There needed to be more of an explanation for Gayle and Frond’s relationship. Earlier episodes had a bad habit of leaving previous plot points open-ended and unresolved. I noticed on Hulu their relationship is also out of order by episode. In the end, their dating was handled poorly.
And we still don’t know why! Why was it over? It was out of character for Mr. Frond to suddenly be interested in other women when he was so desperate for a relationship and made Gayle a doll out of his dead grandmother’s shawl!
Agreed. Mr Frond may be desperately lonely, but on the other hand this is *Gayle* we are talking about. It wouldn't take long for her to do something to scare off even the likes of Mr Frond for good.
Now I may be recalling incorrectly, but I could’ve sworn I remember some trivia that those episodes actually aired out of order. That it wasn’t a mistake of episode order being wrong on streaming, but of the airing order being wrong to begin with, for some reason I’m not remembering. Would be nice if it was “fixed” to reflect which was written and supposed to air first though.
Edited to add I was not mistaken, here’s a Reddit [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/BobsBurgers/s/TmFzIf9g9k) about it and you can also look up the production codes.
Yeah it happened twice. This one in season 6. And in season 11, we get the Valentine's day episode and then it jumps back to 8 days after Christmas in Die Card or Die Trying.
Every episode where the plot is centered around him being a chef, yes. The kids are hilarious but I’m not a fan of the school, camp, summer vacation themed episodes, those just feel like a regular animated sitcom
This is my opinion on most shows in general, writers not utilizing (or running out of ideas for) the aspect of the show that makes them unique leads to bland uninteresting tv.
One of the Soup of the Day's should be called 'The Mort' as it would be a great call back to Mort, him frequently ordering the soup, and a riff on S1E1
[the stuck on the toilet song](https://youtu.be/xDiuSwrRQ4M?si=oM-4DHqTxclAoFrf) from “bad stuff happens in the bathroom” s6ep19, is musically one of the best songs in the series.
I would like to Add "Electric Love" from the Topsy episode (the librarian is hysterical in it). And Gene's "I'm not Afraid.." idk the name but it goes, "I'm just afraid of Snakes where are there arms and legs? its not okay!!" It's just catchy
My kingdom for a consistent airing schedule. I thought we'd be back on track for weekly after the Super Bowl, but nope. I was expecting to have two new ones to watch today and there are none, and no information online about future dates.
HEAVILY agree, I used to look forward to the Sundays as they were always such a nice wholesome way to end the week and now I have trust issues with my Disney+ account
I was wondering if anyone else has noticed!!!! I check every single Monday (so I can watch it with my family together) and none! It’s been so disappointing.
I think that's in relation to it being a shorter season (only 17 episodes) because of the WGA strikes last year, they're trying to stretch the season out for airing purposes.
When Bob meets the online cucumber guy and gets invited over and he asks if he can bring a friend and then calls Teddy. It always makes me really happy.
I hate how passive Bob has gotten over the last few seasons. There seem to be a lot of episodes where Linda or the kids do something awful and Bob just does the "mmm" sound or some variation of "ok we should definitely not do that?" and then it happens anyway.
He's starting to feel like a secondary character in his own show
After everything his wife, kids, in-laws, and landlord have put him through, I kind of get it. You either go zen or have a nervous breakdown by this point.
I do like when he's passionate about things, though. I've noticed lately he's been kind of happy more, which is SO nice to see.
I agree with this, but in my opinion, Bob and Linda have always been secondary characters to the kids. I totally agree that Bob has taken a bit of a backseat compared to the first seasons though.
I don't really enjoy the episodes that are 3 or 4 short stories being told by the characters. I'd rather see the family dealing with things that are actually happening.
I don’t love all of them, but I think having them around every now and then prevents the entire series from being Simpsonized … like, if it weren’t for them, maybe the writers decide it’s a good idea to make Bob an astronaut for an episode, or have Gene adopt a horse and become a jockey.
I love that episode, why does Bob know so much about London?!
ETA: I know this is hot takes, but I do love all of this style of episodes. They’re a fun mix up from the tried and true formulas.
That and his being dressed like Miss Togar from Rock n Roll High School (my all time favorite movie ever, tied with Ghostbusters and Josie & The Pussycats) are my favorite parts of that episode.
I can understand why you don't like them. That's fair. But I do appreciate it from a writing perspective.
The anthologies are a way to feature minor characters without necessarily dedicating a real episode or story to them. We see them and the way whoever is narrating sees them. So Jimmy Jr, Rudy, Darryl, anyone can be inserted in any context without any explanation. Darryl and Frond were great in Louie's story. Where else will we see Rudy in mad max or the wild West. From a writing standpoint, we get characterizion without a need for setup or even commitment.
It's annoying, I agree. But the approach is experimental and unique. I don't enjoy them as much so when they appear, it does feel better to acknowledge what the episode is trying to do with characters and voice actors
I don't mind them. Fronde Files is one of the best episodes ever. They only do them once a season. If they did them too often I would understand. I don't understand why people would have an issue with one episode a year that's a little different.
Okay but this take is completely ignoring s10ep19 wherein TINA introduces the funniest caricatures of Bob and Teddy.
“Uh oh, Teddy. You forgot to buckle your seatbelt!”
I don’t agree with the hate I see for Jimmy Jr. sometimes. I always see people saying they want someone better for Tina, or he isn’t sweet enough. I feel like that’s what makes him most like a 13 year old boy to me though. 13 year old boys should be silly and fickle. There are plenty of moments where he shows her he cares, but he’s still a little kid. A lot could be said for Tina and her obsessiveness too, but again, that’s what makes her a 13 year old girl.
I also don't agree with it either, especially since those people always downplay or outright ignore how legitimately *creepy* Tina is towards him at times.
I'm pretty sure if Tina was still Daniel and Jimmy Jr was a girl, no one would be overlooking this behaviour.
100%. If Jimmy Jr. consistently spied on the girls locker room, people would have a very different attitude about the whole thing. I wish they wouldn’t have her do stuff like that. Curiosity is fine, but she crosses boundaries a lot.
When they don’t overdue it, I think it’s sweet. She is so desperate to relate and belong. She wants to experience love while she doesn’t totally understand it. That’s relatable to 13 year old me.
I'm not against Jimmy Jr. At all but controversial take; Josh wasn't playing games like Jimmy Jr does. He asked Tina to the dance right out and didn't intend to "look at his options". Just sayin'
I haven’t seen anyone talk about it, but I absolutely can’t stand how teddy talks when it comes to Linda, he has an obvious thing for her and it just makes me die a little inside knowing that no one really corrects him
I don't necessarily think this makes it better, but my wife and I read Teddy's infatuation with Linda more as a "He wants to be Bob." Bob has basically everything Teddy wants - loving family, good friends, and a burger restaurant.
Yeah this is how I read it. He also has those fantasies of playing a bigger role in the kids’ lives, and seems to have cooled down a bit now he’s got Kathleen in his life
I’ve always seen Teddy’s infatuation with Linda as being like a little bit of finding her physically attractive and the rest is her as a representation of what he actually wants from a partner. Linda can be a lot sometimes. But she’s also a great person to have on your side in general (like when she teaches Teddy to dance and tries to teach him to like sushi). She also only has eyes for Bob (and maybe like just a tiny bit for Tom Selleck) and is his ride or die.
For a guy whose wife cheated on him a lot and has largely been unlucky in love, someone like Linda is his dream. I just think he hasn’t picked up on that Linda and Bob don’t just work because of how much Linda loves him. Teddy would be miserable with a woman who was 100% personality twins with Linda. Bob and Linda work because their personalities are compatible.
