Staedler feels reluctant in his career choice and Reagan gets the idea that he should come work for Cognito. Feeling his apprehension, she tries hosting an office party to help ease him in, while Brett is trying to cope with their lack of chemistry. Meanwhile, Rand recruits Alpha Beta to schmooze with his ex-wife.
Tropes:
- Been There, Shaped History: Apparently, Cognito pushed the Herbalite scam to raise funding for the CIA.
- Berserk Button: Brett's patience runs thin when Ron insults his taste in late 90's music.
- Cock Fight: After Alpha Beta nearly gets a kiss from Tamiko, Rand steps in and angrily fights the AI for nearly stealing his ex-wife back from him. Though Tamiko makes clear that she's angry about being deceived by Rand again, she doesn't pass up the opportunity to watch two individuals fight over her while sipping wine.Tamiko: I'm not not into this. (sips from her wineglass)
- Cure for Cancer: Cognito has it as a pretzel flavor.
- Downer Ending: Ron Staedler begins having second thoughts about joining Cognito Inc, believing that his and Reagan's relationship won't work the way they want as long as they have their respective jobs, but said relationship is not completely off the table. Rand, meanwhile fails at wooing Tamiko after he and Alpha Beta fight over her. What's more, his obsession in getting her back draws the attention of the Robes, who want to review his performance, or lack thereof.
- Dramatic Irony: Reagan promised Ron that he doesn't have to erase memories since Cognito already has someone who does [Myc]. To starve out Andre's virus, however, he and Reagan end up erasing everyone's memories in the company.
- Entertainingly Wrong: Brett hopes that disguising himself as Ron will draw the infected employees of Cognito and buy the real Ron and Reagan some time. It only lasts a few seconds.
- Even the Loving Hero Has Hated Ones: Staedler is the only person whom Brett hasn't immediately liked upon meeting. Ironically, what finally endears Staedler to Brett is when he tells him that it's okay not to like him, which is a refreshing kind of freedom for a Yes-Man like Brett.
- Fetishized Abuser: It's the fact that Tamiko is a narcissistic monster with unpredictable destructive impulses that makes her so attractive to Alpha Beta.
- Halloween Episode: Most of the episode takes place during a Halloween Party at Cognito Headquarters.
- Hope Spot: Brett still has reservations about bonding with Ron. Because this makes him immune to Andre's infatuation virus, Reagan hopes for a chance to use his DNA to eliminate the virus. Unfortunately, they finally start bonding, rendering it useless.
- Inventional Wisdom: Staedler questions the point of an office space keeping multiple Adolf Hitler clones in storage or a baby organs lab.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: Rand. After passing a law just so that his ex wife would be forced to date him, he seems to at least be serious about it by flying him to Paris. It soon turns out, however, that it isn't Paris at all, but the hologram room, and he even tags out at the first inconvenience letting Alpha Beta do the actual talking. In his words, he would do "anything except making an effort" for her.
- Laborious Laziness: It would have been much, much easier for Rand to just actually go to Paris and learn a bit of poetry than trying to set up and keep a ruse involving a hologram room and a killer robot.
- Laser-Guided Karma: After using his position in Cognito for personal gain, Rand is finally called by the Shadow Board, who is not happy with him.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Brett likes everyone and is very good at social stuff... but meeting Ron throws him off because they don't click with anything.
- Take That!: Starting a podcast is like "a siren song for straight white men."
- Tempting Fate: Alpha Beta sarcastically voices his contempt for the "mating ritual" aspect of parties, only to end up falling in love with Tamiko.
- Wham Line:Rand: As long as I'm head of Cognito, there will always be another way to win her back. [Shadow Board hologram appears]
Black Robe: Rand Ridley, report to the Holo-conference line immediately. The Robes wish to discuss your performance as head of Cognito.
