MR. FISCHOEDER ENLISTS BOB TO BE HIS PERSONAL CHEF ON AN ALL-NEW EPISODE OF BOB’S BURGERS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, ON FOX
Mr. Fischoeder enlists Bob to be his personal chef for a glamping trip on his exclusive club’s secret island. Meanwhile, Linda gives the kids a crash-course on cocktail party etiquette on the all-new “Escape From Which Island?” episode of Bob’s Burgers airing Sunday, November 12 (9:00-9:30 PM ET / 8:00 - 8:30 PM CT / 7:00 - 7:30 PM MT / 9:00 - 9:30 PM PT) on FOX. (BOB-1306) (TV-PG D, L, V)
Goths, drag queens, and circus clowns are the only ones who know how to use cosmetics as they should be used. If you’re not gonna be as dramatic, fucked up and weird as you can with it what is even the point
Let’s not discount pro wrestlers, Bull Nakano alone is worth adding them to the list
Don’t overthink it. These are all pretty good episodes.
Pain King vs. Cleopatra: The introduction of Monique! I have a weird affection for this episode because I can distinctly remember watching it when it was released (and then playing the stupid flash game associated with it). One-off villain and meh plot makes it okay.
Number One: It’s funny to know that Will was introduced as Ron’s romantic rival. Obviously the show is much better for them not pursuing that storyline. This episode successfully introduces Duff and has one of my favorite lines of the series.
The Truth Hurts: The half-episodes are about laughs. I don’t think this one does amazing at it (apart from the initial Drakken/Shego confrontation), but it’s sort of a fun high concept episode that probably would have benefitted from a full length expansion.
The Big Job: The Jr. and Shego relationship is actually pretty fun and could have used a few more episodes. This one is highlighted by how good the fight while trying to park in San Francisco is.
Ron the Man: The introduction of the Pandimensional Vortex Inducer and Dementor is a bit of a drag, mostly because I’m not sure how poigniant this episode is anymore by analyzing Ron’s masculinity. It may be dated, but there’s a lot of good here (including Shego asking Drakken how many men he can handle in a fight).
Mentor of Our Discontent: I have previously expressed my love for Lucre, but this episode detracts from that. I want to describe it as “diluted” because there’s too much stuff going on.
Downhill: I think this is a really solid episode and maybe the only one where the high school plotline outshines the spy plotline. I don’t have any particular fondness for DNAmy as a villain, but the theme of recognizing your parents as actual people does hit true for me.
Sink or Swim: Good episode and the first instance of “Ron is actually valuable.” MORE RON AND TARA.
Naked Genius: I think this marks the point where Shego’s respect for Drakken begins to deteriorate. It’s a good high concept episode and I love that Ron is successful at making some fashion of doomsday device.
October 31st: It’s a solid episode, almost in spite of the “Kim lies to everyone” plot.
Job Unfair: Honestly, this might deserve to be higher. All of Shego and Drakken’s weather machine manual talk is brilliant and Janitor Joe is a really likeable character. It’s a real success at merging the A and B plots.
The Golden Years: Kim’s nanna successfully completes the dance of going from annoying to awesome. It’s also refreshing to see Drakken be such a proponent for the aged community. I also like the hint at his business sense from running the ice cream truck.
Motor Ed: Successful introduction of two good characters. It’s a legitimately compelling problem that Kim doesn’t know how to speak to someone that’s paralyzed!
Showdown at the Crooked D: I enjoy that Shego takes interest in Drakken’s high school bitterness. I could listen to Ron and Joss forever … it would be nicer if Joss liked Ron better.
Triple S: It’s a very fun expansion of Senior’s backstory.
Big Bother: I really enjoy the seemingly main story about Monkey Fist taking place in the background. I’m less into Kim being jealous of Yori and Ron hating his little sister.
The Cupid Effect: I am ignoring the real world implications of the existence of a “love ray.” It’s a fun Senior plot and I liked Ron giving Wade romantic advice (like, the dude landed Kim … he’s doing something right).
Ill-Suited: I have nothing to say outside of Dementor attempting to convince Kim and Ron by wearing a house dress.
Grudge Match: There’s a lot going on here with Zita, Larry, etc. It’s just a decent episode.
Gorilla Fist: I think this is the first episode meant to make you realize that Kim is actually in on Ron. If I talked about it more, I could probably get sentimental enough to bump it up a few tears (also the Monkey Fist/DNAmy plot line is hilarious).