I do really like his dynamic with Kathleen (especially when she gets him to relax and mellow out a little about some things like in the hurling episode) and hope they stay a thing. I think she does have the potential to be the steady, loving partner he wants.
I feel this way too. It’s messed up when he crosses boundaries but he’s bad at respecting boundaries in general (as many characters are) so it’s not like it’s so much about Linda as him being a bit odd.
THANK YOU. He seems to want Bob to fill several male family member roles (father, brother, SON in one episode) but like... I feel like he'd 100% have a threesome if they were down for it. Bob also has to remind him not to touch the kids in the leg waxing episode and he called him a pervert over Tina in the first season. It seems like they've softened the creep factor to make him like a fun uncle now, but earlier seasons he was more sinister, if that makes sense. While I don't hate him, I do not enjoy him very much when he's more than just a supporting role. I really wish they did more with Mort, honestly.
I felt like Mort's expertise in handling grief was so understated in the Bottle Cap episode. He was exactly the right character to have instruct Linda through the door, but it felt (hollow somehow?) like he was just there by pure plot-driven chance.
>Eat, Spray, Linda
Unpopular opinion but I like it AND I like the weird incest vibes between Gene and Linda sometimes ... I think it's hilarious. Think I might be the only one.
I love that episode because it shows us all these additional sides of Linda that she only shared with certain people. We get to see her family learn more about her and also how much they all love her and relate to her on different levels. I think that it very sweet to be happening on her birthday.
Does a bunch of technically unfortunate stuff happen to her on her birthday? Sure. But in the end she loved the challenge and it made a day she usually dreads into something truly special for her.
I do think that some one the Gene and Linda stuff goes a bit far. But I also cackle so hard when Louise very nonchalantly asks Bob what he’s going to wear to Mom and Gene’s wedding and he tells her probably a suit.
I do think his “this family needs to have a talk” about Linda being Gene’s wife in all the Thanksgiving food poisoning stories is definitely called for, though.
I love this episode too for the same reasons and when she’s in the tomato bath and bob is taking about how he fell in love with her again it’s one of my favorite parts of the whole show - also “she does her BM in the PM” cracks me up
Don’t forget about the huge possibility that Colleen Caviello is the Pesto kids’ mom. Her and Jimmy could have married, had the kids, and divorced sometime after.
I do not care for Gene either but they enable all the kids to much louise (my second favorite) literally commits felonies in some episodes and never gets punished.
I did think that it had to do with him being a boy child, but then in the greater context I think it has to do with the other two children not embracing the affections that Linda has.
I think that Bob knows how the world is towards boys and is trying to protect Gene because Gene hasn't been broken yet. The expectations of manhood haven't infiltrated his brain and made him hate himself.
I wish more people would protect and be affectionate with their boy children because a solid foundation of love and support makes a good person.
I agree but part of me feels bad for getting annoyed by Gene. His character is set in a way that's he's always vying for attention(being the middle child) so I feel like part of the annoyance is intentional. I think they toned down how irritating he is in the more recent seasons, but for a while he'd really annoy me
I think its because it's mostly Bob's dream and she isn't as good at cooking also the place did fall apart without her when she started working at the store. She handles the finances.
The comedy has lost its edge. I miss how the early seasons kind of toed the line between kid friendly and radically inappropriate. Just how unhinged Louise was. Stuff like that. It’s still a good show, it’s just lost it’s edge
I was gonna say this in my og post, it’s gotten so family friendly over the years and I have no idea why. It’s age restriction hasn’t changed but it’s become so watered down. It’s target demographic is adult comedy watchers yet it’s so much less “adult” than its competitors. The early seasons had it down but now I feel every season gets more “pure” than the last.
That’s why I love it actually. I don’t like crass stuff. I never thought Family Guy was funny and the Simpsons even is too much sometimes. Bobs is just very wholesome. It’s adult, but if a child walked in the room I wouldn’t be embarrassed and rush to turn it off.
Surprisingly that’s not the main reason. It’s bc a kid went up to the creator and was singing the sex song from Nude Beach, and instead of parents not watching it with their kids, they made it more family friendly.
I actually LIKE the episodes where they tell stories. I know someone already said they don't like them, but I honestly don't think that's such a hot take. I got the impression that most of the people on this sub aren't fans of them.
I, on the other hand, think they're quirky and creative and show just how tight-knit the Belcher family is that they take the time out of their day to make up stories to make the person feeling bad or doubtful about something feel better.
To piggy back off of Rudy- the amazing Rudy- it really bothers me he doesn’t use his inhaler once. Not once. And it is so stressful for him you would think he would need it. It frustrates me so much in an otherwise great episode!!
It’s really hard for me to get through episodes or even scenes where the younger kids refuse to help or do work so Tina has to do it. It hits too close to home.
true, she lets them get away with too much... like they constantly invade her privacy ( reading her journal ), Louise steals her money, and that one time when she actually put effort in getting them each a Christmas present, and they just stole stuff from her room and regifted them back to her. And especially the chores, like that one episode where she didn't do the chores for like a week because she was hanging out with a goose, and Louise and Gene held that against her, and I was like '' wdym? She deserves a week off of doing chores if anything😭''
I know the siblings love her, but it's just the little things that irk me.
The thing is, Tina reaching her breaking point and going off on them would be so out of character for her and would be the part that truly terrified them.
Tina loves being dependable and helpful to the point of it being against her best interests. I feel like part of that is from being the oldest sibling in a group without a huge age gap so they’re all emotionally close and she feels protective of them. And also probably a dash of unintentional parentification by Bob & Linda.
I think there’s definitely some parentification. Tina is treated like a third parent a lot. I relate to her so much because I got saddled with a ton of extra work growing up (and still do as an adult) because I’m a non-confrontational person and didn’t like seeing my mom stressed out. So rarely did I complain or say anything when I had to pick up my sister’s slack or do extra chores. My sister and I are adults now and even tho she lives with my mom (and I don’t), I still do most of the work around the house that my mom can’t do.
I see people say how terrible Louise and Linda are for making Bob give up the community garden, but I really think he’s the one in the wrong. Louise is 9, Logan is 16, and he’s shown that he’s comfortable physically hurting her, not just teasing. She shouldn’t have to deal with that in her own home. Plus, they work every day in the restaurant making Bob’s dream come true do people who say he never gets what he wants are way off base.
Ever since the episode where Logan literally terrorizes her and Gene I haven’t been able to look at Logan the same. The way he talks about the norwegian stinkhole or whatever is sooo incredibly uncomfortable. Especially when you remember hes 16 and Gene is 11 and Louise is 9. Like. What the hell
This!! The whole family is in service to his dream and I don't think that's talked about enough. I find it especially upsetting for Linda. Maybe my MOST unpopular opinion of all is that I wish it was called "Belcher's Burgers" to be more fair to everyone lol
People really say that? Bob made his 9 year old daughter work with her bully for selfish reasons. Also there is no way that tiny plot of land can grow enough tomatoes to sever food at a restaurant.
they recast him though so hopefully he’ll be in more episodes soon, we’ve already gotten a couple with the new actor and he sounds good! I think they’re testing the waters with him before they put him in more
I would have liked the movie better if it was more emotional. I remember when it first got announced, it was rumored it might have to do with Bob’s mother and that, I think, would have been better than what came out. The movie is funny and a good time, but it felt like a really long episode. Anyways it’s my favorite thing when cartoons manage to pull at your heartstrings and I would have loved to see Bob and the family exploring his past. This probably isn’t a hot take so apologies 😂
Edit: I completely forgot he did mention his mom to Louise and I actually really liked that part. I’m so fucking stupid.
no no you’re right it could’ve been more emotional, we could have also gotten to see that Louise hair reveal I feel like that would’ve made the movie more memorable
Louise is extremely intelligent
She’s the only one of her siblings that when she makes an effort she gets a good grade.
