BoJack's new gig is going badly and his relationship with Hollyhock might soon follow. Meanwhile, Ralph's family makes an extremely bad first impression on Princess Carolyn.
Tropes:
- As Himself: One of the judges for F.H.B.A. is Sir Mix-A-Lot.Sir Mix-A-Lot: Because I'm an honest and impartial judge. And if there's one thing I'm famous for, it's that I can not lie.
- Big "NO!": One of the contestants on F.H.B.A., Tawna, does this when she is eliminated.
- Caught Coming Home Late: BoJack attempted to invoke this by waiting up for Hollyhock in a chair by the door, but since the lamp he was going to turn on didn't work, it fell on its face.
- California Doubling: In-Universe. The set has a section of its back lot that looks like downtown Toronto for when they have to shoot something set in New York City.
- Character Development: BoJack stops himself when he realizes he's about to say something about Hollyhock's weight that might (and does) hurt her feelings. It's the first time we see him consider the consequences of his actions.
- Continuity Nod: Back in Stupid Piece of Sh*t, BoJack has to be on a show with Felicity Huffman as a promise because of litter on her backyard over the years because of him.
- Enemy Mine: Mr. Peanutbutter proposes to Woodchuck that they team up in order to take down both his ex-wives.
- Fantastic Racism: Ralph's family turns out to be anti-cat people. Not the best family to have when your significant other is a cat-person like Princess Carolyn.
- This doubles as Does This Remind You of Anything?, in that the things the mice hate about cats could be seen as a general racism the rich have for the poor. Some examples:
- At one point, they make fun of cats for being "stinky", though PC attempts to correct them. The response is that "licking yourself doesn't qualify."
- This doubles as Does This Remind You of Anything?, in that the things the mice hate about cats could be seen as a general racism the rich have for the poor. Some examples:
- Foreshadowing: The first hint of Hollyhock's eating disorder happens at the end, with her denying BoJack's offer to go eat pizza.
- Fun with Acronyms: Felicity Huffman's show is called F.H.B.A. which BoJack believes that the show is a courtroom drama. It's actually called "Felicity Huffman's Booty Academy: Los Angeles", a reality show about judging women's butts. Oh, and it also has Sir Mix-A-Lot as a judge.
- Innocently Insensitive:
- When BoJack is trying to warn Hollyhock something is up with Miles, he starts to say something along the lines of, "He's a teenage boy around skimpy-clothing-wearing women all the time, why would he—" before stopping, possibly realizing what he was about to say would be too cruel and then, awkwardly, referenced how Hollyhock earlier said she thought she was a blob.
- And taken a step further as Hollyhock's leaving, BoJack says "Wait, wait!", which she mistakes for "weight".
- Ralph doesn't realize how the song his family sings every year is anti-cat until Princess Carolyn brings it up.
- When BoJack is trying to warn Hollyhock something is up with Miles, he starts to say something along the lines of, "He's a teenage boy around skimpy-clothing-wearing women all the time, why would he—" before stopping, possibly realizing what he was about to say would be too cruel and then, awkwardly, referenced how Hollyhock earlier said she thought she was a blob.
- Maligned Mixed Marriage: Downplayed. Obviously, Princess Carolyn and Ralph aren't married but are a couple expecting a baby. And when Ralph announces that, there are audible shocked gasps.
- Non-Ironic Clown: Discussed. Mr. Peanutbutter and Todd assume that children must love clowns since adults find them off-putting but they somehow still find work, and are confused when their accountant (who actually has kids) explains that many children are terrified of clowns. They go ahead with their "clown dentist" plan anyway.
- Oh, Crap!: The look on BoJack's face when Hollyhock tells him she's not hungry (after he accidentally insulted her weight) makes it clear that he's afraid that he might have "ruined" her.
- Poor Communication Kills: BoJack instructs Goldie to seduce the PA, in an effort to expose Miles as a user. But the trouble is, Miles was actually an intern and not the PA, and wasn't specific on what he meant by "seduce." So not only did she actually have sex with someone, it was with the wrong target. Additionally, BoJack thought that she could get him to spill the beans on audiotape while having him flustered, without letting Goldie know about this and just assuming she would do that.
- Right for the Wrong Reasons: BoJack repeatedly warns Hollyhock that Miles is just using her to get her into bed. BoJack was right in that Miles was using Hollyhock...to get closer to BoJack so the horse could get his script noticed. Even BoJack admits to Diane that he hoped he was wrong this time.
- Sexy Discretion Shot: After leaving with Miles, Hollyhock's next scene has her sneaking into BoJack's house before telling her events. The implication is that she and Miles slept together.
- Shout-Out: A couple of quick ones:
- One of the interstitial scenes features a frog person trying to cross a road full of fast cars.
- King Pusspuss, the cat tyrant whose defeat Ralph's family celebrates every year, is briefly seen in a book looking like the standard depiction of Vlad the Impaler.
- Tempting Fate: Woodchuck believes that with Mr. Peanutbutter out of the running he will run unopposed. Near the end of the episode, it's revealed that Jessica Biel is now running against Woodchuck.
- Uncomfortable Elevator Moment: A tragic example when, after he apologizes for making her self-conscious about her weight, Hollyhock tells BoJack she isn't hungry. The episode ends after several seconds of dead silence just for extra-awkwardness.
- Weight Woe: Hollyhock, who's clearly already self-conscious about her appearance, doesn't appreciate BoJack calling her a "blob." The end suggests that he might have accidentally caused her to develop an eating disorder.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Hollyhock calls out BoJack for calling her a "blob".
- You Make Me Sick: When Felicity Huffman and Sir Mix-A-Lot find out that he bribed one of the contestants to seduce the PA, they both chew him out and fire him. Sir Mix-A-Lot even adds that BoJack disgusts him for this.
