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.
As I have stated before, I am a big fan of when the show looks at the children's love lives. I will admit that when we saw Gene's (Eugene Mirman), it wasn't entirely based off of his desire to date the girl so much as get a chance to use keyboards. Of course, for Tina (Dan Mintz), what exactly are we going to look for? Sure, she had Jimmy Jr. (Jon Benjamin) all along, but after meeting Josh (Ben Schwartz) at the grocery store, who will she fall for in the quest for a dance partner? Also, is this actually going to be an interesting story?
The episode begins with the family around the table having breakfast sausage. Linda (John Roberts) is handing out the food and when Tina suggests that she doesn't want some, everyone becomes puzzled. It turns out that Tina is asking Jimmy Jr. to the dance and doesn't want to smell like sausage when she does. This just gives Gene and Louise (Kristen Schaal) a chance to have more. Also, Linda wants to chaperon the dance with Bob (Benjamin). One thing leads to another and it is discovered that Bob didn't go to any school dance before because he couldn't land a date.
After Jimmy Jr. gives Tina an ambiguous answer, she starts looking for other options. On the way home, she finds Josh practicing with a dance group to the Fame soundtrack. She is suddenly taken aback by him and when he suggests that there is a dance at his school, she says yes. This only makes things more complicated when Jimmy Jr. finally admits that he wants to go with her.
The rest of the episode plays out between the two fighting for her love. Jimmy Jr. dresses up as a talking horse and writes a love song about asthma. Even after Jimmy Jr. gets Gene and Louise to help him to get to her, she falls for Josh. Meanwhile, Bob and Linda end up chaperoning the other dance, at which Linda wants to make Bob experience everything from the drama to illegal drinking. This is only made weirder by the strict teacher in charge of keeping the event from getting too risque (Melissa Galsky).
When Jimmy Jr. discovers the news, he decides to go to Josh's dance and fight for Tina's hand. Actually, fight isn't the right word. It is actually an elaborate dance off between classically trained Josh and the street styles of Jimmy Jr. After a long extended dance number, Tina decides to go for both of them. Turns out neither is really into it and she is left alone. The episode ends with Bob and Linda getting kicked out of the dance because Linda vomited all over Bob's shirt.
Rating: 3 out of 5
I hate to admit it, but I wasn't a big fan of this episode. The concept of two men fighting for Tina was just not that interesting. I admit that I am glad that the show brings back characters, but watching Josh and Jimmy Jr. dance wasn't the show's finest moment. It was interesting, sure, but I have never really found Jimmy Jr. to be an interesting character. It was clumsy and only made harder to believe that Tina could see anything in him. Josh has a lot of potential, but it was painful to hear Jimmy Jr. sing that acronym song about asthma.
Even the Bob and Linda segment of the show, which had some potential, could only be dragged down by an uninspiring other half. True, it is great to see Bob finally have a few moments of glory, even if it is in a perverse manner. Linda's insistence on making it a wild and fun night had plenty of humorous moments and it did help to lighten up Bob's attitude, but by the end, it just felt like every character this week was a little off.
It felt like everyone was just coasting. Tina was her normal self and watching her pick between two unappealing characters just felt like a lazy plot, especially since the dance sequences weren't all that amazing. Meanwhile, watching two parents get trashed at some middle school dance, as funny as it could be at times, Just ended up feeling like two people out of place. And the teacher's insistence on telling them to tone it down went nowhere, as they were eventually kicked out.
I'm sorry that I don't have a lot to say this week, but this is one of the weaker episodes, I feel. After lambasting Edison last week, the show is fine taking a breather. It may lack memorable moments or the zaniness that makes Bob's Burgers great, but even at its weakest, the episodes aren't a total waste. This was tolerable, just not all that memorable.
The episode begins with the family around the table having breakfast sausage. Linda (John Roberts) is handing out the food and when Tina suggests that she doesn't want some, everyone becomes puzzled. It turns out that Tina is asking Jimmy Jr. to the dance and doesn't want to smell like sausage when she does. This just gives Gene and Louise (Kristen Schaal) a chance to have more. Also, Linda wants to chaperon the dance with Bob (Benjamin). One thing leads to another and it is discovered that Bob didn't go to any school dance before because he couldn't land a date.
After Jimmy Jr. gives Tina an ambiguous answer, she starts looking for other options. On the way home, she finds Josh practicing with a dance group to the Fame soundtrack. She is suddenly taken aback by him and when he suggests that there is a dance at his school, she says yes. This only makes things more complicated when Jimmy Jr. finally admits that he wants to go with her.
The rest of the episode plays out between the two fighting for her love. Jimmy Jr. dresses up as a talking horse and writes a love song about asthma. Even after Jimmy Jr. gets Gene and Louise to help him to get to her, she falls for Josh. Meanwhile, Bob and Linda end up chaperoning the other dance, at which Linda wants to make Bob experience everything from the drama to illegal drinking. This is only made weirder by the strict teacher in charge of keeping the event from getting too risque (Melissa Galsky). When Jimmy Jr. discovers the news, he decides to go to Josh's dance and fight for Tina's hand. Actually, fight isn't the right word. It is actually an elaborate dance off between classically trained Josh and the street styles of Jimmy Jr. After a long extended dance number, Tina decides to go for both of them. Turns out neither is really into it and she is left alone. The episode ends with Bob and Linda getting kicked out of the dance because Linda vomited all over Bob's shirt.
Rating: 3 out of 5
I hate to admit it, but I wasn't a big fan of this episode. The concept of two men fighting for Tina was just not that interesting. I admit that I am glad that the show brings back characters, but watching Josh and Jimmy Jr. dance wasn't the show's finest moment. It was interesting, sure, but I have never really found Jimmy Jr. to be an interesting character. It was clumsy and only made harder to believe that Tina could see anything in him. Josh has a lot of potential, but it was painful to hear Jimmy Jr. sing that acronym song about asthma.
Even the Bob and Linda segment of the show, which had some potential, could only be dragged down by an uninspiring other half. True, it is great to see Bob finally have a few moments of glory, even if it is in a perverse manner. Linda's insistence on making it a wild and fun night had plenty of humorous moments and it did help to lighten up Bob's attitude, but by the end, it just felt like every character this week was a little off.
It felt like everyone was just coasting. Tina was her normal self and watching her pick between two unappealing characters just felt like a lazy plot, especially since the dance sequences weren't all that amazing. Meanwhile, watching two parents get trashed at some middle school dance, as funny as it could be at times, Just ended up feeling like two people out of place. And the teacher's insistence on telling them to tone it down went nowhere, as they were eventually kicked out.
I'm sorry that I don't have a lot to say this week, but this is one of the weaker episodes, I feel. After lambasting Edison last week, the show is fine taking a breather. It may lack memorable moments or the zaniness that makes Bob's Burgers great, but even at its weakest, the episodes aren't a total waste. This was tolerable, just not all that memorable.
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