Abuse Discretion Shot: The abuse Nadia endured in the circus from her Repulsive Ringmaster is shown only briefly in this episode, and then, Nadia is "only" threatened with a bullwhip being cracked on the ground.
And There Was Much Rejoicing: Gargoyle throws the most venomous and spiteful funeral in honor of Nemo, calling for all Neo Atlantis to commemorate the day that they "destroyed" their foil.
The Bus Came Back: The Grandis Gang returns after a multi-episode absence, revealing what happened to them after they got shot out to sea at the end of Episode 21.
Face Death with Dignity: Gleefully subverted. The Grandis Gang looks like they're finally (and literally) about to sleep with the fishes...and they're not taking it well. At all. To put it in perespective, Sanson's literally sleeping through his own impending death (which leaves Hanson all but enraged that the last sound he'll ever hear on this Earth is his buddy's snoring).
Filler: Still here? Yep, the Island Arc's continues. The only real incremental movements are revealing the Grandis Gang survived the events of Episode 21 and the first hints of Red Noah.
First Kiss: Well, duh! It's in the title. Alas, thanks to his ill-advised fungal diet, Jean has no actual memory of this, which will cause problems next episode.
Flashback: While ill, Nadia has two of her wonderful childhood in the Circus. The first one is about her Ringmaster euthanizing her pet elephant and the second one is about him threatening her with a whip to train on the trapeze.
Foreshadowing: Ironically, there is a major piece of foreshadowing dropped during Gargoyle's appearance. With Nemo believed to be dead, the Neo-Atlanteans' new objective is to locate and restore what they call the Holy Fortress. This is the first indirect mention of Red Noah, which will become very important to the climax of the series.
Hate Sink: If you didn't already dislike the Circus Ringmaster for selling Nadia to Grandis back in the Pilot, you'll hate him even more after this episode's flashbacks.
Never My Fault: In her zeal to deny she consumed spoiled canned food, Nadia blames Neo-Atlantis agents for supposedly leaving poisoned tins around the island!
No OSHA Compliance: Nadia's flashbacks. No minor should have been near an animal as potentially dangerous as an elephant, nor should they have had to train up in so high height on a trapeze — both instances that end with Nadia injured. Justified, though, between the state of labor laws in the 19th Century and the Ringmaster's personality.
