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.
I'm back. I think for real this time. Sorry, it's just ridiculous that these episodes are airing so far apart. True, baseball season put everything on a strange hiatus, but that doesn't excuse why Bob's Burgers has to be so far behind. Maybe it could be because Fox is trying to make Mulaney a thing, but alas the series has thrived. With Mulaney moving to earlier in the night, it only means one thing. The series is once again surviving against a strange mixture of competition. So, without further ado, let's try and start the Bob's Burgers recap series the correct way this time.
The episode begins with Bob Belcher (Jon Benjamin) going about his regular job and feeding Teddy (Larry Murphy) burgers. There's nothing out of the ordinary until something makes Bob realize that Teddy has been eating burgers everyday of his life. He has nightmares of overfeeding him and wants to do right by him. Everyone thinks that they're best friends, but Bob insists that his best friend is someone that he hasn't seen in six years. If anything, Teddy is Bob's best customer.
Meanwhile, Gene Belcher (Eugene Mirman), Tina (Dan Mintz) and Louise (Kristen Schaal) decide to try and make frozen farts in the downstairs freezer. This doesn't work out, though they decide to turn the room into an ice rink instead. That works out nicely and everyone enjoys it. Once Linda (John Roberts) gets involved, they begin to have Mad Max-style fights to see who is the winner in some very hard to follow game. Louise is pretty much the victor against everyone except Zeke (Bobby Tisdale). However, she gets a last second assist from Gene when he pulls out the fart jar and knocks Zeke unconscious.
Meanwhile, Bob tries to make Teddy feel better about himself by going jogging with him. This goes well, though Bob is clearly out of shape. They find a stunt man exercise program that leads to them taking a weekend boot camp. They participate, though it is here where Teddy discovers that Bob doesn't actually consider him a best friend. Bob drives him home only to drop him off at another burger joint that sells bigger food that may kill him. It is where he finally confesses that Teddy is his best friend.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
I am not sure if it is the rate at which these episodes release or if this season is off to a rocky start, but it is hard for me to get into this episode entirely. Sure, it is one of the simpler stories and is more about Bob and Teddy's friendship. However, I don't feel the immediacy in the subplot about the "Freezerdome" as in the central one. I think it has a lot to do with the feeling that this show is getting moved around way too much and it is hard to set a personal pattern for the show. I mean, next week is four episodes in and it's already a Thanksgiving episode. I just hope that this doesn't turn into a season in which holiday episodes are one after another with maybe one in between. That would become a little much.
Though let's talk about Bob and Teddy's relationship. In all reality, it makes sense why they would be best friends. Teddy is so frequently in the series that he almost feels like one of the family. Even last season saw him take on a parental role with the children. He is a genuinely nice guy who you want to see win. I like Teddy after all of this time and I get why they would use these plot devices to unveil how complicated the relationship between these two men are. Be honest, do you actually see anyone from work as anything other than an employee or customer? Bob is likely seeing it this way, especially since he has spent six years since seeing his "best friend." The series to date is proof that Bob and Teddy are best friends, even if they seem casually not.
Still, it is wonderful to think of it this way because of how Bob is concerned about Teddy's health. It seems immediate, though is quickly thrown under the rug. This isn't because Bob is forcefully putting food down his gullet, it is because Teddy enjoys spending time with him. The side effect is that he eats a lot of fatty foods. It is nice to see him try to get into shape and that results in some deeper, immediate reactions from Bob. The final scene in which Teddy is about to gorge on another place's food is funny as well as touching in ways that the better moments of Bob's Burgers can be. By the end, the relationship works not because he is selling him food, but because they enjoy talking to each other. If Bob's Burgers never closed, Teddy would probably never leave.
I cannot really get into the subplot, which feels more like a Mad Max homage than anything substantial. I get that kids will be kids and that they don't always need to be doing something outrageous. However, when it is menial like this, I kind of have trouble getting into it. There's competition, but what does it amount to? I don't know what I would have wanted from it, but save for the fart jar callback, there wasn't much to really make it a compelling segment. It seemed to just exist alongside a rather engaging set piece about Bob and Teddy.
Here's hoping that the series doesn't continually go back on hiatus for no apparent reason. It has a lot of catching up to do, and I don't want to see it fall behind. The network has already clearly shown that they care more about this than Mulaney, which is telling and a good sign for Bob's Burgers. See you next week, for sure.
The episode begins with Bob Belcher (Jon Benjamin) going about his regular job and feeding Teddy (Larry Murphy) burgers. There's nothing out of the ordinary until something makes Bob realize that Teddy has been eating burgers everyday of his life. He has nightmares of overfeeding him and wants to do right by him. Everyone thinks that they're best friends, but Bob insists that his best friend is someone that he hasn't seen in six years. If anything, Teddy is Bob's best customer.
Meanwhile, Gene Belcher (Eugene Mirman), Tina (Dan Mintz) and Louise (Kristen Schaal) decide to try and make frozen farts in the downstairs freezer. This doesn't work out, though they decide to turn the room into an ice rink instead. That works out nicely and everyone enjoys it. Once Linda (John Roberts) gets involved, they begin to have Mad Max-style fights to see who is the winner in some very hard to follow game. Louise is pretty much the victor against everyone except Zeke (Bobby Tisdale). However, she gets a last second assist from Gene when he pulls out the fart jar and knocks Zeke unconscious.
Meanwhile, Bob tries to make Teddy feel better about himself by going jogging with him. This goes well, though Bob is clearly out of shape. They find a stunt man exercise program that leads to them taking a weekend boot camp. They participate, though it is here where Teddy discovers that Bob doesn't actually consider him a best friend. Bob drives him home only to drop him off at another burger joint that sells bigger food that may kill him. It is where he finally confesses that Teddy is his best friend.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Though let's talk about Bob and Teddy's relationship. In all reality, it makes sense why they would be best friends. Teddy is so frequently in the series that he almost feels like one of the family. Even last season saw him take on a parental role with the children. He is a genuinely nice guy who you want to see win. I like Teddy after all of this time and I get why they would use these plot devices to unveil how complicated the relationship between these two men are. Be honest, do you actually see anyone from work as anything other than an employee or customer? Bob is likely seeing it this way, especially since he has spent six years since seeing his "best friend." The series to date is proof that Bob and Teddy are best friends, even if they seem casually not.
Still, it is wonderful to think of it this way because of how Bob is concerned about Teddy's health. It seems immediate, though is quickly thrown under the rug. This isn't because Bob is forcefully putting food down his gullet, it is because Teddy enjoys spending time with him. The side effect is that he eats a lot of fatty foods. It is nice to see him try to get into shape and that results in some deeper, immediate reactions from Bob. The final scene in which Teddy is about to gorge on another place's food is funny as well as touching in ways that the better moments of Bob's Burgers can be. By the end, the relationship works not because he is selling him food, but because they enjoy talking to each other. If Bob's Burgers never closed, Teddy would probably never leave.
I cannot really get into the subplot, which feels more like a Mad Max homage than anything substantial. I get that kids will be kids and that they don't always need to be doing something outrageous. However, when it is menial like this, I kind of have trouble getting into it. There's competition, but what does it amount to? I don't know what I would have wanted from it, but save for the fart jar callback, there wasn't much to really make it a compelling segment. It seemed to just exist alongside a rather engaging set piece about Bob and Teddy.
Here's hoping that the series doesn't continually go back on hiatus for no apparent reason. It has a lot of catching up to do, and I don't want to see it fall behind. The network has already clearly shown that they care more about this than Mulaney, which is telling and a good sign for Bob's Burgers. See you next week, for sure.
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