Review: Bob’s Burgers “Die Card, or Card Trying”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Christmas card pictures are very easy to get wrong, and very hard to get right. The Belchers know this firsthand, as they haven’t been able to take a good holiday card picture in recent history. Linda is determined to change this, and sets off on a quest to capture a card-worthy snapshot of the whole family.

They take a three mile hike to a beautiful scenic view that makes the perfect image background. But when the camera gets stuck, it looks like the dream will stay a dream — until Louise works some puzzle-based mind magic with the help of the park ranger.

Our Take:

Die Card, or Card Trying is an episode that does a lot of things right, except for the fact that it’s airing at the wrong time. Apparently due to recent FOX scheduling issues, this journey to snap the perfect family picture is airing several weeks after Valentines Day — and it’s set in early January. Despite this making the episode feel a bit belated (or alternatively, super early), it’s still a fun outing with the Belcher clan.

Linda’s motivation to get the ultimate holiday picture with her family is relatable, especially for those of us who come from bigger families where there’s always that one person whose eyes are closed or making a weird face. (Louise’s serial killer face is an excellent visual gag, by the way.)

Even though this week’s episode is centered around Linda and her all-consuming desire to not be left out of the holiday card receiving tradition, it’s really an ensemble piece. Every member of the family gets about equal billing in terms of jokes and plot lines, even if some are less exciting than others. Setting the episode during the week after Christmas lets each of the family get their own special gag. Bob throws increasingly obscure concoctions at the kids thanks to his new juicer. Tina got a hat that’s a bit too small, but a lot of her jokes also revolve around Gene, who’s addicted to his new harmonica, much to her chagrin.

And then there’s Louise, who has been trying to solve her toy/puzzle thing ever since she unwrapped it on the big day. It’s nice that this ties into the finale of the episode, where Louise finally solves the puzzle and uses the solution to free Linda and the camera from their rock prison. A bit too neatly, maybe, but I’d rather things be too tied together than not at all.

Speaking of things being together, the park ranger is definitely one of the stand out moments from Die Card, or Card Trying. He’s not together with his family, and so makes an easy target for Linda’s impassioned speech about how the holiday card is a symbol of the family unity itself. Combined with his escalating system of warnings and his open-mindedness when it comes to being asked to lift a woman into the air and upside down, he’s a fun addition who, while not being as quirky as other side characters, has enough charm to make up for it.

The conflict is slight, the conclusion isn’t super exciting, and there isn’t quite as much pathos as one might expect from an episode taking place so close to the holidays, but Bob’s Burgers still manages to spark warm feelings of holiday cheer by reminding us of the power of human connection that something as simple as a greeting card can bring. It’s doubly impactful when viewed in the context of the last year, as physical cards are one of the ways we can still connect with those we love. And be sure stick around during the end credits, as the montage of the Belcher cards of yesteryear are hilarious viewing in their own right.