Of all the possible late-stage Bob’s Burgers developments, here’s one I really didn’t expect: Nine years in, and the show has finally figured out Gene. “Drumforgiven” follows the recent “All That Gene” as the second episode this season to focus the emotional crux of the episode on the middle Belcher, and between them a clear blueprint has emerged as to how to tell Gene stories. What’s especially exciting is that those two episodes offer a consistent picture of what it means for Gene to experience an emotional crisis, so it’s not just that a couple good episodes independently came up with ways to wring some feelings out of a character who otherwise is best-suited to delivering Dadaesque one-liners. I actually feel like I now know who Gene is better than I did even a few episodes ago, in much the same way the show figured out how to make audiences connect with Tina early in the show’s run, and then again with Louise a few seasons later.
So, based on these episodes, who is Gene? He’s a kid with dreams and boundless, if forever unfocused energy devoted to pursuing those dreams. When reality crashes down around him, though, he withdraws into a muted, forlorn version of himself. What’s interesting about that is the role Gene plays in this episode and “All That Gene” is actually pretty minimal, as the whole point is that he disengages from those around him. Both Louise in this episode and Linda in the earlier story go to absurd, self-defeating lengths to do right by Gene because they don’t know how else to reach him when he’s so sad. In theory, having Gene act like this might seem as though it would short-circuit opportunities to reveal more about the characters, given he doesn’t really interact with anyone. But even just the fact we know the electric drum set—to say nothing of his insecurity around whether his younger sister actually believes he can take care of himself—matters that much to him is a key departure from earlier Gene-centric stories like, say, “Gene It On”, where the one-off guest character very obviously cared about cheerleading but it wasn’t at all clear what it meant for Gene himself.
Because the episode can give Gene a proper emotional arc, everything else just works better. Louise’s defense of her brother plays as precisely that, an act of over-the-top and probably unnecessarily protective love for her brother. There’s actual pathos as Gene psychs himself up to talk to Dino, the owner of the Ocean Avenue Hifi Emporium. Bob’s Burgers can absolutely be funny enough to get by without any of this stuff, with Louise simply operating as an agent of chaos and Gene remaining more or less his usual weirdo self even after Dino bans him. But the fact the episode takes this time to establish those dynamics just makes everything flow easier. The story has a clear momentum, building to the satisfying resolution in which Gene actually articulates to Louise what bothers him so much about her trying to help him. The focus on Gene’s emotional distress even provides free jokes along the way, like when Zeke shows off more of his surprising inner depth when commenting on Gene’s sadness.
The other half of this episode, in which Teddy keeps making far too big a deal of doing work for Jimmy Pesto behind Bob’s back, is just as good. I’m not always the biggest fan of Teddy, especially when the entire joke for his appearance takes the form of him yelling, but this is one of the show’s best executions of that particular joke. He’s just so completely unreasonable at every turn, escalating without cause as Bob struggles to understand what, if anything, he ought to do. We get what feels like a rare Mort appearance here, as the restaurant’s other regular customer attracts Teddy’s ire when he judges the mortician is trying to steal his spot as Bob’s best friend. These kind of scenes tend to work best when it sounds like all involved—principally H. Jon Benjamin as Bob and Larry Murphy as Teddy—are just winging it, improvising their shouting matches to deliver something that just barely stays on the right side of coherent. It’s very possible all the jokes here, even a moment that feels especially ad-libbed like Teddy missing the door and trying to exit through a wall, are in the original script, but the whole thing just feels so free and loose, which adds to the overall comedic effect. It’s also a nice little contrast to the main story, which gets some of its strength from how clearly and logically all the characters are presented.
And here’s the best part about this Gene episode: “Drumforgiven”, like “All That Gene” before it, is a really strong, funny episode. That’s true of the Gene story, plus all the business with Linda, Bob, and Teddy. My biggest laugh-out-loud moment of this entire season came when Linda confidently declares “A woman knows” when a man has had a sex dream about her. She is in similarly fine form later in the episode in the scene around the dinner table, where she insists on playing peacemaker right up to picking and immediately resolving a fight with Tina. This is one of those episodes that puts every character in a position to be as funny as possible, no matter how small their role might be, and a lot of that comes from how recognizable the characters are. All four Pestos illustrate that. Andy and Ollie remain as delightfully bizarre as ever, given enough time to weird everyone out without overstaying their welcome. Jimmy Pesto shows up right at the end after lurking in the background of Bob and Teddy’s storyline, there to be his usual obnoxious jerk self and try to get a rise out of his rival. And then there’s Jimmy Jr., who just so desperately wants to have an excuse to play Chris de Burgh’s “Lady In Red” as part of a scheme.
