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.
While this season has been fairly consistent in quality, it's nice to know that the show is back to doing regular episodes. In this case, it involves bringing back a memorable character named Jairo (Jon Glaser), of whom hasn't been seen in quite a few years. If there's one thing that Bob's Burgers is great at, it's having annoying house guests. In this case, having Jairo as the antagonist for an episode results in something very creative and fun, producing one of the better episodes of a pretty solid season.
The episode begins with Bob (Jon Benjamin) worried that he's lost his touch for "Burger of the Day" puns. As he thinks hard, he's encouraged to go for a walk. As he does, he runs into Jairo. Well, run isn't the right word. He slips on the oil that Jairo tossed out of his capoera studio. Bob is encouraged to sue and have surgery. Against Bob's desire, he confronts Jairo to begin the lawsuit. However, things quickly turn and Jairo suggests that he can cure Bob. Bob is convinced and decides to take his advice, being rewarded with scrunchies in the process.
Meanwhile, Louise (Kristen Schaal), Gene (Eugene Miramn), and Tina (Dan Mintz) decide to borrow practices that they found the lawyer doing. This involves forging legal pads in order to get out of various responsibilities at school. Everything goes well until they are suspected of forgery. This comes from Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline), who evicts Jairo for not paying his rent and who the kids turn to in an attempt to get Jairo out of their basement.
Bob is encouraged to stop doing the "Burger of the Day" puns by Jairo. However, this causes a lot of people, specifically Teddy (Larry Murphy) to panic. When Bob does end up doing one, he gets yelled at by Jairo. However, everyone else is rejoicing, as Bob has gotten his gift back. Jairo moves out in frustration, realizing that he doesn't have much of a choice anymore.
Rating: 4 out of 5
It feels nice to state that Bob's Burgers has excelled at doing an episode that is not a holiday episode this season. They may have been doing well, but it was exhausting to think that they would only be covering the familiar territory that they have been doing for a few seasons now. However, I do think that they definitely found a great way to update an old formula while using something that hasn't necessarily been done to death on the show before. They have decided to tackle the "Burger of the Day" puns and have ended up creating one of the most fruitful episodes in awhile.
For starters, there's probably a large audience who gets a kick out of those puns. It's pretty much ingrained into the show's DNA, and by which it is almost too easy to agree with Teddy of how important it is. In a way, it feels like the series is commenting on their own creativity by highlighting one of the best sight gags arguably since The Simpsons' weekly couch gags. What would the show be without them? Well, it would be sort of heartless.
In fact, the rest doesn't really make sense beyond this. There's not a lot to connect Bob to Jairo except for the incredibly dumb plot device. With that said, everything that followed is itself a very humorous and fun experience of a man (Jairo) not wishing to take responsibilities for his actions. Instead, he tries to buy time so that Bob doesn't sue. Jairo is a compelling character largely because he manages to sell his nonsense with confidence. It may be tragic that Bob buys into it, but Jairo still manages to seem like a good guy. Maybe a good guy with bad money habits, but he still means well.
While I will admit that reviewing the show has largely been what's kept me watching, I think that there's been a lot more unevenness in the show over the past few seasons. Yes, the show has been consistently good, but there's few moments to suggest the quality that I saw a few years back when I began recapping these episodes. However, I do like it when they hit the right note, and here they pretty much do that. It's a perfect balance between Bob's naivety to be supportive and people abusing his offers. It may come across a little like a King of the Hill story, but it still manages to capture what the show is best at: subversion.
The episode begins with Bob (Jon Benjamin) worried that he's lost his touch for "Burger of the Day" puns. As he thinks hard, he's encouraged to go for a walk. As he does, he runs into Jairo. Well, run isn't the right word. He slips on the oil that Jairo tossed out of his capoera studio. Bob is encouraged to sue and have surgery. Against Bob's desire, he confronts Jairo to begin the lawsuit. However, things quickly turn and Jairo suggests that he can cure Bob. Bob is convinced and decides to take his advice, being rewarded with scrunchies in the process.
Meanwhile, Louise (Kristen Schaal), Gene (Eugene Miramn), and Tina (Dan Mintz) decide to borrow practices that they found the lawyer doing. This involves forging legal pads in order to get out of various responsibilities at school. Everything goes well until they are suspected of forgery. This comes from Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline), who evicts Jairo for not paying his rent and who the kids turn to in an attempt to get Jairo out of their basement.
Bob is encouraged to stop doing the "Burger of the Day" puns by Jairo. However, this causes a lot of people, specifically Teddy (Larry Murphy) to panic. When Bob does end up doing one, he gets yelled at by Jairo. However, everyone else is rejoicing, as Bob has gotten his gift back. Jairo moves out in frustration, realizing that he doesn't have much of a choice anymore.
Rating: 4 out of 5
It feels nice to state that Bob's Burgers has excelled at doing an episode that is not a holiday episode this season. They may have been doing well, but it was exhausting to think that they would only be covering the familiar territory that they have been doing for a few seasons now. However, I do think that they definitely found a great way to update an old formula while using something that hasn't necessarily been done to death on the show before. They have decided to tackle the "Burger of the Day" puns and have ended up creating one of the most fruitful episodes in awhile.
For starters, there's probably a large audience who gets a kick out of those puns. It's pretty much ingrained into the show's DNA, and by which it is almost too easy to agree with Teddy of how important it is. In a way, it feels like the series is commenting on their own creativity by highlighting one of the best sight gags arguably since The Simpsons' weekly couch gags. What would the show be without them? Well, it would be sort of heartless.
In fact, the rest doesn't really make sense beyond this. There's not a lot to connect Bob to Jairo except for the incredibly dumb plot device. With that said, everything that followed is itself a very humorous and fun experience of a man (Jairo) not wishing to take responsibilities for his actions. Instead, he tries to buy time so that Bob doesn't sue. Jairo is a compelling character largely because he manages to sell his nonsense with confidence. It may be tragic that Bob buys into it, but Jairo still manages to seem like a good guy. Maybe a good guy with bad money habits, but he still means well.
While I will admit that reviewing the show has largely been what's kept me watching, I think that there's been a lot more unevenness in the show over the past few seasons. Yes, the show has been consistently good, but there's few moments to suggest the quality that I saw a few years back when I began recapping these episodes. However, I do like it when they hit the right note, and here they pretty much do that. It's a perfect balance between Bob's naivety to be supportive and people abusing his offers. It may come across a little like a King of the Hill story, but it still manages to capture what the show is best at: subversion.
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