Review: Bob’s Burgers ‘Housetrap’

 

Overview (Spoilers Below)

As I mentioned in my Simpsons review, I couldn’t review last Sunday’s episodes because I was returning from vacation. As in literally in the process of returning. I actually got to see most of Bob’s Burgers on the plane, and I say “most” because I missed a minute when I had to get up for the lady in the window seat to take a tinkle. And again when she got back. I should have just told firmly told her, “I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m working,” and continue to watch my cartoon, but I suffer from a horrible affliction called Being A Nice Guy, and granted her the request. I also missed a half-second of the episode here and there when we hit a bit of turbulence. Anyway, I agree with John’s scoring of a 9, as it was an insta-classic installment of Bob’s. Linda took the lead, shined, and had an hilariously-able supporting cast.

This week it went back to a family-focused episode, with the Belchers offering to help Teddy move furniture at a beach house in Craggy Neck. After finding out the owner was recently killed in a fall, Linda and the kids concocted a conspiracy theory involving the widowed wife and murder, and snooped around the house looking for evidence. Helen, the wife (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Kaitlin Olson), appeared during a power outage and played host to her guests, who were suspicious of her motives – save for Bob, who thought she was genuine, and Teddy, who was crushing on her.

After taking pain meds for an injury, Bob let it slip to Helen that Linda thinks she’s a murderer, and when a thunderstorm outside intensified, she offered to put them all up for the night. During an intense confrontation on the widow’s walk, Helen reassured Linda & the kids that she was innocent, and they believed her. However, a drugged-up Bob later found a hammer likely used to loosen the railing that gave way in the husband’s death. Not connecting the dots, Bob kept it to himself, and the family returned home.

In Case You Missed It:

1) Next door store: Meet the Patents – Patent Attorney

2) Exterminator: The Baiting is the Hardest Part.

3) Burger of the Day: She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Plantain Burger (comes with plantains).

4) Teddy’s idea of romance: “Sometimes we have tea on the deck and just talk for what feels like minutes.”

5) I wonder what happened with Gene: “I’m not allowed to wear cologne again until I prove I can be responsible with it.”

6) “Ms. Pac-Man eats fruits and ghosts. Don’t bring her into this.”

7) Linda asking Helen for a hug: “Gimme huggies.”

I find it a bit funny that the thing that held back Bob’s Burgers this week (although it was still a good episode) was the opposite as the problem with last night’s Simpsons. “Bull-E” only managed an average grade, because it had a shitty storyline and a solid amount of jokes. “Housetrap” had a very good storyline, but lacked the amount of gags that Bob’s usually provides. As the list above shows, it wasn’t especially quotable, and there were barely any subtle jokes aside from the usual ones in #s 1-3.

The funniest part, in my opinion, was Bob getting whacked out on pain killers. (Loopy Dad to Louise: “Because we’re friends, Gene!”) Almost as funny as when Bob makes objects talk, especially as he loses his sanity. Almost.

But the semi-murder mystery was entertaining and kept my interest the whole time. I also enjoyed seeing the Belchers try on the rich life, albeit temporarily. There murder conspiracy plotline was definitely interesting, but seeing a whole episode where the family parades around unsupervised in a rich person’s beach house would be hilarious. Kind of like a cross between “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal” and The Simpsons’ “The Mansion Family.” Props also for making a successful episode set almost entirely away from the restaurant.

I also want to mention that the casting of Kaitlin Olson was perfect, as she has a voice that can sound sweet at times and positively evil at other times. I love her on It’s Always Sunny, and after being bummed out that she only did the first season of Brickleberry, it was nice to see her back in voice acting.

So although I faulted “Housetrap” a bit for not being as funny as usual, that’s simply because of the high bar set by previous episodes. (And for the record, it beat The Simpsons this week, as it does most of the time.) In the end, this was a very entertaining installment, and we should all look forward to a strong finish to season five of Bob’s Burgers.