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.
In what feels like a traditional concept, Bob's Burgers is once again taking on the subject of fecal matter. Where last season saw it mixed with journalism, we are getting this in a faux drug smuggling ring that brings the kids to the docks to hopefully sell some fecal matter for some big bucks. On the other end is a bunch of toilet humor. To say the least, the episode isn't afraid to go deep into the bowels of lowbrow humor, and maybe the concepts are too simple. If anything, it makes the episode only slightly more disappointing as a result.
The episode opens up with the kids standing on the beach and coming across this great big stone. What is it? It is an ambergris, or poop created when a whale digests a squid and their intestines wrap them up in a disgusting cover. They are fascinated by it and choose to store it in their parents' bedroom. Meanwhile, Tina (Dan Mintz) discovers that ambergris is a rare delicacy that was consumed by kings of the past and sold at auctions for over $300,000. This gets Louise (Kristen Schaal) excited and she begins considering other routes in order to procure that cash.
Meanwhile, Bob (Eugene Mirman) is complaining to Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline) about the bathroom being out of order. He decides to send his brother Felix (Zach Galifianakis) in to take care of it as the maintenance control. He claims that he will call a plumber to fix the bathroom, but never does. Instead, he decides to blow it up and start from scratch. During this time, he also suggests throwing a party in order to raise business. Bob (Jon Benjamin) isn't all that keen on the subject and plays along just in hopes that he can get the bathroom fixed.
Meanwhile, the kids meet up with Mickey (Bill Hader), who works at the docks functioning the Queasy Queen. He becomes intrigued with selling the goods, as he is a former criminal. He gets them in contact with The Nose (Dom Irrera), who has contacts to sell it. Meanwhile, Louise is growing insane from having to watch it and not let any of her siblings get hold of it. During the time, Tina manages to switch it out with socks and cantaloupe in order to fool Louise as she makes the trade with The Nose.
Having a change of heart, Tina shows up with the ambergris and tries to find a way to destroy it. She considers throwing it into the ocean, but realizes that it will simply float. Instead, she decides to run away with it and throw it into the fryer that The Nose owns and operates. This causes major problems with everyone and Louise is unable to forgive Tina for a brief amount of time.
Back at Bob's Burgers, Felix introduces the new toilet, which is black and confusing. There isn't any toilet that resembles a real world one. They're all cylindrical objects. This sends Felix into a depression that is only helped by Mr. Fischoeder chanting enthusiastically and calling his brother great things. When he comes out, he is triumphant and everyone leaves satisfied. Mr. Fischoeder calls Bob's voice flat and Louise forgives her sister for ruining their chance at a great sum of cash.
Rating: 3 out of 5
If there is one aspect of Bob's Burgers that gets tiresome, it is having to deal with mundane b-plots usually in regards to Bob and Linda. While we have been on a stretch of really good episodes as of late, this returns to the problematic fate that I have felt that this season has had. We don't really get much of a story besides the obvious A to B where things are foiled and the Belchers get screwed over in some fashion. I also don't necessarily believe that Felix or the toilet plot was all that interesting. We have seen the series deal with shady people before, but at least they have had compelling quirks. What does Felix have besides being Mr. Fischoeder's brother? Absolutely nothing. He just wants people to follow his hair-brained schemes.
I really don't care for Felix or the subplot at all. It was pretty straight forward and put the Belchers in the familiar territory of danger. I know that it is asking a lot for the show to continually try new things, but that is what made last season so powerful. It took the familiar and subverted expectations with something different. Felix is all too familiar in every way and having to change up the Bob's Burgers bathroom isn't all that exciting, considering that the punchline most of the time was "I want the bathroom fixed." It feels aimless and if anything is more frustrating than funny.
On the flip side, we have the Belcher kids and their ambergris. While I am not attracted to fecal matter stories to begin with, I feel like Bob's Burgers' biggest success was in trying to do something fresh with it. By basically turning the idea into a ridiculous smuggling ring, it managed to suggest that there was more going on in the universe than kids fascinated with whale poop. Mickey has a lot of interesting quirks as well, but the plot felt familiar. Louise wanted to have success, but was foiled by Tina. Admittedly, trying to sell ambergris has a ridiculous notion unto itself, but it also leaves room for desire for this show to do something funner.
The ending is the only saving grace. By introducing The Nose, it allowed the show to have a Hail Mary pass at the last second and make the story have a really solid punchline. A deep fried ambergris is throwing the familiar into something unexpected. Sure, it ended the story abruptly and without much sense of resolution, but it solved it nicely. Gene (Eugene Mirman) also had a chance to shine in this episode with his own candid affection for their product. Again, the fecal matter stories aren't my thing, but there's some charm to be had with how this show handles it.
