The Lost Turnabout
- The revelation that Gumshoe has a crush on Maggey. Which just makes it sadder that he has to testify against her in court. This makes the confetti at the end of Maggey's trial all the more heartwarming when you realize that it's Gumshoe who is throwing the confetti to celebrate her victory.
Reunion, and Turnabout
- Maya finally gets to see her dead sister, Mia, again via Pearl channeling the spirit. Cut to a scene of Maya and Mia hugging each other as Maya cries out of joy.
- The description on Mia's profile certainly counts as wellMaya's older sister. She was a top notch lawyer and my mentor and friend forever.
Turnabout Big Top
- Max mentions at one point, nervous before the first trial, that he can't go onstage without having a glass of milk first. All Phoenix and Maya can do is assure him that all he has to do is sit down in the defendant's chair and wait. However, before the second trial, Regina shows up with a glass of milk for him... as does Moe, who seemingly was anywhere from neutral to hostile towards Max. And then during a recess, a care package from the rest of the circus shows up, containing loads of milk, implying that despite his attitude, Max isn't universally hated at the circus after all.
- Later on, when (a very tired) Detective Gumshoe shows up to give them some evidence behind Franziska's back, he's at first not noticed, and grumbles about deciding to just go home. Maya cheers him up by offering him some of the milk, and Max offers to show him a card trick, which suitably cheers up the long-suffering detective.
- During your first interaction with Max, he does a card trick with Maya, but completely dismisses Nick initially. He seems to change course by the end of that jail visit, as after Nick explains that he's willing to take on his case and understands the gravity of what's happening, Max nonchalantly finishes Nick's card trick.
- Despite Max's rather pompous attitude in the beginning and the way he apparently looks down on the other members of the circus, during the second day of investigation, when Phoenix and Maya are visiting him in the detention center, Max initially starts off again about his fellow troupe members all lack ambition and how performers must always aim for the top, but when questioned further, he recalls how the moment when he won the Magicians Grand Prix by performing his flying act for the very first time was the happiest moment of his life. This leads into his true reason for trying to push his troupe to aim higher; he wants them to experience that same feeling of pure joy that he did.Max: I think everyone who is a performer should get to experience that feeling. I just wish I could explain that to the other people in the circus!
Farewell, My Turnabout
- Everything about the good ending, but especially Edgeworth and Franziska's conversation at the airport. It goes a long way to patch up their rocky relationship, with Edgeworth admitting that she's caught up to him as a prosecutor, whereupon Franziska starts to cry and her icy façade comes down.
- Also, the exact trigger for her crying must be mentioned. In spite of his encouragement toward her, Edgeworth also says that he isn't going to force her to remain a prosecutor, and if leaving that life behind is really what she wants, then he won't stop her even though it means she will be exiting his life. In a way, he's offering her a chance at revenge: to walk out on him the way she feels he always walked out on her. And Franziska breaks down because she realizes that she doesn't want that, she doesn't want to lose her big brother. Her statement of "our battle begins now" is her way of saying that of course she won't walk out on Edgeworth, of course exiting his life isn't what she wants. In the end, they truly are brother and sister.
- It's revealed during their discussion that Gumshoe snagged FOUR pieces of evidence, not just the three that were shown in court. It goes on for a while without anyone knowing what that piece was until the very end of the credits. It's Shelly de Killer's business card, but with Phoenix's smiling face drawn on it. Meaning that even in the most dangerous time in her life, Maya knew that he wouldn't fail to rescue her. There's also the fact that after Franziska finds it, she keeps it, vowing to return it to Phoenix some day.
- While the first conversation between Phoenix and Maya's kidnapper is mostly Nightmare Fuel, it clearly shows how much Phoenix cares for Maya. Between Phoenix nearly blacking out in response to the news and his immediate response of "How much?", it's instantly apparent that Phoenix will do anything within his power to ensure no harm comes to Maya.
- Crossing over as a Moment of Awesome, the whole Power of Trust thing going on between Phoenix and Edgeworth during the case. All it takes for Edgeworth to catch on to the fact that Maya had been kidnapped and that something was seriously wrong with the whole trial was one accidental comment made on Phoenix's part. What does he do? He immediately realizes that you desperately need to stall the trial and that's why Phoenix was acting so strangely, and then he steps in to help you, even though he doesn't even know what's wrong yet. He just knows something's not right, and he doesn't even hesitate to help Phoenix, even though it's hurting his own case. The revelation Phoenix has later on that he trusts Edgeworth is just sweet.
- Not to mention, when Edgeworth hears Maya's been kidnapped he's obviously just as worried sick about her as Phoenix is — he immediately marshals a squad to find her and keeps telling Phoenix not to give up hope.
- Small one, but if you present Will Powers' profile to him, you get this exchange.Powers: Hey, is my face really all that scary? Kids won't come anywhere near me... But when I cover my face, they're all shocked because then they figure out who I am.Maya: Hmm, well I don't think you look scary.Pearl: Me either. I think your face makes you look like a very kind person!Powers: ...!Phoenix: (Aww... those two are making Mr. Powers tear up...)
- Pearl's reassurance especially is heartwarming, since not only is she a young girl with very little filter on her thoughts, but she's also a fairly nervous child, who was introduced being scared of Phoenix himself. The fact that she seems to genuinely think Will's face isn't scary makes it clear there is some hope for him after all.
- Phoenix being horrified when Franziska is shot outside the courthouse and bringing her flowers at the hospital, even though she's been nothing but cruel to him since the moment they met.
- Also, Edgeworth's incredibly obvious concern when he shows up at the hospital too, and before that when he explodes at Adrian revealing she'd been inadvertently concealing Shelly de Killer's card, as had he known de Killer was involved from the start he could have acted to prevent Franziska from putting herself in harm's way. Franziska is his little sister, after all, even though they're not biologically related.
- Maya, Phoenix, and Pearl's big reunion at the end. That wonderfully drawn scene
of them going for a group hug is exceptionally heartwarming, considering the hell they've all been through over the last couple of days, Maya especially. - Phoenix, Maya, Pearl and Will Powers decide to go back to the Gatewater to enjoy a meal and Maya and Pearl insist Edgeworth comes too, to which he obliges despite being slightly awkward in an informal setting.
- There's a slight bit of exposition at the start of the first trial day explaining that Phoenix and Pearl were escorted home by Gumshoe the previous night (with Phoenix implying neither of them were in any condition to make the trip on their own.) Considering that Pearl was completely (and understandably) losing her mind about Maya's kidnapping, the image of Gumshoe — in the game's words — "gently leading her by the hand the whole way" home make for a really touching mental image.
- In a letter written by Maya on one of de Killer's calling cards, she tells Phoenix that she will not be very pleased with him if Engarde doesn't get proven guilty, even though her life literally hinges on Phoenix getting an acquittal, implying that she's willing to die for the sake of Phoenix delivering justice.
- When Adrian smiles at the end of the trial. Really smiles. Especially since it's because she's touched by how much Phoenix and Edgeworth obviously care for each other.
- Also having to do with Adrian, as she says in the the ending, interspersed between the credits, that Franziska said that she could come to her and ask Franziska anything she needed to know, whenever she needed to. Franny really does have a heart!
