TV Recap: Bob's Burgers - "Full Bars"

Welcome to TV Recap, in which we look at modern shows and analyze them on an episode-to-episode basis. This one focuses on the cartoon sitcom Bob's Burgers, a very funny show that is capable of rivaling old school Simpsons in terms of irreverent humor and off the wall zaniness. With a cast of modern alternative comedian heroes, the story follows the Belchers as they run a burger joint. Join me as I take part in dissecting the show in its first full season. Check back on Tuesdays for the next exciting installment.

One of the sins of giving Bob's Burgers only half of a season in the past happens to be the lack of seasonal episodes. While we may be prone to the occasional Easter parody, the show would never get the chance to look at the latter year and parody it without feeling awkward. So, three seasons in and the cancellation of the shows that kept it from achieving this time slot (Allen Gregory, Napoleon Dynamite) have finally lead us to "Full Bars," an episode that is just as much about Halloween as it is about the Warriors.

While it seems too early to be doing spooky story lines, tonight's episode justified its existence. Following the Simpson's "Treehouse of Horror XXIII," you can see a contrast between the old dogs and the newbie animation show that is in many ways an acceptable next wave. It may not be as established or as tight as the Simpsons, but it never lacks the energy and authenticity to keep it from facing the Family Guy/Simpsons similarity debacle. 

It may be a trope at this point, but the episode opens with a slightly altered format. During the opening credits, we see bats flying, and an extermination truck that reads "Bat's All Folks." Along with transitions that include pumpkins, scary music, and more bats, the show already is surrounded by the familiar tropes of a Halloween episode. The question now is, can it bring something new to the field.

In the opening scene, we see Teddy (Larry Murphy) at Bob's Burgers inviting Bob (Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) to his Orange and Black Halloween party. Bob tries to back out, claiming that he is going trick or treating with the kids. However, when the kids arrive, they demand to trick or treat alone on the basis that Gene (Eugene Mirman) states "We're born alone, we die alone, and in the middle we trick or treat alone." This gives Teddy an opening and the Belcher family is split up for the rest of the episode.

The kid story line (Plot A) begins pretty straightforward. The kids are dressed up in bizarrely contrasting outfits. Louise (Kristen Schaal) is dressed as Edward Scissorhands (which is her in black, covered in tape holding scissors). Tina (Dan Mintz) is updating her outfit from last year by being a Mommy Mummy (which is just her covering herself in toilet paper as well as a little doll). Gene is the most creative, dressing as Queen Latifah in her U.N.I.T.Y. phase. Together they go trick or treating, but all they end up with is hacky treats like oyster crackers and meat deli tickets.

This gives Louise an idea. She demands that they take the ferry to King's Head Island where the rich people live. By this logic, they would have better candy. They do, which surprises them to no end as they become fascinated by Full Bars. Gene is wondering how they managed to do it without breaking the economy. A lot of this episode's humor is based around the contrast of the lower class Belchers and the higher class at King's Head Island. 

During their time on the island, they run across a group of kids who are worried about Hell Hunt. It is an annual tradition that sophomores in high school harass the younger kids. Suddenly, a group of masked kids (lead by Bryce (Joe Lo Truglio)) riding bikes come and kidnap a bunch of kids to throw pee balloons at them. Not without Amanda (Samantha Shelton) occasionally driving up to them with Bryce trying to impress her. 

Meanwhile, with Bob and Linda at Teddy's party (Plot B), they notice that they are not in costumes and are a little out of place. Teddy is in an orange and black tiger suit as well as his apartment, which was spray painted to the points that the windows do not open up. Linda came as a mermaid, but since Bob didn't come dressed up, Teddy takes him into his room. He looks through a batch of costumes, including Summer Frankenstein, which Bob finds stupid. He eventually decides on a very cheap looking fat suit, which is very unflattering.

During this time, someone kills Teddy's beloved guinea pig Francis, which drives him into a downward spiral. He begins panicking and blaming everyone. He tries sleuthing it out, but no one is admitting that they did it. He empties a chip bowl at one point to have everyone take off their shoes to no success. He is going crazy and is trying to sleuth it out in a timely manner.

