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.
With the season reaching its end, I have to say that the series has had quite an impressive run of episodes. By adding a lot more heart to the mix, it has managed to break new ground and flesh out the characters. In this particular episode, Tina (Dan Mintz) gets to live her dream of riding a horse. However, it leads to a lot of compelling points not only on the power of imagination, but in believing in yourself. The episode may end on a rather anticlimactic note, but the remainder of the episode still manages to convey what Bob's Burgers does best, which is take a nice twist on the family ideals.
The episode opens with Tina fantasizing about going to horse camp. As she does, she talks to her imaginary horse Jericho (Paul Rudd). They hold intimate conversations with each other, often sleeping in the same bed. As Linda (John Roberts) notices how much Tina wants to go, she encourages Bob (Jon Benjamin) to sell the deep fryer to make some extra money and send her away to horse camp. It isn't the one that she wants to go to, but it's the next best thing. Meanwhile, Teddy (Larry Murphy) becomes upset that he cannot have fries with his burgers, causing him to bring some from across the street and protesting against eating there until it is fixed (which he tries to do without success).
Tina finds out that Tammy (Jenny Slate) is also at horse camp. While that temporarily deflates her esteem, she begins to show off by spouting facts about the horses to the leader. This causes her to get stuck with a difficult horse named Plop, who among other things defecates randomly. They don't get along, which causes Tina to lose faith in her ability to ride a horse. While she is capable of sitting atop it, there is often a problem in regards to controlling it. She never does. When she is forced to show off for her parents at a special event, she decides to not ride Plop, instead going for Jericho. Her parents are confused and a little disappointed that they blew money on this. However, everyone else seems enthusiastic and supportive.
To counterbalance the event, Linda decides to hold a Restaurant Camp for Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Louise (Kristen Schaal). This ends up being a lot of fun for them. However, Bob calls a halt to it, causing them to lose faith in the whole program. However, Linda begins to realize that it's like a summer camp movie and suggests that they yell at old man Bob to let them have the camp run. They put on a show, which results in Bob playing along. He agrees to let the camp stay open, thus making everyone happy.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
I have to say that the last stretch of episodes have restored some of my faith in the series. While I generally have a cautionary attitude towards the show due to it being fairly seasoned, it does manage to relieve me that they are making more heartfelt episodes to counterbalance their crass jokes and the overall sense of hostility. I am glad that we're beyond the episodes where Bob would sacrifice his health in order to help the family. The fact that he can do it just by playing along is a lot more fun overall. It's also nice that Linda is capable of thinking of all of her kids by having a Restaurant Camp event that may be very primitive, but it does manage to come across as a lot of fun.
At the center is Tina and her bizarre relationship with horses. While it has been explored in the past, there's something endearing about her discovering how complicated it is to ride a real horse. It is keeping with her character that she fantasizes about it being so easy and fun. The disconnect from reality helps to make the episode quite fun when she finally has to ride Plop and discovers just how silly her dream is. Everyone else, who likely doesn't care, is having an easy time. Meantime, she is barely trying to stay on top of the horse. By the end, she doesn't manage to even ride a horse. She resorts to riding an invisible one.
While it does make sense that Tina would resort to this, it does make the whole story anticlimactic for better or worse. Bob ends up disappointed that he ruined his business just so Tina could realize how dumb her dreams were. Even if it did lead to some fun moments involving Teddy and even giving us some endearing time with the kids, it doesn't make sense why this story needed to end the way that it did. Something more should've happened, if just to make it feel more gratifying. I understand that there's an off chance that maybe this was always the intention. However, I still think that the series should at least try to make it more gratifying by giving Tina something. Instead, it's a grand delusion that does nobody any service.
Bob's Burgers is approaching its 100th episode, and I have to say that it has had an impressive comeback in the recent season. While I think that the show has experienced severe highs and lows, I don't know that it holds the same appeal that it once did. It definitely is weird and funny, but there were good long seasons where things didn't quite click. To have them work decent enough here is a revelation unto itself, and I am hoping that the show can deliver on something special for the centennial ahead.
The episode opens with Tina fantasizing about going to horse camp. As she does, she talks to her imaginary horse Jericho (Paul Rudd). They hold intimate conversations with each other, often sleeping in the same bed. As Linda (John Roberts) notices how much Tina wants to go, she encourages Bob (Jon Benjamin) to sell the deep fryer to make some extra money and send her away to horse camp. It isn't the one that she wants to go to, but it's the next best thing. Meanwhile, Teddy (Larry Murphy) becomes upset that he cannot have fries with his burgers, causing him to bring some from across the street and protesting against eating there until it is fixed (which he tries to do without success).
Tina finds out that Tammy (Jenny Slate) is also at horse camp. While that temporarily deflates her esteem, she begins to show off by spouting facts about the horses to the leader. This causes her to get stuck with a difficult horse named Plop, who among other things defecates randomly. They don't get along, which causes Tina to lose faith in her ability to ride a horse. While she is capable of sitting atop it, there is often a problem in regards to controlling it. She never does. When she is forced to show off for her parents at a special event, she decides to not ride Plop, instead going for Jericho. Her parents are confused and a little disappointed that they blew money on this. However, everyone else seems enthusiastic and supportive.
To counterbalance the event, Linda decides to hold a Restaurant Camp for Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Louise (Kristen Schaal). This ends up being a lot of fun for them. However, Bob calls a halt to it, causing them to lose faith in the whole program. However, Linda begins to realize that it's like a summer camp movie and suggests that they yell at old man Bob to let them have the camp run. They put on a show, which results in Bob playing along. He agrees to let the camp stay open, thus making everyone happy.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
I have to say that the last stretch of episodes have restored some of my faith in the series. While I generally have a cautionary attitude towards the show due to it being fairly seasoned, it does manage to relieve me that they are making more heartfelt episodes to counterbalance their crass jokes and the overall sense of hostility. I am glad that we're beyond the episodes where Bob would sacrifice his health in order to help the family. The fact that he can do it just by playing along is a lot more fun overall. It's also nice that Linda is capable of thinking of all of her kids by having a Restaurant Camp event that may be very primitive, but it does manage to come across as a lot of fun.
At the center is Tina and her bizarre relationship with horses. While it has been explored in the past, there's something endearing about her discovering how complicated it is to ride a real horse. It is keeping with her character that she fantasizes about it being so easy and fun. The disconnect from reality helps to make the episode quite fun when she finally has to ride Plop and discovers just how silly her dream is. Everyone else, who likely doesn't care, is having an easy time. Meantime, she is barely trying to stay on top of the horse. By the end, she doesn't manage to even ride a horse. She resorts to riding an invisible one.
While it does make sense that Tina would resort to this, it does make the whole story anticlimactic for better or worse. Bob ends up disappointed that he ruined his business just so Tina could realize how dumb her dreams were. Even if it did lead to some fun moments involving Teddy and even giving us some endearing time with the kids, it doesn't make sense why this story needed to end the way that it did. Something more should've happened, if just to make it feel more gratifying. I understand that there's an off chance that maybe this was always the intention. However, I still think that the series should at least try to make it more gratifying by giving Tina something. Instead, it's a grand delusion that does nobody any service.
Bob's Burgers is approaching its 100th episode, and I have to say that it has had an impressive comeback in the recent season. While I think that the show has experienced severe highs and lows, I don't know that it holds the same appeal that it once did. It definitely is weird and funny, but there were good long seasons where things didn't quite click. To have them work decent enough here is a revelation unto itself, and I am hoping that the show can deliver on something special for the centennial ahead.
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