new Bob's Burgers thread!

[Pink Gregory]

didn't want to necro an old thread

of course love Bob's, it's still appointment television, but with the newest season (13) the energy really seems to have crashed in a disappointing fashion.

There's far more of characters monotoning at each other - especially Louise, which is a bit heartbreaking - and Bob just seems to have been written as soooo tiiiiiired, more so than usual.

I imagine this was developed somewhat during Covid?  If so it really shows. 

[The Mollusk]

I don't remember when I dropped off with this but it was several years ago, tbh probably more than 5 seasons back. I love it, and I think at its peak the ability to write consistently charming, sensitive, and really funny comedy around such simple premises that never veered too far into wackiness is highly commendable, but I definitely reached a point where I knew I'd seen enough of it. I watched the film a couple months back and it affirmed my decision as I thought it was pleasant but unremarkable and definitely didn't make me want to pick up where I'd left off with the show.

[dead-ced-dead]

I've noticed the energy has dwindled a lot recently, too. Maybe now is the right time to start winding it down to a conclusion. Better to end just after the downward trajectory has begun like King of the Hill and not keep going like The Simpsons.

[Urinal Cake]

I think there was a noticeable dip when Loren etc was doing the movie but the recent episodes especially the Christmas one have been a pretty decent return to form.

They nerfed Louise a bit too much need to get back some of that sort of malevolence back.

[BritishHobo]

I fell behind for a few years. It is tricky because it's definitely a show where binging to catch up can be a bit exhausting, as it's all much of a muchness. But then not long before the film I watched the episode where the kids help Gayle go and track down an old family recipe, and it made me laugh so hard. Enjoyed it to the point that I was quite disappointed when Gayle pretty much didn't appear in the film.

[letsgobrian]

I think there was a noticeable dip when Loren etc was doing the movie but the recent episodes especially the Christmas one have been a pretty decent return to form.

They nerfed Louise a bit too much need to get back some of that sort of malevolence back.

The dip for me was when Louise became one note unchallenged malevolence, I've greatly appreciated the show giving her and Gene real consequences to their nightmare behaviour and having them grow a tiny bit.

That being said, so far this is the worst season since the 2019/2020 season despite that strong Xmas episode. For me it's because it's falling into formula too much and the formula episodes aren't measuring up to previous uses of the formula.

So the Teddy episode this year where he gets anxious about the comet isn't as good as the episode where Teddy gets anxious about the naval reunion, the fantasy episode where everyone tells Louise stories for Career Day isn't as good as as the bleak Blade Runner finale from last season and the Fischoeder episode doesn't come close to any of the classic Fischoeder eps or even last year's filthy beach episode.

Wish they'd just recast Jimmy Pesto so they could put him back in scripts like they've done for Alex Papasian (due to Middleditch being a creep) and Mickey (presumably due to Hader focussing on Barry).

[Pink Gregory]

(due to Middleditch being a creep)

For fuck's sake is Silicon Valley cursed?

[Pink Gregory]

Last one on UK Disney+ (Show mama to the grave) was quite nice.  Noticing this season that what the kids want to do is always pleasingly low-stakes and I'm enjoying that as a change of pace.

Still has the issue of a real lack of variation in the V/O compared even to the last season, which I think is my main complaint.  Bob once again being soooo tiiiired is noticeable and even Teddy is calmer than usual.

[Fry]

I've not watched the last couple of seasons but I do love this show, I think it's the most consistent animated family sitcom since King of the Hill really. Can't think of many others where you can put on any episode from any season and be fairly and not come across a truly dud episode.

I do wonder why these shows are so resistant to aging characters up though. It doesn't have to be in real time, but after 13 years of episodes about a family with young kids you're going to start to run out of stories. Some another five years on to it -while if course fundamentally changing the show- would result in a wealthy of new stories. Feels like a missed opportunity.

It's got some absolutely cracking characters though. And this scene transition still cracks me up.

[Pink Gregory]

I don't know, with Bob's being about as grounded as KOTH there's a lot more scope for low-stakes stories that can be elevated above not much plot with good writing.

Sort of like the situations aren't what make the show.

[samadriel]

I do wonder why these shows are so resistant to aging characters up though. It doesn't have to be in real time, but after 13 years of episodes about a family with young kids you're going to start to run out of stories.

It's a syndication thing, they want repeats to be completely seamless.  Never mind the gigantic gulf in quality between, say, classic Simpsons and Zombie Simpsons, and never mind the drift in the characters' histories as the shows go on and on,  as long as they're the same age, living in the same house, the dimwitted suits are happy.

[mjwilson]

didn't want to necro an old thread

of course love Bob's, it's still appointment television, but with the newest season (13) the energy really seems to have crashed in a disappointing fashion.

There's far more of characters monotoning at each other - especially Louise, which is a bit heartbreaking - and Bob just seems to have been written as soooo tiiiiiired, more so than usual.

I imagine this was developed somewhat during Covid?  If so it really shows. 

Surely animation would be pretty much immune to Covid issues?

[letsgobrian]

Surely animation would be pretty much immune to Covid issues?

It was not and is still not.

Plus Loren Bouchard's shows do the rare thing in US animation of recording the cast members' performances together.

[mjwilson]

It was not and is still not.

Plus Loren Bouchard's shows do the rare thing in US animation of recording the cast members' performances together.

Well then I stand corrected.

[Pink Gregory]

and just like that an episode that starts in school with a slightly expanded cast and the energy has shot right back up, feels like it's suddenly returned to form

what was going on?

[Urinal Cake]

Yeah the last episode was pretty good even hinted at Teddy moving on.

 You know a good episode or maybe a episode written with a bit more effort is by the number of subplots in it. The other thing that is noticeable is the lack of side characters- other school kids, Fischoeder, Mort, Hugo etc and obviously Jimmy Pesto.

[Pink Gregory]

Very much waiting on Gayle

[Pink Gregory]

Rewatching this season now and I don't really understand why I was so down on it?

I think perhaps it's not a great season for Bob or Louise being funny, they very much play the straight man role, performances aren't bad or anything but especially the writing for Bob seems to be coasting a bit.  Some of the more serious moments with Louise feel a bit contrived, perhaps.

Still a great ensemble cast and surprisingly still packed with laughs, very much not pushing the boat out and I kind of hope they end it before a real drop in quality, but I take my initial assessment back.

[letsgobrian]

The standout episode so far this season is "The Amazing Rudy" which is tonally ambitious.

This week's episode "Bully-ieve It or Not" brought back Jimmy Pesto, now voiced by Eric Bauza. They don't try to get clever with it, just a straight ahead Bob vs Jimmy B plot (Zeke has the A plot).

[Pink Gregory]

oh, is the new season already out over there?

[letsgobrian]

It's 5 episodes in. I'm curious if they shorten it to have episodes in hand to cover strike shortfall later. They already have The Great North starting later in January rather than alongside Bob's Burgers.