Back in Plot A, Gene, Tina, and Louise find the tennis courts where the other children are being egged. They try and figure out a plan to free them. Cut to a scene in which Amanda stopped at a gas station to get t-pons, The kids manage to steal her cell phone and are now prank texting the bullies to go to the Wagner's house to meet the girls. This goes according to plan and gives the kids the chance to free the hostages.

However, they are intrigued and go to the Wagner's house to mess with them some more. Louise, in guise of Amanda, convinces them to all skinny dip in the pool. During this time, Gene finds a hot sauce packet to splash all over the bullies' underwears. He supposedly got this inspiration from a mishap that happened when he poured hot sauce on a taco while sitting with his pants down on the toilet. 

When Bryce and the others catch on, the kids flee the backyard to discover that only one person wore underwear. However, when Bryce catches up to the kids, they unleash a trap. The hostages now have the pee balloons ready to throw at the bullies, which leads them to retreat. The kids eventually catch the ferry and lead King's Head Island behind to return to their home.

In Plot B, it is discovered that Bob accidentally killed Francis by sitting on him. The fat suit, he claims, is tough to put on and when he was rolling around, didn't feel that he was sitting on anything. When they finally hold a funeral for Francis, Bob comes forward to reveal the truth. It is also revealed that Teddy possibly attributed to the guinea pig's death by spray painting it orange and black, especially as it was 15 years old.

The episode ends with everyone back at Bob's Burgers talking about the night that they just had. This is followed by a closing credits sequence that sees Bob and Linda dancing in the kitchens in their costumes.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Two episodes into season 3 of Bob's Burgers, and I notice a trend: death. Each episode has in some way been centered around death. With Horny Dave last week and now Francis the guinea pig this week, the show is taking a morbid subject and attempting to make it funny. While it was more of a central focus this week, I really hope that this is just a strange coincidence.

With that said, I really was not a fan of Plot B. It tried to turn into a "Who Done It?" story, but ended up just being a chance to riff on everything and complain about how Mike (Tim Meadows) is just a mailman with wobbly feet. There is very little substance here and while there are some visual gags that work, it feels like a bunch of riffing to fill time. We get it, the party is kind of lame and there is nothing to work with. However, the lack of mystery or suspense to the comedy in Plot B really made it sink to a very hit and miss ratio.

However, Plot A shows why Bob's Burgers deserves some more recognition. Sure, Halloween parodies have been done to death, but each character brings their own touch to the moments. While Louise is the clear leader, Gene is the notable standout this week. He manages to drop enough one liners to fill in the comedy ratio. Along with the belief that his costume can somehow summon Queen Latifah's powers is also hilarious. Tina is also excellent, though her desire to take pictures of naked boys is a nice contrast to the mission to corrupt the bullies.

It also works as a lifelong rivalry of the kids versus the teenagers. In that regards, each show that does it keeps it from getting stale. The Belcher kids are exceptionally fun and their differing personalities only help to carry the humor, even if it isn't much of a scary premise. The brilliance of this segment is not so much that it is a Halloween parody, but that it is the battle of the ages that keeps it fresh. 

In fact, I really wish that they would have dumped Plot B and just let us assume what happened. Give more screen time to allow Gene to share how hot sauce is bad for you. Still, it is also a nice contrast that they can show the difference between the upper and lower class in ways that 2 Broke Girls only wish they could. They are obsessed over the little things, like full bars (this episode almost felt like an advertisement, it was so gratuitous).

Still, I cannot wait to see if they do like Charlie Brown and make specials for every single gag season possible. This show has a lot of time to catch up on, and I am sure that it won't be long before everyone catches onto them. Let's just hope they don't go overtly satirical and lose focus on it.

Also check out more of my work at http://nerdseyeviewpodcast.blogspot.com/ where I have a podcast called Nerd's Eye View.