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Recap / Regular Show S 06 E 05 The End Of Muscle Man

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Written and storyboarded by Minty Lewis and Sarah Oleksyk.

While starting the park duties, Muscle Man suddenly gives the crew a list of things that he wants to do before "the end." The other park employees think it's a joke, but when Death comes for Muscle Man and they get a call from Muscle Man's doctor that he's "going to a better place," they decide to make Muscle Man's final wishes come true.


This episode has the following tropes

  • An Aesop: You don't have to change who you are to marry the person you love. After all, the person you want to marry fell in love with the person you are, and wants to marry you as yourself. Also, "I leave this world tonight" is not a wedding metaphor.
  • Bittersweet Ending: Played for Laughs. Starla accepts Muscle Man's proposal and he doesn't have to give up his "Muscle Man" persona for her to do so, but nobody but Hi-Five Ghost congratulates him for it, as they're all instead angry with him for making him think he was going to die. And Muscle Man now owes $12,000 to Benson, which ends up hampering his ability to fund their wedding.
  • Bowdlerization: In the UK version, some extra scenes were added that make it obvious that Muscle Man is going to prank the other park workers into thinking he's dead (which not only makes Muscle Man an inconsiderate jerk but it ruins the punchline — and the drama of the scene where the workers are at Wing Kingdom and bid their tearful goodbyes to Muscle Man — to the episode, but is considered better than editing the episode to pieces or outright banning it, since it is part of season six's arc of Muscle Man marrying Starlanote ).
    • When Muscle Man first tells the park workers that he's not long for this world, a reaction shot of the workers was replaced with a newly-animated scene of Muscle Man walking up to Benson, and muttering "Wait'll they get a load of this surprise." to himself.
    • Near the end when Death brings out Muscle Man lying on the statue, he keeps his eyes shut for the whole scene in the original American version. The UK version adds in some new animation to this part, to make it perfectly clear that he's still alive, where Muscle Man briefly opens his eyes, glances at Death, then laughs quietly to himself before shutting his eyes again.
  • Didn't Think This Through: Muscle Man apparently thought that “I leave this world tonight” was a wedding metaphor instead of a dying one. He figured that out after Benson yelled at him saying it was never a wedding metaphor.
  • Just the Way You Are: Starla initially refuses to marry "Mitch" after he gave up his identity as Muscle Man because she fell in love with "Muscle Man" and not "Mitch" and that just because he's getting married doesn't mean he has to stop being who he is. When Muscle Man reassumes his old identity, Starla accepts his proposal.
  • Mistaken for Dying: Turns out Muscle Man meant a metaphorical death, as in the end of his bachelorhood as he planned to propose to Starla and give up his identity as Muscle Man and become plain ol' Mitch Sorenstein. He's still quite healthy.
  • No Sympathy: When it turns out that Muscle Man ISN'T gonna die, the others angrily berate him rather than show relief that he's gonna live.
  • O.O.C. Is Serious Business: A blink and you'll miss it moment, when everyone finds out that Muscle Man is not gonna die, Skips is seen walking out of the restaurant along with the others instead of skipping like he usually does.
  • Poor Communication Kills: If only Muscle Man made it clear that the persona known as Muscle Man and not the man himself would "leave this world tonight".
  • That Man Is Dead: What Muscle Man really meant when he said he would "leave this world tonight." Subverted as Starla tells him that he wanted to marry Muscle Man and not "Mitch" and he keeps the persona.
  • Tranquil Fury: Even still royally pissed off, Benson, in a very calm tone, tells Muscle Man that he owes him $12,000.
  • Wham Episode: Muscle Man proposes to Starla and she accepts.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: The park crew assume from Muscle Man's letter that he really was dying as he made it seem pretty clear he was without the symbolism indication. Naturally the park crew isn't pleased to learn that wasn't the case. Benson in particular as he spent $12,000 on Muscle Man's bucket list.

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