All the News: Ron makes Kim suffer in high school and AdrenaLynn isn’t the best villain. Should I have had this lower?
Since most of the episodes in the show are quality, the A-Tier is best defined as episodes that have a thing that makes them stand out. In addition to being quality, there’s a reason to remember them.
This is also the largest tier, so strap in.
Coach Possible: The Kim coaching B-Story runs a little flat, but Jr. putting together a nonsensical plan that results in hypnotized Kim and Ron dancing in cages in a nightclub is what I live for. There’s an underrated ending fight as well that culminates Kim fighting a Chuck E. Cheese robot, to catchy dance music, while Ron launches an evil disco ball to its destruction.
Bueno Nacho: Another iffy B-Story about petty work squabbles, but it’s one of the precious early-series moments where we get to see Drakken and Shego at the top of their game. This was actually back when Drakken was still menacing, despite kicking off the tiny oversight that ruins his plan trend. Also, the lean.
Tick Tick Tick: The first episode in the production order. It does feel weird because they hadn’t settled on the animation or the characters yet. That said, there is some amazing hero-villain banter in this one that they nailed right out of the gate.
Steal Wheels: The reveal that Motor Ed and Drakken are related pays off big time and it’s sort of a shame that more team-ups between the two didn’t happen. There are a couple of good things about the B-Plot here as well: (1) We sort of get a glimpse into how close Kim and Ron are, because she doesn’t know what to do with herself when he’s not there. (2) Always good to see Felix and have a character voiced by Jason Marsden.
Bad Boy: I honestly considered moving this lower, but I decided against it because the Attitudinator is too good of a concept to ignore. This episode drags a little bit because it gets bogged down in the exposition – They felt the need to go through the whole process of Drakken not feeling evil enough, them going to the convention, explaining why Kim and Ron went to the convention, Ron being a bully for a bit … like get to the Evil Ron stuff already!
It’s only a minor complaint though, this is still the A-Tier.
Mad Dogs and Aliens: Terrible B-Plot in this one because I never understood why Ron wasn’t touched by Jim and Tim taking on the mantle and him immediately jumping in to show them how it’s done (it’s also kind of forgettable, it took some brain racking to remember it). The A-Plot is gold though. Bitter Drakken and apathetic turned jealous Shego reconciling the consequences of multiple episodes of Season Three wasn’t really something I thought the show was capable of.
The New Ron: I’ve written it before, but the Seniors are brilliant villains. Combine a criticism of obscene wealth + Ron giving them the idea + the motivation for world domination being boredom … it’s just a glorious recipe for a unique, comedic delight. I also relate to Ron’s cowlick problems.
Monkey Fist Strikes: It’s another villain introduction for a very good villain. I think what really puts this one up there for me is another top fight scene. Another good music selection (that I’m not sure really how to describe other than giving off a Sherlock Holmes vibe). It results in Ron coming through, by himself, and leaving Fist cinematically strewn across the Tai Sheng Pek Kwa insignia and surrounded by four broken idols.
Odds Man In: What a surprise, another sort of weak high school B-plot. The interesting aspects here are Drakken getting caught up in the sort of corporate villainy he had previously expressed distaste for (see Rappin’ Drakken). Also, Wade goes on a mission with Kim!
Mind Games: I love the body swap concept, but fiction always sort of does it the same way. Freaky Friday, Gravity Falls, this episode … it’s all sort of the “I didn’t understand how hard you had it” thing. What makes this episode A-tier is Drakken and Shego’s interactions over the body swaps and the Neutronalizer are some of the funniest bits in the series.
Low Budget: I love Frugal Lucre. I love that he is voiced by Richard Kind and I love the idea of trying to hold the world hostage without spending any money.
Crush: I made a whole post about how this is a really good Ron episode. It also might be the exception to this tier where it’s just really high quality all the way through, but without anything particularly high concept about it. That’s probably why it aired first.
Car Trouble: All of Shego and Drakken’s interaction with Dr. Freeman are fantastic. It’s too bad he wasn’t a recurring scientist like Bortle. It’s also a better B-plot than most because Sadie was a perfectly likeable vehicle.
Go Team Go: One of the brief glimpses we actually get of Shego’s past. I’m not sure if I’m 100% sold on her brothers or not, but undoubtedly this is one of the more interesting episodes. Plus, evil family.
