TV Recap: Bob's Burgers - "Nice-Capades"

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.

Maybe it's just timing, but having Bob's Burgers run through their three major holiday episodes back-to-back is just a little exhausting and not as fun. As much as it can be blamed on the actual network's release schedule, it's also just poor planning on their part. With all of this said, the series manages to save the best for last with "Nice-capades," an episode that turns visiting a Mall Santa (Henry Winkler) into a sincere and powerful episode that features everything that the show does best. If it's not the best episode of the season, then it's at least among the top few; capturing the ingenuity and character development that the past few episodes have been lacking.
The episode begins with Gene (Eugene Mirman), Louise (Kristen Schaal), and Tina (Dan Mintz) visiting a random store in the mall. When they find a massage chair, they find a man sitting there, taking too much time. They yell at him, demanding him to move. As he does, he reveals that he is the Mall Santa. This immediately gets them riled up with guilt. They worry that things aren't going to go well. Tina even dreams about the three of them getting coal on Christmas Day.
It is the next day that they try to set things right with Mall Santa. After his assistant pushes them away, they keep coming back with bribes, such as milk and cookies. When it doesn't work, they turn to Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline), who owns the adjacent ice rink. Here, with the help of his brother (Zach Galifianakis) and Teddy's (Larry Murphy) Jewish hockey team, they decide to put on a show to express how they have been good kids this past year.
Everything goes according to plan. While Bob (Jon Benjamin) helps Mall Santa shop in order for him to watch the ceremony, the team puts on a show that attracts attention. Gene sings about Taco Tuesday and eating burned chicken nuggets. Tina sings about helping a sea creature return to the sea. Louise gets tripped up, believing that she is a bad person. When Mall Santa confronts her, she is told that she isn't that bad. It makes her feel better. Christmas goes off without a hitch.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I will admit that with each passing season, I do feel like there's more of a lull that comes in between the good and bad episodes. While thankfully "The Hauntening" is one of the rare awful episodes, the mediocre ones that have populated each season continue to feel more and more underwhelming. I wish that this wasn't the case, but I feel like we're either exiting or in the middle of a lull period for the show. If for no other reason, it worries me that we've only seen three episodes in the past month, and they have all captured the typical holiday episodes. Does this mean that we're not seeing Bob's Burgers for the rest of the year? What's the general decision for this?

With all of this said, I think that there's something wonderful about the Christmas episodes as of late. My one wish is that the show was more willing to embrace its sentimentality. It does, but it's usually buried under strange plots or sibling bonding that is more fun and fancy free. Last year saw Bob reunite with his father in one of the series' high points. This year, Thanksgiving featured an unwelcomed episode focusing on Gayle, whom I think is a very flat and awful character for long gestation periods.

Yet I think this episode largely works because of Louise's sincerity. She has always been considered the prankster of the family. She likes to annoy people. However, there's something strangely damaging about having a Mall Santa tell her off. It's a move that leads her to beg on her knees. It's heartbreaking and powerful, leading to a great centerpiece involving an ice rink show. The fact that Louise breaks down in the middle, growing insecure by her own desires, is a unique moment in the show that restores an emotional core. This wasn't about getting back at a Mall Santa. This was about feeling some acceptance, as if there's any doubt that Louise is a good person. 

The one positive is that it is balanced by an otherwise strong supporting cast. Gene's strange song about chicken nuggets is a lot of fun while Felix and Mr. Fischoeder get plenty of great fodder and punchlines. This is a great ensemble episode that shows what happens when the team gets together. I'll admit that I am not as keen on the episodes with multiple plots because they muddy up the pacing a little bit. However, episodes that put the entire cast to good use are something special. I am sure that the sentiments in this are a little corny, but the're a unique kind that give depth to character in between their own sacrifices. 

Since I am unsure if this is the end of Bob's Burgers for 2015, I will have to say that it's been a strong run of episodes if you combine this with season five. While I continue to enjoy the show, I have to admit that I am not quite as on board with season six as I have been in the past. I don't know if it's because the formula is starting to feel familiar or what. Thankfully, this episode reinstates why I continue to watch and write about the show despite all of this. It has enough great moments to counterattack the bad ones. It also has pushed out enough holiday episodes to start making them mean something more sentimental. If the show shifts more towards that going forward, maybe there is some redemption. Otherwise, I am very impressed that it still is on the air. It's just too weird and different to last.