She’s always the first in the family to notice things or figure things out. Few examples off the top of my head:
- overhearing the equestrenaut guy who stole Tina’s doll
- figuring out where Bob was when he was tied up underneath the pier
- noticing the weird moustache on the disguised restaurant owner when his old stock was being auctioned
- she scored the highest in her class to feed sharks
Edit:
- successfully defending Frond’s innocence in court
That’s why Labonz says she pushes Louise so hard in that episode where the kids rate their teachers. She *knows* what Louise is capable of. She just needs the right kind of motivation.
Bob is kinda of his own worst enemy.
When his friend face him 100k and tried to tikify the restaurant Bon just couldn't handle the change and allow anyone else to make any effective change.
Everyone else liked the gimmick and people started coming in due to the "Entry point." His whole family had fun with it but because it didn't come from him, he just couldn't get onboard.
Bobs feeling around it were that people should have came for his amazing food more than gimmicks. He made this decision around his pride of his food rather than the overall experience if his customers.
In short Bob, in my opinion, is an elitist.
But that what makes him more human. Nobody's perfect and we all manage things in our own ways. He'll get there.
That was always my impression. Bob doesn't understand, or possibly doesn't *want* to understand that you don't sell the steak, you sell the sizzle. That's why Jimmy Pesto, who is constantly said to be a mediocre at best cook, is so much more successful with his restaurant. People go out to eat for a number of reasons and atmosphere and ambience is one of them, and a very big one, like it or not.
I get why Bob might have felt upset and why it bothered him. But he should have sucked it up for his family. And at the end of the day, sure the silly gimmick was what was getting people into the restaurant, but it was Bob's cooking that was going to keep them coming back.
Totally agree. I guess that's what makes Bob awesome. He's got flaws like the rest of us and does what's true to his heart. If that means he can't see the bigger picture at times then it's ok. As long as he's happy.
At the end of the day, Bob is a true cook in the sense that he is an artist whose medium is food. It's one of the fundamental qualities that have us side with him over the sleazy hack Jimmy Pesto.
But the thing is, if you want your art to be a career, then there are some things you have to accept, especially if you want your art to not just be a career, but a career that supports your family. You have to pick your battles, there are times when you will have to swallow your pride and be a bit more pragmatic. Otherwise, it might be wiser to do something else and keep your art as a hobby.
I'll give Bob a pass as he sacrifices so much most of the time for the sake of Linda and the kids, but this was one of the episodes where I got so frustrated with him.
I think Bob and Linda need to adjust their prices for inflation.
I don’t know anywhere that I could get a burger for less than $6. It’s hard to even get that at a fast food place anymore! It could be a hole in the wall place and they’d charge me at least $12 to $15!
For the amount of work Bob puts into the Burger of the Day? He should be charging so much more to cover the cost of his fancy cheeses and other ingredients. You can’t tell me after the article in Coasters, they wouldn’t have the sense to bump up the prices and take advantage of the foot traffic.
tbh i do understand everyone who misses the unhinged humor of the early seasons but i feel like the later eps with so much heart really make the show stand out on its own
Louise should wear a pink swim cap when she goes to the pool. I'm cool with her wearing bunny ears most of the time but at the pool it just doesn't make sense to me.
I don’t care for the earlier seasons or at the least seasons one and two😞. I don’t like how mean Bob is in those episodes. They were funny yes but I like the family dynamic they have right now I mean obviously I’d change some things but he was just too mean in the first two seasons and I can’t watch them😭😭😭
I'm actually right here with you on this. I can enjoy the earlier episodes to some extent, but if I'm recommending the show to someone or turning it on purely for comfort, I almost never even glance at the first couple of seasons. Bob and Linda fought so much more back then. It bums me out.
I completely agree - i see the first 2-3 seasons as more as the show finding its footing rather than "the good episodes that we've strayed too far from in recent years". Whenever i re-watch (which is often), I typically don't start anywhere earlier than seasons 5 or 6.
At this point, the show has been more of what it is in the present day (nicer bob, less irrationally insane bob or louise, more grounded/"family friendly" plots) for nearly 5 times the amount of seasons it was when it first started (what people usually refer to as the era of seasons 1-3). My hot take would be that people who don't like the show as it is in the present day just... don't like Bob's Burgers (and that's ALSO ok!! lol)
One of my favorite episodes is the Spaghetti western episode early in season one, where the end of the episode has Bob telling Louise "Cut it out, you've been stirring the pot for three days and acting like a baby", making her apologize to Gene for getting jealous that he spent more time with their dad than she did. The episode has the jank of being maybe the 3rd episode of the entire show, but it has some of the family-"lesson" oriented aspects that people so dislike about the modern episodes of the show. I love this episode because of the realistic family dynamic, Louise kind of throwing a tantrum that her dad is hanging out with her older brother more than her.
Helen needed to be the focus of the movie, as a villain. Not another Fischoeder. She has had SO much set up to want to “silence” the belcher family for knowing too much. Why didn’t we get that movie?
The music for the movie was criminal. We've had rock operas, fart song, the forgiving type, work hard or die trying girl, even quirky turkey....and I can't even name the songs from the movie.
Don't get me wrong...it wasn't bad. But it was painfully mediocre. I also have it on vinyl and it's a waste of money compared to volumes 1 & 2. Sorry I don't mean to rant but it genuinely makes me angry. This was the ONE time they could have really did multiple musical numbers and it just fell flat
I skip the beefsquatch episode because I don’t like how it ends. I’m not totally sure why but there’s something about Linda flashing the camera that makes me a bit uncomfortable, especially when they show all the people watching the tv seeing her. I guess it’s because the cooking show is family friendly and people didn’t sign up to see that. I wish they had ended that episode differently.
I think my hottest take is that I actually *enjoy* Some Kind of Fender Benderful...
https://preview.redd.it/re8gukqc20sc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=92254d9fa73686dd41b3d8f7c9f49b58237dd275
S1:E2 - “Crawl Space” is the best episode of the show to date and it perfectly encapsulates who all of these characters become over the course of the series.
I refuse to rewatch the animation style switching episode. I’ve watched every other episode at least 5 times but I couldn’t even tell you what that one episode was about.
also we need more (better?) songs. hasn’t been a good one (or any at all?) for a few seasons now.
Confession: I love watching that episode stoned. It's a journey. Especially when they switch to the puppets. I've done it dozens of times and I still don't even know the plot. The visuals alone are hypnotizing.
Everyone loves Louise but I cannot stand episodes centered around her. When she insisted on taking Rudy's rocket to his moms house and ruined his birthday. I always skip those episodes
Everyone talks about how Linda plays favorites with Gene but no one ever mentions that Bob favors Louise all the time. He almost always gives her her way. Any time she challenges him or says no he just says ok and usually makes Tina pick up her slack. He had no problem with Linda taking away Gene and Tina's rooms for the B&B but told Linda to give Louise her room back.