A Very Possible Christmas: I’ve taken to watching this on Christmas. A lot of gushy holiday feelings between the two lead pairs. The ending is a little weird though.
Dimension Twist: There is an element of cringe here – It’s weird to put Shego in a very milquetoast Friends parody. There’s a lot of good as well (trap trap, Drakken’s book) and honestly, I just want to see what else the Pandimensional Vortex Inducer can do.
The Ron Factor: I wrote a whole post about this one too. It’s a very interesting subversion of the metanarrative within the show and the only reason it isn’t S-tier is that Global Justice annoys me a bit. Could definitely have used more Gemini in later episodes though.
Sick Day: This is the best of the sub-15 minute episodes and the whole point of them is to go for quick laughs and nothing else. I would say it achieved it here with both sides having to quickly adjust to illness and the introduction of Hank Perkins.
Hidden Talent: “Say the Word” is a certified banger. I also like to see Drakken taking initiative to try and be a step ahead of the heroes. Don’t forget, the only reason he loses here is because he tries the most complicated way of finishing off Kim ever.
Overdue: The second best of the 15-minute episodes. Once again, we’re only here for jokes so we’re going to see what happens when Ron tries to rush through defeating a bunch of different villains. It’s enjoyable.
Oh No, Yono!: It’s the end of Monkey Fist. It’s a satisfying coming-of-age conclusion for Ron and a heartwrenching moment when Kim gets turned to stone. It’s only not S-tier because Yono’s presence detracts from Ron’s real archenemy.
Exchange: For as good as this episode is, it’s also very much a setup for what the series planned to do with Ron in the future. We’ve seen him succeed on his own at this point, but Exchange is interesting in that it creates a part of his life that Kim just can’t be associated with.
The Twin Factor: The first of like a hundred mind control plots. It’s fun to see brainwashed Shego and Kim and it was important for the series to actually develop Jim and Tim a bit, lest they be pigeonholed into one-joke obstacles for Kim to overcome.
To all the people against Batgirl of Burnside and begging for Barbara Gordon to become Oracle again, I do want to stress that the Burnside series is developing the Nu52′s version of Oracle with the character of Frankie Charles.
You know, this cutie right here?
She even shows off her skill in the role in the Batgirl Annual #3 preview
Seriously. I’m surprised that tumblr is insisting that the same white cisgendered heterosexual girl be crippled and put back in the role when the new upcoming Oracle is black, bisexual and disabled (Frankie has muscular dystrophy and uses crutches several times in the series).
Shouldn’t people be stoked as hell about this?
I can think of a few reasons.
1. The very idea that a character who used to be disabled in a way that can’t be reversed in the real world has been reversed in comics pisses a lot of people off, and really I can’t blame them. Another disabled character taking on the role won’t do anything to address that problem.
2. Not everyone is reading the series because of the aforementioned problem, which again is perfectly understandable as that is a natural reason to be put off something, so they wouldn’t know about this character.
3. Upcoming just isn’t the same as “this is for sure a thing that is happening.” So it’s kinda hard to be hyped over something that you have no possible way of knowing about and is only being hinted at (I’m guessing? I don’t know if it’s been announced that she’s becoming Oracle officially or anything).
Be hyped if you want, but I don’t think it’s very logical to criticize people for not being hyped over something that doesn’t really address or erase what they were mad about in the first place. Especially if they have no way of knowing this thing is even happening unless they read the book that makes them angry to begin with, which just isn’t a reasonable expectation. One should never feel pressured to buy a book they just don’t want to read.
I understand, I’m being illogical and in this situation and I applaud you for pointing it out. I guess I’m begging for too much here. People really do want Babs to be Oracle again and I better just accept that.
Here’s some more logic:
DC won’t let Babs be Oracle. Yes, it’s okay to be pissed about that.
HOWEVER
Team Batgirl realizes how important that type of hero was and created Frankie to help fill that role. And Frankie is a very important choice for that role.
Frankie’ s disability is muscular dystrophy. It has no cure and it will get worse. There’s not much chance for changes and take backs down the road like they did with Babs. Also, Frankie is a bisexual woman of color.
You people complain that they should have made new characters instead of redoing older ones. Well guess what. New characters don’t always take off on their own book. So here’s one that needs your help.
If you care about what Oracle represents, you should maybe think about checking her out. The more people get hyped about Frankie becoming Oracle, the more likely they might let it happen.
