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#11 - "Heartbreak Hotel-oween" (S11/E4)
Air Date: November 1, 2020
On Halloween night, the Belcher kids show off their group Snail costume, which comes complete with a "candy hatch" meant to gather extra candy from one particular household that once stiffed Louise two Halloweens ago by running out of candy. Before they leave for trick-or-treating, however, Bob asks the kids to deliver a "to-go" order to a hotel at the end of the block. The kids reluctantly go, but the thought of a tip tips the scales.
The kids come to the hotel and head up to the room the order came from. There, they come face to face with a strange old woman who they later learn comes to that hotel every Halloween to summon the spirit of her dead husband... so she can send him straight to Hell for being a dirty, rotten, cheating scoundrel. But while Louise casually wishes her luck so they can get on with their plan, Tina refuses to believe that the spirit of her dead husband could possibly be a scumbag, and the whole thing turns into a mystery Tina goes into solving to clear the man's name.
In the meantime, Teddy plans to visit the bloodmobile so that he can donate. He includes the info that the bloodmobile transforms into a fun vampire concept for the holiday. Linda decides she also wants to donate, but Bob refuses because of his needle nausea. The real problem here isn't so much his refusal to donate, though - it's that he has type O-negative, which is universal. So this is where most of the comedy comes from. But I must say that of all the Bob's Burgers Halloween episodes, this one is definitely one of the least Halloween-feeling. It all boils down to a mystery as to whether someone cheated on his wife or not and "needle weenies" (as the episode puts it) donating blood.
Short of the concept of a seance and summoning a spirit along with a group costume for trick-or-treating, this is one that almost could have been done as just a regular episode. Just strip the vampire concept and the group costume, and it can work out to be about the same thing. The episode isn't without its charm and sense of humour, but I feel like it's somewhat disappointing as an overall Halloween episode and could just as easily stand out as a regular episode.
The kids come to the hotel and head up to the room the order came from. There, they come face to face with a strange old woman who they later learn comes to that hotel every Halloween to summon the spirit of her dead husband... so she can send him straight to Hell for being a dirty, rotten, cheating scoundrel. But while Louise casually wishes her luck so they can get on with their plan, Tina refuses to believe that the spirit of her dead husband could possibly be a scumbag, and the whole thing turns into a mystery Tina goes into solving to clear the man's name.
In the meantime, Teddy plans to visit the bloodmobile so that he can donate. He includes the info that the bloodmobile transforms into a fun vampire concept for the holiday. Linda decides she also wants to donate, but Bob refuses because of his needle nausea. The real problem here isn't so much his refusal to donate, though - it's that he has type O-negative, which is universal. So this is where most of the comedy comes from. But I must say that of all the Bob's Burgers Halloween episodes, this one is definitely one of the least Halloween-feeling. It all boils down to a mystery as to whether someone cheated on his wife or not and "needle weenies" (as the episode puts it) donating blood.
Short of the concept of a seance and summoning a spirit along with a group costume for trick-or-treating, this is one that almost could have been done as just a regular episode. Just strip the vampire concept and the group costume, and it can work out to be about the same thing. The episode isn't without its charm and sense of humour, but I feel like it's somewhat disappointing as an overall Halloween episode and could just as easily stand out as a regular episode.
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Costumes
Belcher Kids Group Costume - Snail Tina - Toast Buster (Flashback), 16 Handles (Flashback) Louise - Beetle Juice (Flashback), Blade Bunner (Flashback) Gene - Baby Gaga (Flashback), Cat Stevens (Flashback) |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Someday, Bloody Someday, Gory Calendars Exterminator Van: She's Super Squeaky, Pest Control Burger of the Day: The Night Pear on Elm Beet Burger (Comes with Pear and Beet Relish) Extra Notes:
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#10 - "Apple Gore-chard (But Not Gory)" (S13/E6)
Air Date: October 30, 2022
This one covers the concept of those old, lame elementary school field trips with Louise on her way to an apple orchard with her chaperone father and classmate, Jessica (Kathryn Hahn), in her third appearance on the show, overall. There, "Regular-Sized" Rudy tells them excitedly about everything they'll learn about old-time farming techniques being taught by people playing their respective roles in the village.
Once they arrive, they learn of an ongoing contest to be crowned "Hero of the Harvest," which is essentially a popularity contest. But it's not long before Louise and Jessica stumble on something that might point to these villagers having a tradition of sacrifice, and by the looks of it, the "Hero of the Harvest" is the one who gets it. Meanwhile, Bob basically serves as a running joke here in that he goes on and on about seeing bee hives, as he's taken an apparent interest in bee-keeping.
Back at the school, Tina and Gene are preparing for the Costume Parade, but they need to wait for Louise to get back from her trip as theirs is a group costume of 'Twister': Tina's the Twister, Gene's Bill Paxton and Louise is Helen Hunt (emphasis on the "Hunt"). Their time is mostly spent trying to remain in contact with their mother to go back and forth between running the restaurant and going to the school to repair their constantly falling apart costumes. It's a decent play on the idea that sometimes, our most ambitious costumes don't tend to work out.
