Lobanov decides to explain to Phil one "good, old Russian army custom" – dedovshchina
, where newcomers must serve those who works here longer. Unfortunately for him, Bykov decides to use this custom against him — unless, of course, he gives up on enforcing that "custom". Lobanov disagrees, and starts acting even more cruelly when Bykov can't see him.
Bykov thinks that he still has a chance to win Kisegach back from Yaroslavsky, and decides to start working on it right here and now. Unknowingly to him, she accidentally burned her ass during one... incident, and now can't seat without heavy pain. This leads to awkward situation when Bykov decides to discuss their relationship, preventing her from leaving her chair.
Varya, after talking with her patient, decides to try one last method to win Gleb — to lie about her pregnancy. At first, she consistently fails to tell him, as something always interrupts her, but ultimately she succeeds.
This episode provides examples of:
- Chekhov's Gun: That right to leave Bykov on night shift which Gleb had won in the previous episode? He uses it here, when Bykov decides to leave all interns on a night shift just out of bad mood (despite it not being them who caused it).
- Culture Clash: Lobanov tries to "explain" to Phil a phenomenon of "dedovshchina" (abuse of junior recruits by their older comrades because they are "more experienced" and, ergo, superior). Lobanov, for some reason, considers that it applies to their hospital as well, and that he is "grandpa" (old, experienced and with authority), while Phil is a "ghost" (young, inexperienced and worthless) and must serve him. Unfortunately for him, Bykov sees this and treats Lobanov the same way, since Bykov is obviously even more experienced. He does this not only to troll Lobanov, but also because he's against this "custom" in general.
- The Dog Bites Back: Lyuba suggests to just kick Lobanov's ass, since people like him can't learn their lessons the good way. Phil tries to do so, but completely fails, because he didn't take into account that Lobanov is much stronger than him.
- Experience Entitlement: "Dedovshina" phenomenon works like this, except it's not just authority, it's also the "right" to abuse "newbies" just because you are older and more experienced than them. While it's an old "tradition" in the Russian army, Lobanov for some reason thinks that it applies to their hospital as well, so Semyon, as "grandpa", would order around Phil, "a ghost". Unfortunately for Semyon, by that system, he himself would be a "ghost" for Bykov.
- Fake Pregnancy: Varya's patient thinks that faking her pregnancy is a good way to win her boyfriend back, and wants Varya's help, so it would look at least somewhat believable. Varya refuses, because this is unethical, and said boyfriend would find out anyway, eventually, and patient has no plan "B". But then she decides to use that same tactic with Gleb... but every time she tries, something interrupts her. She manages to tell him in the end of the episode.
- Jerkass: Lobanov, without any provocation, starts mistreating Phil and attempts to enforce dedovshchina, a Russian army "custom" which, in short, means "I work here longer than you, ergo I stand higher in the hierarchy than you; now, bring me coffee, and/or I would kick your ass".
- One Dialogue, Two Conversations: Kisegach (in tears) tells Bykov that he can't imagine how much pain she feels (she accidentally burned her ass on the stove before, and Bykov forces her to sit). He tells her that he, actually, can — but he means the pain from their breakup, and is unaware about the whole incident. Once she realises this, she explains everything.
- Pain to the Ass: Kisegach accidentally burned her ass by sitting on a stove (Yaroslavsky accidentally put her there). This hurst so much, she can't even sit. When Bykov learns about it, he at first tries to help her, but once he learns that she's in actual relationship with Yaroslavsky, he gets angry and hits her with a towel, making it hurt again.
- Romantic False Lead: Bykov considers the fact that Kisegach returned from her vacation prematurely as a good sign, because this means that her vacancy with Yaroslavsky didn't go that well, and Bykov still has a chance to win her back. He gets angry when seemingly proven otherwise.
