Now loading Recap for Operation: R.E.C.E.S.S.:
Recreation
Ended
'Cuz
Enemies
Savor
Salad
Ended
'Cuz
Enemies
Savor
Salad
After an accident on the playground sees salad oil discovered beneath it, recess is turned into a work period for kids to pump and barrel the oil. When Numbuh One discovers that there are plans to make this happen in OTHER schools he decides to sabotage the conference where the oil will be tasted...only an off-hand promise to Lizzie might make that more difficult than expected.
Tropes that are appear in this episode:
- Bait-and-Switch: After Numbuh One gives Lizzie a stirring speech about how the mission is saving recess and thus all children's right to play, but if she thinks the date is more important he'll cancel the mission and come with her Lizzie starts crying. Numbuh One assumes that he's gotten through to her about how important the mission is. Nope, she thinks that he's going to cancel the mission for the date with her.
- Big "SHUT UP!": Numbuh 3 (still disguised as Numbuh 1) attempting to point out she's not a robot gets her this from Lizzie.
- Book Ends: The episode starts with Numbuh Four being sent flying by a swing and salad oil spouts from where he lands. At the end Numbuh One is sent flying by the same swing and although we don't see it, we can assume prune juice spouted from where he landed in a case of Here We Go Again!.
- Comically Missing the Point: Numbuh 1 gives a Rousing Speech about the importance of his mission before halfheartedly saying he'll give it up for Lizzie, if that's what she really wants. She thought he was being sincere and happily accepted, much to his surprise.
- Disguised in Drag: Numbuh 3 dresses as Numbuh 1 to take his place on his date with Lizzie.
- "Eureka!" Moment: When Numbuh One mentions how Lizzie wants him to go see "The Romantical Romance of all Romances on Fire Arbor Day Spectacular" with her, Numbuh Three gets excited and talks about how much she wants to see that movie. This gives Numbuh Five the idea of having Numbuh Three go disguised as Numbuh One.
- Five-Second Foreshadowing: The kids acting uncharacteristically interested in their (boring) school lessons and unhappy about recess tells the audience something has happened to recess to make it less enjoyable.
- Foreshadowing: The cracks in Nigel and Lizzie's relationship are becoming noticeable, as she is getting sick of him prioritizing a given mission over her. While they're quite happy playing at the end of the episode, the actual disagreement is not resolved and will eventually come to a head.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Numbuh Four when he sees The Kid and Kuki at the beginning of the episode. As it happens, Numbuh Four does actually have green eyes.
- Here We Go Again!: PRUNE JUICE?!!
- Monster of the Week: Principal Smelling, with Principal Sauerbraten as The Dragon.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Numbuh Four is the one who made the school discover there is salad dressing underneath the ground out of jealousy towards The Kid playing with Numbuh Three.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: She's not evil, per se, just selfish. If it hadn't been for Lizzie's snot getting in the salad during the Salad Party, none of the adults would've been discouraged from exploiting recess for oil under the belief that the oil was really "boogies". Bonus points for setting off a domino effect where Principal Sauerbraten also resolves the conflict trying to prove the salad dressing isn't "boogies", accidentally triggering the Oil Bomb.
- Noodle Incident: Apparently Nigel regularly attempts to send robotic duplicates on his dates with Lizzie, enough so that she expects it now.
- Rousing Speech: Numbuh 1 gives one about the importance of recess for children everywhere, capping off with saying he'll abort the mission if that's what Lizzie really wants. Lizzie is deeply touched by this... because she thinks that means Numbuh 1 is, at long last, putting her before a mission. Needless to say, this wasn't the reaction he expected.
- Ship Tease: Numbuh Four gets jealous when he sees The Kid pushing Numbuh Three on the swing, though he insists it's just because "he's doing it wrong."
- Shout-Out: A few subtle references to Hogan's Heroes can be found in this episode:
- Principal Sauerbraten and Principal Smelling are based on Colonel Klink and General Burkenhalter, respectively. (For further reinforcement, Sauerbraten at one point threatens Numbuh One with forty days in detention)
- Early in the episode, Lizzie has a secretary job at Sauerbraten's office, not unlike Fraulein Helga/Hilda.
- Spanner in the Works: One drop of Lizzie's snot is all that it takes for everything to go under for Sauerbraten.