It seems to mainly be a take on the movie 'Midsommar,' which I never actually saw (I know, I have some homework to do), so some of the gags within may be a bit lost on me. I'll credit it for showing off the season of Fall a bit more than they have before, though, and randomly bringing back Jessica to feature in a Halloween episode and further her character. It's an episode that's still growing on me, and I can give it a few things like its creepy factor and the costume storyline. But I do still think they've done better.
Once they arrive, they learn of an ongoing contest to be crowned "Hero of the Harvest," which is essentially a popularity contest. But it's not long before Louise and Jessica stumble on something that might point to these villagers having a tradition of sacrifice, and by the looks of it, the "Hero of the Harvest" is the one who gets it. Meanwhile, Bob basically serves as a running joke here in that he goes on and on about seeing bee hives, as he's taken an apparent interest in bee-keeping.
Back at the school, Tina and Gene are preparing for the Costume Parade, but they need to wait for Louise to get back from her trip as theirs is a group costume of 'Twister': Tina's the Twister, Gene's Bill Paxton and Louise is Helen Hunt (emphasis on the "Hunt"). Their time is mostly spent trying to remain in contact with their mother to go back and forth between running the restaurant and going to the school to repair their constantly falling apart costumes. It's a decent play on the idea that sometimes, our most ambitious costumes don't tend to work out.
It seems to mainly be a take on the movie 'Midsommar,' which I never actually saw (I know, I have some homework to do), so some of the gags within may be a bit lost on me. I'll credit it for showing off the season of Fall a bit more than they have before, though, and randomly bringing back Jessica to feature in a Halloween episode and further her character. It's an episode that's still growing on me, and I can give it a few things like its creepy factor and the costume storyline. But I do still think they've done better.
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Costumes
Tina - The Twister from 'Twister' Louise - Helen Hunt from 'Twister' Gene - Bill Paxton from 'Twister' Jessica - Billy Idol-ish Jimmy Pesto Jr. - John Travolta from 'Saturday Night Fever' "Regular-Sized" Rudy - Mummy Zeke - Panda Andy Pesto - Salt Ollie Pesto - Pepper Harley - Unicorn Arnold - Astronaut |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: NA Exterminator Van: NA Burger of the Day: Rosemary's Baby Corn Burger (With Rosemary and baby corn) Trivia:
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#09 - "Teen-a Witch" (S7/E3)
Air Date: October 23, 2016
While on their way to school, the Belcher kids discuss the school's Costume Contest. Here, Tina reveals that she will dress up as a "Hot Mess" (dress really messy and decorate herself in flames), but the idea is immediately stolen by Tammy in typical Tammy fashion, prompting Tina to come up with another costume to try to win the contest - a "Sand-Witch" (a witch between two pieces of bread).
When she goes to the library to "research witches and bread," Mr. Ambrose suggests that she just become a witch to rig the contest with a spell. After taking out a spell book from the library, Tina tries out a couple of spells that seem to work, and soon, she starts to take herself a little too seriously. At one point, she tells off a crossing guard named Jackie (Betsy Sodaro), but unbeknownst to Tina, she also takes herself quite seriously as a witch and, therefore, threatens a curse on Tina's head as a means to teach her a lesson in manners.
Meanwhile, Bob has to deal with a pumpkin thief who keeps stealing his burger stencil jack-o-lanterns... or "burg-o-lanterns" he intends on putting out for Halloween night. This is where most of the episode's comedy comes from, with a paranoid Bob who's determined to catch the thief and just fails at every turn. However, this takes a major backseat to the Tina storyline, which is funny in its own right and seems to be a nod to 'The Craft,' although the episode's title is a play on 1989's 'Teen Witch.'
Other than the jack-o-lanterns and the costume contest idea, there's not much to it regarding any sort of creepy factor. There's the idea of witchcraft and curses, but that's about the extent of it. I get what they were going for here, and it's not like the episode isn't without its qualities. For example, Mr. Ambrose claims to be a witch, himself here, and his over-the-top snarky attitude adds a whole new level of comedy to the character. It's a solid episode in the grand scheme of things, but as far as Halloween goes, they've done much better. It just feels like a massive step down from the previous year's episode, 'The Hauntening.'
When she goes to the library to "research witches and bread," Mr. Ambrose suggests that she just become a witch to rig the contest with a spell. After taking out a spell book from the library, Tina tries out a couple of spells that seem to work, and soon, she starts to take herself a little too seriously. At one point, she tells off a crossing guard named Jackie (Betsy Sodaro), but unbeknownst to Tina, she also takes herself quite seriously as a witch and, therefore, threatens a curse on Tina's head as a means to teach her a lesson in manners.
Meanwhile, Bob has to deal with a pumpkin thief who keeps stealing his burger stencil jack-o-lanterns... or "burg-o-lanterns" he intends on putting out for Halloween night. This is where most of the episode's comedy comes from, with a paranoid Bob who's determined to catch the thief and just fails at every turn. However, this takes a major backseat to the Tina storyline, which is funny in its own right and seems to be a nod to 'The Craft,' although the episode's title is a play on 1989's 'Teen Witch.'
