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.
What happens when the Belchers go on vacation? It is a subject that has been done in many different ways. The Simpsons famously stunned a crocodile when they went to Florida. While Bob's Burgers isn't one to plagiarize another series so blatantly, the subject matter does seem fairly overdone. Does the show have the ability to make a standout episode, or are we looking at a consecutive lackluster episode?
The episode begins with everyone being packed into a car. Bob's Burgers is currently under fumigation, which gives the family a nice chance to visit family in Florida. While Bob (Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) are more excited to see Linda's parents, Gene (Eugene Mirman), Louise (Kristen Schaal), and Tina (Dan Mintz) are really excited to go to the pool. The picture in the brochure is making them so excited that it is all they can think about for the entire trip down there, while Linda sings a song about "Going to Florida."
When they get there, a few things seem a little off. Gene, Tina, and Louise find out that the pool is empty. They try to fill it up with spit, but when that fails, they decide to give up. On their way back to their rooms at Gloria (Renee Taylor) and Al's (Sam Seder) place, they find Helen (Linda Lavin), who is out in the parking lot, playing a harmonica and complaining about how her missing dog was eaten by a python in what little batch of trees they have in the compound. Louise bets $100 that they can find and kill the python while Gene admits that he has a phobia and will not be joining them. They pitch a tent outside of the wilderness, where Gene hangs out in a sleeping bag with a walkie talkie, communicating to his sisters.
Meanwhile, Bob and Linda are hanging out with Gloria and Al. It is soon discovered that the retirement center that they came to was for adventurous old people who like to have sex, or as a sign reads "It's not a thing if it don't swing." This creeps Bob and Linda out until they discover that Gloria and Al's lack of participation is forcing them to be evacuated. When it is discovered that their only option is to stay with Bob, he goes on a quest to find out how to fix everything.
Louise and Tina search in the woods high and low. After a few brushes of being scared by bats and possibly feathers, the two land in quicksand. Gene hears all of this on his walkie talkie and attempts to rescue them by driving a golf cart to the quicksand. He claims that he doesn't want to be an only child because it wouldn't be that great. Also, they have found Helen's dog, Bitsy. They decide to bring it back to her.
Bob talks to Al about why he isn't becoming adventurous with sexuality at the compound. It turns out that his one fetish is a little embarrassing. He likes women who sit on balloons and pop them. Bob eventually convinces him to try it out with Gloria, and the two end up going to a party all happy. By the end, they are able to stick at the compound and live a happy retired life.
The kids return Bitsy to Helen, who is excited to see him. She decides to dress him up in a costume, which only causes him to run away. Realizing that she may never get her dog back, she gives a farewell speech. It turns out that Bitsy and the snake are roommates in a log in the middle of the forest.
The episode ends with everyone leaving. Over the credits, Gene sings a song about how he is afraid of snakes. Apparently, arms and legs missing are a big deal to him. He is not afraid of cancer, but snakes not having appendages is a weird phobia to have. However, over a polka bass line, it is a pretty catchy tune.
Rating: 3 out of 5
While I still love Bob's Burgers, the past few episodes have felt a little bit like filler. They neither reach highs that were achieved as recently as "O.T." or really enough lows to make it seem embarrassing. True, the whole old people having sex thing is pretty disturbing and an odd plot to really have going in an episode, but I guess it works to help to establish the family as something more well rounded. I mean, sex is a part of life. Nothing really shows bonding quite like Bob talking to Al about sex fetishes.
I wish that I could say it justified a great episode. At very least, it was a clever approach. Bob's Burgers has been an expert on modestly skirting around taboo subjects by being aggressive without actually showing any of it. We never see the naked sex, and that makes Bob's Burgers more enjoyable. However, just like Bob, the very idea is a little bit disturbing. Maybe it is funnier to others, but it just felt to me like a very dark place for the show to try and mine comedy.
I didn't get much out of it, though I must admit that the whole trying to save them from moving in was a nice touch. It really gave Bob momentum to do something essential in this episode. Also, it really makes the whole idea of an empty pool seem grosser. I also like that they didn't get the kids involved, which would have made sense after "Nude Beach." Luckily, the show maintained tastes.
