9x01 Just One of the Boyz 4 Now for Now

[7.5/10] I enjoyed both halves of this episode. I probably enjoyed Tina’s half less, which is a rarity for me. There’s a solid enough throughline there, where Tina believes she’s experienced love at first sight, but denies that she’s “boy crazy.” But it’s mainly an excuse for some dream sequences/mini-music videos where Tina relives several age-appropriate versions of romcom tropes. The songs are cute, and the idea is amusing; the episode just goes to that well a few too many times to where it becomes a little tiring.

That said, as is often the case for Bob’s Burgers, I like the affirming message, that it’s okay to be young and passionate and imaginative about these things when you’re a kid and experiencing romantic feelings for the first time. And using “Boyz 4 Now” as a comic lens for that, and how Boy Bands in general are a safe way to young women to try on those romantic feelings, is a deft choice as always.

But I enjoyed the story featuring the rest of the family more, as it fit more of the traditional Bob’s Burgers adventure mode. The whole family (minus Tina) teaming up to take care of a baby rat at Teddy’s behest is absolutely adorable. It created opportunities for tons of great one-liners from everyone (I especially liked Louise’s detailed explanation and promise to teach the rat brazilian jiu jitsu), and Bob being very against having a rat in his restaurant and then becoming its biggest champion is classic him.

Then throwing Hugo into the mix as an obstacle is a lot of fun. It creates a conflict that everyone has to adapt to, and the comic setpiece where the whole family teams up to obstruct him is great. I especially like the solution, where Bob puts the rat in his underwear since he knows Hugo can’t check there, which is a great physical gag and genuinely clever, if a little insane, which pretty much sums up the Belchers.

Overall, this was a well done and funny season premiere, with some classic Belcher capering on one side, and some TIna material that had diminishing returns, but its heart in the right place.