Other than the jack-o-lanterns and the costume contest idea, there's not much to it regarding any sort of creepy factor. There's the idea of witchcraft and curses, but that's about the extent of it. I get what they were going for here, and it's not like the episode isn't without its qualities. For example, Mr. Ambrose claims to be a witch, himself here, and his over-the-top snarky attitude adds a whole new level of comedy to the character. It's a solid episode in the grand scheme of things, but as far as Halloween goes, they've done much better. It just feels like a massive step down from the previous year's episode, 'The Hauntening.'
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Costumes
Tina - Sand-Witch, Zombie Little Bo Peep (flashback), Captain Kangaroo (flashback), Liberace (flashback) Louise - Mr. Frond (flashback) Tammy - Hot Mess (stolen idea from Tina) "Regular-Sized" Rudy Stieblitz - Marcel Marceau Peter Pescadero - Mona Lisa |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Sag Me to Hell Bra Boutique Exterminator Van: The Bugs are Coming from Inside the House, Exterminators Burger of the Day: Muenster Under the Bun Burger Extra Notes:
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#08 - "Tina and the Real Ghost" (S5/E2)
Air Date: November 2, 2014
When the restaurant's basement becomes infested with strange bugs, Bob calls an exterminator to come and look. The exterminator, Marcus (Andre Royo) heads down to start his work, only to suddenly feel some sort of presence and insist that the basement is haunted. Refusing to work, he tells the family they need to capture the ghost and dispose of it, prompting Linda, Tina, Gene and Louise to bring a Ouija board to the basement to make contact, trap the ghost in a shoe box and toss it in the garbage (no joke).
As the family makes contact, the entity appears to introduce himself as a 13-year-old spirit named "Jeff," which, as per usual, gets Tina's boy-crazy interest. So, instead of disposing of the shoe box, Tina decides she wants to bring it to school and show "Jeff" off to Tammy, Jocelyn, Zeke and Jimmy Jr. Though hesitant to believe Tina at first, Louise has them try the Ouija board to talk to "Jeff," and before we know it, "Jeff" and Tina become her grade's new power couple. And for the most part, this episode is the standard idea of Tina's boy craziness getting way too out of hand.
Meanwhile, Bob and Linda keep trying for exterminators, and word gets out about the restaurant's supposed haunting, sending two "paranormal professionals," Phil and Don (Brian Huskey and Jordan Peele, respectively), to check the restaurant out. At first, Bob and Linda are reluctant to allow them to "work" but soon realize that the idea of a haunted restaurant is a good way to bring in business. Other than the idea of there being a potential ghost who happens to be a romantic to Tina, however, there's really not a lot of Halloween going on in this episode until the last few minutes, when the kids meet up at a graveyard as a "right of passage."
As far as 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episodes go, I would have to say I consider this one to be on the weaker side of things. There's all of two Halloween costumes, no trick-or-treating, and it only really plays with the idea of school traditions, which is great, but there could have been a bit more of the Halloween spirit injected into this episode with that. Personally speaking, I just find the romantic aspect of it to be humorous, but perhaps better left outside of an actual Halloween episode. It IS a good episode of 'Bob's Burgers', but it's kind of weak for the Halloween collection.
As the family makes contact, the entity appears to introduce himself as a 13-year-old spirit named "Jeff," which, as per usual, gets Tina's boy-crazy interest. So, instead of disposing of the shoe box, Tina decides she wants to bring it to school and show "Jeff" off to Tammy, Jocelyn, Zeke and Jimmy Jr. Though hesitant to believe Tina at first, Louise has them try the Ouija board to talk to "Jeff," and before we know it, "Jeff" and Tina become her grade's new power couple. And for the most part, this episode is the standard idea of Tina's boy craziness getting way too out of hand.
Meanwhile, Bob and Linda keep trying for exterminators, and word gets out about the restaurant's supposed haunting, sending two "paranormal professionals," Phil and Don (Brian Huskey and Jordan Peele, respectively), to check the restaurant out. At first, Bob and Linda are reluctant to allow them to "work" but soon realize that the idea of a haunted restaurant is a good way to bring in business. Other than the idea of there being a potential ghost who happens to be a romantic to Tina, however, there's really not a lot of Halloween going on in this episode until the last few minutes, when the kids meet up at a graveyard as a "right of passage."
As far as 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episodes go, I would have to say I consider this one to be on the weaker side of things. There's all of two Halloween costumes, no trick-or-treating, and it only really plays with the idea of school traditions, which is great, but there could have been a bit more of the Halloween spirit injected into this episode with that. Personally speaking, I just find the romantic aspect of it to be humorous, but perhaps better left outside of an actual Halloween episode. It IS a good episode of 'Bob's Burgers', but it's kind of weak for the Halloween collection.
