When Frankie (Richard's deadbeat conman dad) gets invited to a family ceremony (which is a Wicker Man-esque ritual where Frankie is burned in effigy), Richard realizes that Frankie is upset over not being there for him, so the kids (Gumball, Darwin, and Anais) decide to mend Richard and Frankie's broken relationship.
Tropes:
- An Aesop: It's better to love someone as they already are rather than trying to change them into someone they don't want to be.
- Astonishingly Appropriate Interruption: As Richard tries to talk with his kids about Frankie while eating at Joyful Burger, Larry announces each item he's dropping off, and every single one is also a word that continues Richard's train of thought.
- Awkward Father-Son Bonding Activity: Richard and Frankie share a not-so-Good-Times Montage with Frankie's old criminal habits integrated into their activities. This includes playing catch with a stolen football to fishing for handbags on a freeway, which only frustrates Richard to the point where he was about to give up on Frankie.
- Bait-and-Switch: During Richard's Post-Stress Overeating, Anais asks if it will be dangerous. Gumball scoffs at the notion, because "This is Richard Watterson. He can take it." Cue Ambulance Cut... for Larry, who is traumatized by constantly feeding Richard. Turns out Anais was actually worrying about the staff.
- Brick Joke: The wallet Richard steals from his father while they're hugging at the end of the episode? It's Louie's.
- Continuity Nod: In a reference to the beginning of "The Watch", Frankie gives Richard a watch that he got from a former cellmate and jokes about being a parole model in the end, referring to his arrest from "The Outside".
- A Day in the Limelight: For Frankie.
- Death Glare: Granny Jojo sends a few of these Frankie's way during the "Vermin Man" performance", to make sure he gets the message.
- Evil Parents Want Good Kids: Apparently, the reason Frankie didn't take Richard with him when he left the family is because he didn't want Richard to follow him into a life of crime. While it only worsens Richard's immaturity given Jojo's excessive coddling, he still grew up to be a good person like his father wanted.
- Fictional Holiday: The Wattersons celebrate Vermin Man Day, a holiday Granny Jojo made up to distract Richard on the day Frankie abandoned his family—and to vilify a boogieman she transparently based on her ex-husband (not that Richard's ever noticed).
- Foul Ball Pit: The kids take Richard to Joyful Burger, where they give him permission to eat to his heart's content if it'll make him feel better. The Post-Stress Overeating wasn't enough, so they let him play in the ball pit while the staff shovels food into his mouth. This just ends up traumatizing the staff.Darwin: This doesn't look good to me.
Anais: I don't think anyone would enjoy the sight of a grown man smearing burger meat into his face in a kid's ball pit.
Gumball: Yup. Even in Japan, that's pretty niche. - Freeze-Frame Bonus: Frankie nimbly pickpockets Louie during their post-Vermin Man Song handshake.Louie: "Is he gone? Lousy bum stole my wallet!"
- Given Name Reveal: Penny's little sister's name is revealed to be Polly.
- Robbing the Dead: Frankie gives Nicole a wreath of flowers which he apparently took off a grave.Nicole: "You'll always be alive in our hearts, Great Aunt Petunia"?
Frankie: Sorry, I couldn't find one that said "Nicole"—especially not in the dark. - So Proud of You: Richard takes the wallet from Frankie's pocket while they were hugging, to which Frankie replies "That's my boy!"—before explaining the wallet was already stolen.
- Shout-Out: To The Wicker Man, with a peppy-folk-sounding song matched with burning an effigy of Frankie, much to his horror.
