Hop Pop enters the political arena.
After losing his stand, Hop Pop decides to run for mayor of Wartwood.
This episode has examples of these tropes:
- Artistic License – Politics: Hopadiah loses the election because, even though the entire town voted for him, the rest of the valley also had a vote. It goes without saying that being elected as Mayor shouldn’t be applied to every other town.
- The Bad Guy Wins: An unfortunate conclusion with Toadstool still being Mayor.
- Bittersweet Ending: Although Hop Pop lost the election, he still feels proud of standing for something important, and his supporters pitched in and got him a new stand.
- The Boxing Episode: One of the trials during the election campaign is a boxing match between the two candidates.
- Call-Back: Hop Pop survives being alone in the wilderness for the third trial with help from the beetles he befriended in "Sprig vs. Hop Pop".
- Election Day Episode: Hop Pop is nominated for mayor and competes against Toadstool.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Toadstool, realizing that Hop Pop has a good change of beating him in the election, offers him a deal. Throw the fight in the boxing match and he'll give him brand new produce stand, tax-free and everything. Hop Pop is tempted by the offer due to it providing so much for his family. On the day of the fight when Toadstool knocks him down, Hop Pop sees the crowd cheering for him to get back up. This gives him the will to get back up, much to Toadstool's confusion.Toadstool: What are you, crazy? You could have been rich. *punches him to no effect* You could've had your stand back. *punches him again* All you had to do was give up! *punches him twice. Panting* Why?
Hop-Pop: Because this is about more then just me! *uppercuts Toadstool, knocking him out* - Fantastic Racism: As Toadstool puts it, "a frog beating a toad, that would have been something".
- Foreshadowing: After winning the election, Mayor Toadstool tells Hop-Pop that a frog beating a toad "would've made headlines".
- I Take Offense to That Last One: Toadie gets extremely offended over Anne, after she said that the Mayor is the only person he knows.Toadie: Mr. Plantar. An anonymous associate would like to speak with you.
Anne: (Not amused) You mean the Mayor?
Toadie: (serious) No comment.
Anne: C'mon man, you only know like one person-
Toadie: (Offended) I SAID NO COMMENT! - Landslide Election: Hop Pop gets 100% of the vote in Wartwood, but had no idea the entire valley was voting, and so Toadstool wins with over 99% of the total population.
- Loony Laws:
- Instead of a debate, mayoral candidates in Wartwood prove their competence by a series of trials, including wilderness survival and a boxing match.
- The entire valley votes for Wartwood's mayor, despite Wartwood being about 0.4% of the total population.
- Rabble Rouser: Hop Pop is nominated for the mayoral race when he calls attention to the village's infrastructure failing despite rising taxes.
- Sequel Episode: To "Plantar's Last Stand", where Hop Pop is still mourning the loss of his vegetable stand.
- Status Quo Is God: The episode ends with Toadstool remaining the Mayor. Also, the Plantars get their vegetable stand back, restoring the status quo before "Plantar's Last Stand".
- Throwing the Fight: Toadstool attempts to bribe Hop Pop to throw the boxing match between them. Although Hop Pop seriously considers accepting the offer, he ultimately puts his honor before his need for money and beats Toadstool in the match.
