Recap / Recess S 4 E 33 Dont Ask Me

Guru Kid needs to use the bathroom, so he allows Spinelli to substitute. However, when Spinelli's advice backfires, he must return to giving advice before it's too late.

Tropes:

• Acquired Situational Narcissism: Once Spinelli becomes Advice Girl, she gleefully advises the kids to use violent moves and badmouths Guru Kid for not giving the kids "advice they could use," which, as Vince points out, is advice kids could use on each other.
• Always Someone Better: After Spinelli gives him advice, Gordy tells her that she's "better than Guru Kid." Later, this causes Guru Kid to retire.
• An Aesop: Be careful about what kind of advice you give others.
  • Don't blame others for giving you bad advice. Nobody said you 'had' to listen to it.
• Brick Joke: At the beginning of the episode, a first grader asks Spinelli for advice on a birthday present for his big sister. Spinelli tells him to make her a collage, which the sister enjoys. Towards the end of the episode, the little boy's big sister pushes Lawson to the ground for making fun of her birthday present.
• Discretion Shot / The Unreveal: We do not see the Gutenberg headlock that Spinelli advises Cornchip Girl to put Sue Bob Murphy in, nor the counter-throat Spinelli advises Sue Bob Murphy to use in retaliation.
• Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: In this episode, Guru Kid needs to use the bathroom, so he allows Spinelli to substitute. When her advice works so well that people start to go to her for advice, Guru Kid is fine with Spinelli taking over his job, and he doesn't even try to take it back until he feels that his time has come. While at first things were good, Spinelli started to advise the kids to use violence to the point where almost every kid was fighting with each other on the playground. Spinelli does not see the problem, as she gleefully advises the kids to use violent moves and badmouths Guru Kid for not giving the kids "advice they could use," which, as Vince points out, is advice kids could use on each other. Eventually the kids turn on Spinelli, blaming her for the negative consequences of their actions. Guru Kid steps in and saves Spinelli by pointing out that they all chose to follow Spinelli's advice, and they are in control of their own actions. The kids concede his point, admitting that no one said they actually had to listen to Spinelli.
  Guru Kid: Wait, this is not the way.
  Swinger Girl: Step aside skinny, Spinelli's got it coming.
  Guru Kid: Does she? And why is that? Did you not all receive the help you sought?
  Group of Kids: Yeah and Maybe.
  Guru Kid: Blame not the advisor if one chooses to take her advice. Do we all not have the free will to do as we choose? Why not hold her responsible for her actions or you for yours
  Swinger Girl: You know, turban boy make sense. I mean, nobody told us we had to listen to Spinelli.
• Embarrassing First Name: Guru Kid's first name is Jimmy. Subverted in that he isn't embarrassed by it and in fact uses it during his 10-Minute Retirement.
• Everyone Laughs Ending: TJ, Vince, Gretchen, Mikey, and Gus all laugh after Spinelli says, "Don't ask me."
• Graceful Loser: Guru Kid is fine with Spinelli taking over his job, and he doesn't even try to take it back until he feels that his time has come.
• Hoist by Her Own Petard: Spinelli nearly becomes a victim of this trope when all the kids she gave advice to blame her for its negative consequences. She was lucky Guru Kid was Wise Beyond His Years.
• Never My Fault: All the kids who took Spinelli's advice blame her when it backfires on them. It takes Guru Kid to convince them that they have no one to blame but themselves.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When the Gang sees that Gelman is running away from a savate-empowered Randall, they know that the playground needs Guru Kid.
• Potty Emergency: Which kickstarts the plot:
  Guru Kid: Oh! As a river flows to the sea, so too must one's morning juice!
• 10-Minute Retirement: Guru Kid due to the kids loving Spinelli's advice. He only returns when things go out of hand.
• Title Drop: At the end of the episode:
  Gretchen: Spinelli, what would you recommend?
  Spinelli: Do me a favor, Gretch. Don't ask me!
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Almost every kid who takes Spinelli's advice on violence becomes just as violent as she.
• Wise Beyond His Years: Guru Kid only takes back his advice post from Spinelli just as she is about to be Hoist by Her Own Petard, pointing out that the kids' decision to become as aggressive as her is not her fault, but their own.