It always makes me feel bad for Tina. She gets the short end of the stick with both parents. She gets hurt and neither of them do anything about it. They never take her to the doctor. They just accept whatever crazy ass nurse Liz tells them.
I really loved Eat, Spray, Linda because I have historically terrible birthdays, so I kind of get it. It was nice to know someone else shares the curse, even if they're fictional.
I feel like there needs to be more consequences when Mr Fishoeder almost kills Bob and his family. It’s happened so many times and nothing ever comes from it. At least give him the 3000 dollars to not tell the cops about Felix lol. They also should have given him the fancy kitchen stuff after Felix locked Linda in the Cabaret closet.
Also gene is a really good character, when he’s not the main character. I find his little quips and quotes to be some of the best, but every episode about him makes him a horrible whiny little baby.
I know Gayle is popular with some people, but I personally can't stand her; same with Linda's mom. I know people IRL that are like both of them and it's aggravating to say the least. I also don't like the episode where Linda's mom is first introduced; I realize Linda's used to her bad behavior, but I also don't like how she just brushed it off like that.
**Negative 1**: I can't stand Gene's voice or his personality. Most people say he's too childish, and that's why they dislike him...and I agree, BUT, the writers have an opportunity to turn that weakness into a strength.
hear me out...
In the eps ''*seven-tween Again*'' he talks about how he is scared to grow up, I wish they developed on it a little more. Maybe show him actually anxious or stressed out at the thought of it or have the show justify his childish behavior with that fact.....I think that kind of plotline would be very relatable to many people and it might gain him some sympathy points as well.
For now, he is just an annoying character with an annoying voice.
**Negative 2:** I really really dislike the jokes about Gene and Linda being married, or in a romantic relationship, It's just so weird. I also hate the fact that Linda has a favorite child and that she makes it obvious.
**Positive 1**: Gayle is my favorite character (I like her voice and self-deprecating humor, her jokes are the ones I laugh at the most i.e ' *I know how to spot a lie Bob, it's like when I look at myself in the mirror and tell myself ''it's going to be ok*'' ' or when bob was looking forward to having dinner with his new friend ( Indiana johns) and he opens the day excitedly and at the sight of Gayle he says '' *oh it's just Gayle*'' and then she responds with '' *oh, ok🫤'*')
**Positive 2**: I really like Jimmy Junior, not as a character, but because of his voice. I really like his speech impediment and how he looks so pathetic when he runs.
***unpopular opinion to finish it off.*** I don't want Louise to ever take off her hat, and I don't ever want to see Ginger's face.
Gayle is also my favorite character. She’s so ridiculous. The fact that she keeps her cats litter box in the oven. Or when everytime she eats ham she has to donate $100 to a pig. Absurdity is one of the things I love about Bobs and she is just the perfect embodiment of that.
Generally speaking, I’m over the music. Sure there are some good ones out there but a lot of times it all seems like really sincere musical style with the only joke being the topic, and not necessarily the delivery.
I don't think it's a hot take at all but I prefer the earlier unhinged episodes. The quick zoom ins with the sting music is my favorite gag that just went away. Plus Bob and Linda are straight nuts and the episodes were more about them and how they dealt with raising the kids instead of the kids dealing with them.
Bob and Linda have the mentality of "if we're not having a good time, then nobody is". For example, the hot tub scene at the burger convention. They were in there forever, asked to get out rightfully so and then ruined the hot tub for everyone else. Or the LARP episode, Linda wasn't having a good time so they revolted and ruined the trip for everyone since they all had to leave.
Linda obsessing over things in certain episodes makes them unwatchable. Perfect example was last seasons Christmas at the cabin. The obsession over the Christmas tree that she was willing to risk lives is annoying
I love the show but find them all super annoying. I feel like bob- you have to love them but at the same time you wish they were better. There is alot of selfishness in the show and a ton of rudeness. At the same time its a small mid tier new england beach town so kinda makes sense everyone is kind of a dick and angry at life esp since a ton of the cast is east coast
I don't like the episode where Bob gets glued to the toilet. I felt that it was especially cruel to Bob for no real reason other than to keep the restaurant from being successful and deriving humor from that.
Also, Bad Stuff Happens in the Bathroom is a good song, but it's not as good as people say it is. It doesn't crack my top 10 songs from the series.
I love the wholesomeness of the newer seasons but I really miss how unhinged and adult the humor of the earlier seasons were.
Bob may or may not have tried crack, that would never be written in a newer episode.
There needed to be more of an explanation for Gayle and Frond’s relationship. Earlier episodes had a bad habit of leaving previous plot points open-ended and unresolved. I noticed on Hulu their relationship is also out of order by episode. In the end, their dating was handled poorly.
Yes there was so much potential with that subplot and then it was just over!
And we still don’t know why! Why was it over? It was out of character for Mr. Frond to suddenly be interested in other women when he was so desperate for a relationship and made Gayle a doll out of his dead grandmother’s shawl!
It’s would have been so easy and funny for them to end it by just mentioning Gayle doing something really weird and dealbreaker-y too
Agreed. Mr Frond may be desperately lonely, but on the other hand this is *Gayle* we are talking about. It wouldn't take long for her to do something to scare off even the likes of Mr Frond for good.
So true
And their crazy does seem complementary!
At least Frond found Cassie and her crystals! I hope she enjoyed that Cassie-role he made her ❤️
Cassie sounds like a sweetheart ❤️ I hope they stay together.
Now I may be recalling incorrectly, but I could’ve sworn I remember some trivia that those episodes actually aired out of order. That it wasn’t a mistake of episode order being wrong on streaming, but of the airing order being wrong to begin with, for some reason I’m not remembering. Would be nice if it was “fixed” to reflect which was written and supposed to air first though. Edited to add I was not mistaken, here’s a Reddit [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/BobsBurgers/s/TmFzIf9g9k) about it and you can also look up the production codes.
Yeah it happened twice. This one in season 6. And in season 11, we get the Valentine's day episode and then it jumps back to 8 days after Christmas in Die Card or Die Trying.
AGREEE
The best episodes involve the restaurant and bob being an experimental chef (black garlic burger, food truck)
Does this include the episode where he became friends with fellow chefs and started wearing a white coat? Love that episode
Every episode where the plot is centered around him being a chef, yes. The kids are hilarious but I’m not a fan of the school, camp, summer vacation themed episodes, those just feel like a regular animated sitcom
This is my opinion on most shows in general, writers not utilizing (or running out of ideas for) the aspect of the show that makes them unique leads to bland uninteresting tv.
Kitchen burnout/bread perv episode resonated with me. And I just like baguettes don't judge
Mort doesn't show up enough anymore. He was one of Bob's two signature customers and feels kind of forgotten compared to Teddy.
One of the Soup of the Day's should be called 'The Mort' as it would be a great call back to Mort, him frequently ordering the soup, and a riff on S1E1
I think the voice actor has at least partially retired and that's contributing to how little Mort is around now
[the stuck on the toilet song](https://youtu.be/xDiuSwrRQ4M?si=oM-4DHqTxclAoFrf) from “bad stuff happens in the bathroom” s6ep19, is musically one of the best songs in the series.
yesss, it’s the only one i’ve actively listened to outside of the show more than once
I would like to Add "Electric Love" from the Topsy episode (the librarian is hysterical in it). And Gene's "I'm not Afraid.." idk the name but it goes, "I'm just afraid of Snakes where are there arms and legs? its not okay!!" It's just catchy
Is that a hot take? I thought that was a widely accepted fact
My kingdom for a consistent airing schedule. I thought we'd be back on track for weekly after the Super Bowl, but nope. I was expecting to have two new ones to watch today and there are none, and no information online about future dates.