Supporting Frankie and Alysia are two very good reasons to read Batgirl of Burnside.
It should also be noted that for the last couple regular issues (plus the Endgame issue, the sneak peek earlier this summer and the Annual), Frankie HAS been Barbara’s tech cohort/voice in her ear during missions. they haven’t given her a code name yet (it keeps getting teased) but she’s doing the Oracle role. So people saying they don’t want to wait around for a new Oracle - congratulations, you don’t have to!
Also, I’ve seen people flat out say that Frankie isn’t “DISABLED ENOUGH” to be Oracle. And yes, these are a lot of the same people saying they’ll only accept Barbara as Oracle. And please don’t make me explain why that’s a gross way to react to a character who has muscular dystrophy.
And as an aside, “they have no way of knowing this thing is even happening unless they read the book”? Unless they listen to people who are reading the book. That tends to be how you find out about things you aren’t reading yourself.
There is not a goddamn cap on disabled characters. You cannot simply replace one disabled character with another, then point and say ‘well she’s filling the Oracle role so shut up haters!’
Even more outrageous is the idea that disabled characters are interchangable. Muscular dystrophy and being paralyzed due to spine trauma are two very different backstories with different mentalities and ideas attached to them. MD is genetic; you’re born with it. Coping with MD, which Frankie has had all her life, is very different than learning to cope with trauma-induced paralyzation.
Barbara’s experience was unique among superheroes and media in general because it showed a previously healthy, active woman go through an event that disabled her physically and traumatized her emotionally and then pickherself back up, learn how to function, and then proceed to become an invaluable aspect of the superhero community afterwards.
The issue is not that Frankie is being developed as the New 52′s version of Oracle. The issue is that a beloved character (who happens to be one of the most well-known and iconic disabled superheroes in comic history) was de-aged nearly twenty years, had her disability trivialized and erased, and is now acting vastly out of character in a role she outgrew long ago. And then have people like you who come around and defend this treatment because she’s white and because ‘oh look! they’re writing another disabled character to replace her why are you mad?’
And Barbara already had a potential successor in Wendy Harris/Proxy:
And a final issue here is this: Frankie could have existed without removing Babs from her role as Oracle. Frankie could have existed without removing Babs’ disability. Frankie could have existed without Batgirl of Burnside. The same way Cassandra Cain, Wendy Harris, and Charlie Gage-Radcliffe (all proteges Barbara mentored at one point or another) existed without Batgirl of Burnside or without sacrificing Bab’s legacy as a disabled hero or as Oracle.
The bottom line is that erasing Barbara’s status as both a disabled hero and as Oracle removes a) a large part of Barbara’s character development, personality, and history, b) erases her history and relationships with the multiple people she mentored that she would not have otherwise (Cass, Stephanie Brown, Wendy, Charlie, hell the entire Birds of Prey really) and c) removes one of the most prominent disabled superheroes in comics history. The erasure of the Oracle role is not necessarily what’s making us angry and upset; the erasure of Barbara Gordon as Oracle is what continues to make a lot of people upset, and introducing a new character to take on that role will not erase the lack of Barbara in that role, a role she created pre-reboot.
And more than that, in regards to Burnside!Babs specifically, what frustrates us most is the creators creating a character that bears the name Barbara Gordon but has little to no relation to Barbara’s former personality, and a character that has lost nearly all of her connections and relationships to the greater superhero community. Where’s the iron-clad friendship bordering on sisterhood with Dinah Lance, Helena Bertinelli, and Zinda Blake? Where are her multiple mentees? Where are her connections and her team? Where are the multitude of superheroing friends and family she acquired outside of the Batfam? Yeah, she has some friends in Hipsterville, but she seems to have no superheroing connections outside of the Batfam, which is doing her character a grave disservice. And this doesn’t even begin to touch on the issues regarding the team’s approach to Babs’ personality and heroing methods.
Yes, it’s good the BoB team is introducing new characters, especially characters that are disabled. Frankie is a great and interesting character and I like her. However, that doesn’t erase the ongoing issue of how they’re treating Barbara Gordon in her own book. It’s not the supporting characters we have an issue with; it’s how they’re treating the protagonist.
Also, really? How selfish and immature are you to actually argue that it’s a good thing an iconic disabled superhero was erased because she was white and heterosexual?