The kids' story wasn't spectacular for me either. It all felt rooted on two gags that I felt sold the piece. The first one is that this is a very strong Gene episode. My favorite line of the episode is "Let's go to Cuba! I got floaties." Something about his delivery just made me laugh. Also, the fact that he loves his sisters enough to rescue them, even though he doesn't want Tina's life is kind of heartwarming in a way that the show could go. Of course, it all felt like it was geared towards the song over the closing credits. It ranks among the best songs that the show has done this season, which seems to be an average of three a week. The whole "I'm afraid of snakes" thing may be based enough in reality that it makes sense, but add in Gene's ability to turn it into a catchy melody, and I almost wish we could have turned him into a successful musician for an entire episode. However, continuing weird Gene fetishes, was he really turned on by Helen when he suggested that he didn't want to see her in clothes before giving a cat call?
The other gag is very simple. We are aware that there is a python and a dog somehow in the picture. We believe that one is dead. However, when it is discovered that Bitsy is alive, the show puts a twist on us that there was no snake. Add another twist, and the two animals are in cahoots with each other. I know it is a very basic concept, but that was a genius reveal and almost made the entire segment worthy, especially with the heart shaped wipe that followed.
Otherwise, I guess the time with Tina and Louise was fine. They had some funny moments, but Louise definitely felt like she was just antagonizing Tina at times. It was a very simple plot, and I don't feel that too much came from it. The only real glue that made me enjoy it was Gene's hilarious dialogue and the big reveal at the end. In a sense, even when Bob's Burgers has lackluster plots, they have their own spin on it that makes it feel authentic.
Also, IMDb says that this is the last episode of the season. While I doubt that it is accurate, I would just like to say that it has been quite a season, and I am glad that it has at least produced 18 episodes in one season. It feels like the show has officially found its footing. I am sure that I will be back soon with more episodes (as IMDb was my untrustworthy source when it came to the missing Community column last week), but if not, I have enjoyed the series and who knows. Depending on if this is the end, there may be a recap soon.
The episode begins with everyone being packed into a car. Bob's Burgers is currently under fumigation, which gives the family a nice chance to visit family in Florida. While Bob (Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) are more excited to see Linda's parents, Gene (Eugene Mirman), Louise (Kristen Schaal), and Tina (Dan Mintz) are really excited to go to the pool. The picture in the brochure is making them so excited that it is all they can think about for the entire trip down there, while Linda sings a song about "Going to Florida."
When they get there, a few things seem a little off. Gene, Tina, and Louise find out that the pool is empty. They try to fill it up with spit, but when that fails, they decide to give up. On their way back to their rooms at Gloria (Renee Taylor) and Al's (Sam Seder) place, they find Helen (Linda Lavin), who is out in the parking lot, playing a harmonica and complaining about how her missing dog was eaten by a python in what little batch of trees they have in the compound. Louise bets $100 that they can find and kill the python while Gene admits that he has a phobia and will not be joining them. They pitch a tent outside of the wilderness, where Gene hangs out in a sleeping bag with a walkie talkie, communicating to his sisters.
Meanwhile, Bob and Linda are hanging out with Gloria and Al. It is soon discovered that the retirement center that they came to was for adventurous old people who like to have sex, or as a sign reads "It's not a thing if it don't swing." This creeps Bob and Linda out until they discover that Gloria and Al's lack of participation is forcing them to be evacuated. When it is discovered that their only option is to stay with Bob, he goes on a quest to find out how to fix everything.
Louise and Tina search in the woods high and low. After a few brushes of being scared by bats and possibly feathers, the two land in quicksand. Gene hears all of this on his walkie talkie and attempts to rescue them by driving a golf cart to the quicksand. He claims that he doesn't want to be an only child because it wouldn't be that great. Also, they have found Helen's dog, Bitsy. They decide to bring it back to her.