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Costumes
Louise - Ryan Gosling from 'Drive' Gene - Turner & Hooch |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: NA Exterminator Van: NA ("Hugs Not Bugs, Exterminators" appears within the episode) Burgers of the Day:
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#07 - "Fort Night" (S4/E2)
Air Date: October 6, 2013
In a plan to get a multitude of candy for Halloween this year, Tina, Gene, Louise, and twins Andy and Ollie Pesto plan to wear a group costume of a Chinese Dragon. Tina is especially interested in the venture, as due to her entering her teenage years, this will probably be her last outing. In the meantime, the group costume is being worked on by Bob, Linda and, to a far lesser extent, Teddy and Mort.
Along with their friend Darryl, the group heads back to the restaurant to get their costume, but they must make a pit stop at the Belcher kids' cardboard box fort to get the dragon costume's eyes. With the fort being located in the restaurant's neighbouring alley, they end up finding themselves in some pretty genuine danger when a truck backs up and parks in front of the fort, trapping the kids inside. Their only hope of escape is Millie Frock, first introduced in this episode as a bit of a Halloween character, as she is obsessed with Louise in far too many different ways.
While the kids are trapped in the fort and dealing with a Millie who may or may not be very reliable, Bob and Linda become so engrossed with finishing the costume that, when they end up unable to find the kids, they end up making sure the costume doesn't go to waste, and the results are actually pretty hilarious. Otherwise, for a Halloween episode, this is moderate. There's some real dread for the kids being trapped, and Millie adds the horrific edge to it, but much of the Bob and Linda side of things is sort of dry. That is, until nearing the end of the episode.
This one's decent, but I find it very middle-ground for a Halloween episode. Aside from the work being done on the costume and the idea that the kids are missing out on trick or treating, there's not a very heavy Halloween aspect to this, as opposed to its predecessor, "Full Bars." It's pretty funny still, though, and I credit it for basing the scary aspect of it on some kind of real danger, along with the intro to Millie, who would become a secondary character.
Along with their friend Darryl, the group heads back to the restaurant to get their costume, but they must make a pit stop at the Belcher kids' cardboard box fort to get the dragon costume's eyes. With the fort being located in the restaurant's neighbouring alley, they end up finding themselves in some pretty genuine danger when a truck backs up and parks in front of the fort, trapping the kids inside. Their only hope of escape is Millie Frock, first introduced in this episode as a bit of a Halloween character, as she is obsessed with Louise in far too many different ways.
While the kids are trapped in the fort and dealing with a Millie who may or may not be very reliable, Bob and Linda become so engrossed with finishing the costume that, when they end up unable to find the kids, they end up making sure the costume doesn't go to waste, and the results are actually pretty hilarious. Otherwise, for a Halloween episode, this is moderate. There's some real dread for the kids being trapped, and Millie adds the horrific edge to it, but much of the Bob and Linda side of things is sort of dry. That is, until nearing the end of the episode.
This one's decent, but I find it very middle-ground for a Halloween episode. Aside from the work being done on the costume and the idea that the kids are missing out on trick or treating, there's not a very heavy Halloween aspect to this, as opposed to its predecessor, "Full Bars." It's pretty funny still, though, and I credit it for basing the scary aspect of it on some kind of real danger, along with the intro to Millie, who would become a secondary character.
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Costumes
Bob, Linda - Chinese Dragon (eventually) Tina, Gene, Louise, Andy, Ollie - Chinese Dragon group costume (meant to wear, but never worn) Darryl - Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo from the "Whip It" music video Millie - Bunny (Under the impression Louise will be "Dust" with her) |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Johnny Razor's Totally Normal Candy Store Exterminator Van: Forgetta Bat It, Exterminators Burger of the Day: The Cauliflower's Cumin from Inside the House Burger (comes with cauliflower and cumin) Trivia:
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#06 - "The Pumpkinening" (S12/E3)
Air Date: October 10, 2021
Twenty-seven years before this Halloween season (which, if 2021, makes it 1994), Linda and Gayle's high school has a pumpkin carving contest ready to be voted on when Linda and Gayle end up smashing every pumpkin in the contest. In the present, Linda and Gayle receive mysterious and creepy letters in the style of "I Know What You Did Last Summer," suggesting someone knows about their horrible secret.
Once back in their fictional hometown of "Hunkawtaway," the sisters start to question people who they suspect may have sent the letters, eventually leading us to the creepy side of the episode while having a good laugh at Gayle being her typical self. This storyline does a great job of balancing the episode's humour with its suspense, but in my mind, this is the part that makes it worthwhile, really managing to achieve that perfect balance I look for in these episodes.
The secondary story simply involves Bob, back at the restaurant, and the costumed-up kids handing out candy. It starts with Bob handing out the "Dr. Peters Bitter Drops" first seen in 'Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street,' which turns the restaurant into a "don't go there" place, prompting Bob to head out and replace it with something better - Sour Sack Babies. With a limited three bags of candy and kids mobbing the restaurant for them, however, the kids worry there may not be enough left over for them.
