TV Recap: Bob's Burgers - "Best Burger"

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.
It could just be because of the good will that last week's episode put me in, but I honestly feel like Bob's Burgers may be turning around this season. While season 4 saw them in a little bit of a rut, season 5 has been full of creative twists on familiar things in ways that haven't been seen in awhile. In this case, a cooking contest goes awry, leaving the success of the Belcher family in the hand of one person.Meanwhile, it serves as a great father-son episode about occasionally not seeing eye-to-eye. Basically, the show is in top shape with one of its higher concepts this season.
Bob (Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) enters a burger making contest called Wharf It Down, hosted by Ray (Andy Daly), who hates Bob. His competitors include Jimmy Pesto (Jay Johnston) and Skip (Kumail Nanjiani) who are both considered to be way better than Bob. As they begin to make the burgers, Bob realizes that he is missing their secret ingredient: black garlic. He recalls that he asked Gene (Eugene Mirman) to get it when they were packing for the event. As a result, he asks the kids to go back to the house and get it.
The issue is that Gene spills it on his shirt. After taking a ride from Mickey (Bill Hader) on his bike cab, they find a way to get down to the right shop and get the garlic. However, they don't have the money. This results in them stealing it. With the help of Mickey, they escape. However, Mickey's enemy Manny (David Herman) isn't too far behind and gives the shop owner a ride to the wharf. Gene runs the black garlic to Bob, though he is very tempted by his surroundings of various cooked foods. 
He gets it there in time. The judges like the food, but end up going with Skip's burger. Bob spends the time following the event to apologize to Gene for treating him so poorly. They realize that they don't always see eye to eye and that sometimes Gene is pointlessly forgetful. This is problematic, but Bob realizes that his son is oafish. He is also sad to have lost the competition. However, many of the patrons show up to Bob's Burgers wanting to try the burger.


Rating: 4 out of 5


Wow. I could be wrong, but this feels like the first time that Bob's Burgers has played around with the concept of time. Over the span of 20 or so minutes, the episode involves a burger contest that goes wrong. Bob needs black garlic badly. How is everything going to resolve? It is an ingenious premise that kind of works if not considering the illogical time constraints. In fact, it makes the episode all the more exciting and puts everything at stake in a wonderfully strange and exciting way.
Bob himself isn't that interesting. As usual, he is just panicking over his surroundings. Even Linda has some moments. However, I like the idea of the show using flashback in order to get points across. The mindless drunk signing up for the contest was a nice touch. Even the sense that the Belcher kids have stolen food from the clerk before has an inspired twist. While these flashbacks are sparing, they add a nice touch to the story that creates a deeper urgency. It gets points across in a more rapid succession. Even the continuous reminder that there's a clock and Bob needs to get the burger done by then is an inspired twist.
However, what makes this episode all the more better is that it is inherently a Gene episode. It is all about him overcoming his past mistakes and winning the approval of his father. He must end up saving the day and getting the black garlic to Bob in time. The ending is rather touching, especially considering that it reveals just how strained and misunderstood Bob and Gene's relationship actually is. It is rather funny too that during a heart-warming speech that Bob would cut Gene short just so that he can get the black garlic on the burger before their time runs out.
As a whole, this episode works because it combines two crazy concepts into one heartfelt episode. Sure, it's still crasser than The Simpsons were at their fifth season. Gene is seen with a stained shirt for most of the episode. Even then, the emotional payoff is something that has been seeping into the show for the past few seasons, and it works so well. By making Teddy more sympathetic and giving Gene a sense of purpose, the show has managed to find longevity at this late date. Also, it just helps because the madcap premise mixes professionalism with personal feelings in ways that were unexpected. Most of all, it seems like the show is back to its old tricks, which is great."

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