It’s a great talent to immediately set the stage of a story and to set up the gag using comic style drawing. It’s an art of being able to say more with less.
In my opinion the 2 1/2 frames being identical drop us, the reader, into an already in-progress scene where the 3 characters are simply hanging out making small talk, and, provide a greater contrast for the unexpected burst of action in the final frame. More funny. Well done!
LMAO “Can I see the socket?”