While the Linda/Gayle story is a pretty fun time to fit in with Halloween, the whole candy thing just irks me a wee bit because, honestly, these kids are worried about one type of candy when they could be out getting a ton of their own, and because Bob got the last three bags, there has to be more people handing them out. It just didn't make any sense to me. It's a fun episode, but it kinda makes you wanna yell at the Belcher kids.
Once back in their fictional hometown of "Hunkawtaway," the sisters start to question people who they suspect may have sent the letters, eventually leading us to the creepy side of the episode while having a good laugh at Gayle being her typical self. This storyline does a great job of balancing the episode's humour with its suspense, but in my mind, this is the part that makes it worthwhile, really managing to achieve that perfect balance I look for in these episodes.
The secondary story simply involves Bob, back at the restaurant, and the costumed-up kids handing out candy. It starts with Bob handing out the "Dr. Peters Bitter Drops" first seen in 'Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street,' which turns the restaurant into a "don't go there" place, prompting Bob to head out and replace it with something better - Sour Sack Babies. With a limited three bags of candy and kids mobbing the restaurant for them, however, the kids worry there may not be enough left over for them.
While the Linda/Gayle story is a pretty fun time to fit in with Halloween, the whole candy thing just irks me a wee bit because, honestly, these kids are worried about one type of candy when they could be out getting a ton of their own, and because Bob got the last three bags, there has to be more people handing them out. It just didn't make any sense to me. It's a fun episode, but it kinda makes you wanna yell at the Belcher kids.
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Costumes
Tina - Sherlock-Ness Monster Louise - Peter Pan's Labyrinth Gene - Grad-iator Marty Deblusio-Klein - Braveheart |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Color Me Dead, Paint Your Own Tombstone Exterminator Van: Fly-Day the 13th Burger of the Day: The Leek-Y Cauldron Burger Trivia:
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#05 - "Full Bars" (S3/E2)
Air Date: October 7, 2012
In the show's first holiday-themed episode, Tina, Gene and Louise decide to try trick-or-treating unsupervised for the first time. While staying on their regular path, the hand-outs are nothing short of disappointing, prompting them to take the ferry to King's Head Island to try trick-or-treating in a wealthier community. Here, they meet Milo (Paul Rust) and Ned (Uncredited), who take them around the neighbourhood where houses give out full-sized chocolate bars among other great candy the Belcher kids aren't used to.
Nothing so wonderful comes without a price, however, as King's Head Island also has the annual "Hell Hunt" tradition in which teenagers, led by a kid named Bryce (Joe Lo Truglio), come out to attack any trick-or-treat stragglers with some pretty rude and crude weaponry (water balloons filled with pee). Soon, the Belcher kids must choose to run from the island or stay and fight, helping their newfound friends.
Meanwhile, Teddy hosts a "Black & Orange" party that Bob and Linda attend. Bob's initially reluctant to go, but he has no excuse not to, with the kids off trick-or-treating alone for the first time. Bob and Linda try to enjoy themselves at the party as much as possible, but everything comes to a screeching halt when Teddy's guinea pig, Francis, is somehow killed. Teddy then holds all his guests hostage until the culprit can be identified.
This solid Halloween-themed episode covers various aspects of the holiday, including trick-or-treating, Halloween parties and pranks that bored teenagers pull (too old to trick-or-treat, too young to party). It makes for a good start to these Halloween episodes by covering much ground related to the holiday itself. Like so many Halloween episodes of varying series, the first of these will probably forever be one of the best.
Nothing so wonderful comes without a price, however, as King's Head Island also has the annual "Hell Hunt" tradition in which teenagers, led by a kid named Bryce (Joe Lo Truglio), come out to attack any trick-or-treat stragglers with some pretty rude and crude weaponry (water balloons filled with pee). Soon, the Belcher kids must choose to run from the island or stay and fight, helping their newfound friends.
Meanwhile, Teddy hosts a "Black & Orange" party that Bob and Linda attend. Bob's initially reluctant to go, but he has no excuse not to, with the kids off trick-or-treating alone for the first time. Bob and Linda try to enjoy themselves at the party as much as possible, but everything comes to a screeching halt when Teddy's guinea pig, Francis, is somehow killed. Teddy then holds all his guests hostage until the culprit can be identified.
This solid Halloween-themed episode covers various aspects of the holiday, including trick-or-treating, Halloween parties and pranks that bored teenagers pull (too old to trick-or-treat, too young to party). It makes for a good start to these Halloween episodes by covering much ground related to the holiday itself. Like so many Halloween episodes of varying series, the first of these will probably forever be one of the best.
