10 Recent Bob’s Burgers Episodes That Are Just As Good As The Classics

Even though Bob’s Burgers has been on the air for 15 years, the beloved series still produces a handful of great episodes every season that rival the classics. Made in the style of predecessors like The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers is an adult animated series with heart. The show turns the quirky charm up to 11 and often features great tunes.

While there are some that believe the show has overstayed its welcome, Bob’s Burgers‘ glory days aren’t over yet. The series has managed to hone and refine its message over the years, pivoting from hyperactive goofiness to heartwarming humor. Evolution is key to the long-term success of any show, and Bob’s Burgers has reinvented itself to match the times.

In the last five years or so (since season 11), the Fox stalwart has dropped some of the best episodes of the entire run. While many great modern episodes are comedic romps, others have heartfelt messages that elicit as many tears as they do laughs. If the last five years are any indication, Bob’s Burgers still has a bright future.

“What A (April) Fool Believes” – Season 13 Episode 16

No series does holidays quite like Bob’s Burgers, and the show’s April Fool’s Day episode is top-notch. In “What a (April) Fool Believes”, Bob is challenged by his landlord, Mr. Fischoeder, to prank him or else he’ll lose the lease to the restaurant. The season 13 episode is a perfect illustration of the show’s zany approach to humor.

It spins a pretty dark concept into comedy gold, and the performance of Kevin Kline absolutely steals the show. Though it lacks any deeper themes, “What a (April) Fool Believes” is stuffed with hilarious gags and laugh-out-loud lines. It’s so exaggerated and silly that it hearkens back to the early days of the series.

“Fraud Of The Dead: Zombi-Docu-Pocalypse” – Season 14 Episode 9

A playful sense of imagination is what sets Bob’s Burgers apart from many of its contemporaries, especially in episodes like “Fraud of the Dead: Zombi-docu-pocalypse”. Tina directs a documentary about Louise as a zombie hunter, but things keep getting in the way. The story is filtered through the minds of the kids, thus it takes on a larger-than-life aspect.

It’s just a fun story overall, and Bob’s subplot isn’t bad either. The episode uses the supporting cast perfectly, with many of the fan-favorites popping in for cameos. It’s representative of where the show has been heading in recent years, with writers experimenting by breaking away from the traditional formula.

“Saving Favorite Drive-In” – Season 15 Episode 2

Though Bob is often the butt of the joke, season 15’s “Saving Favorite Drive-In” makes him the hero. Bob and Linda take the kids to the local drive-in, and Bob goes on a crusade to keep it from closing down. The audience is shown flashbacks to Bob’s childhood, and it’s a heartwarming look at the moments that shaped him.

Bob might be cynical at times, but he’s really a dreamer at heart. The episode has a larger context when considering how rapidly things change in the modern day. It’s a sly reflection of the show’s own changes, and how important it is to preserve the past while moving forward into the future.

“Insomnibob” – Season 15 Episode 22

Bob’s Burgers closed out its 15th season with an absurdly funny romp entitled “Insomnibob”. Bob suffers from bouts of insomnia and uses his alone time to craft his finest burger yet. Sadly, it comes at the cost of his sanity. It tackles a pretty serious subject like insomnia, but puts the cheeky Bob’s Burgers spin on everything.

The episode features one of the best songs from the show’s recent seasons, “Burger of the Night”, and is a near-perfect bottle story. The writers are still so good at capturing the essence of each member of the Belcher clan, and “Insomnibob” combines Bob’s love of cooking and his tendency to become a bit too obsessed with his art.

“Bob Belcher And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Kids” – Season 11 Episode 6

The antics of the Belcher kids are cute in the context of a show, but even the series acknowledges they are terrors sometimes. In “Bob Belcher and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Kids”, Bob’s grill breaks on the worst possible day, and he reaches the limits with his kids. It’s one of the funnier episodes in recent memory.

It’s an intricately crafted script filled with visual gags and throwaway jokes, and it shows the care that often goes into the episodes. It’s relatable for parents, but it never gets lost in its own themes and forgets to be funny. Season 11 was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Bob’s Burgers brought some much-needed laughs.

“Show Mama From The Grave” – Season 13 Episode 9

Sad episodes of comedy shows are nothing new, but Bob’s Burgers has gotten really good at it in recent seasons. “Show Mama from the Grave” sees Bob taking Linda and the kids to see his mother’s grave, but he struggles to locate her headstone. The concept of the episode is believable, but it’s still humorous and outlandish.

“Show Mama from the Grave” tugs on the heartstrings while also giving a bit more context on Bob and his upbringing. His mother is still somewhat mysterious, and the episode reveals a bit more of the Belcher backstory. This helps to make Bob an overall well-rounded character, and shines a light on why he is who he is.

“Amelia” – Season 13 Episode 22

Louise is perhaps the most cartoonish main character on Bob’s Burgers, but season 13’s “Amelia” showed her human side. Louise prepares a class presentation about Amelia Earhart, and must come to grips with her own mortality while learning about Earhart’s untimely demise. It’s a brilliant way to have a child character learn about the reality of death.

The story is told in retrospect, flashing back and forth between the past and present. This further illustrates the show’s evolution away from the traditional sitcom formula, and helps “Amelia” pack a bigger emotional punch. Though Bob’s Burgers is an adult animated series, season 13, episode 22 has important lessons for younger viewers too.

“The Grand Pre-Pre-Pre-Opening” – Season 16 Episode 1

Kicking off the most recent season of Bob’s Burgers, “The Grand Pre-Pre-Pre-Opening” is an all-time great episode. The story flashes back to the past, and chronicles Bob and Linda’s struggles as they try to open the restaurant. It features some humorous reveals about certain backstory elements and the beginnings of the Belcher family.

The episode is really about Bob and Linda’s relationship, and the sacrifices they both made to make their dream a reality. It’s warm and charming, and is designed to draw out a lot of happy tears. “The Grand Pre-Pre-Pre-Opening” is the 300th episode of Bob’s Burgers, and it proves the show has remained flawless for all these years.

“The Amazing Rudy” – Season 14 Episode 9

“The Amazing Rudy” isn’t focused on the Belcher clan, but it’s still one of the greatest outings in the history of Bob’s Burgers. Regular-sized Rudy anxiously prepares for a big dinner with his parents and their new spouses, and he deals with being a child of divorce. It’s sincere, awkward, and inspiring, and is a perfect 23 minutes of TV.

The episode scored an Emmy nomination, and is the highlight of the entire 14th season. It deftly handles complex topics with love and humor while showcasing why so many fans still tune in to Bob’s Burgers every week. Despite coming out more than a decade after the show’s premiere, “The Amazing Rudy” is easily better than the classic episodes.

“The Plight Before Christmas” – Season 13 Episode 10

Though Bob’s Burgers is mostly remembered for its yearly Thanksgiving episode, the show has produced some stellar Christmas stories too. In “The Plight Before Christmas” Bob and Linda are put in the impossible position of choosing between their kids’ various Christmas performances. The classic sitcom formula is accentuated with legitimately heartwarming family moments.

Each main character gets a chance to shine, with all the elements coming together to serve the theme of family and togetherness. If Bob’s Burgers continues to produce compelling episodes like “The Plight Before Christmas”, it may go down in history as the ultimate adult animated series.