Grandma Thora Appreciation DayArthur and D.W. worry that Grandma Thora is sad after a visit where she admits she misses them. They decide to throw her a surprise party, and insist that neither of their parents should help. But party planning is not easy when you have to think of food, guests, and a visit from Grandma Thora the night before the party.
Tropes for this episode include:
- Know When to Fold 'Em: The kids finally beg for help when they realize they can't make a cake for Grandma Thora. David is all too happy to step in and save the situation.
- Lethal Chef: The kids try to make a pound cake from their father's cookbook. They end up splattering batter all over the kitchen. Fortunately, their parents heard the noise, and the kids decide to ask for help. They do the cleanup while their father handles the baking.
- Never My Fault: D.W. makes her own list, which reads like gibberish to anyone who isn't her and only says "candy". Yet she insists that it's perfectly legible. In the climax, when neither Arthur nor D.W. invited Thora to come at 2 PM, Arthur says he forgot to put the task on his list and asks D.W. what her excuse is? "I can't write!" she retorts.
- Stupidest Thing I've Ever Heard: Arthur says that D.W.'s idea to put an invitation to Grandma Thora in a fortune cookie, using a fortune cookie factory, is the dumbest idea ever. They decide to dial her over the phone instead.
Fern's Slumber PartyFern's mother has a habit of pushing her into activities she doesn't want to pursue or to socialize under protest. She would rather play detective and read her books. When her mother insists on throwing a slumber party and Fern's friends plan on bringing their own games, she has to put on her detective hat after Francine misplaces her new bracelet.
Tropes for this episode include:
- All of the Other Reindeer: Downplayed. The other girls aren't overly mean to Fern, but they worry her slumber party will be boring. Although Francine calls Fern dull and makes a snarky comment about her quiet personality when handing out cookies. Muffy also calls Fern's party "stupid" in front of her when she's bored. Fortunately, Fern wins them over by finding Francine's bracelet.
- Awesomeness by Analysis: Fern successfully locates Francine's missing bracelet by going over what she observed at the sleepover.
- Both Sides Have a Point: On one hand, you have Fern's mother who believes her daughter is capable of stepping out her comfort zone and socializing, but neglects to realize that Fern's interest in mysteries can be useful instead of just "silly detective stuff". On the other hand, you have Fern who not only proves her interests as a detective are vital (as she deduces where Francine's missing bracelet is), but can help her socialize with the girls in her own way despite her worries that she wouldn't fit in.
- Competition Freak: Francine insists on playing games at the slumber partly that she wins at, which the other girls quickly grow tired of.
- Hidden Depths: Fern knows how to do graphic design on the computer, which she uses to encode an invitation for the girls. What's more, she can solve a mystery in real time.
- Idiot Ball: Muffy had seen that Francine offhandedly removed her bracelet and put it on the bookcase. Instead of going to return it, she put it on, admired it in the mirror, and then left it on the coffee table.
- Innocently Insensitive: Fern's mother genuinely means well, but doesn't always seem to understand how important Fern's interests are to her, calling her love for mysteries and detectives "silly detective stuff."
- I Reject Your Reality: Francine is so proud of her hieroglyphic-themed bracelet that she believes it's actually Egyptian and could've belonged to Cleopatra, even though her mom bought it at a yard sale and it's stamped "Made in Japan".
- Neat Freak: Prunella tries to keep the house clean when she sees that Jenna is spilling food everywhere. This leads to Fern logically concluding that when tossing some stray potato chips, she unknowingly tossed the bracelet into the wastebasket as well.
- Parents as People: Downplayed. Although Fern views her mother as overbearing for signing her up for things outside her comfort zone, and she dismisses Fern's love of detectives and mysteries as "silly detective stuff", her mother's heart is generally in the right place. If anything, her intentions come from a place where she sees her daughter is more capable than she gives herself credit.
- Running Gag: Francine interrupting Fern's story to accuse someone. The last tine, all the girls exclaim, "Francine!"
- Supreme Chef: Fern's mother is a talented cook, baking unique cookies for open house and practically preparing a feast for the slumber party. The kids are at least enthusiastic about what they can eat at the party.
- Talking Appliance Sidekick: When Mrs. Walters suggest to Fern about joining a computer workshop, both of them were imagining if Fern made a talking computer. Mrs. Walters thinks that her daughter Fern would present it while doing a poem in binary. But Fern thinks that it would end up being a disaster as the talking computer would hog the spotlight and be a comedian to put its creator down.
- Unreliable Narrator: Deliberately. When Fern recounts the events around Francine's missing bracelet, the girls are dressed in fancier outfits (except Sue Ellen who's wearing an archeological uniform) and there is Dramatic Thunder to set the tone.Jenna: I don't remember a thunderstorm.
Fern: It's atmospheric. - Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Jenna and Prunella tag-team as this when Francine's bracelet goes missing. Prunella accidentally tossed the bracelet into the trash when cleaning up a bag of potato chips Jenna spilled over the table, not seeing the bracelet under it.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Fern's mother keeps telling her daughter to not be afraid of crowds or showing off her skills. She says that Fern is wonderful.