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Costumes
Bob - Fat Suit Linda - Mermaid Tina - Mommy Mummy Gene - Queen Latifah in her U.N.I.T.Y phase Louise - Edward Scissorhands Teddy - Tiger Mort - Sherlock Holmes Mike the Mailman - Bunny (just a cotton ball tail) Gretchen - Cheerleader Milo - Baseball Player Ned - Dinosaur Bryce - Goat Mask Teen #1 - Wolf Mask Teen #2 - Frog Mask |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Year-Round Halloween Store Exterminator Van: Bats All Folks, Exterminators Burger of the Day: The Jack-O-Lentil Burger Trivia:
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#04 - "The Wolf of Wharf Street" (S8/E3)
Air Date: October 22, 2017
This one opens up in the Belcher home with Bob, injured with a sprained ankle, watching a TV report on an alleged escaped wolf and warning trick-or-treaters to take caution with mandatory parental supervision. As a result, the Belcher kids have to go trick-or-treating with Linda, and it ends up being a true bummer of a Halloween night as no one is prepared or even out and about due to the possibility of the wolf.
However, instead of calling it a night, Linda insists on proving she's a fun Mom to her kids and leads them on a Halloween adventure to actually look for the wolf. Through this storyline, Linda and the kids also run into the likes of Mr. Fischoeder, Felix, and hunter Randy Watkins, all out on this creepy, foggy evening for their own reasons. While Mr. Fischoeder and Felix act a little mysterious about things (even going so far as to claim "wolves aren't real"), Randy is actually out hunting the wolf and actually failing pretty hard at it, providing a good gag look at how silly some cryptid hunters can look.
While all of that is humorous and likewise gives us the episode's spooky atmosphere, the real comedy of the episode comes from Bob being stuck at home with his ankle and being tended to by Teddy, wearing a "sexy" nurse's outfit. As if that's not enjoyable enough, Bob also gets high and paranoid from painkillers, and the resulting banter between a high Bob and a dimwitted Teddy gets pretty funny. In the beginning, he even offers to help Bob use the bathroom by... well, I won't spoil it, but I have to say, I didn't necessarily expect it. These two are what really carry the episode.
However, that does not mean that the "trick-or-treating" storyline isn't good. As far as providing a great balance between the show's often off-the-wall humour and giving us a creepy, Halloween-friendly atmosphere, the episode does a great job and even manages to bring both the comedic and creepy storylines together in the end. I won't say how, but I was actually kind of impressed to some degree. But, if it's a genuine comedy you're looking for, this is one of the best for 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episodes. Especially if you're like me and love the contrast between Bob and Teddy.
However, instead of calling it a night, Linda insists on proving she's a fun Mom to her kids and leads them on a Halloween adventure to actually look for the wolf. Through this storyline, Linda and the kids also run into the likes of Mr. Fischoeder, Felix, and hunter Randy Watkins, all out on this creepy, foggy evening for their own reasons. While Mr. Fischoeder and Felix act a little mysterious about things (even going so far as to claim "wolves aren't real"), Randy is actually out hunting the wolf and actually failing pretty hard at it, providing a good gag look at how silly some cryptid hunters can look.
While all of that is humorous and likewise gives us the episode's spooky atmosphere, the real comedy of the episode comes from Bob being stuck at home with his ankle and being tended to by Teddy, wearing a "sexy" nurse's outfit. As if that's not enjoyable enough, Bob also gets high and paranoid from painkillers, and the resulting banter between a high Bob and a dimwitted Teddy gets pretty funny. In the beginning, he even offers to help Bob use the bathroom by... well, I won't spoil it, but I have to say, I didn't necessarily expect it. These two are what really carry the episode.
However, that does not mean that the "trick-or-treating" storyline isn't good. As far as providing a great balance between the show's often off-the-wall humour and giving us a creepy, Halloween-friendly atmosphere, the episode does a great job and even manages to bring both the comedic and creepy storylines together in the end. I won't say how, but I was actually kind of impressed to some degree. But, if it's a genuine comedy you're looking for, this is one of the best for 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episodes. Especially if you're like me and love the contrast between Bob and Teddy.
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Costumes
Linda - Cher-iff Tina - Mom-bie Louise - Javier Bardem from 'No Country for Old Men' Gene - Handsome Grapes Teddy - Sexy Nurse |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Freddie Kugel Halloween Noodles Exterminator Van: Polter-Mice, Pest Control Burger of the Day: NA Trivia:
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#03 - "Pig Trouble in Little Tina" (S10/E4)
Air Date: October 20, 2019
This episode's positioning is based on personal taste. The thing of it is, it's a 'Nightmare on Elm Street' parody, and I have a massive bias towards any sort of attempt at parodying my all-time favourite horror franchise. So, not everyone is gonna be with me on this one. I should also add that it's quite possibly one of the grossest episodes of 'Bob's Burgers' out there. We'll find out why in just a second.
It all starts out when Tina has to dissect a fetal pig in class. She's not looking forward to it; she feels pretty bad for these pigs. But, to fit in, she joins her friends in actually making fun of the deceased fetal pig in front of her. Because of this, she suddenly becomes haunted by creepy images of the dark, wisecracking fetal pig in her nightmares. She calls on her siblings for help with the situation, and they help however they can, but things don't tend to work out, and Tina continues to lose sleep.
