Recap / Phineas And Ferb Blackout

Doof's inator takes up so much power that it ends up causing a blackout over all of Danville. Phineas decides to make this the best blackout ever, by making a very large and ambiguous invention.

Tropes

• Big Blackout: It's what the episode's title exclaims, and it's caused thanks to Doofenshmirtz's "Big-Sad-Eye-inator" using so much power and exploding.
• Black Comedy: Doofenshmirtz's trap is so escape-proof that he "couldn't get that guy out". The film pans over to a skeleton stuck in another trap, much to Perry's horror. It's made of plastic.
• Brick Joke: Phineas tells Candace to put on a helmet and a mouthguard. However, during the song, when there are lights, Candace is seen wearing a helmet, but no mouthguard. After the song, it is explained that she swallowed it. Also serves as a Call-Back by Doof at the the end when he gets the device from the jetpack squad.
• Borrowed Catchphrase:
  • Buford enters the backyard by saying, "Whatcha doin?", making Phineas think that Isabella said it.
  • When realizing that Agent P has escaped, Doof says, "Hey! Where's Perry? The Platypus?"
• By the Lights of Their Eyes: Pretty much the entire episode is basically just black with nothing but the eyes. It's also a huge Lampshade Hanging of the trope. This certainly saved a lot of money on animation!
• Call-Back: One of the things that Doof is given is someone's watermelon.
• Cool Shades: Before the power comes back on, we only see Linda, Lawrence and Candace's eyes in the backyard, and Linda says she feels something pointy. When the blackout is over, it is shown that Phineas and Ferb are wearing sunglasses, which is why we couldn't see their eyes.
  Phineas: You're right, Ferb. We're cooler even in the dark.
• Easily Forgiven: Doofenshmirtz attempts to invoke this trope with his Big, Sad Eye-inator. His idea is that people will let him do anything as long as he looks pitiable enough.
• Honking Arriving Car: Candace recognize's her stepfather's two-honk horn.
• Implausible Deniability: Because of the blackout, Baljeet cannot find Buford anywhere.
  Buford: And you're not gonna!
  Baljeet: Buford, is that you?
  Buford: No!
• In Medias Res: The episode starts with Perry already trapped and Doofenshmirtz explaining the Big, Sad Eye-inator to him.
• It's the Best Whatever, Ever!: Phineas and the gang are determined to make it the best blackout ever.
• Noodle Implements: Bereft of any actual information about Phineas and Ferb's newest contraption, Candace tries to catch her mother's attention by hissing that they're using a winch. It doesn't work.
• Power Outage Plot: The power goes out all over Danville thanks to Doofenshmirtz's "Big-Sad-Eye-inator" using so much power and exploding. The power is later turned back on when Perry goes over to the Danville power plant and turns on a red switch.

  Worker 1: That's all it was? That big red switch over there?
  Worker 2: You think I would've know that. I mean I got a Ph.D.
  Worker 1: You work that into every conversation.

• Puppy-Dog Eyes: Doof's Big-Sad-Eye-inator gives him these. Apparently, they work better in the dark because when the power returns, his eyes are bigger than his head, freaking out Roger.
• Shout-Out: Candace says "Dad, tear down this fence!" in a nod to Ronald Reagan's famous "Tear down this wall!" speech at the Brandenburg Gate of the Berlin Wall. (To hammer home the reference, "Hail to the Chief" plays in the background during this bit.)
• The Unreveal:
  • One of the kids in the backyard has an eyepatch.
    Eyepatch Kid: (ominously) But is it my left eye or my right eye? You don't know...
  • Whatever was Phineas and Ferb's Big Idea? But whatever it was, it was not exactly their intention to ride it. Pretty much lampshaded by the song.
    Candace: But what was it? What was it?!