Bob’s Burgers follows a certain kind of formula that we’ve seen in adult animation, but it always distinguishes itself. The Belcher family is another set of everyday people, but they end up with a series of much tougher breaks. Many episodes explore their financial problems, which is far more relatable than the usual.
The family itself is very quirky, and they each have their own quirks, rather than simply being archetypes. But even Louise, the troublemaker, is revealed to generally be very empathetic. That’s the point of the show—to subvert expectations. After nine years, it remains innovative, with sharp and witty dialogue.
Updated on December 10th, 2021 by Danielle Bruncati: When a show is on air as long as Bob's Burgers has been, it's no surprise that they've wracked up quite a lot of holiday-themed episodes. What makes Bob's Burgers so great though is that their holiday specials cover a wide range of popular and niche holidays. From a Shark Week episode to the bigger Christmas episodes, the chances are if it's celebrated, there's a Bob's Burgers episode about it.
The Deepening (Season 3, Episode 6)
Let’s start with something a little more outside the norm, which only seems fitting. Shark Week may not be an official holiday, but it’s that time of year again, and it's been running since 1988! Shark Week is an annual tradition with millions of viewers, that started out with the genuine intent of conservation and teaching. Now, it’s been very commercialized and is filled with merchandise. What more does it need to be a holiday?
In any case, this episode is a classic, parodying Jaws and its sequels. A movie prop from an old shark movie starts going haywire, and the escalation results in hilarious physical comedy. It’s an ode to 80’s horror movies, and it also avoids the weekly subplot. Tina’s empathy is very endearing, and it’s interesting that she’s the one who helps stop the shark.
Flat-Top O' The Morning To Ya (Season 10, Episode 16)
St. Patrick's Day episodes are hard to come by so it was a surprise to see Bob's Burgers celebrate the Irish holiday in season 10. When Bob and the kids are roped into helping a fellow restaurant owner who hit hard times, Linda is left in charge of the burger t. With Teddy's help, the two decide to dye everything green to celebrate the holiday.
While the episode doesn't get into any real traditions of the holiday, it does a great job at showing how the holiday has been commercialized especially by food establishments.
My Fuzzy Valentine (Season 3, Episode 13)
Valentine’s Day isn’t necessarily a family-themed holiday. This generally results in corresponding episodes that divide the Belchers into various different plots. But this time, the kids find a way to take advantage of Bob’s lack of romance over the years. This puts everyone but Linda herself on a hilarious journey. They ultimately end up contending with Hugo, Linda’s ex. That’s always fun, since he resents Bob so much, and it’s fitting for the holiday.
Meanwhile, Linda’s attempts at speed-dating are spoiled by a cop who convinces everyone to keep things way too real. This is antithetical to Valentine’s, and since Linda hasn’t gotten any romance from Bob, it makes sense that she takes the trouble so personally. The comedy works, even if the plot is a tad predictable.
Tina And The Real Ghost (Season 5, Episode 2)
Tina’s boy problems as a pre-teen really make her unique among animated families. She’s genuinely awkward, in a very endearing way. The episode starts right off with a fun ribbing of paranormal investigators. Tina’s ensuing attachment to the supposed ghost is both sympathetic and disconcerting.
But once again, this show proves how well it can write escalation. There’s a lot of fun to be had in all the other kids manipulating the existence of an imaginary person. Tina proves to be more conscious of reality than believed, and her prank at the end is fantastic.
Eggs For Days (Season 7, Episode 16)
Somehow, this show always finds a way to ground even the wackiest concepts. Seemingly ordinary complications, which are plausible enough, escalate just far enough as allowed by animation. Frequently, it’s a comedy of errors, reminiscent of Christmas Vacation or the like.
In this case, Easter doesn’t go quite right. It’s great how competitive Bob and Linda get about the egg hunt. It feels just like the kind of irrational, friendly conflict two parents can often have. Even more fun, they end up drunk. The results should be full of clichés, but it’s actually very rewarding. The highlight of the show is easily Linda’s rendition of “Rock Me Amadeus,” accompanied by Tina’s awkward dancing.
The Bleakening (Season 8 Episode 6 & 7)
In this two-part Christmas special, Linda decides to throw an epic Christmas party at the restaurant after having a very vivid dream about a Christmas party. Meanwhile, the kids listen to Teddy tell them a scary story about the legendary Bleaken, a creature who steals Christmas presents from bad children. With their parents busy with the party and trying to find out who stole the top of their tree, the kids set out to track down and defeat the Bleaken.
One of the reasons this episode is so great is because of the enormous amount of guest stars who lend their voices to characters, like Adam Driver.
An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal (Season 3, Episode 5)
For anyone who’s a fan of Thanksgiving, Bob’s intense love for a great turkey is probably very rewarding. And his ion very likely exceeds yours, given that he names and voices his turkey. This is a terrific episode that builds a lot of sympathy for Bob. That isn’t so common in the show, although you often root for him.
But this time, Bob’s family just can’t get in the spirit of the holiday. And unfortunately, they end up simulating the celebration with their landowner just to pay some rent. Linda definitely goes too far, and Bob loses it. Ultimately, this episode is about the value of family. The Belchers realize their misplaced attitudes and come to appreciate Bob after all. Nothing could be more timely.
Father Of The Bob (Season 5, Episode 6)
The core of many sitcoms is family, in whatever form that may take. Bob’s Burgers is certainly no exception. However, there’s a longstanding distinction in the relationship fathers have with their sons. It can sometimes be contentious, due to generational shifts in attitude and expectations. Bob’s issues with his dad are pretty interesting, involving Bob’s ambition as a cook. Like many parental conflicts, this one goes back to Bob’s childhood.
There’s no better time to work things out than at Christmas, a holiday that’s evolved into more of a family celebration than a religious one. This episode finds one conflict and sticks to it. This makes the story streamlined, effective, and appropriately heartwarming.
Bob Actually (Season 7, Episode 9)
A wordplay on the iconic romantic comedy Love Actually, "Bob Actually" is the season 7 Valentine's Day-themed episode of Bob's Burgers. The holiday has left the Belcher's all dealing with love-related drama. Louis becomes the middle-man between two classmates who don't really love each other, Tina schemes in the hopes of kissing Jimmy Pesto, Gene bonds with the lunch lads, and Bob plans an iconic romantic gesture for Linda.
With a hilarious breaking dance number and love flying in all directions "Bob Actually" is the perfect episode to watch to celebrate Valentine's Day. It also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.