To make matters for Tina even worse, she looks forward to joining some of the other kids (including Tammy, Jocelyn, Zeke and Jimmy Jr.) on a lame haunted hayride for some making out - something Tina always kind of dreads missing out on, as part of her character's overall charm. The other story is, admittedly, far from feeling right for Halloween, but it adds to the grossness of the episode, as it involves Bob and Linda tackling a bad earwax problem Bob seems to be plagued with. Although I will say, it seems to play with the idea of Linda being some kind of psycho.
It's tough for me to pass off a good 'Elm Street' farce, and the pig does a great job with those Freddy one-liners we Fred-heads love so much. He also delivers one of my favourite Bob's Burgers quotes ("This-is-what-your-brain-did!"), which is always good for a boost. The episode's downfall is that it doesn't seem to have much to do with Halloween, aside from a couple of costumes and the idea of a haunted hayride. But I really feel like the comedy here is still pretty great. I also, unlike many, give it a bit of credit for the gross-out stuff and taking that chance. I tell you, the image of a pig bursting its intestines all over the camera... pretty intense for a cartoon!
It all starts out when Tina has to dissect a fetal pig in class. She's not looking forward to it; she feels pretty bad for these pigs. But, to fit in, she joins her friends in actually making fun of the deceased fetal pig in front of her. Because of this, she suddenly becomes haunted by creepy images of the dark, wisecracking fetal pig in her nightmares. She calls on her siblings for help with the situation, and they help however they can, but things don't tend to work out, and Tina continues to lose sleep.
To make matters for Tina even worse, she looks forward to joining some of the other kids (including Tammy, Jocelyn, Zeke and Jimmy Jr.) on a lame haunted hayride for some making out - something Tina always kind of dreads missing out on, as part of her character's overall charm. The other story is, admittedly, far from feeling right for Halloween, but it adds to the grossness of the episode, as it involves Bob and Linda tackling a bad earwax problem Bob seems to be plagued with. Although I will say, it seems to play with the idea of Linda being some kind of psycho.
It's tough for me to pass off a good 'Elm Street' farce, and the pig does a great job with those Freddy one-liners we Fred-heads love so much. He also delivers one of my favourite Bob's Burgers quotes ("This-is-what-your-brain-did!"), which is always good for a boost. The episode's downfall is that it doesn't seem to have much to do with Halloween, aside from a couple of costumes and the idea of a haunted hayride. But I really feel like the comedy here is still pretty great. I also, unlike many, give it a bit of credit for the gross-out stuff and taking that chance. I tell you, the image of a pig bursting its intestines all over the camera... pretty intense for a cartoon!
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Costumes
Louise - The Bjorn Identity Gene - Fiona Applesauce |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Drag Me to Gel, Hair Supplies (in-episode) Exterminator Van: The Exor-Pest, Pest Control (in-episode) Burger of the Day: The 28 Maize Later Burger (comes with corn salsa) Trivia:
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#02 - "Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street" (S9/E4)
Air Date: October 21, 2018
For probably the first time since 'Full Bars,' the kids go trick-or-treating properly in this Halloween episode (excluding 'Wolf of Wharf Street,' where the kids get nothing better than apples). Ready for a night of loading up on candy, namely the new hit candy "Sticky Sugar Booms," the Belcher kids head out and have a great start to things. But soon, they run into Andy, Ollie, Rudy and Darryl, all of whom have had their candy stolen by various masked characters, making trick-or-treating extra difficult.
On the parental side of things, Bob and Linda run their restaurant, handing out terrible hard candies ("Dr. Peter's Bitter Drops") to the dismay of trick-or-treaters, but that serves as a backdrop for the real secondary story in which Teddy competes with Glenn (James Adomian), the handyman for the store next door to Bob's Burgers, for the most impressive Halloween display. After a while, Bob gets in on it, too, and much of the comedy comes from the pointlessness of the competition going well into the night to the point of not necessarily mattering.
I really have to hand it to this episode for providing such a wonderful blend of everything Halloween! We've got numerous costumes, trick-or-treating, setting up decorations, a haunted house, and probably more that I'm just not thinking of. Parts are mysterious, parts are spooky, parts are funny, and I might suggest that there's a little something here for everyone as far as a general audience is concerned. It's in the same spirit as the 'Full Bars' episode, but they really took care in dividing things up for the holiday.
What makes things even more interesting, and without spoiling anything, the episode has quite a feel-good ending to both storylines in which we get to see the good and understanding in some of these characters. Personal taste is the only thing that bumps it down a bit for this particular list. One will find this at the top of many similar lists, and I must admit it's totally justified. It's a great follow-up "best" overall Halloween episode, and I can highly recommend it, but... there's one in particular that was a favourite overall episode since I first saw it, let alone Halloween episode...
On the parental side of things, Bob and Linda run their restaurant, handing out terrible hard candies ("Dr. Peter's Bitter Drops") to the dismay of trick-or-treaters, but that serves as a backdrop for the real secondary story in which Teddy competes with Glenn (James Adomian), the handyman for the store next door to Bob's Burgers, for the most impressive Halloween display. After a while, Bob gets in on it, too, and much of the comedy comes from the pointlessness of the competition going well into the night to the point of not necessarily mattering.
