As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked. You have been warned.
Paul and Emma have become a couple already in this universe and their relationship is healthier, compared to how they were in the previous Hatchetfield installment. Not many people bring their serious boyfriend over on Black Friday, to enjoy some family time. What's more, Paul shoves aside his cynicism in Tim's presence, knowing the kid doesn't need that.
Technically, Emma, and Tom are in-laws, with Jane being their common link. She still treats him like a big brother and doesn't blame him for the accident. At the end of the play, she's relieved to see him alive after coming to Lakeside Mall, and it's not just because Tim begged her and Paul to save his dad.
At the beginning, Emma is understandably pissed that Tom is dumping babysitting duty on her, instead of spending the day as a family. She's also upset on Tim's behalf since Tim said he wants his dad come for the day. However, when Tom reveals he's actually going to the store to get Tim his Christmas present, she instantly becomes a lot more accommodating.
"What Tim Wants." Even though it turns out to be horribly misguided, Tom wants a doll because Tim ought to be able to get one thing he wants this Christmas. As one commenter observed, it's taking a Jerkass character and giving us his redemption arc from the very beginning, just leaving us waiting for him to finish it.
Lex's love for Hannah. The second her sister comes onstage, Lex transforms from a snarky jerkass to a kind, caring, and understanding guardian.
Given that Lex is legally an adult, she could have conceivably left home earlier. But nope—she's waiting until she has enough money to take her sister and get far, far away from their mother.
"She's not crazy! She's creative."
Ethan. You at first think he'll be a a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing towards Lex and Hannah, but it's quickly revealed that underneath the delinquent exterior and trolling attitude, the boy's just a big teddy bear. There's a reason most of the fandom latched onto him instantly.
Despite initially reacting with frustration to Hannah's quirks, he helps her calm down by playing along, and presenting her with a "magic" hat that will protect her. This soothes Hannah's fears, and she wears the hat for the rest of the show. What's more, the hat does protect her!
His line immediately following the above, to Lex: "I'd make a great dad, I'm just sayin'."
The fact that he's helping Lex get money so the two of them can take Hannah and run away together to California, allowing the girls to escape their abusive home. He even tries to reassure Hannah, saying that while leaving home is scary, the life he and Lex will give her in California will be a vast improvement. Too bad it never comes to pass...
The fact that he spent all of his life savings on Lex's plan, before they even knew they'd be getting any payoff from the Wiggly caper at all, and then plaintively asks Hannah not to tell Lex how broke he is. "She'll lose respect for me." (This gets much, much worse on rewatch, when you know what's about to happen.)
When he sees the rioters, his first reaction is to ask if they're okay. When they attack him, Ethan has a split-second reaction: protect Hannah. He shouts at her to run and hide while he ineffectively tries to fend them off.
His last words are calling out to Lex, promising he'll take her to California, and then she won't cry so much.
Hannah knows the doll is bad news. She tries to warn Lex and Ethan, but they mistakenly assume she's scared of moving to a new place given her wording is vague. So they cheer her up by singing about what they're going to do in California. Despite herself, Hannah can't help but join in as a background dancer, and even mimics Ethan's "smoke club" dance.
In “Our Doors Are Open,” when Lex replaces Frank’s collar after the “Give us your money” part. She cares a tiny bit, it seems. Later, she's horrified when the riot starts, trying to protect Frank, the Wiggly being tossed around, and herself; Lex calls for him when Linda slits Frank's throat.
When a shopper attacks Lex to get a Wiggly, Tom shouts at him to "stay away from her!" D'awww, Mr. Houston, you do care!
Hannah tries to reason with a brainwashed Tom and Becky, understanding the Wiggly has a thrall on them. She tells them she can't give up the doll, not because she wants one, because she doesn't want them under a "liar's" spell. Hannah could have easily left them to take the doll and turn on each other, but her fundamental goodness won out over pragmatism.
The General tells Lex, whom Sherman is strangling, that if she activates her powers, then she and her sister can stop Wiggly from ending the world. She manages to get a Boom, Headshot! on the guy. "Nice shot, Lex," General McNamara says with obvious pride.
Lex, once she gets the gun from the Black and White and shoots Sherman, stops Tom from leaving with the Wiggly. She reasons with him and shows sympathy about the fact that he's trying to fill a "hole" in his heart, but Tim hasn't asked that he wanted a doll, and no kid has. Tom then suffers a Heel Realization and Heroic Willpower, resisting the doll, and realizing it's "ugly as shit". He drops it, apologizes to Lex, and says they need to go and Storm the Castle to save her sister. She gives a "FUCK YES!" when he shows her how to hold the gun correctly, cocks it, and leads the way.
Becky stabbed herself with the sedative needle while brainwashed. It seemed to bring her back to her senses when she roused and saw Linda trying to threaten Tom, Hannah and Lex. Becky finds the gun that Tom dropped, gets to higher ground, and aims at Linda. You can see why Hannah forgives Becky and Tom for hunting her down, realizing that they were not themselves. They all engage in a Group Hug afterward before Tom says they need to get out of here.
The quiet moments during "What If Tomorrow Comes?" where the survivors briefly hug each other or touch each other on the shoulder here and there for comfort even while waiting for the world to end, or to make it another day. Ted gives Paul a brief embrace before moving away as Hannah and Lex hold each other tightly. Especially the Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other moment when former Jerkass Ted ends the show embracing his lover Charlotte — and then reaching out to clasp hands with a nerdy teen later revealed to be his younger brother. Hannah says that she has a vision that there may be a tomorrow. This motivates everyone to count down the clock while they watch the sky.
The bizarre but welcomed Fanservice of having Peanuts the Pocket Squirrel and his dad show up in the finale, revealing they too survived, with "Papa Ed" pulling Peanuts from his pocket and stroking him for comfort one last time before the end.
