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.
If there is one thing that can be counted upon by Bob's Burgers, it's the idea of a really fun holiday episode. Over the past four years, they have provided some of their best work in the satirical platform, turning haunted houses on their heads and finding ways to turn trick or treating into a scary premise. This year, they do the same - but in the laziest ways possible. If there's one thing that's unfortunate, it's how this episode is just so bland and predictable that it feels like the show's reached a turning point of creativity.
The episode opens with Louise (Kristen Schaal) getting excited about a new Boyz 4 Now song as they're being driven to a haunted house. For most of her life, Louise hasn't been scared of haunted houses. This one is no exception, as Bob (Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) do a lackluster job of scaring them. As they leave, they begin to have problems, thus pulling over the car and finding that there's no phone reception where they are.
As they do, they find a man in the front yard of that house staring at them. He chases them into the house and eventually gets them on the roof. Having passed through a house full of macabre imagery, the family is stuck overlooking cloaked figures that set the front lawn on fire. As everyone is scared, they take a picture of Louise, who reveals that she is finally scared on Halloween. As they unveil their plan, Louise feels grateful that this Halloween wasn't a total bust.
The episode ends with the three kids commenting on the new Boyz 4 Now song. They discover that they have switched out band members and that it's a reverse version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." As the commentary goes on, the parents get involved and soon they get entranced by the magic that is going on onscreen. It's a pretty straightforward music video where there's a bunch of monsters dancing. It fades into the credits, which features the entire family singing along.
Rating: 1.5 out of 5
It may seem apocryphal to give Bob's Burgers such a low rating, but I just didn't like this episode at all. For starters, there were no clever twists are anything remotely fun. About halfway through the episode, I was able to figure out what was going on. I know that isn't always a bad thing, but when it's so deliberately just a single plot, it needs to have an extra twist to go with it. When you start with the statement that Louise has never been scared before, then of course the ending is going to be that she was scared in a haunted house. The construct of the episode is very beginner and there's no gratifying twist that would suggest otherwise. They may not be in a traditional haunted house, but that's not enough of a twist really to make it worthwhile.
I mostly say this because in general, Bob's Burgers has maintained a consistent creativity that has worked in their favor. They may do basic plots like this, but their approach to getting to the final moments is usually a lot more complicated than this. I wish that I could say that it was entertaining, but that's a lie. Once you know the twist, it feels kind of pointless. In fact, it's even more annoying that the episode runs short and they have to pad it with a Boyz 4 Now song.
I am not opposed to the Boyz 4 Now song, but it definitely doesn't have enough going for it that gets me excited. It's just corny stuff that Louise would be in to. By that point, I'm also just wanting the episode to be over because it feels like it has wasted my time too much. This isn't something that I normally feel about Bob's Burgers, and especially in the three or so years of recapping it. It's just banal and obnoxious in a way that makes me want to say that you just skip this for your sanity. All three other Halloween segments put this one to shame. In fact, this is some filler you'd expect from a lesser show. This is just lame and not worthy of being part of this show's catalog.
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