Bob’s Burgers recap: Ready Player Gene proves Bob’s TV legacy

Bob’s Burgers features one of the most beloved cartoon families. However, there can be some discrepancies when it comes to the Belcher family.

In particular, we rarely see episodes focused on certain characters. While there are some episodes focused on Bob and Linda, there aren’t many episodes focused on Gene. Overall, the show revolves around Tina and Louise in more singular-focused episodes.

With an episode entitled “Ready Player Gene,” no doubt we’ll be getting a Gene episode, and thus far, we’ve only gotten a Louise-centric episode. It’ll be nice to see Gene be front and center for Season 13.

If you haven’t watched, “Ready Player Gene” yet, then there will be spoilers from this point on so make sure you’re caught up so you can come back and share your thoughts.

Bob’s Burgers recap: “Ready Player Gene”

The episode begins with the kids finding out there’s going to be a virtual reality arcade going in beside the restaurant and it’s opening tomorrow with Bob and Gene being super excited. The excitement deflates when they find out it’s $45 an hour to play. Gene wants it so badly that he decides to pay for it himself and offers to pay for Bob to do it, too.

Before they go, Gene has an incredible dream about playing VR and winning everything. The next day, the two head over and play a game called Mountain Climber. It goes poorly and they move to a VR jet-ski game which doesn’t go much better. The next game they play is a flying game and Gene ends up crashing.

Bob tries to get a refund since the games are buggy but the worker agrees to give them a free hour tomorrow since the games “will be” better. After they leave, Gene feels super disappointed but Bob explains they can play again tomorrow even though he still feels bad.

The next day, Bob and Gene go back to play Beat Baking which leaves them both disappointed and they’re stuck with the VR headsets on as the worker is on the phone, outside. Eventually, Bob explains that he feels horrible and wanted Gene to have a good time. They end up flailing around until he comes but Gene ends up having fun which is all Bob cares about.

While the boys are doing their thing, Louise and Tina decide to make a menu tower. It starts off small before they finally commit and want it to reach the ceiling. It’s all going great until Louise gets nervous and asks Tina to put the final pieces on the top. They’re both nervous so they ask Teddy to do it but they end up doing it together and the tower finally reaches the ceiling.

“Ready Player Gene” cements Bob’s legendary status despite the episode’s title

With an episode titled “Ready Player Gene,” I was more than ready to settle in for an episode focused solely on Gene. However, Bob’s Burgers pulled the wool over my eyes with this one but in the best way. Yes, the episode did focus a lot on Gene, but it also focused a lot on Bob and his relationship with Gene. Even though we rarely see the two paired up, it’s clear Bob and Gene have a special relationship.

Throughout the episode, we watch as Bob grapples with Gene’s disappointment and wants to protect him as best as he can. It’s incredibly heartwarming and, for me, is another reason why Bob is the best TV dad. In the realm of animated shows for adults, Bob Belcher has already been a step above the rest, and “Ready Player Gene” only makes that even more apparent.

It’s obvious Bob is upset for a multitude of reasons but especially because he’d been trying to show Gene that things can be better. While there was a moment where Gene was having a crappy time, it was nice to see Bob trying to both make the best of a bad situation and trying to shield Gene as much as he could. Maybe I’m just sentimental, but I really do love seeing those moments where Bob is a dad instead of wearing every hat he does in the series.

In a way, I feel like things can get lost in the shuffle on Bob’s Burgers and it’s nice to see the show going back to its roots sometimes. While I didn’t love this episode, on the whole, I do feel like seeing Bob and Gene have their moments was worth it. Plus it was hilarious to see the girls work together to create a menu tower and then destroy it the next second. Hey, that’s what you get with Bob’s Burgers, though.

Bob’s Burgers airs Sundays on Fox at 9/8c. 

What did you think of “Ready Player Gene?” Do you think Bob is the best TV dad? Let us know in the comments.