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 is nice to see that the tradition has stayed alive of Bob's Burgers still somehow managing to get poorly treated in the time slots. While the rest of the Sunday Funday line-up is now three episodes deep, Bob's Burgers is just now hitting its second. For those worrying that this marks some doom for the show, just know that it isn't going anywhere. In fact, it won't for the next two years. The show has been signed on for two more seasons. What better way to celebrate than with a parade, with a little razzle-dazzle from guest star Nathan Fielder?
The episode begins with another day at Wagstaff. As the school is gathered for an assembly, they learn the history of The Land Ship; an annual tradition that most students have grown bored of hearing about. Not Tina (Dan Mintz), who is thrilled to hear the story of how a ship dragged onto shore was able to fool the British. However, there are complaints about someone doing graffiti around campus. Tina goes to observe, and it's Jordan (Fielder), who immediately falls in love with her but has no grasp on how to properly kiss. The two begin to perform vandalism around town - growing deeper in love as Tina poorly hides it at home by being tired all of the time.
Meanwhile, Bob (Jon Benjamin) is growing concerned about a series of portapotties blocking his view from the parade scheduled to honor the Land Ship. With the help of Linda (John Roberts) and Teddy (Larry Murphy), the attempt to move it, only making matters worse. However, they manage to benefit from this, as customers who use them decide to eat at Bob's Burgers instead of across the street at Jimmy Pesto's (Jay Johnston), who had been intimidating them the entire time.
As Louise (Kristen Schaal) tries to figure out why Tina is asleep all of the time, Jordan insists on putting his Ghost Boy logo onto the Land Ship. Tina reluctantly goes along. After doing so, she is filled with regret and spends the remainder of the night covering it up. What started as a love letter to vandalism ends up splitting them apart. Jordan quickly rebounds with Tammy (Jenny Slate), and Jimmy Jr. (Benjamin) decides to watch the parade with Tina.
Rating: 4 out of 5
The one thing that I admire about Bob's Burgers is when they can make both the main plot and the subplot have value. Basically, both of the stories revolve around criminal activities by the family that inevitably causes them to be secretive because they know that they might get arrested. It's quite poignant that Bob is so concerned about not telling the kids about moving the portapotties because it means that they care about their safety. Likewise, Tina refusing to tell her siblings about her activity show both a sign of shame as well as desire to not get them involved. As a result, they end up saving Tina's day by convincing her to do what's right. The only thing is that she goes the extra mile about it and nervously sabotages love.
It's also nice to see that Tina is in love to a fault. We have seen her romantically involved over the course of the series to varying extents. However, her milquetoast attitudes mean that she doesn't often get to do anything destructive. Even when she does, her parents don't know and it ends up just seeming cute, or as Linda would put it "Hormones." Even if the final motive is a bit of a stretch, I do think that Tina trying to right her wrongs is inevitably one of the more admirable things that the show has done for her. It's a little far fetched, but it's still rather interesting, especially as she reveals that she'd rather do good than be in love.
I also enjoy that Bob's story holds up as the constant problems that he faces with Jimmy Pesto. It's all about business this time and the cruel fate of not moving the portapotties in front of the abandoned building next to them is a great little joke. It screws with them, especially as they don't have a view of anything significant. Nobody wants to eat there because it stinks. However, it ends up saving the day in a roundabout way and makes for one of the more cathartic forms of reveal that the show has done in awhile. It's a different kind of toilet humor, and one that works effortlessly to bring all of the themes together.
That is likely what I enjoy about this episode. Everything compliments each other in a nice manner. Tina's growth as a character benefits the historical pride. The parade route provides Bob with business. Everything culminates in a singular location while almost nobody else knew of the other person's plans. If anything, Jordan was an interesting character for how nerdy and unable to kiss women he actually was. It's a solid episode that hopefully marks the start of another solid season. Let's just hope that the next episode doesn't take two weeks to come.
Comments
Post a Comment