I don't think that the show has waned in quality. I simply believe that it has hit a plateau where we know what to expect. You are either on board by now or you're not. I think that this is an episode where they realize that and it is bona fide filler. There's very little appealing here that moves the format forward nor does it manage to engage new audiences. It is strange and not much of anything happens. At most, it was a great way to introduce audiences to ambergris: a concept that I doubt many people actually know about. If anything, I hope the show survives to educate the world on lesser known oddities.
The episode opens up with the kids standing on the beach and coming across this great big stone. What is it? It is an ambergris, or poop created when a whale digests a squid and their intestines wrap them up in a disgusting cover. They are fascinated by it and choose to store it in their parents' bedroom. Meanwhile, Tina (Dan Mintz) discovers that ambergris is a rare delicacy that was consumed by kings of the past and sold at auctions for over $300,000. This gets Louise (Kristen Schaal) excited and she begins considering other routes in order to procure that cash.
Meanwhile, the kids meet up with Mickey (Bill Hader), who works at the docks functioning the Queasy Queen. He becomes intrigued with selling the goods, as he is a former criminal. He gets them in contact with The Nose (Dom Irrera), who has contacts to sell it. Meanwhile, Louise is growing insane from having to watch it and not let any of her siblings get hold of it. During the time, Tina manages to switch it out with socks and cantaloupe in order to fool Louise as she makes the trade with The Nose.
Having a change of heart, Tina shows up with the ambergris and tries to find a way to destroy it. She considers throwing it into the ocean, but realizes that it will simply float. Instead, she decides to run away with it and throw it into the fryer that The Nose owns and operates. This causes major problems with everyone and Louise is unable to forgive Tina for a brief amount of time.
Back at Bob's Burgers, Felix introduces the new toilet, which is black and confusing. There isn't any toilet that resembles a real world one. They're all cylindrical objects. This sends Felix into a depression that is only helped by Mr. Fischoeder chanting enthusiastically and calling his brother great things. When he comes out, he is triumphant and everyone leaves satisfied. Mr. Fischoeder calls Bob's voice flat and Louise forgives her sister for ruining their chance at a great sum of cash.
Rating: 3 out of 5
If there is one aspect of Bob's Burgers that gets tiresome, it is having to deal with mundane b-plots usually in regards to Bob and Linda. While we have been on a stretch of really good episodes as of late, this returns to the problematic fate that I have felt that this season has had. We don't really get much of a story besides the obvious A to B where things are foiled and the Belchers get screwed over in some fashion. I also don't necessarily believe that Felix or the toilet plot was all that interesting. We have seen the series deal with shady people before, but at least they have had compelling quirks. What does Felix have besides being Mr. Fischoeder's brother? Absolutely nothing. He just wants people to follow his hair-brained schemes.
I really don't care for Felix or the subplot at all. It was pretty straight forward and put the Belchers in the familiar territory of danger. I know that it is asking a lot for the show to continually try new things, but that is what made last season so powerful. It took the familiar and subverted expectations with something different. Felix is all too familiar in every way and having to change up the Bob's Burgers bathroom isn't all that exciting, considering that the punchline most of the time was "I want the bathroom fixed." It feels aimless and if anything is more frustrating than funny.
On the flip side, we have the Belcher kids and their ambergris. While I am not attracted to fecal matter stories to begin with, I feel like Bob's Burgers' biggest success was in trying to do something fresh with it. By basically turning the idea into a ridiculous smuggling ring, it managed to suggest that there was more going on in the universe than kids fascinated with whale poop. Mickey has a lot of interesting quirks as well, but the plot felt familiar. Louise wanted to have success, but was foiled by Tina. Admittedly, trying to sell ambergris has a ridiculous notion unto itself, but it also leaves room for desire for this show to do something funner.
The ending is the only saving grace. By introducing The Nose, it allowed the show to have a Hail Mary pass at the last second and make the story have a really solid punchline. A deep fried ambergris is throwing the familiar into something unexpected. Sure, it ended the story abruptly and without much sense of resolution, but it solved it nicely. Gene (Eugene Mirman) also had a chance to shine in this episode with his own candid affection for their product. Again, the fecal matter stories aren't my thing, but there's some charm to be had with how this show handles it.
I don't think that the show has waned in quality. I simply believe that it has hit a plateau where we know what to expect. You are either on board by now or you're not. I think that this is an episode where they realize that and it is bona fide filler. There's very little appealing here that moves the format forward nor does it manage to engage new audiences. It is strange and not much of anything happens. At most, it was a great way to introduce audiences to ambergris: a concept that I doubt many people actually know about. If anything, I hope the show survives to educate the world on lesser known oddities.
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