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.
Continuing Bob's Burgers' streak of really good episodes is yet another holiday special that manages to find new material for the Belcher family. While we pretty know the family inside and out, we don't really have too many chances to get to know their parents. In this particular episode, things begin to make sense as Bob has to deal with his father. We get a peek into his past and a look at his frustrating feud with his father. Thankfully, it works not only as a holiday episode, but also in presenting a lot of new information about why Bob (Jon Benjamin) is so obsessed with burgers.
The episode opens with a flashback of Bob talking about the origin of his burgers. He comes up with crazy names for them, specifically Baby You Can Chive My Car. This makes his father Big Bob (Bill Hader) angry and causes a lifelong dispute. Things get worse when Bob decides to visit him for the holidays. The two are yelling and cannot agree on anything. In fact, Big Bob doesn't want Bob cooking food with him. This gets Linda (John Roberts) all defensive as she asks them to get along. Meanwhile, a friend of the place named Pete (Nick Offerman) stops by to introduce himself.
Meanwhile, the kids are in the basement looking for ways to make gifts for their father. Tina (Dan Mintz) thinks that she made the perfect gift, which is a compact chair full of goods that would keep his father from ever having to walk again... voluntarily. Gene (Eugene Mirman) makes a bath full of beans. Louise (Kristen Schaal) makes a pyramid made out of set mousetraps. Things quickly fall apart and their plan to have the first Mistletonies is cancelled in favor of trying to help dad. Gene is currently covered in beans.
Bob and Big Bob begin to get upset over an order. Big Bob wants to make something traditional while Bob makes his Baby You Can Chive My Car burger. They do their best to get it to the patron in time. Bob's burger is more beloved. This causes Big Bob to storm out. Pete invites Bob to his bar, where the two rekindle their relationship while line dancing. Meanwhile, the Belcher family is at work at Big Bob's Burgers. Bob is impressed and the relationship between father and son is restored.
Rating: 4 out of 5
I am not entirely sure what the show is doing differently this season from the last one, but they are doing it very well. While I am not a fan of Gene's bean bath gag, the rest of the story is particularly fresh. The series has gotten a lot of mileage out of Bob being a frustrated loser with a dysfunctional family. In fact, he seems to be a selfless hero to those who take his heroic deeds for granted. It is rare that he manages to have a great episode dedicated to something more cathartic than getting his family out of trouble.
Which is why "Father of the Bob" is particularly fresh. We haven't really gotten a look too deep into the history of the Belcher family. It is something that makes the best sitcoms better by enriching their own history. I don't know if I could take Big Bob as a regular character, but in small doses, he works. In fact, the feud is one that sets Bob up for the regular frustrations that you'll see in any of the best episodes. He wants to get the respect of his family. The only difference this time is that it isn't his family. It's his father, whose name alone implies a rather inferior worldview to Bob. With flashbacks in tow, there's a lot of great moments to suggest that Bob's neurosis is more thought out than the jokes would let on.
I especially like that the catharsis comes in a visual gag of its own. With the returning voice of Nick Offerman, the idea of a bar that watches Scandal every week is especially amusing. Still, the line dancing is humorous and keeps everyone constantly moving and guessing the next move. It works on its own. However, when paired with the heart-to-heart that develops during the segment, it manages to be sweet in a way that only Bob's Burgers really could be. Yes, the story was essentially an excuse to have the Belcher family patch things up, but it is done rather effectively.
Though it's especially funny to think that the subplot involving the kids seemed to be scrapped rather quickly. They made a mess of things then just bombarded themselves into the main plot. That is perfectly fine, though I still don't quite like the bean bath gag that kept going and going. I know that the show is about embracing the crass sometimes, but it doesn't mean that I particularly enjoy it. I like that Gene is weird, though sometimes he is too much. Though I do love that this episode follows last week's, which was all about Bob and Gene coming to terms with their relationship as well. I worry that this will be redundant, but it works for now even if nothing has quite met the par of "Mother Daughter Laser Razor." Still, it's shaping up to be a great season. Here's hoping it lasts.
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