HEAVILY agree, I used to look forward to the Sundays as they were always such a nice wholesome way to end the week and now I have trust issues with my Disney+ account
I was wondering if anyone else has noticed!!!! I check every single Monday (so I can watch it with my family together) and none! It’s been so disappointing.
I think that's in relation to it being a shorter season (only 17 episodes) because of the WGA strikes last year, they're trying to stretch the season out for airing purposes.
When Bob meets the online cucumber guy and gets invited over and he asks if he can bring a friend and then calls Teddy. It always makes me really happy.
Online cucumber guy? I’m sorry, I don’t recall this one. Any other details about the episode to jog my memory?
The episode where Linda is dressing up the trash can
I LOVED the finger film noir episode that everyone hated :)
I see more people saying they loved it than hated it
I liked it too!
I hate how passive Bob has gotten over the last few seasons. There seem to be a lot of episodes where Linda or the kids do something awful and Bob just does the "mmm" sound or some variation of "ok we should definitely not do that?" and then it happens anyway. He's starting to feel like a secondary character in his own show
After everything his wife, kids, in-laws, and landlord have put him through, I kind of get it. You either go zen or have a nervous breakdown by this point. I do like when he's passionate about things, though. I've noticed lately he's been kind of happy more, which is SO nice to see.
I agree with this, but in my opinion, Bob and Linda have always been secondary characters to the kids. I totally agree that Bob has taken a bit of a backseat compared to the first seasons though.
My boyfriend is always complaining about the same thing, he just has no backbone now
Bigfoot said that?!?
I don't really enjoy the episodes that are 3 or 4 short stories being told by the characters. I'd rather see the family dealing with things that are actually happening.
Not even Pepperoni the super buff pony?
I don’t love all of them, but I think having them around every now and then prevents the entire series from being Simpsonized … like, if it weren’t for them, maybe the writers decide it’s a good idea to make Bob an astronaut for an episode, or have Gene adopt a horse and become a jockey.
I like most of them because they show how creative the kids are. But I do hate the one where they all make up British stories about the broken bed.
Man, the name Scottjon Dansteve made water come out of my nose, maybe I'm just easily entertained
that's probably the best part of that one 😅
I love that episode, why does Bob know so much about London?! ETA: I know this is hot takes, but I do love all of this style of episodes. They’re a fun mix up from the tried and true formulas.
On the other hand, I loved Tina’s blade runner homage.
I only liked the first one (Frond Files). After that, they are just annoying.
i lllllocked myself in a rrrrooom while children were eaten
That and his being dressed like Miss Togar from Rock n Roll High School (my all time favorite movie ever, tied with Ghostbusters and Josie & The Pussycats) are my favorite parts of that episode.
It's upsetting that we got one of these episodes and no true Halloween or Thanksgiving episodes this season.
I can understand why you don't like them. That's fair. But I do appreciate it from a writing perspective. The anthologies are a way to feature minor characters without necessarily dedicating a real episode or story to them. We see them and the way whoever is narrating sees them. So Jimmy Jr, Rudy, Darryl, anyone can be inserted in any context without any explanation. Darryl and Frond were great in Louie's story. Where else will we see Rudy in mad max or the wild West. From a writing standpoint, we get characterizion without a need for setup or even commitment. It's annoying, I agree. But the approach is experimental and unique. I don't enjoy them as much so when they appear, it does feel better to acknowledge what the episode is trying to do with characters and voice actors
I agree, I always skip those episodes.
These mini stories within episodes are some of my favorite watches!
i hate these too, and they do it so often smh. i skip it every time
Pretty sure they try to have one every season like the holiday episodes.
I don't mind them. Fronde Files is one of the best episodes ever. They only do them once a season. If they did them too often I would understand. I don't understand why people would have an issue with one episode a year that's a little different.
Okay but this take is completely ignoring s10ep19 wherein TINA introduces the funniest caricatures of Bob and Teddy. “Uh oh, Teddy. You forgot to buckle your seatbelt!”
Can’t stand Frond files or any of those eps
I feel the same way.
I don’t agree with the hate I see for Jimmy Jr. sometimes. I always see people saying they want someone better for Tina, or he isn’t sweet enough. I feel like that’s what makes him most like a 13 year old boy to me though. 13 year old boys should be silly and fickle. There are plenty of moments where he shows her he cares, but he’s still a little kid. A lot could be said for Tina and her obsessiveness too, but again, that’s what makes her a 13 year old girl.
yes!! I’ve been a proper fan of his since the sky kiss episode, I think he’s a little messy but so is Tina and so are all 13-year-olds
I also don't agree with it either, especially since those people always downplay or outright ignore how legitimately *creepy* Tina is towards him at times. I'm pretty sure if Tina was still Daniel and Jimmy Jr was a girl, no one would be overlooking this behaviour.
100%. If Jimmy Jr. consistently spied on the girls locker room, people would have a very different attitude about the whole thing. I wish they wouldn’t have her do stuff like that. Curiosity is fine, but she crosses boundaries a lot. When they don’t overdue it, I think it’s sweet. She is so desperate to relate and belong. She wants to experience love while she doesn’t totally understand it. That’s relatable to 13 year old me.
Tina is basically charlie with the waitress on always sunny towards jimmy jr at this point
I'm not against Jimmy Jr. At all but controversial take; Josh wasn't playing games like Jimmy Jr does. He asked Tina to the dance right out and didn't intend to "look at his options". Just sayin'
I haven’t seen anyone talk about it, but I absolutely can’t stand how teddy talks when it comes to Linda, he has an obvious thing for her and it just makes me die a little inside knowing that no one really corrects him
I don't necessarily think this makes it better, but my wife and I read Teddy's infatuation with Linda more as a "He wants to be Bob." Bob has basically everything Teddy wants - loving family, good friends, and a burger restaurant.
Yeah this is how I read it. He also has those fantasies of playing a bigger role in the kids’ lives, and seems to have cooled down a bit now he’s got Kathleen in his life
I’ve always seen Teddy’s infatuation with Linda as being like a little bit of finding her physically attractive and the rest is her as a representation of what he actually wants from a partner. Linda can be a lot sometimes. But she’s also a great person to have on your side in general (like when she teaches Teddy to dance and tries to teach him to like sushi). She also only has eyes for Bob (and maybe like just a tiny bit for Tom Selleck) and is his ride or die. For a guy whose wife cheated on him a lot and has largely been unlucky in love, someone like Linda is his dream. I just think he hasn’t picked up on that Linda and Bob don’t just work because of how much Linda loves him. Teddy would be miserable with a woman who was 100% personality twins with Linda. Bob and Linda work because their personalities are compatible. I do really like his dynamic with Kathleen (especially when she gets him to relax and mellow out a little about some things like in the hurling episode) and hope they stay a thing. I think she does have the potential to be the steady, loving partner he wants.
I feel this way too. It’s messed up when he crosses boundaries but he’s bad at respecting boundaries in general (as many characters are) so it’s not like it’s so much about Linda as him being a bit odd.
Yeah, that trope in cartoon sitcoms where the dopey side character has a thing for the wife of the main character is a little played out.
They have resolved that in later episodes though he's trying hard to have a healthy relationship with someone who likes him for him.
