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.
After hitting all of the major holidays over the last few months of 2015, it only seems right that they would get back to Valentine's Day. This year's episode manages to strike a decent balance between the heartwarming aspects of the series and it's more comedic. While the season as a whole has been uneven, it definitely feels like they're moving on to the more sentimental side of the equation, and thus producing some intriguing results in a move that makes it harder and harder to ignore The Simpsons comparisons. As this triptych suggests, it's got its heart in the right place.
The episode opens with Tina (Dan Mintz) announcing that she is going to be running the Valentine's Day secret admirer program, of which involves kids dropping off their cards for other students. When she grows curious and receives taunting from Tammy (Jenny Slate), Tina begins to become worried that maybe nobody likes her. With her confidence in the box giving her the opportunity to take it home, she repeatedly opens it and takes inventory of every card, thus forming a depressing grudge against everyone in the process.
Meanwhile, Gene (Eugene Mirman) befriends Courtney (David Wain) again with the intent of just having a creative relationship. One of their latest ventures involves reading the school news in a rhyming song style. Their one threat? Mrs. Twitchell (Tymberlee Hill), who has operated the procedure in a grouchy tone and refuses to give it up. Gene and Courtney turn out to be a bigger hit than expected, and thus end up becoming a couple who only like-likes each other. Gene becomes confused and contemplates ending the relationship.
Meanwhile, Bob (Jon Benjamin) is concerned about getting Linda (John Roberts) flowers, and proceeds to call around. Everyone is out and he tells Teddy (Larry Murphy) about his frustrations. Teddy talks about a secret underground flower-selling ring. When they buy flowers, Teddy swindles the others into forcing Bob to pay more. The results are sweet and Bob gets Linda the flowers in time, though he ends up a little disconcerted about the price afterwards.
With Mrs. Twitchell starting to make her move, Gene and Courtney decide to put aside differences and put on a show on Valentine's Day to express not their love, but of some vague one that Gene read off of a card. Tina hears it and becomes immediately gratified by it. While Jimmy Jr. (Benjamin) does get her a card out of niceness, she ends up being fine with being single on the most romantic day of the year. Gene and Courtney settle in to their new gig, feeling relieved to have beaten Mrs. Twitchell for the position.
Rating: 4 out of 5
I have to admit that it's pretty ridiculous to see Bob's Burgers only on its seventh episode when most of the competing animated series on Fox are probably in their double digits by now. I understand that episodes can be delayed, especially if better programming is available that evening. However, I really want to keep a pattern for this show that doesn't involve it airing once every month, which has now been the case for three months straight. With that said, the show has definitely produced a pretty solid entry into their holiday-themed entertainment.
I think that it partially has to do with the show starting to just embrace its conscience and letting its characters exist in a world of sentiment. While I am all for their slapstick and sillier episodes, there's something endearing about making three love stories that all have something beyond gags to show for them. I especially like seeing Gene get a role beyond annoying side character. Having him use his musical chops for good, even with Courtney, definitely serve as an apt plot device and produce something wonderful, especially in terms of making an episode revolving around a platonic friendship that could go in far more severe of directions.
Among the plots, Bob's is probably the least exciting though not without its merit. It's clever to have a late night flower service, and I like the invention of his desperation without falling into familiar self-deprecation. I would like to see more episodes that are solely between Bob and Teddy, of whom have proven to be intriguing forces when paired together. I think that they bring out the best in each other's characters and definitely make something as mundane as buying flowers into a humorous exchange. I feel like maybe it could've been the central plot and have had even more of an impact, but for what it was, it was very effective.
I will admit that I think that Tina comes up the shortest. Her plot isn't bad, but it doesn't give her much to do besides be her familiar existential self. I will admit that maybe there's something intriguing about exploring the most hormonal character on the show's personal feelings on rejection, but it's not exactly a lot that's new or necessarily interesting. She cries, and that is that. I do like that there's the ongoing joke of her tampering with confidential content, but it's really the only thing that the episode has. I guess that I am just not as wowed by her romantic adventures as the show seems to think I am.
As a whole, Bob's Burgers has put out another quality episode worthy of canon. Even if the episode isn't entirely successful, the choice to split everyone up really brings out the best in everyone without falling back to trite gags. I think that the show's choice to have a heart is really starting to impact the show's quality, which I'd argue has been waning a bit in the past few years. It's still a good show, but it definitely has started to shine when the family seems to care about each other instead of goes out of their way to do very ridiculous things. I can only hope now that we'll be seeing more from the show sooner than later.
