A Plot: Beverly has a one-month substitute assignment for a class that includes Barry. Inspired by Dead Poets Society, she tries to make a difference in changing the attitudes of her students, but they actively resist. At home, Beverly constantly grills Barry with chemistry questions, but he says he doesn't need to learn it because he plans to marry Kathy Ireland and live off her wealth. Murray takes a different tactic, convincing Barry that Beverly really has no interest in him learning because she wants to keep him at home forever. This inspires Barry to actually try to learn chemistry, and he begins to lead study sessions with the JTP. When Barry finds out that his dad lied to him, he vows to go back to the way things were, and Beverly is devastated that Barry's interest in science was fueled by his resentment of her. Murray later finds Barry hiding a physics book under his mattress. Barry admits he is now interested in science, and thinks he's found a subject he can excel at. He is ashamed, but Murray reassures him and reveals that Beverly believed in him from the start. Barry, the JTP and several classmates decide to stand on desks like from Dead Poets Society, overjoying Beverly.
B Plot: A note is passed around Adam's class, landing in his hands when Mr. Glascott forces him to read it aloud. Adam does so, and reveals it was written by a guy who has noticed Emmy Mirsky's "blossoming" body, which embarrasses Emmy. Adam tries to convince Emmy that guys go through the same thing, especially when it comes to "shirts and skins" in gym class, but Emmy insists it's not the same. Erica assures Adam that ninth grade girls are very body-conscious, so he asks her for help in making things right with Emmy. Adam expects Erica to just write a nice apology letter for him, but she instead conspires with Mr. Mellor to make Adam a "skin for life" in gym. When Adam confronts Erica about this, Erica reveals that when she went through ninth grade, she went through the same exact thing as Emmy, but had no one to come to for support, and that Emmy does but Adam is shutting her out. Adam eventually shows his support for Emmy when he confronts two seniors (Johnny Atkins and JC Spink) who make wisecracks about Emmy's "nice rack".
- Accomplice by Inaction: One of the reasons why Emmy is furious at Adam, and the one Erica focuses on.
- Appearance Angst: The focus of Adam's plot.
- Arc Words: When Adam learns his lesson and confronts some of Emmy's catcallers (Johnny Atkins and a member of the football team), he starts by introducing himself as Adam F. Goldberg, "not the other Adam Goldberg".
- Becoming the Mask: Barry goes from studying out of spite, to genuinely getting interested in medical science.
- Big Damn Heroes: The lesson of Adam's plot is almost horribly subverted by Johnny and JC wanting to beat him up for doing the right thing, but his popular sister Erica steps in to tell the bullies to back off.
- Digging Yourself Deeper: Adam's attempts to stop Emmy's rage do NOT do him any favors, with his claims that she actually has it better than him because she gets complimented (actually catcalled) and can cover up her body with uncomfortable sweatshirts while he has to bare his chest in gym.
- Double Standard: Adam doesn't realize he's enforcing this until Erica and Coach Mellor force him to realize it.
- Eat the Evidence: Adam is told that he should've done this with the note rather than read it aloud. Later, during The Tag, he's asked to read a fake note that praises Mr. Glascott and decides that eating it would be less awkward.
- Face Plant: The first time Beverly tries to get her students to stand on a desk like in the film, she overestimates its structural integrity (the fact that the science teacher has spilled plenty of caustic chemicals over the years doesn't help), and Johnny Atkins suffers this when the desk collapses.
- Gilligan Cut: The episode ends with Beverly joyous that Barry will be a doctor, Coach Mellor commenting "I'll believe it when I see it"...and then a clip of the real Adam Goldberg's life, of the real Barry getting his M.D.
- Liar Revealed: When Barry and Beverly find out that Murray was lying, neither of them take it well, with Barry forsaking science and Beverly wanting to resign after learning that she can only inspire resentment. Things get better once Murray talks to Barry and tells him how much his mother truly cares about him.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: When Adam finally stands up for Emmy, the catcallers decide to throw him into the nearest trashcan. Thankfully, Erica steps in to save him, while also convincing Emmy she will eventually gain the confidence to stand up for herself.
- Photographic Memory: When Barry's fueled by The Power of Hate, he's able to completely memorize flash cards at a mere glance.
- The Power of Hate: How Murray convinces Barry to study harder, at least until his lies are revealed.
- Reverse Psychology: In trying to convince Barry to study, Murray claims that Bev tells him to study because she knows Barry does the opposite of what she says and secretly wants him to stay uneducated and dependent on her forever.
- Shout-Out: Beverly is directly inspired by Dead Poets Society and attempts to recreate an iconic scene from it.