I really have to hand it to this episode for providing such a wonderful blend of everything Halloween! We've got numerous costumes, trick-or-treating, setting up decorations, a haunted house, and probably more that I'm just not thinking of. Parts are mysterious, parts are spooky, parts are funny, and I might suggest that there's a little something here for everyone as far as a general audience is concerned. It's in the same spirit as the 'Full Bars' episode, but they really took care in dividing things up for the holiday.
What makes things even more interesting, and without spoiling anything, the episode has quite a feel-good ending to both storylines in which we get to see the good and understanding in some of these characters. Personal taste is the only thing that bumps it down a bit for this particular list. One will find this at the top of many similar lists, and I must admit it's totally justified. It's a great follow-up "best" overall Halloween episode, and I can highly recommend it, but... there's one in particular that was a favourite overall episode since I first saw it, let alone Halloween episode...
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Costumes
Bob - Bruce Springsteen Tina - Nun of Your Business Louise - The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo Gene - Andre 3000 The Giant Teddy - Clown Wig Rudy - Paul Rudd from 'I Love You, Man' Andy - Peanut Butter Ollie - Jelly Darryl - Pee Wee Herman |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Those Who Can, Dle Candles Exterminator Van: The Bug-A-Dook, Pest Control Burger of the Day: My Bloody Kale-Entine Burger Extra Notes:
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#01 - "The Hauntening" (S6/E3)
Air Date: October 18, 2015
Let me start this out by saying that not only is this my favourite 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episode, but it's probably one of my favourite Halloween episodes of anything on TV as well. It all starts with the concept of Bob and Linda taking the kids to a haunted house later that day. However, Louise insists that they're boring and dumb, and she only wishes she could feel fear, as she's pretty much fearless and can see the scares coming from a mile away.
Bob and Linda insist, however, that this is the year they finally get to scare Louise, as they borrowed a house they've done up from one of Mort's many clients. Louise gladly takes on the challenge, knowing how predictable things will be, and to no one's surprise, the haunted house, along with Bob and Linda's costumes, really aren't that creepy. That is up until about 8 minutes into the episode, when things kind of take a turn, and the family finds themselves face-to-face with a mysterious man with a hook and becomes trapped in the house due to a flat tire.
Inside the house is not a whole heck of a lot better, however, as the family is suddenly hit with loud, mysterious noises, a power outage, making everything dark, creepy imagery, and what seem to be the workings of an old mysterious cult. It's not long until Louise starts to second-guess her predictability, and even we, the viewers, wonder if they might be dealing with something a little more real than "The Real Ghost" from the previous Halloween episode.
This is one of the few of the 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episodes that carry a bit of a scare factor, and it's a breath of fresh air for us Halloween-heads to see the show crank up the creepiness quite significantly compared to its three predecessors. And to top everything off, we get to see a fun music video at the end from Tina's favourite boy band, Boyz4Now, singing "I Love You So Much, It's Scary" - a song that has found its way onto my regular Halloween playlist! Despite the lack of Halloween fun, this one still takes the cake for quite possibly the scariest of them, and for an animated series, that can go a very long way to make a great Halloween episode!
Bob and Linda insist, however, that this is the year they finally get to scare Louise, as they borrowed a house they've done up from one of Mort's many clients. Louise gladly takes on the challenge, knowing how predictable things will be, and to no one's surprise, the haunted house, along with Bob and Linda's costumes, really aren't that creepy. That is up until about 8 minutes into the episode, when things kind of take a turn, and the family finds themselves face-to-face with a mysterious man with a hook and becomes trapped in the house due to a flat tire.
Inside the house is not a whole heck of a lot better, however, as the family is suddenly hit with loud, mysterious noises, a power outage, making everything dark, creepy imagery, and what seem to be the workings of an old mysterious cult. It's not long until Louise starts to second-guess her predictability, and even we, the viewers, wonder if they might be dealing with something a little more real than "The Real Ghost" from the previous Halloween episode.
This is one of the few of the 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episodes that carry a bit of a scare factor, and it's a breath of fresh air for us Halloween-heads to see the show crank up the creepiness quite significantly compared to its three predecessors. And to top everything off, we get to see a fun music video at the end from Tina's favourite boy band, Boyz4Now, singing "I Love You So Much, It's Scary" - a song that has found its way onto my regular Halloween playlist! Despite the lack of Halloween fun, this one still takes the cake for quite possibly the scariest of them, and for an animated series, that can go a very long way to make a great Halloween episode!
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Costumes
Bob - Dr. Bobenstein/Two-Headed Monster w/Linda Linda - Lady Bobenstein/Two-Headed Monster w/Bob |
Gags & Trivia
Store Next Door: Blood Bath and Beyond, Red Bathroom Products Exterminator Van: The Last Mouse on the Left, Pest Control Burger of the Day: Breaking Radish Burger (comes with yams) Extra Notes:
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