Bob talks to Al about why he isn't becoming adventurous with sexuality at the compound. It turns out that his one fetish is a little embarrassing. He likes women who sit on balloons and pop them. Bob eventually convinces him to try it out with Gloria, and the two end up going to a party all happy. By the end, they are able to stick at the compound and live a happy retired life.
The kids return Bitsy to Helen, who is excited to see him. She decides to dress him up in a costume, which only causes him to run away. Realizing that she may never get her dog back, she gives a farewell speech. It turns out that Bitsy and the snake are roommates in a log in the middle of the forest.
The episode ends with everyone leaving. Over the credits, Gene sings a song about how he is afraid of snakes. Apparently, arms and legs missing are a big deal to him. He is not afraid of cancer, but snakes not having appendages is a weird phobia to have. However, over a polka bass line, it is a pretty catchy tune.
Rating: 3 out of 5
While I still love Bob's Burgers, the past few episodes have felt a little bit like filler. They neither reach highs that were achieved as recently as "O.T." or really enough lows to make it seem embarrassing. True, the whole old people having sex thing is pretty disturbing and an odd plot to really have going in an episode, but I guess it works to help to establish the family as something more well rounded. I mean, sex is a part of life. Nothing really shows bonding quite like Bob talking to Al about sex fetishes.
I wish that I could say it justified a great episode. At very least, it was a clever approach. Bob's Burgers has been an expert on modestly skirting around taboo subjects by being aggressive without actually showing any of it. We never see the naked sex, and that makes Bob's Burgers more enjoyable. However, just like Bob, the very idea is a little bit disturbing. Maybe it is funnier to others, but it just felt to me like a very dark place for the show to try and mine comedy.
I didn't get much out of it, though I must admit that the whole trying to save them from moving in was a nice touch. It really gave Bob momentum to do something essential in this episode. Also, it really makes the whole idea of an empty pool seem grosser. I also like that they didn't get the kids involved, which would have made sense after "Nude Beach." Luckily, the show maintained tastes.
The kids' story wasn't spectacular for me either. It all felt rooted on two gags that I felt sold the piece. The first one is that this is a very strong Gene episode. My favorite line of the episode is "Let's go to Cuba! I got floaties." Something about his delivery just made me laugh. Also, the fact that he loves his sisters enough to rescue them, even though he doesn't want Tina's life is kind of heartwarming in a way that the show could go. Of course, it all felt like it was geared towards the song over the closing credits. It ranks among the best songs that the show has done this season, which seems to be an average of three a week. The whole "I'm afraid of snakes" thing may be based enough in reality that it makes sense, but add in Gene's ability to turn it into a catchy melody, and I almost wish we could have turned him into a successful musician for an entire episode. However, continuing weird Gene fetishes, was he really turned on by Helen when he suggested that he didn't want to see her in clothes before giving a cat call?
The other gag is very simple. We are aware that there is a python and a dog somehow in the picture. We believe that one is dead. However, when it is discovered that Bitsy is alive, the show puts a twist on us that there was no snake. Add another twist, and the two animals are in cahoots with each other. I know it is a very basic concept, but that was a genius reveal and almost made the entire segment worthy, especially with the heart shaped wipe that followed.
Otherwise, I guess the time with Tina and Louise was fine. They had some funny moments, but Louise definitely felt like she was just antagonizing Tina at times. It was a very simple plot, and I don't feel that too much came from it. The only real glue that made me enjoy it was Gene's hilarious dialogue and the big reveal at the end. In a sense, even when Bob's Burgers has lackluster plots, they have their own spin on it that makes it feel authentic.
Also, IMDb says that this is the last episode of the season. While I doubt that it is accurate, I would just like to say that it has been quite a season, and I am glad that it has at least produced 18 episodes in one season. It feels like the show has officially found its footing. I am sure that I will be back soon with more episodes (as IMDb was my untrustworthy source when it came to the missing Community column last week), but if not, I have enjoyed the series and who knows. Depending on if this is the end, there may be a recap soon.
Comments
Post a Comment