Is it fair to say everyone out there has a messed up family in some way, shape or form? A rouge uncle? A black sheep of the family? That inlaw (outlaw) that says things at gatherings that stretch the boundaries of appropriateness?
Or in the case of Bob’s Burgers: Tina. Tina pushed the envelope this episode, courtesy of a little instigation from the new girl in school, Tammy. Tina’s a different breed, usually the rather quiet one in the Belcher clan. But get her dander up and she’ll give folks whatfor. And that’s exactly what she did pushing her weight around, displaying defiance and copping attitude with Linda and Bob.
But that’s okay. She’s a teenager. Anyone who has a teenager or who has “experienced” one knows full well teens can be an alien species. They know everything, they can be lazy, they’re opinionated as all get out. They’re touchy, emotional, quick-tempered, stubborn, they eat a lot and they sleep a lot … and those last two points usually can come at the most inconvenient of times.
Here’s the thing about Bob’s Burgers and The Belchers: No matter the situation, the writers inject some pretty nifty scenarios in the story lines that show familial love, even through the “crap attacks.” The writers tossed in some terrific goings on about peer pressure, angst and consequences this chapter of Bob’s Burgers, all of which congealed into a nifty episode.
We’ve seen the family dynamic come down to love and understanding time and again on sitcoms, dramas and even animated shows … but it’s done in a manner that’s uniquely comedic on this FOX vehicle.
And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Weird Side Notes:
I had a dream about the characters on Bob’s Burgers. It was rather strange. It wasn’t episodic but, strangely, fit into the seasonal mix. It wasn’t anything you’d ever seen before and it came right out of left field.
Guest stars populated a Hollywood Squares scene. The camera would pan from one square to the next and and the stars would throw out a line or three about a situation or somesuch with one of The Belchers. Bob, Linda, Tina, Louise, Gene … none of them were present. But you heard them out of sight when comments about them were made.
Quotes:
“We need to go over some ground rules for tonight, Miss Mouthy. No boys, no parties, no summoning spiritis or switching bodies … and no filling the house with soap bubbles! You hear me Tina?” — Linda
“Yes. I wear glasses, not hearing aids, Mom.” — Tina
“Hoooooooooo … !!!” — Louise
I finally got to watch the episode last night and it had me cracking up. I think a lot of women can see their past in Tina … I don’t remember writing erotic friendfiction, but I was incredibly awkward and I had some friends who took advantage of that.
This show is amazing. The rapid fire wit is mind blowing. And so happy it was renewed for a third season, and Bob’s Burgers will join the ranks of other great animated comedies, like the Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy.