"We're about to open this time capsule that we buried ten years ago."
— Dee
The gang decides to make good on the past after opening up a time capsule they buried ten years previously. Mac, Dennis and Frank attempt to recruit former member Schmitty back into the gang and end up kicking Charlie out when he protests the new addition. Meanwhile, Dee pays a visit to her old high school drama teacher, Dr. Meyers (played by René Auberjonois), and ends up presiding over his unmotivated and disruptive class when he encourages her to give teaching a chance.
This episode provides examples of the following tropes:
- Ambiguously Gay: When Schmitty sarcastically asks if the guys are planning to bang him after they take him out to a fancy restaurant, Mac just laughs hysterically until Dennis tells him to tone it down a bit.
- Apathetic Teacher: Dr. Meyers has become this since quitting drinking, sitting in the corner darning his socks while letting the students play on their phones.
- Bad "Bad Acting": Dee's production of Frankenstein that she puts on to inspire the students.
- Bait-and-Switch: The setup initially looks like the gang are going to realize they kicked Schmitty out because he's obnoxious and a bit of a bully, but in the end they kick Schmitty out because he tries to get the gang to think for themselves and is better coordinated than Mac.
- Basement-Dweller: Charlie makes a joke about this at Schmitty's expense after learning that Schmitty is still living with his mother.Charlie: So you're still living with your mom, huh? That sounds kinda lame.
Schmitty: Yeah, well... I mean, it's the MS that's really lame, you know? - Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Schmitty comes across as friendly and personable, but he puts Charlie down at every available opportunity, constantly makes passive-aggressive jokes at the gang's expense and makes them look bad in what they consider to be their fields of expertise.
- Brutal Honesty: Dr. Meyers tells Dee she's simply too old to make it as a successful actress.
- Continuity Nod: Schmitty mentions that Charlie would try and get him to play Nightcrawlers when they were roommates.
- Control Freak: Dennis apparently orders for Mac and Frank in restaurants, making them eat dishes they don't like because he has "the most refined palate". He's not pleased when Schmitty tells them they can order for themselves.
- Cool Teacher: Dee attempts to be one of these, with limited success.
- Dirty Old Man: Implied, at least in the past; Dr. Meyers' first reaction to Dee showing up to reminisce about high school is to immediately apologize for anything inappropriate he might have done while drinking.
- Drunken Master: Dr. Meyers admits that the only reason he was so inspirational when Dee was in high school was because he was drinking heavily at the time.
- Epic Fail: When the gang finally realize how ill-fitting it was to bring Schmitty back they attempt to push him out of a moving car like they did the last time they kicked him out. Key word here being "attempt" as Frank can barely budge him at all and he just frustratedly opens the door and steps out on his own accord.Frank: (as the car speeds off) TELL THEM WE PUSHED YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!
- Extreme Omnivore: Charlie offers to swallow an eraser whole to prove his dedication when he's interviewing to become the high school janitor. When the principal assures him that won't be necessary, he asks if he can do it anyway, just to test if it's edible since it's fruit-scented.
- Gilligan Cut:Dr. Meyers: Why is this damn stage so slippery?!
(cut to Charlie waxing the floors with an industrial power waxer) - Initiation Ceremony: The gang have one to bring Schmitty back into the fold, complete with a throne and creepy Latin music.
- Not just any creepy Latin music, but "Sadeness" by '90s two-hit wonder Enigma, better known these days as New Age porn music, and thus exactly the song the Gang would find serious and badass.
- I Was Just Joking: Schmitty's response to the Gang showing up to apologize is to tell them to get down on their knees and grovel for forgiveness. He's somewhat concerned when they actually do it.
- Kick the Dog: Mac and Dennis kick Charlie out of the gang when he makes them choose between him and Schmitty.
- Large Ham: Dr. Meyers, to the extent that Dee thinks he's still acting when he slips and falls on the freshly-waxed floor.Dr. Meyers: I AM SHATTERED TO PIECES!!
Dee: ...Are you acting right now?
Dr. Meyers: No, I'm not acting, you bitch! I think I've broke my hip! - Martial Arts and Crafts: The gang's initiation ceremony involves Mac ringing a bell with a roundhouse kick, though he keeps missing it while Schmitty hits it on the first try.
- Membership Token: The gang present Schmitty with a "sterling silver clover ring" to commemorate his membership, explaining that they all have one and when they put all four together they form a four-leaf clover. Schmitty thinks it's lame, and when they later try to give one to Charlie to get him to rejoin after they kick out Schmitty, he also doesn't accept it, claiming he's a janitor now.
- No, You: When Dee tries to get her students to participate in some actual drama.Student: This is stupid.
Dee: Get out. You're stupid. - Only Sane Man: Schmitty has long grown out of the gang's strange rituals and constantly points out how weird they are.
- Pregnancy Makes You Crazy: The rest of the Gang decides Dee's reaction to reading the letter to herself from the time capsule is a result of this.
- Remember the New Guy?: Schmitty is introduced as a never-before-mentioned fourth member of the gang who was kicked out sometime prior to the beginning of the series.
- Rousing Speech: Surprisingly enough, Dee delivers one to Dr. Meyers and his students in an attempt at inspiring them to take drama seriously.
- Serious Business: The gang take their membership very seriously, much to Schmitty's bemusement.
- Shaking the Rump: In an attempt to hold onto Mac and Dennis's favor he reminds them how they used to laugh at him for his "butt dance," which he demonstrates to their embarrassment. Schmitty one-ups him with his own.
- Stalker Shrine: Schmitty's initiation chair is set up like one, complete with a large framed photograph of him that he doesn't remember being taken. Schmitty points out that that's weird as hell.
- Tears of Remorse: Dennis keeps doing this whenever he tries to apologize to Schmitty for their past treatment of him, and then again at the end of the episode when he asks Charlie to come back.Mac: Jesus, dude, what is wrong with you?
- Threatening to Cut Ties: Mac and Dennis decided to invite their old pal Schmitty into the Gang. Charlie, feeling insecure about it, gives an ultimatum that if Schmitty joins, he'll leave the Gang for good. Mac and Dennis don't really give a shit and Charlie leaves, humiliated.
- Time Capsule: The episode begins with the gang opening up a time capsule they buried ten years previous, containing various items they thought would one day be valuable.
- Unknown Rival: Schmitty doesn't seem to be entirely aware of just how much Charlie hates him and considers him a threat.