“Drumforgiven” is a hell of a great way for Bob’s Burgers to kick off a new decade. Some of what we get here feels familiar, especially on Bob and Linda’s side of the episode, but done with the kind of goofy energy to head off any risk of staleness. And then, the episode gives us more of a Gene we have seen precious little of before, but in a way that feel like it expands the show’s possibilities rather than contradict anything. Maybe Bob’s Burgers only figures out a Belcher kid when it absolutely needs to. The show first showed its true potential when it got inside Tina’s head, and its mid-run development of Louise helped keep the show fresh and surprising five or six seasons in. Now, in season 10, it’s finally time for Gene to shine. I’m very pleasantly surprised that I’m able to say that I can’t wait to see where the show goes with him next.
Stray observations
- Bobcat Goldthwait is on hand to give what is by his standards a pretty subdued performance as Dino. I do like the little realism that Gene challenging Dino to a battle of the drums goes, well, exactly like you’d expect a kid taking on an adult to go.
- One thing that does occur with Gene: His withdrawing inward whenever he’s feeling sad does feel a little like how his father represses emotions he isn’t prepared to feel—which in this episode might have included some of what he said in his fake fight with Teddy, depending on how much you believe Linda. Anyway, it’s cool that Gene’s emotions make some sense in terms of where he might get that from.
46 Comments
I am grateful to What’s On Tonight for telling me this was airing post sportsball so I could record the show after it just in case. Otherwise I would have missed the last 10 minutes of the episode. Thanks, AV CLUB!
Also: I want that drum machine, too. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ALL THE PORTS ON THE BACK ARE!
I think I hear my TR-606 in the garage calling my name…
I missed that! My Korg W/01 is going to have words with me when I get home…
Every single time I hear that dog bark on Gene;’s keyboard in the opening credits, I miss my Casio SK-1.
It took 10 seasons?
The small detail of the fact that Gene loses the beats battle in convincing fashion is one of those things that really sets Bob’s Burgers apart. I feel like a lot of shows would have set it up as the moment the bullying shop worker gets bested by a main character, but instead it hews much more closely to reality in that the 12 year old is not as good at this instrument as the adult who plays it regularly. Not only much more realistic, but also leads to a much more satisfying emotional beat where the shop guy sees how much it means to Gene rather than just getting some cheap, unearned comeuppance.
I didn’t give it much thought until reading your comment, but that actually resonated more strongly with me because it was an unexpected resolution and somewhat realistic.
No mention of one of the best Andy and Olly moments of all time?Andy: I guess I could move some things around.Olly: I’m moving my thing around.
“That’s what makes our marriage work!”Weird, weird kids.
The episode where Gene forms a bond with the Jon Hamm Toilet would like to have a word!
A PLAUGE ON FOX UNTO THE FOURTH GENERATION!!!They KNEW they were going to be airing an important sportsball game late in the day. They KNOW that such games often run very long, and are followed by an obligatory post-game show.Why, then, would you schedule a NEW episode of Bob’s Burgers immediately after the “scheduled” end time for the game? Use that time spot for a re-run, and air the new episode on a day when there won’t be such a conflict!
You’re not wrong but does anyone watch broadcast anymore for anything other than sports, awards shows, and those totally, manufactured live extravaganza events (an Archie Bunker reboot because networks are out of good ideas) that no one asked for or needs?
In the Midwest, they scheduled an hour local news show… which ran for the full hour. So if you didn’t record the garbage “Bless the Harts” episode afterward, you missed a bunch of Bob’s Burgers.Not much better. It works best when they have a schedule post-game half hour that they can cut short (or kill completely) if necessary.
Yeah, we ended up watching it on demand through our cable cause the DVRed version was borked.
I thought they did that on purpose to get a ratings bump from people who were watching the NFL playoffs and forgot to turn their TVs off.
I think that’s the idea they do it with the super bowl too.
God damnit that’s the exact same bullshit they pulled with original Futurama and Family Guy. I swear they do it to shows they want to cancel.
You’d think they’d have given up after a decade.
Why? Probably because they’re planning on canceling the show so they need to artificially drive down its rating as a flimsy justification. They did the same thing with Futurama.
Yep. I checked the guide in the afternoon and couldn’t believe what I was seeing – first that Bob’s was on at all and then that it was new.
Ya, my DVR lopped off the last third of the episode. I used to add time after Fox shows, but it started creating conflicts so I removed them as I rarely needed the extended time.I’ll have to try On-demand or find the last part of the episode online.
The Boston Fox affiliate actually handled this well. Instead of scheduling the show for a time it would be preempted by football, they ran it at 10:30, after an abbreviated local news show. I had to wait until Monday to watch it, but that’s better than recording half the show.
Ugh, I need to catch the rest of this episode on Hulu, stupid ass NFL after show, or after game or whatever, ran 13 minutes late and right into my DVR recording of this episode. I need the Gene!