The episode opens with Tina (Dan Mintz) announcing that she is going to be running the Valentine's Day secret admirer program, of which involves kids dropping off their cards for other students. When she grows curious and receives taunting from Tammy (Jenny Slate), Tina begins to become worried that maybe nobody likes her. With her confidence in the box giving her the opportunity to take it home, she repeatedly opens it and takes inventory of every card, thus forming a depressing grudge against everyone in the process.
Meanwhile, Gene (Eugene Mirman) befriends Courtney (David Wain) again with the intent of just having a creative relationship. One of their latest ventures involves reading the school news in a rhyming song style. Their one threat? Mrs. Twitchell (Tymberlee Hill), who has operated the procedure in a grouchy tone and refuses to give it up. Gene and Courtney turn out to be a bigger hit than expected, and thus end up becoming a couple who only like-likes each other. Gene becomes confused and contemplates ending the relationship.
Meanwhile, Bob (Jon Benjamin) is concerned about getting Linda (John Roberts) flowers, and proceeds to call around. Everyone is out and he tells Teddy (Larry Murphy) about his frustrations. Teddy talks about a secret underground flower-selling ring. When they buy flowers, Teddy swindles the others into forcing Bob to pay more. The results are sweet and Bob gets Linda the flowers in time, though he ends up a little disconcerted about the price afterwards.
With Mrs. Twitchell starting to make her move, Gene and Courtney decide to put aside differences and put on a show on Valentine's Day to express not their love, but of some vague one that Gene read off of a card. Tina hears it and becomes immediately gratified by it. While Jimmy Jr. (Benjamin) does get her a card out of niceness, she ends up being fine with being single on the most romantic day of the year. Gene and Courtney settle in to their new gig, feeling relieved to have beaten Mrs. Twitchell for the position.
Rating: 4 out of 5
I have to admit that it's pretty ridiculous to see Bob's Burgers only on its seventh episode when most of the competing animated series on Fox are probably in their double digits by now. I understand that episodes can be delayed, especially if better programming is available that evening. However, I really want to keep a pattern for this show that doesn't involve it airing once every month, which has now been the case for three months straight. With that said, the show has definitely produced a pretty solid entry into their holiday-themed entertainment.
I think that it partially has to do with the show starting to just embrace its conscience and letting its characters exist in a world of sentiment. While I am all for their slapstick and sillier episodes, there's something endearing about making three love stories that all have something beyond gags to show for them. I especially like seeing Gene get a role beyond annoying side character. Having him use his musical chops for good, even with Courtney, definitely serve as an apt plot device and produce something wonderful, especially in terms of making an episode revolving around a platonic friendship that could go in far more severe of directions.
Among the plots, Bob's is probably the least exciting though not without its merit. It's clever to have a late night flower service, and I like the invention of his desperation without falling into familiar self-deprecation. I would like to see more episodes that are solely between Bob and Teddy, of whom have proven to be intriguing forces when paired together. I think that they bring out the best in each other's characters and definitely make something as mundane as buying flowers into a humorous exchange. I feel like maybe it could've been the central plot and have had even more of an impact, but for what it was, it was very effective.
I will admit that I think that Tina comes up the shortest. Her plot isn't bad, but it doesn't give her much to do besides be her familiar existential self. I will admit that maybe there's something intriguing about exploring the most hormonal character on the show's personal feelings on rejection, but it's not exactly a lot that's new or necessarily interesting. She cries, and that is that. I do like that there's the ongoing joke of her tampering with confidential content, but it's really the only thing that the episode has. I guess that I am just not as wowed by her romantic adventures as the show seems to think I am.
As a whole, Bob's Burgers has put out another quality episode worthy of canon. Even if the episode isn't entirely successful, the choice to split everyone up really brings out the best in everyone without falling back to trite gags. I think that the show's choice to have a heart is really starting to impact the show's quality, which I'd argue has been waning a bit in the past few years. It's still a good show, but it definitely has started to shine when the family seems to care about each other instead of goes out of their way to do very ridiculous things. I can only hope now that we'll be seeing more from the show sooner than later.
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