[S4E1] It's A Wonderful Life

It did feel like the characters have progressed since we last saw them (although, Carl just seemed whiny again), but sometimes I feel like the show cares more about designing the graphic ways in which walkers get killed - having them hang from the ceiling by their entrails, getting stomped on, exploding in blood and guts after falling from the sky. The effects used to bring those moments to life always look great, but there comes a point where it's over the top and just not scary.

Fez oddly enough stays mostly the same, following the fads of the times and performing 'I Ran' at the '88 reunion. He also sports A Flock of Seagulls hair when the gang sit in the circle in '83 at Donna & Hyde's wedding. Also, when compared to the lives of the other members of the group, Fez is the only one who seemed to be happy with how his life ended up, as he didn't appear to be upset or miserable as an adult. While Fez benefited from the heart and friendship of the group, it's clear that this did not develop without the union of Donna and Eric.

Whether it's Kelso's fantasies, Bob and Midge trying to spice up their love life, or Eric and Donna's brush with infidelity, this episode foreshadows and sprinkles in jokes that all lead to the final punchline, putting Kelso and Fez to their knees and the audience in laughter.

Acquired Error at the Printer: The badges which are supposed to say \"I Pedaled for a Medal\" instead say \"I Piddled for a Medal\". Action Girl: Linda arms herself with a bow and arrow to defend the centre. Added Alliterative Appeal: The \"Single Swimmer's Special\", a deal which the struggling mother and child utilise to have a fun day out in the centre. Air-Vent Passageway: Ben manages to escape from his cupboard and into the ventilation system of the centre. As Himself: Sebastian Coe plays himself. Battering Ram: The centurions are mentioned to be using a battering ram to gain access to the Leisure Centre, which can later be seen as Brittas surveys the damage. Brandishment Bluff: Brittas is initially able to repel away the centurion by threatening him with a button which when released will alert three members of staff who are highly trained in martial arts to come to his aid. It's not until he leaves however that Brittas reveals that he was merely bluffing the man. Bring the Anchor Along: Sebastian Coe is still dragging along the stair railing he was locked to as he leaves the centre after The Siege. Code Emergency: Code Black is called, which according to Helen, means the outbreak of civil disturbance in the centre, with the centre to be used as a rallying point for those who are still loyal to the crown. Distressed Dude: Sebastian Coe ends up chained to a stair railing while the centre is invaded by a Roman army. Fictional Document: Brittas' leaflet on bereavement, Losing a Loved One - Ten Ways to Look on the Bright Side. The Ghost: The Classical War Society are mentioned to have an elephant helping attack the centre, although it is never seen onscreen. Heroic BSoD: Brittas briefly has one after the centre is attacked and trashed by Romans, but he's back to his old self once a poor single mother thanks him for having a lovely day with her daughter in his leisure centre. I Need a Freaking Drink: Julie emphatically pulls out a bottle of whisky for the grieving Mrs. Holroyd whilst Brittas is sent away to deal with The Siege occurring outside of the centre. Ladder Tipping: Linda does this to a legion of centurions who were about to get into the centre (with the help of a mop of course). Meaningful Background Event: At the beginning of the episode, as Sebastian Coe is speaking, Mr. Holroyd is seen getting on a bike with Colin and several others in attendance, beginning a marathon, and promptly dying in the background, setting up the plot of Brittas trying to console his widow. Mistaken Identity: Brittas asks Colin to take the bicycle lock and lock up an 8-year-old boy. Unfortunately, he describes the kid only as having a blue tracksuit and being in the weights room, and it's a description which is quite similar to that of Sebastian Coe... Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Brittas provokes a Roman recreational society into attacking the centre. Noodle Incident: Sebastian needs to get back soon to participate in a no-confidence vote. What exactly did the current government do then that necessitated such a vote Apparently, this isn't the first time this week that the police have been called to the centre, although Laura doesn't elaborate any further on this. One-Shot Character: Sebastian Coe, Wendy and Jenna. Papa Wolf: The entire reason the centurion releases the society on the centre is that Brittas is holding his son under citizen's arrest and refusing to release him. Politician Guest-Star: Sebastian Coe was an actual British MP in 1994 when the episode first aired. Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: Brittas is able to rope Sebastian Coe into one of these for a room that they named after him... as in a men's washroom. Shout-Out: Brittas accidentally remembers Steve Ovett's gold medal win when trying to recall any of Sebastian Coe's. The Siege: In the latter part of the episode, the Leisure Centre undergoes a siege by a legion of Roman War Reenactors attempting to save a child from the Centre. Something We Forgot: The siege is so dramatic that Brittas doesn't remember that Sebastian Coe is currently chained to a stair railing until Julie gives him the number to unlock the bicycle lock keeping him there. Struggling Single Mother: The mother and child who pursue the centre's facilities throughout the episode, since it's stated that she doesn't have a lot of money. Surprisingly Happy Ending: The episode seems to end on a sad note, with Romans having besieged the centre, Brittas actually being deeply affected by it, and him failing to give a commemorative cup to Sebastian Coe. Then, he's greeted by the mother and child who had been pursuing the facilities all day, who genuinely thank him for the wonderful day they had and cheer him right back up. Tempting Fate: Brittas assumes that the Roman centurians are bluffing and that they're not going to attack the Leisure Centre. The exact instant Brittas voices these views, he's almost killed by an arrow crashing into the wall beside him. Throw the Dog a Bone: The episode ends with a single mother and her child thanking Brittas for the lovely day they had at his centre. Umpteenth Customer: The single parent and her daughter turn out to be the one-thousandth customer at the centre, which gives them a free meal at the canteen. War Elephants: An elephant apparently participates in the siege of the Leisure Centre, although it doesn't appear on-screen. War Reenactors: The Classical War Society (who were re-enacting the Roman era) besiege the centre (complete with an elephant). Wrongfully Attributed: Brittas misattributes Sebastian Coe's achievements as he's leading him to the bathroom.Mr. Brittas: My staff will really appreciate this you know, Sebastian. Surprisingly enough, a few of them are actually old enough to remember some o' your greatest athletic triumphs. Like the gold medal, Moscow Olympics, 800 metres.Sebastian Coe: I didn't actually win that one.Mr. Brittas: No, that was Steve Ovett, wasn't it Still, you got your revenge in Los Angeles, didn't you (Beat) No, someone else won that as well, didn' 'e 781b155fdc