In an hope to gain publicity for his magic career, GOB incarcerates himself inside Orange County Prison with his father, where he will escape within 24 hours. Michael is left to take his girlfriend Marta, a Spanish-language soap opera star, to an award show, only to find that they might have more in common than he thought. Meanwhile, Lindsay helps an activist named Johnny Bark protest the demolishing of trees around the model home, and Lucille takes Buster to attend the award show, hoping it will improve her social life.
The Arrested Development episode "Key Decisions" provides examples of:
- Artistic License – Law: Given that the prison warden had agreed to bring GOB in and let him attempt to escape, it's highly doubtful they could legally taze him simply for being obnoxious.
- Brick Joke: The key GOB swallows to unlock his jail cell deflects the shiv White Power Bill uses to stab him.
- Chekhov's Gunman: White Power Bill.
- Double-Meaning Title: The episode features Michael making an important decision between his family and his love life, and also involves GOB swallowing a literal key to escape from prison.
- For Want Of A Nail: GOB originally planned on breaking up with Marta after escaping the prison. Why didn't he? Michael deciding to not bring the stairs he needed to escape, which meant he stayed in long enough for White Power Bill to attempt to kill him, which gave him the incentive to (briefly) change his mind.
- The Guards Must Be Crazy: Subverted. At first it seems ridiculously easy for GOB to escape (if Michael had actually brought the stairs), but it's revealed that the guards were watching the entire time, and just didn't care. They eventually only decided to stop him when they learned about the paperwork that would need to be signed if he jumped.
- Jump, I'll Catch You!: After failing to pass the key and Michael arriving without the stairs, GOB toys with jumping down on top of Michael in order to escape the prison. He ultimately doesn't because A) he can't climb over the fence and B) the guard tasered him, because there would be paperwork if he actually jumped.
- Mood Whiplash: While having his first ever game of catch with George Sr., GOB gets shivved by White Power Bill.
- My God, What Have I Done?:
- Downplayed. After deciding to recommit to his relationship with Marta and even telling her that, when he's all alone in the hospital room, what is GOB's reaction?GOB: ...I've made a huge mistake.
- And thus, a Catchphrase was born.
- Downplayed. After deciding to recommit to his relationship with Marta and even telling her that, when he's all alone in the hospital room, what is GOB's reaction?
- Not Hyperbole: When Michael visits GOB at the prison when he's attempting to escape, he asks about his relationship with Marta (kind of making it obvious that he wants to date her). GOB, in turn, asks Michael how he would feel if he came down on him hard. As in jumping down and landing on Michael in order to escape the prison.
- Obituary Montage: Michael Bluth attends the Desi Awards ceremony with his brother's girlfriend, Marta. He sits through a Spanish-language montage of dead people in uncomfortable silence.
- Pocket Protector: The "on the next" section reveals that the key GOB swallowed saved him from more serious harm coming from the stabbing he received.
- Prison Episode: More so than most of the season, as GOB's storyline also takes place in prison - as part of an "illusion," GOB goes to prison to prove he can escape in 24 hours time. He eventually "escapes" when an inmate shivs him and he's rushed to a hospital.
- Publicity Stunt: GOB tries to boost his magic career by breaking out of a prison in 24 hours.
- Swallow the Key: GOB tries to do this to aid his escape from prison, but first has trouble swallowing the key and later is unable to pass it because of a Shy Bladder.
- UST: Between Michael and Marta.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: George Sr. for his son GOB.
- What Have We Ear?: One of GOB's illusions, which he uses on White Power Bill, or as he is called as a result, Dirty Ears Bill.
