The tenth episode of the eighth season of Rugrats (1991).
Back to School
When Didi decides to go back to college, the babies think things are going backwards.
Sweet Dreams
Chuckie can't remember his dreams, and the babies help him find them. Meanwhile, Chas and Kira decide to open a coffee shop, and Stu misplaces the tickets to a concert.
"Back to School" provides examples of:
- Back to School: Both the title and premise of this episode. Didi decides to go back to college to master her degree in child development.
- Continuity Nod: When Chuckie worries about going back, he tells the babies about the experiences he went through, which include getting potty-trained, and battling pirates, aliens, and a smelly French lady.
- Contrived Coincidence: When Didi says she's going back to school, Angelica tricks the babies into thinking that everything's going backwards. The babies believe what Angelica said is true when they see Spike with Dil's bottle in his mouth, a toy robot walking with its head turned around, and Stu telling Dil he's going back to the hospital. Near the end of the episode, Tommy gets the idea that if he presses the Play button on the VCR, everything will go back to normal. The babies believe their plan worked when they see Spike holding a foam bone from Didi's box of college mementos, the robot with its head on forwards, Stu returning from the hospital and saying Dil grew an inch, and Didi telling Stu that she's going forward to school.
- Death By De Aging: Discussed; when Angelica overhears Didi saying she's going back to school, she tricks the babies into thinking that everything is going backwards. The babies overhear Stu telling Dil it's time for him to go back to the hospital, which makes them believe that Dil is going to be unborn. They also worry that it'll eventually happen to them.
- Gift for an Outgrown Interest: Didi is horrified to find out that her Dr. Lipschitz parenting book only covers advice on how to take care of children from birth to age five. Betty assures her that she'll be fine and asks her what could possibly happen when the kids turn six. What follows is an Imagine Spot where Didi throws Tommy a Dummi Bears-themed party on his sixth birthday, only for Tommy to complain that he's sick of the Dummi Bears. When Didi apologizes to him, he asks her how come she didn't make him a big-boy party
- Gilligan Cut: When Did talks about the various child care courses at the college she's going to attend, Charlotte tells her she doesn't need any help raising Angelica, since she's a perfect angel. Cut to Angelica telling Tommy that he will be gone soon.
- Here We Go Again!: At the end of the episode, Stu tells Didi that with his plans for Pickles Industries and her plans to go forward to school, they need to find a good babysitter to look after the babies. Didi tells Stu that they'll find the perfect babysitter if they have to turn the city upside down. Chuckie asks Tommy why the city is getting turned upside down, and Tommy tells him he isn't sure, as he's only good at figuring out one problem per day.
- If You Die, I Call Your Stuff: Angelica asks Tommy if she can have his toys once he's gone. After Chuckie tells Angelica off, Phil asks Tommy if they can have his toys instead, causing Lil to glare angrily at him.
- Mythology Gag: The shirt that the six-year-old Tommy wears in Didi's Imagine Spot resembles the one Dil wears in All Grown Up!.
- Pink Girl, Blue Boy: When Tommy practices how to be a good dad by taking care of his friends, Phil has a blue bottle, while Lil has a pink one.
- Spoiled Brat: When Didi starts worrying about what will happen on Tommy's sixth birthday without Dr. Lipschitz's advice, she has an Imagine Spot where a now-six-year-old Tommy is extremely rude to her, complaining that she got him a chocolate-vanilla cake instead of a vanilla-chocolate one, and how sick he is of The Dummi Bears.
- Superheroes Wear Capes: Tommy's ideal job is being a superhero, and he wears his blanket as a cape.
"Sweet Dreams" provides examples of:
- Comically Missing the Point: When the babies decide to help Chuckie find his missing dream, Lil tells Chuckie that they found Phil's lost roly-poly. Phil then asks "Chuckie's dream is in my diapie?"
- Dream Episode: This episode begins with the babies dreaming. Tommy's dream involves him exploring an ancient temple as "Okey-dokey Jones", Kimi dreams that she's an acrobat at the circus, and Phil and Lil share a dream, wherein Phil rides a frog while Lil rides a flying mud pie. Unfortunately, Chuckie doesn't have an exciting dream like the other babies. When Chuckie tells the other babies that his exciting dreams involve him being a superhero who isn't afraid of anything (which is a huge contrast from his cowardly personality), they try to help him find his missing dream.
- Hollywood Mid-Life Crisis: Chas has one at the beginning of this episode. When he explains it to Didi, Betty, and Kira at the beginning of this episode, they tell him he has no reason to worry, as he has a perfect wife and children. Chas tells them that even though his home life is perfect, his work life pales in comparison.
- Kids Hate Vegetables: Discussed; when the babies don't succeed in finding Chuckie's lost dream, Chuckie asks them why he couldn't have lost his stewed peas instead.
- Literal-Minded: When the babies overhear Stu that he has tickets to the Dreamboats' reunion concert, they believe the Dreamboat to be a special boat that'll help find Chuckie's lost dream.
- Radio Contest: Stu wins one at the beginning of this episode, with the prize being two tickets to the Dreamboats' reunion concert.
- Shared Dream: Being twins, Phil and Lil share a dream, wherein Phil rides a frog while Lil rides a flying mud pie. When the twins awaken the next morning, they tell their dream to Tommy, Chuckie, and Kimi, then argue over whose dream was better.
- Warm Milk Helps You Sleep: Chuckie is trying to fall asleep so he can have exciting dreams like the other babies. Didi comes into Tommy's bedroom with a tray full of warm milk to help the babies fall asleep. The other babies give Chuckie their milk, in hopes that it will help him fall asleep. It doesn't work, instead making Chuckie have to go to the bathroom.