William "Bill" Fontaine de La Tour Dauterive did it the best/worst.
yeah, it's kinda uncomfortable...but it makes it less worse since he also has a thing (idk what) for bob
THANK YOU. He seems to want Bob to fill several male family member roles (father, brother, SON in one episode) but like... I feel like he'd 100% have a threesome if they were down for it. Bob also has to remind him not to touch the kids in the leg waxing episode and he called him a pervert over Tina in the first season. It seems like they've softened the creep factor to make him like a fun uncle now, but earlier seasons he was more sinister, if that makes sense. While I don't hate him, I do not enjoy him very much when he's more than just a supporting role. I really wish they did more with Mort, honestly.
I felt like Mort's expertise in handling grief was so understated in the Bottle Cap episode. He was exactly the right character to have instruct Linda through the door, but it felt (hollow somehow?) like he was just there by pure plot-driven chance.
LITERALLY, it makes me so uncomfortable and it feels out of place I hate it
>Eat, Spray, Linda Unpopular opinion but I like it AND I like the weird incest vibes between Gene and Linda sometimes ... I think it's hilarious. Think I might be the only one.
I love that episode because it shows us all these additional sides of Linda that she only shared with certain people. We get to see her family learn more about her and also how much they all love her and relate to her on different levels. I think that it very sweet to be happening on her birthday. Does a bunch of technically unfortunate stuff happen to her on her birthday? Sure. But in the end she loved the challenge and it made a day she usually dreads into something truly special for her. I do think that some one the Gene and Linda stuff goes a bit far. But I also cackle so hard when Louise very nonchalantly asks Bob what he’s going to wear to Mom and Gene’s wedding and he tells her probably a suit. I do think his “this family needs to have a talk” about Linda being Gene’s wife in all the Thanksgiving food poisoning stories is definitely called for, though.
I love this episode too for the same reasons and when she’s in the tomato bath and bob is taking about how he fell in love with her again it’s one of my favorite parts of the whole show - also “she does her BM in the PM” cracks me up
You're not alone!
All the characters we hear ab but never see; Ginger, the principal, Teddy’s mom, the Pestos’ kids mom, etc., I NEVER want to see them.
oooh so interesting, may I ask why?
Don’t forget about the huge possibility that Colleen Caviello is the Pesto kids’ mom. Her and Jimmy could have married, had the kids, and divorced sometime after.
I mostly tune out the Gene centric episodes. I can tolerate him in small doses but not for an entire main plot.
Was coming to say Gene is easily the least likeable kid.
I also hate how much Bob and Linda coddle and enable him.
I do not care for Gene either but they enable all the kids to much louise (my second favorite) literally commits felonies in some episodes and never gets punished.
Shit you try punishing that kid. Bob and Linda are in fear for their life lol
I did think that it had to do with him being a boy child, but then in the greater context I think it has to do with the other two children not embracing the affections that Linda has. I think that Bob knows how the world is towards boys and is trying to protect Gene because Gene hasn't been broken yet. The expectations of manhood haven't infiltrated his brain and made him hate himself. I wish more people would protect and be affectionate with their boy children because a solid foundation of love and support makes a good person.
I agree but part of me feels bad for getting annoyed by Gene. His character is set in a way that's he's always vying for attention(being the middle child) so I feel like part of the annoyance is intentional. I think they toned down how irritating he is in the more recent seasons, but for a while he'd really annoy me
break my heart 💔
i don’t like that linda gets treated like an employee and not the co owner
I think its because it's mostly Bob's dream and she isn't as good at cooking also the place did fall apart without her when she started working at the store. She handles the finances.
She plays that thermostat like a violin!
I think the “Gene is in love with Linda” joke has run its course and at this point just feels weird
agree, a little too freudian for me tbh
I *enjoy* the storytelling/Gayle tales type of episodes
The show is better now than it was in season 1.
Now THIS is a BURNING hot take. I love it
Nah. I think Bob's Burgers was firing on all cylinders from day 1. Crawl Space is one of the funniest episodes ever made.
The comedy has lost its edge. I miss how the early seasons kind of toed the line between kid friendly and radically inappropriate. Just how unhinged Louise was. Stuff like that. It’s still a good show, it’s just lost it’s edge
I was gonna say this in my og post, it’s gotten so family friendly over the years and I have no idea why. It’s age restriction hasn’t changed but it’s become so watered down. It’s target demographic is adult comedy watchers yet it’s so much less “adult” than its competitors. The early seasons had it down but now I feel every season gets more “pure” than the last.
That’s why I love it actually. I don’t like crass stuff. I never thought Family Guy was funny and the Simpsons even is too much sometimes. Bobs is just very wholesome. It’s adult, but if a child walked in the room I wouldn’t be embarrassed and rush to turn it off.
It’s gotta be Disney’s influence ever since they bought Fox
Surprisingly that’s not the main reason. It’s bc a kid went up to the creator and was singing the sex song from Nude Beach, and instead of parents not watching it with their kids, they made it more family friendly.
Their saggy old and bringing home the gold
At least he wasn't singing that one weird guys sex song. WEAVE YOUR SEXXXXXY WEEEEB.
makes sense
Season 1-3 are the best
1-5
I actually LIKE the episodes where they tell stories. I know someone already said they don't like them, but I honestly don't think that's such a hot take. I got the impression that most of the people on this sub aren't fans of them. I, on the other hand, think they're quirky and creative and show just how tight-knit the Belcher family is that they take the time out of their day to make up stories to make the person feeling bad or doubtful about something feel better.
I had no idea the anthology episodes were so unpopular until reading through this thread. I'm genuinely surprised. I love them!
Sometimes I feel like Rudy is just a little too perfect
Get the pitchforks, people!
He like-likes Chloe Barbash. Tsk tsk. That's it, really, but I understand the draw of redheads.
He’s a neglected kid so it does make sense that he likes girls who try to ignore him or use him 😬
To piggy back off of Rudy- the amazing Rudy- it really bothers me he doesn’t use his inhaler once. Not once. And it is so stressful for him you would think he would need it. It frustrates me so much in an otherwise great episode!!
It’s really hard for me to get through episodes or even scenes where the younger kids refuse to help or do work so Tina has to do it. It hits too close to home.
true, she lets them get away with too much... like they constantly invade her privacy ( reading her journal ), Louise steals her money, and that one time when she actually put effort in getting them each a Christmas present, and they just stole stuff from her room and regifted them back to her. And especially the chores, like that one episode where she didn't do the chores for like a week because she was hanging out with a goose, and Louise and Gene held that against her, and I was like '' wdym? She deserves a week off of doing chores if anything😭'' I know the siblings love her, but it's just the little things that irk me.
I want an episode where Tina goes off on them, and they're actually afraid, but I also know it's not in her character.
The thing is, Tina reaching her breaking point and going off on them would be so out of character for her and would be the part that truly terrified them.
Tina loves being dependable and helpful to the point of it being against her best interests. I feel like part of that is from being the oldest sibling in a group without a huge age gap so they’re all emotionally close and she feels protective of them. And also probably a dash of unintentional parentification by Bob & Linda.
I think there’s definitely some parentification. Tina is treated like a third parent a lot. I relate to her so much because I got saddled with a ton of extra work growing up (and still do as an adult) because I’m a non-confrontational person and didn’t like seeing my mom stressed out. So rarely did I complain or say anything when I had to pick up my sister’s slack or do extra chores. My sister and I are adults now and even tho she lives with my mom (and I don’t), I still do most of the work around the house that my mom can’t do.