Gene saying Louise acts like Gene can’t stand up for himself was a great moment and a fantastic character beat, though I think the episode could have used more Gene to make it land, he really wasn’t in the episode much, it felt like.Also, perhaps a deeply controversial opinion, but I’m not a fan of Teddy. It’s been much better this season, but does anyone remember two or three seasons ago when we were getting him in almost every episode? Wasn’t a fan. It was nice to see Mort again, though
Agreed on the grade and all your points, even though many years part-time in a similar shop working adjacent to keyboards had me rooting for Dino.
Showin’ some Mort love. It feels like forever since he’s had a line in the show – since the last time he was in the restaurant, I’ve “gained” a manager with the same hair and dye job and now I can’t unsee it.
The Gene story was great. One of the best they’ve done in awhile, maybe ever.But I’m downgrading the episode on the Teddy/Bob story. Teddy was beyond annoying this episode. It actually bothered me, as much as a fictional cartoon can (not that much), that Bob gave into him and played along. Teddy’s ridiculous behavior became more of a distraction than anything else. Instead of laughing and enjoying the show, you’re like “why would anyone keep tolerating this, even from Teddy?”
Teddy running across the street to the burger store almost getting hit by the car was the funniest animation
Also loved Louise running across the street – stopping to look both ways – and then continuing to run.
Yeah! Good contrast
That was a really cool little moment. I like to think that Bob really drilled the looking both ways things into the kids, and Louise isn’t going to let down her dad.
Bob takes car and traffic safety very seriously, so that tracks. “Buckle it up, buckle it up, buckle it up or you’ll die!”
– What sweet sibling energy in this episode!- I’d say the catchiest portmanteau is Tamborina.
– Another good “these are just kids” note was Louise’s threat based on only the trailer for John Wick.
– Bob’s seemed less interested in his rivalry with Jimmy in recent years. I definitely heard more conviction in his defense of his friendship with Teddy than the rest of the confrontation.- The sermon at my church yesterday was also about avoiding/handling disputes (for example, standing up for others yet not butting into a fight that isn’t mine). So that was a neat coincidence.- Anyone else get Steven Universe vibes as Jimmy Jr. claimed he could rave – I mean, dance to this?
Gene really is Louise’s puppy.
Louise pausing mid-NOOOO to check for traffic before crossing was also a highlight.
I like the running gag that Louise is familiar with, but has not actually seen, a bunch of age inappropriate movies and TV shows. (‘Drive’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ have been mentioned in previous episodes.)
Good point! And gene knows die hard like the back of his hand
And The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!
The scene where the kids enter the shop one by one and start making crazy noise on the instruments was pure gold.
The moment where Gene confronts Louise and she admits she loses control when someone’s mean to him was just beautiful. I feel like Louise is still uncomfortable realising she loves her family, so when she feels that she has to go to an emotion she understands better: pure rage. There’s a nice parallel with Teddy, who can’t process his mixed feelings about taking a job at Pesto’s and so defaults to just yelling.Also, Zeke saying, “Who hurt my little lamb?” about Gene was the most adorable thing.
I love Zeke’s development most of all the supporting characters. He started off as the gross weird kid, and now he…well, he’s still that, but he’s got a heart of gold to go along with it. And I love that this episode acknowledges that they’re friends or at least friendsish, since it was clear in Carpe Museum and Stand by Gene that they get along great, but we don’t see them interact nearly enough for my liking.
I absolutely adore Zeke as a character.
Yeah, Zeke used to be one of my least favourite characters, but I think they’ve made some really smart choices developing him. He’s so earnest about his feelings that I can’t help but love him.
I love that genes singing is the same as his singing when he is moving the algae 🤗🤗🤗 Teddy was a loooot of teddy intensity to take but the ending was all worth it.
I don’t really see it as Gene repressing feelings; he just gets quiet when he’s sad. I’m the same way. I enjoyed this episode more than All That Gene just because the ending didn’t feel like it undid all of Gene’s growth at the end, but both were so wonderfully watchable. A few seasons ago I was worried this show had hit seasonal rot, but it’s since gotten its feet back under it wonderfully. I think I’ve at least liked every episode this season so far. Not sure why Gene it On keeps coming up as unclear as to what cheerleading means to Gene; it means nothing beyond how good his legs look in shorts. Ultimately he wants to win because he’s a good kid who knows how much it means to everyone else – and we’ve seen that he can get competitive over stuff he’s not hugely passionate about (the tablescaping subplot is still a favorite of mine. Bob screaming “Show her the tampon straw!” gets me every time.)
I thought this one was a lot better than All That Gene.In Drumforgiven, Gene’s character actually made sense and the (A) story felt like something that could actually happen.