Review: Bob’s Burgers ‘Can’t Buy Me Math’

Spoilers Below:

It feels like it’s been forever since I last reviewed a Bob’s Burgers. And actually, it has been a pretty long time. There’s only been one new episode on FOX in the past four weeks, and I wasn’t the one covering it that night. But Bob’s Burgers is back now, so let’s get to it.

After doing poorly on a math exam, Tina vowed to get better, and enlisted Darryl to tutor her. He agreed, in exchange for her helping him become desirable to his crush. Darryl also promised Tina she would land Jimmy Jr., and they pretended to date in hopes of eventually winning the title of Cupid’s Couple at the upcoming school dance. Tina ended up falling for her fake beau, but they went through with the plan to fake break up their fake relationship, and it worked. However, Tina confessed the whole thing in front of her friends, ruining both of their relationships. She promised an angry Darryl that she would fix things, and did, using honesty. In remedial math class (because Darryl never really tutored her) Tina sat next to Jimmy Jr.

Meanwhile, Bob and Linda decided to do a different type of Valentine’s Day, where according to Linda, Bob needed to: “Say goodbye to the pressure of being super romantic on one day, and say hello to being somewhat romantic for a bunch of days leading up to the big V!” They went through sexy cooking, a bubble bath, and stripping, with each one becoming a failure. But they ended up making the best of it, and enjoyed each other, as they always do.

In Case You Missed It:

1) Next door store: I’ve Got Crabs – Hermit Crab Emporium

2) Burger of the Day: Let It Snow Peas Burger.

3) Tina’s future little grandbabies were adorable.

4) How did Tina date two-and-a-half boys?

5) “Bugs are like the new hugs.”

6) Tina: “Wanna know how many holds will be barred? None.”

7) “Lane 5: don’t do that.”

8) Some of the arcade games: Space Runner, Lane Merger, Moats, Goodie Grab, and Smash-A-Mole.

Dammit if Bob’s Burgers doesn’t nail it almost every holiday. Admittedly, this year’s Christmas episode was a bit flat, but last year’s “Christmas in the Car” was one of the best all-time, and the show kills it every Thanksgiving and Halloween. So why wouldn’t a Bob’s Valentine’s Day installment succeed?

It had two stories, each of them involving love, and each one working for different reasons. When it comes to Bob & Linda, he is best when tolerantly putting up with something he isn’t exactly comfortable with, and she’s best when acting passionately or emotionally toward something, and being her usual unique self. When Linda pitched the idea of a week-long Valentine’s Day and a reluctant Bob agreed, I knew the story would work right away. The two stumbled their way through attempted romance, and despite nothing going as planned, their obvious love for each other prevailed during the whole experiment. Yes, it was a bit sappy; but if you weren’t pleasantly amused, then you have no soul. And if you weren’t a little disturbed during the striptease, you probably have some sort of fat, hairy, cartoon fetish.

In other news, once again the kids put forth a fantastic effort. We got to see Tina in a starring role, Louise and Gene as scheming co-conspirators, and Aziz Ansari reprising the character of Darryl. (Aziz also sang – twice! – and for some reason this is something I always love.) Zeke, Jimmy Jr., and numerous other classmates turned out in supporting roles, with only Andy and Ollie missing. And possibly Regular-Size Rudy too, right?

Still, we had an especially strong showing from Tina, who let her emotions get the best of her yet again. And this is why we adore Tina. She’s awkward and nerdy and rarely says the right thing, yet she’s confident and passionate and in love with being in love. She’s either a fictional character that is a stereotypical love-struck fictional character, or a fictional character that has watched way too many stereotypical love-struck fictional characters.

In the end, it doesn’t matter. Tina is always working some plan to find true love and get someone she likes to fall for her; little does she know, a whole country of adoring fans fall for her each and every week.