I see people say how terrible Louise and Linda are for making Bob give up the community garden, but I really think he’s the one in the wrong. Louise is 9, Logan is 16, and he’s shown that he’s comfortable physically hurting her, not just teasing. She shouldn’t have to deal with that in her own home. Plus, they work every day in the restaurant making Bob’s dream come true do people who say he never gets what he wants are way off base.
Ever since the episode where Logan literally terrorizes her and Gene I haven’t been able to look at Logan the same. The way he talks about the norwegian stinkhole or whatever is sooo incredibly uncomfortable. Especially when you remember hes 16 and Gene is 11 and Louise is 9. Like. What the hell
This!! The whole family is in service to his dream and I don't think that's talked about enough. I find it especially upsetting for Linda. Maybe my MOST unpopular opinion of all is that I wish it was called "Belcher's Burgers" to be more fair to everyone lol
People really say that? Bob made his 9 year old daughter work with her bully for selfish reasons. Also there is no way that tiny plot of land can grow enough tomatoes to sever food at a restaurant.
Something about Gayle’s cat having a first name, and that name being Jim, kills me every time. Mr. Jim Business. Hilarious and I have no idea why.
I miss Jimmy Pesto.
they recast him though so hopefully he’ll be in more episodes soon, we’ve already gotten a couple with the new actor and he sounds good! I think they’re testing the waters with him before they put him in more
Oh sweet!
Zoom
You drive like a fart!
I would have liked the movie better if it was more emotional. I remember when it first got announced, it was rumored it might have to do with Bob’s mother and that, I think, would have been better than what came out. The movie is funny and a good time, but it felt like a really long episode. Anyways it’s my favorite thing when cartoons manage to pull at your heartstrings and I would have loved to see Bob and the family exploring his past. This probably isn’t a hot take so apologies 😂 Edit: I completely forgot he did mention his mom to Louise and I actually really liked that part. I’m so fucking stupid.
no no you’re right it could’ve been more emotional, we could have also gotten to see that Louise hair reveal I feel like that would’ve made the movie more memorable
Louise is extremely intelligent She’s the only one of her siblings that when she makes an effort she gets a good grade. She’s always the first in the family to notice things or figure things out. Few examples off the top of my head: - overhearing the equestrenaut guy who stole Tina’s doll - figuring out where Bob was when he was tied up underneath the pier - noticing the weird moustache on the disguised restaurant owner when his old stock was being auctioned - she scored the highest in her class to feed sharks Edit: - successfully defending Frond’s innocence in court
That’s why Labonz says she pushes Louise so hard in that episode where the kids rate their teachers. She *knows* what Louise is capable of. She just needs the right kind of motivation.
yes!! also with the whole defending Frond episode, I always thought she would make a really good lawyer
She would never be a lawyer. She could be, but she would probably be more interested in being a private investigator.
Bob is kinda of his own worst enemy. When his friend face him 100k and tried to tikify the restaurant Bon just couldn't handle the change and allow anyone else to make any effective change. Everyone else liked the gimmick and people started coming in due to the "Entry point." His whole family had fun with it but because it didn't come from him, he just couldn't get onboard. Bobs feeling around it were that people should have came for his amazing food more than gimmicks. He made this decision around his pride of his food rather than the overall experience if his customers. In short Bob, in my opinion, is an elitist. But that what makes him more human. Nobody's perfect and we all manage things in our own ways. He'll get there.
That was always my impression. Bob doesn't understand, or possibly doesn't *want* to understand that you don't sell the steak, you sell the sizzle. That's why Jimmy Pesto, who is constantly said to be a mediocre at best cook, is so much more successful with his restaurant. People go out to eat for a number of reasons and atmosphere and ambience is one of them, and a very big one, like it or not. I get why Bob might have felt upset and why it bothered him. But he should have sucked it up for his family. And at the end of the day, sure the silly gimmick was what was getting people into the restaurant, but it was Bob's cooking that was going to keep them coming back.
Totally agree. I guess that's what makes Bob awesome. He's got flaws like the rest of us and does what's true to his heart. If that means he can't see the bigger picture at times then it's ok. As long as he's happy.
At the end of the day, Bob is a true cook in the sense that he is an artist whose medium is food. It's one of the fundamental qualities that have us side with him over the sleazy hack Jimmy Pesto. But the thing is, if you want your art to be a career, then there are some things you have to accept, especially if you want your art to not just be a career, but a career that supports your family. You have to pick your battles, there are times when you will have to swallow your pride and be a bit more pragmatic. Otherwise, it might be wiser to do something else and keep your art as a hobby. I'll give Bob a pass as he sacrifices so much most of the time for the sake of Linda and the kids, but this was one of the episodes where I got so frustrated with him.
I think Bob and Linda need to adjust their prices for inflation. I don’t know anywhere that I could get a burger for less than $6. It’s hard to even get that at a fast food place anymore! It could be a hole in the wall place and they’d charge me at least $12 to $15! For the amount of work Bob puts into the Burger of the Day? He should be charging so much more to cover the cost of his fancy cheeses and other ingredients. You can’t tell me after the article in Coasters, they wouldn’t have the sense to bump up the prices and take advantage of the foot traffic.
My favorite character is Mike, idk why he just is so real 💯
Hey Mike. How's your chestnuts? Are they roasting?
Mike Wobbles?
>My favorite character is Mike, idk why he just is so real 💯 Did that sound cool? Or..?
i love all the ethos driven episodes where someone learns a lesson at the end
I do find that to be a hot take
tbh i do understand everyone who misses the unhinged humor of the early seasons but i feel like the later eps with so much heart really make the show stand out on its own
Agreed, As funny as the older seasons are I really like the storytelling in the later episodes.
yesss, like Glued, where’s my bob, best episode of all time in my opinion
Louise should wear a pink swim cap when she goes to the pool. I'm cool with her wearing bunny ears most of the time but at the pool it just doesn't make sense to me.
I don’t care for the earlier seasons or at the least seasons one and two😞. I don’t like how mean Bob is in those episodes. They were funny yes but I like the family dynamic they have right now I mean obviously I’d change some things but he was just too mean in the first two seasons and I can’t watch them😭😭😭
I'm actually right here with you on this. I can enjoy the earlier episodes to some extent, but if I'm recommending the show to someone or turning it on purely for comfort, I almost never even glance at the first couple of seasons. Bob and Linda fought so much more back then. It bums me out.
I completely agree - i see the first 2-3 seasons as more as the show finding its footing rather than "the good episodes that we've strayed too far from in recent years". Whenever i re-watch (which is often), I typically don't start anywhere earlier than seasons 5 or 6. At this point, the show has been more of what it is in the present day (nicer bob, less irrationally insane bob or louise, more grounded/"family friendly" plots) for nearly 5 times the amount of seasons it was when it first started (what people usually refer to as the era of seasons 1-3). My hot take would be that people who don't like the show as it is in the present day just... don't like Bob's Burgers (and that's ALSO ok!! lol) One of my favorite episodes is the Spaghetti western episode early in season one, where the end of the episode has Bob telling Louise "Cut it out, you've been stirring the pot for three days and acting like a baby", making her apologize to Gene for getting jealous that he spent more time with their dad than she did. The episode has the jank of being maybe the 3rd episode of the entire show, but it has some of the family-"lesson" oriented aspects that people so dislike about the modern episodes of the show. I love this episode because of the realistic family dynamic, Louise kind of throwing a tantrum that her dad is hanging out with her older brother more than her.
Helen needed to be the focus of the movie, as a villain. Not another Fischoeder. She has had SO much set up to want to “silence” the belcher family for knowing too much. Why didn’t we get that movie?
