Bob’s Burgers recap: What about Blob? is Gene’s passion project

Gene is front and center in this week’s Bob’s Burgers, “What about Blob?” when he tries to save a friend while Linda tries to reform Trev.

Sadly, Bob’s Burgers has yet to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It’s not for lack of trying, though but until next year. Instead, this week’s episode is another journey into one of our favorite characters albeit an underrated one. Entitled “What about Blob?” this episode follows Gene on an adventure that only he can get into. As Gene doesn’t get enough attention, this week’s episode will hopefully show us an entirely new side of the middle Belcher.

If you haven’t watched this week’s episode of Bob’s Burgers, there will be spoilers from “What about Blob?” from this point on!

“What about Blob?” starts with the Belcher kids walking home from school. Gene explains that he got in trouble for banging his fork against the lunch table and he goes to get dollar oysters from an oyster bar. While there, Gene spots a green blob and the worker explains that it’s plankton which the sea needs. Once at the restaurant, Gene gets in trouble again for being loud so he goes down to the marina. While down there, the kids see the water is sparkly and shiny.

More from FOX

• Only 3 of FOX’s live-action scripted shows are coming back in March 2024 the rest are being held for Fall 2024
• Is El Cantito from Kitchen Nightmares still open?
• Bob’s Burgers: The (Raccoon) King and I was a busy episode for all
• Bob’s Burgers skipping Thanksgiving this year: Here are 4 can’t-miss holiday episodes to rewatch
• Is Love Bites from Kitchen Nightmares still open?

The following day, they go back to see if it’s still there and the worker explains that the plankton is bioluminescence. Gene overhears someone, saying that they have to get rid of the plankton and he decides to save it. He goes to the yacht club to try and convince them to change their mind with Tina and Louise as moral support. Once at the yacht club, the yacht club president explains that the blob came over to their club and says that the blob isn’t healthy so he wants to put powdered bleach on it.

He agrees to run a test, offers them food and they come back the following day where the president pretends to have run a test. Gene realizes he lied to them and they decide to enlist Duncan and Sasha to help them as Sasha has a yacht. Sasha says no at first, but he agrees to help them as long as his yacht club wins.

The following day, Sasha distracts the yacht club president’s goons while the others replace the bleach with bread crumbs. The president catches up with them and tries to get the bleach back but they dump it in the toilet. To save the plankton, the 5 of them rent kayaks and bang their paddles against them to move the blob away from the yacht club with Gene being the reason why it started.

At the restaurant, Bob gets taunted by Trev instead of Jimmy because Jimmy’s on vacation. The following day, Trev comes over and hangs out with Bob and Linda. Trev comes back again and Linda convinces him to stop high-fiving Jimmy so he’s not a meanie weenie. The episode ends with Trev standing up to Jimmy and the plankton getting eaten by the fish in the ocean.

“What about Blob?” feature two plotlines but should have only had one. The plotline with Gene was incredibly strong and would have made a full episode. The plotline with Bob, Trev and Linda was supposed to be comedic relief. However, it didn’t really make sense in the episode and detracted from Gene’s story. Then again, not every secondary plotline can be a winner.

That being said, Gene’s plotline was perfect for him. The best Gene episodes are ones where he’s trying to make a difference. In season 7, he was trying to get the recipe for chunky blast-offs change and this time, he’s trying to save a plankton blob. Even though he doesn’t get as much attention, Gene is an incredibly motivated and determined character. Watching him stand up for both himself and the blob made the episode.

Overall, “What about Blob?” was a treat. It’s rare that Bob’s Burgers focuses on Gene so any episode centered around him is nice. This episode probably isn’t going to be anyone’s favorite but it was alright. Personally, I wish the episode would have focused a little bit more on Gene rather than adding in the other 4. However, I do understand why they made the choice to include them but Gene is a great character on his own.

I give “What about Blob?” a C. 

What did you think about What about Blob?” What’s your favorite Gene-centric episode? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

Bob’s Burgers airs Sundays on Fox at 8:30/7:30c.