"Who’s a good boy? Who’s the good boy? Who is it? Who is it?!?"
Who's a good boy? Who is it? Who is it?
Tropes present in this episode include:
- Ambiguously Gay: Cecil remarks that he's glad Maureen and Michelle became such good friends. They look at each other for a long moment, then agree they don't want to put a label on it. Maureen has previously confirmed she wasn't into guys.
- And I Must Scream: The Strangers are the former townsfolk, their souls trapped within an endless cave of mud and darkness. Cecil woke Frances Donaldson and she could only scream "I’m…still…in…the mud!!" over and over again, crying.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: The Beagle Puppy's desire to have nothing approaches this. He even states that having a reason is having a something and thus he rejects one.
- Fighting from the Inside: Frances and the other townsfolk are trapped in the mud cavern, but can be roused to unsuccessfully fight the Puppy's influence.
- For the Evulz: The Beagle Puppy and his army of Strangers seek to destroy everything just because it exists. Cecil and several characters comment on the futility of stopping one(s) who want nothing.
- Formula-Breaking Episode: This is by far the most horror-focused episode in the series up to this point, without any of the usual diversions from the main storyline. Even the community calendar and sponsored ads are just reminders that the world is ending.
- Lampshade Hanging: Just before turning into a Stranger, Louie Blasco tells Cecil to say the word "Weather", since threats to the city usually seem to go away after that. It doesn't work.
- Omnicidal Maniac: The Good Boy wants "nothing". Yet, things exist. The Good Boy intends to change this.
- Pet the Dog: Cecil has Abby, Janice, and Steve Carlsberg stay within the safety of Carlos' lab while Cecil reports. He quietly mentions that since he is reporting, he should report how much Steve loves his family and that maybe he has been too hard on Steve.
- Satan: The probable true nature of The Good Boy, given that he claims to "rule the dark, deep caverns of Hell".
Today's Proverb: Remember to compliment-sandwich when critiquing. Example: “That’s an OK shirt you have on. Everything you wrote was bad. You’re wearing a shirt.”