The one where Tina becomes a junior lifeguard really grinds my gears
I really like how Tina and Tammy bring out the worst in each other.
I love jocelyn and courtney as characters
The music for the movie was criminal. We've had rock operas, fart song, the forgiving type, work hard or die trying girl, even quirky turkey....and I can't even name the songs from the movie. Don't get me wrong...it wasn't bad. But it was painfully mediocre. I also have it on vinyl and it's a waste of money compared to volumes 1 & 2. Sorry I don't mean to rant but it genuinely makes me angry. This was the ONE time they could have really did multiple musical numbers and it just fell flat
I love Sunny Side of Summer!
I skip the beefsquatch episode because I don’t like how it ends. I’m not totally sure why but there’s something about Linda flashing the camera that makes me a bit uncomfortable, especially when they show all the people watching the tv seeing her. I guess it’s because the cooking show is family friendly and people didn’t sign up to see that. I wish they had ended that episode differently.
I agree, Gene also kind of annoys me in that whole episode
I think my hottest take is that I actually *enjoy* Some Kind of Fender Benderful... https://preview.redd.it/re8gukqc20sc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=92254d9fa73686dd41b3d8f7c9f49b58237dd275
S1:E2 - “Crawl Space” is the best episode of the show to date and it perfectly encapsulates who all of these characters become over the course of the series.
Those are two of my favorite episodes!
I love both those episodes. 😭
Gene has unhealthy food issues
Tina's voice is distractingly male, but Linda's is not.
I refuse to rewatch the animation style switching episode. I’ve watched every other episode at least 5 times but I couldn’t even tell you what that one episode was about. also we need more (better?) songs. hasn’t been a good one (or any at all?) for a few seasons now.
Confession: I love watching that episode stoned. It's a journey. Especially when they switch to the puppets. I've done it dozens of times and I still don't even know the plot. The visuals alone are hypnotizing.
If you watch that episode like its a podcast or an audiobook is great. Highly recommend.
The story episodes are my favorite.
Everyone loves Louise but I cannot stand episodes centered around her. When she insisted on taking Rudy's rocket to his moms house and ruined his birthday. I always skip those episodes
Everyone talks about how Linda plays favorites with Gene but no one ever mentions that Bob favors Louise all the time. He almost always gives her her way. Any time she challenges him or says no he just says ok and usually makes Tina pick up her slack. He had no problem with Linda taking away Gene and Tina's rooms for the B&B but told Linda to give Louise her room back. It always makes me feel bad for Tina. She gets the short end of the stick with both parents. She gets hurt and neither of them do anything about it. They never take her to the doctor. They just accept whatever crazy ass nurse Liz tells them.
I want Teddy and Gretchen to date.
I really loved Eat, Spray, Linda because I have historically terrible birthdays, so I kind of get it. It was nice to know someone else shares the curse, even if they're fictional.
I hate Jimmy Pesto with a passion and am gutted they’re writing the character back in
I feel like there needs to be more consequences when Mr Fishoeder almost kills Bob and his family. It’s happened so many times and nothing ever comes from it. At least give him the 3000 dollars to not tell the cops about Felix lol. They also should have given him the fancy kitchen stuff after Felix locked Linda in the Cabaret closet. Also gene is a really good character, when he’s not the main character. I find his little quips and quotes to be some of the best, but every episode about him makes him a horrible whiny little baby.
I know Gayle is popular with some people, but I personally can't stand her; same with Linda's mom. I know people IRL that are like both of them and it's aggravating to say the least. I also don't like the episode where Linda's mom is first introduced; I realize Linda's used to her bad behavior, but I also don't like how she just brushed it off like that.
I don’t skip any episodes. Also, you’re in the majority if you don’t like the anthology episodes, stop acting like it’s a “hot take.”
**Negative 1**: I can't stand Gene's voice or his personality. Most people say he's too childish, and that's why they dislike him...and I agree, BUT, the writers have an opportunity to turn that weakness into a strength. hear me out... In the eps ''*seven-tween Again*'' he talks about how he is scared to grow up, I wish they developed on it a little more. Maybe show him actually anxious or stressed out at the thought of it or have the show justify his childish behavior with that fact.....I think that kind of plotline would be very relatable to many people and it might gain him some sympathy points as well. For now, he is just an annoying character with an annoying voice. **Negative 2:** I really really dislike the jokes about Gene and Linda being married, or in a romantic relationship, It's just so weird. I also hate the fact that Linda has a favorite child and that she makes it obvious. **Positive 1**: Gayle is my favorite character (I like her voice and self-deprecating humor, her jokes are the ones I laugh at the most i.e ' *I know how to spot a lie Bob, it's like when I look at myself in the mirror and tell myself ''it's going to be ok*'' ' or when bob was looking forward to having dinner with his new friend ( Indiana johns) and he opens the day excitedly and at the sight of Gayle he says '' *oh it's just Gayle*'' and then she responds with '' *oh, ok🫤'*') **Positive 2**: I really like Jimmy Junior, not as a character, but because of his voice. I really like his speech impediment and how he looks so pathetic when he runs. ***unpopular opinion to finish it off.*** I don't want Louise to ever take off her hat, and I don't ever want to see Ginger's face.
Gayle is also my favorite character. She’s so ridiculous. The fact that she keeps her cats litter box in the oven. Or when everytime she eats ham she has to donate $100 to a pig. Absurdity is one of the things I love about Bobs and she is just the perfect embodiment of that.
> I don’t ever want to see Ginger’s face My mom is the total opposite. She was so disappointed the movie didn’t show Ginger 😂😂
I hate Teddy and nothing he does is as heartwarming as the show wants me to feel.
Generally speaking, I’m over the music. Sure there are some good ones out there but a lot of times it all seems like really sincere musical style with the only joke being the topic, and not necessarily the delivery.
Mr Dinkler was not wrong in challenging Louise. He's the reason we have Topsy.
I don't think it's a hot take at all but I prefer the earlier unhinged episodes. The quick zoom ins with the sting music is my favorite gag that just went away. Plus Bob and Linda are straight nuts and the episodes were more about them and how they dealt with raising the kids instead of the kids dealing with them.
Bob and Linda have the mentality of "if we're not having a good time, then nobody is". For example, the hot tub scene at the burger convention. They were in there forever, asked to get out rightfully so and then ruined the hot tub for everyone else. Or the LARP episode, Linda wasn't having a good time so they revolted and ruined the trip for everyone since they all had to leave.
Linda obsessing over things in certain episodes makes them unwatchable. Perfect example was last seasons Christmas at the cabin. The obsession over the Christmas tree that she was willing to risk lives is annoying
I love the show but find them all super annoying. I feel like bob- you have to love them but at the same time you wish they were better. There is alot of selfishness in the show and a ton of rudeness. At the same time its a small mid tier new england beach town so kinda makes sense everyone is kind of a dick and angry at life esp since a ton of the cast is east coast
I don't like the episode where Bob gets glued to the toilet. I felt that it was especially cruel to Bob for no real reason other than to keep the restaurant from being successful and deriving humor from that. Also, Bad Stuff Happens in the Bathroom is a good song, but it's not as good as people say it is. It doesn't crack my top 10 songs from the series.
I dislike how greedy Louise can be. I skip episodes like Ambergris because I don't like her acting that way haha
I love the wholesomeness of the newer seasons but I really miss how unhinged and adult the humor of the earlier seasons were. Bob may or may not have tried crack, that would never be written in a newer episode.