This episode provides examples of:
- Blatant Lies: Anyone can see that Quinn is lying through her teeth about attending a study group or participating in an "Adopt a Highway" program, but Helen and Jake fall for it both times.
- Brutal Honesty: Daria lays it down simply to her parents why she is not going to get grounded again: Grounding them was more of a torture for them than her since they had to put double the effort to watch them during their punishments, were running out of pastimes and had to put up with both girls at home more than they are able to endure. Jake and Helen decide to lift the curfews as long as Daria and Quinn are responsible.
- Captivity Harmonica: Daria takes up playing just to annoy the crap out of her parents.
- Dancing Bear: In-Universe. The students go to the school's "Radio DJs vs Teachers in rollerblades" game not because of the event, but because everyone is betting on how Mr. DeMartino will get hurt (the first time, it was a heart attack that nearly killed him).
- Epic Fail: "Family Court" as an attempt to discipline Daria and Quinn is a miserable failure after Daria points out how much time and effort Helen and Jake would have to put in to make sure it sticks, which is time Daria would use to drive them nuts.
- Just Here for Godzilla: Invoked. Daria finds out that every year Lawndale High holds a roller derby of "Teachers vs. Radio DJs", which sounds lame on paper... Until Jane and Jodie explain to her that the main reason the students go is to see when Mr. DeMartino gets a stroke in the middle of the game. The moment was so awfully glorious that they started placing betting pools on the time he would go down again.
- Karma Houdini: Quinn betrays Daria and tells on her. Daria manages to convince them that the constant punishments were not beneficial to anyone, not even themselves, so she manages to get away from more punishments. Quinn barely makes an effort to lie and get off the hook as well, but Helen and Jake only agreed to let her go because they wanted to get rid of her too. She ends up not learning anything or getting proper retribution.
- Noodle Incident: Ms. Barch beats up one of the DJs exclaiming "It's payback time, Randy!" It's not mentioned as to what she's getting payback for or why she would go after Rock 'n Roll Randy other than the fact that she's a violent misandristnote
- Out-of-Character Moment: Kevin catches on to one of Daria's sarcastic quips — that the supposed chip in her head attracts gullible boys.
- Running Gag: Frequently attributing various quotes to Thomas Jefferson.
- Sarcasm-Blind: When Daria explains that she got grounded because of a bizarre experiment in parental justice where she was exposed to jurisprudence, and the people who did all this are responsible for her genetic makeup. In short: Her parents were trying out a family court. Jodie and Mack clearly understand the joke and laugh, while Kevin is so confused by the complicated wording that he thinks Daria really got genetic experimentation.Brittany: Ugh! I hate that generic make-up! It gives me hives!
- Side Bet: There's a big Bet Pool on when Mr. DeMartino will be out of the game, where even Jodie placed her bet. Andrea lost it when he got his second wind.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial:Jake: You guys must have really been burning the midnight oil last night!Quinn: We weren't burning anything!
- Xanatos Speed Chess: Daria crafted a complex plan to escape from home to see the match. She recorded herself playing the harmonica and will leave it playing in her room and will escape through the window at the moment that the street police are not watching. While she explained the plan to Jane, both Helen and Jake called, and they will come home late. Jane, change of plans: just pick Daria up, at the front door.
- You Are Grounded!: Jake and Helen drag the girls through an elaborate family court just to ground them for a month anyways.
