Lyuba plans to move in with Kupitman, and since her own apartment would remain empty, she's ready to rent it to Polina. But Phil tries to talk Lyuba out of it, stating that Polina would make a mess out of it. When Phil leaves, Lyuba goes to Polina and talks about this conversation: she knows Polina well enough to recognise that it was a lie, and wonders: just what Phil is trying to achieve? Polina confronts Phil about his lies, and he lies again, stating that it's to protect her... from Lyuba: she's mercantile, cynical and cheap; she always was, but before she was controlled by Bykov, while under Kupitman, she started showing it in full force. If Polina moves to her apartment and accidentally breaks something, Lyuba would rather eat her alive than forgive. Both Lyuba and Polina understands that Phil's trying to prevent Polina from leaving — but why?.. Lyuba presumes that maybe he fell in love — and that Polina doesn't want to leave either, to which Polina reluctantly agrees. Phil, when asked, confirms that he just tried to prevent Polina from leaving, as she's a perfect flatmate; but the words he chooses only reinforces Lyuba's suspiciousness that there may be something else involved.
Bykov still resents Kisegach for sleeping at Victor's house. She begs him for forgiveness and tries to please him with gifts, and he plays along — but starts demanding more and more. When asked by Kupitman what's his plan regarding Victor, Bykov says that he's confident in Anastasia: it was just one-time mistake, and for as long as she feels sorry for it, Bykov would exploit it for his personal amusement. Kupitman warns him to not overdo it, or Kisegach may just leave to Victor, who would gladly exploit the situation in his favour. And indeed, Victor, after discussing with Gleb his possible career perspectives (as potential replacement for his mother at her post) tries to ask Kisegach to put him into her hospital (specifically, Therapy) for "checkup". She clearly sees that he's up to something, but Victor simulates a heart attack (rather badly), and Kisegach has to put him into hospital after all when he blackmails her with possible complaint. Bykov decides to deal with him personally, but Victor states that he doesn't try to steal his wife, he only wants to get closer to Gleb and see him in action and understand how he performs as a doctor. Bykov points that he can't do so from VIP ward, so he has to move into a regular one and see him working with the other patients. Gleb feels awkward with his father watching him working, as he must somehow prove to him that he's worth something as specialist; meanwhile, Victor asks his roommates, and learns that Gleb is lazy, prone to waste time on booze, regularly misplaces test results, and can't even decide which diagnosis they have, sending them to consult with Bykov. Kisegach soon visits him and presses into revealing what he really tries to achieve by this. Bykov sees them together, and yells at Kisegach, only agreeing to "forgive" her if she helps him with a bike model he's building; Victor's comment that Bykov is treating her like his slave makes Anastasia angry at him, and she leaves. Meanwhile, Gleb hires Levin and Lobanov to simulate the screwups which Gleb can fix and look smart; Victor doesn't fall for it, but he likes Gleb's cunning: it's a quality he can respect.
This episode provides examples of:
- Ask a Stupid Question...: Lyuba asks whether Polina still has contacts of the guy who helped her with moving to Phil. Polina asks whether Lyuba plans to move in with Kupitman, to which Lyuba sarcastically replies that she wants to move in to her and Phil, to help them deal with boredom.
- Bad Liar: It's rather clear that Phil blatantly lies, both when he badmouths Polina to Lyuba, and when he badmouths Lyuba to Polina; neither falls for this, and easily understands what he's trying to achieve.
- Blackmail: Victor does poor job at simulating a heart attack which "suddenly" hit him right after Kisegach refused to put him in the hospital to check on Gleb, so he has to threaten to fill official complaints if she doesn't.
- Chekhov's Gun: The little subplot about Bykov trying to build a bike model seems to be unrelated to the main plot about Kisegach and Victor, but ultimately, Victor uses Bykov forcing Anastasia to build that model for him as excuse to help her and find the weak spot in her "armour", so he can start rebuilding his relationship with her.
- Delayed Reaction: Phil agrees to everything what Lyuba says, as well as compliments Polina himself. Then she suddenly (jokingly) suggests to marry Polina, meaning that he's rather overly enthusiastic about just a flatmate. He says yes (with the same happy face), and only a couple of seconds later realises what was just said.
- Engineered Heroics: Downplayed; as attempt to make Gleb look good, Levin and Lobanov imitates the "dire" situations, so he can "help" them — in such a way that Gleb's father would see. He doesn't fall for this.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: Bykov opens the box with a bike model, and says that "he's a big boy" and can do it without instruction. Cut to him trying — and failing — to figure out just what he's supposed to do with those details. He eventually gives up and tries to read the instruction after all — and fails anyway.
- Jabba Table Manners: Phil describes Polina to Lyuba as insufferable slob; amongst the other things, she's completely unable to eat without making a mess after herself.
- Old Flame: Victor tries to make Anastasia remember the best moments from the time when they were living together, and generally acts nice and helpful; it contrasts so well with Bykov acting like asshole, it may actually start working...
- Overly Long Gag: Bykov's plot for the episode is entirely about him mistreating Kisegach... and trying to build that damned bike model (emphasis on "trying"), often with disastrous consequences. By the end of the episode, he's still trying.
- Playing Sick: Victor pretends to be sick, so Gleb would spend a day near him, as his doctor; while initially it's presumed that Victor wants to test his son's professional skills, in reality, it was a test of his wits — which he passed, even if not perfectly, by putting a facade of competent specialist for Victor.
- Secret Test of Character: Victor isn't actually interested in seeing how Gleb works as a doctor (especially since it's painfully obvious that he's bad at it); he is interested in seeing how he deals with situation where he needs to use his wits instead, which is the actual reason why he pretended to be a patient, knowing that Gleb would try to show off, and for that, he would need to cheat.
- Ship Tease: Lyuba presumes that Phil's weird behaviour (he's trying to prevent Polina from moving out) may be related to him developing feelings for her. His subsequent actions heavily implies that it's indeed true — and Polina seems to like it.
- Stealth Insult: Levin "comforts" Gleb by saying that there's nothing to be ashamed of in lacking a gift; some people, like Lobanov, don't worry at all. Semyon instantly threatens to poke his eye with a fork.
- Taking Advantage of Generosity: Bykov exploits Kisegach regretting staying with Victor to try and force her to do whatever he wants. Kupitman warns him that at some point Kisegach would snap, and Bykov would make the situation worse.
- Troll: Boar asked Bykov to gift him a bike on his birthday. Bykov did buy him a bike... or rather a model of a bike. It's a "punishment" for what Bykov presumes to be Boar's attempt to be funnier than Bykov.
