer: All the Wattersons' are guilty of this in this episode, but Richard's insane pizza order note takes the cake. Not only is it incredibly complex, but he demands a free toy from a place that doesn't offer them, and that Larry skip his break and break traffic laws to have it ready and at his house in fifteen minutes. Then despite all that extra work that Larry puts in to satisfy him, he refuses to leave a tip.
- Worthless Yellow Rocks: The family give Larry a $100 tip as part of their apology, but Gumball acknowledges that the economic collapse and inflation means it'll only get you "a ratburger and a kick in the teeth". He appreciates the gesture anyway, but notes that the pizza now costs $9000 (which Nicole pays for with a check made out of roadkill).
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Principal Brown pretended to be injured to lure in people for ambushes.
