It’s the Halloween season, folks. The time for scares and spooks for the whole month, and hopefully, the one time a year to get our minds off of a cesspool that is the daily news cycle. However, I've noticed a few Christmas commercials starting to air lately. Deadass, I’m serious. I saw a few Christmas commercials that played like Amazon and The Home Depot, as examples. Like, Halloween has yet to arrive, and already, the consumers are about to ditch the Jack-o-Lanterns for Santa hats and falling into the capitalistic trap, even though we’re on the verge of a recession. If not, it already feels like we’re in it. Stay in your lane, companies. It’s still October. Let Halloween pass by first before doing that. What the fuck are we doing?!
In this week’s episode of Bob’s Burgers, the Belcher kids help Teddy when he gets a handyman job at the building next door with some sketchy owners, as Bob and Linda try to find a way to get into the Performing Arts Center to see a Halloween showing of Bob’s favorite performing group, Cake, in my spoilerific review of the third episode of Season 16 of Bob’s Burgers, titled “The Twinnening”.
'Tis the season that we have a Halloween episode. So, it would make sense to have one with Halloween right around the corner. You never know what you would expect with these kinds of episodes to get into the Halloween spirit, like with the earlier seasons. Nowadays, while it’s there, it would come with different results when it comes to people’s opinions whenever they watch each episode. Take last year’s Halloween episode with the doll murder mystery. That was written by the man himself, Loren Bouchard, and that one has some people feel confused, myself included. And that was when I was in the process of moving to another house and having to deal with a fractured arm during the process.
This time around, the focus is on Teddy, with the building next door being the prime setting with the owner, rather, owners, set to operate an antique shop. But quite the weird timing when having someone like Teddy to work at night rather than doing it in the day. But if it means getting paid for this, even if it’s at a creepy place at night with the owners looking exactly what a vampire would look like. Especially with a creepy-looking mask serving as a plot device for the episode. It’s pretty much shades of what we saw in Season 14’s “Mission Impossi-Bob”, the last time Teddy had to work for someone in an uncomfortable environment.
I know that the creepy vibes are there to make it a proper Halloween episode... if you ignore the subplot with Teddy being trapped inside the store when trying to do his job at night, but in comparison to let’s say non-Halloween episodes as of late like “Escape from Which Island” or “The Place Beyond the Pinecones”, I’m not saying that it may have lost its luster as if it has lost its spirit, it just needs some improvements. So, we might as well break this sucker down piece by piece to get the gist of what is all about. This is “The Twinnenig”.
The episode begins with Bob and Linda doing their business, and since it’s Halloween, or a week and a half before Halloween, you have Linda putting up the decorations for the restaurant in preparation for the upcoming holiday. The Belcher kids enter the restaurant from school, asking their parents about the status of their costumes, despite that Halloween is only a week and a half away. For Louise, she’s going as a combination of a boa constrictor and Rocky Balboa. For Gene, it’s Gene Tripplehorn, which is pretty much him having multiple horns attached to portions of his body. And for Tina, it’s the bridge from Bridgerton because she has never seen the show, but thought that the bridge in the name of the show played a huge role in it, even though that’s not entirely it. We did see the kids in the costumes in comparison to last year’s Halloween episode, where we only saw Tina in her costume. Spoiler alert, it’s in the credits. This is the closest that you would see in the episode for this year, and it’s only the backside for Louise and Tina, and sideways once Gene walked through the kitchen.
Teddy enters the restaurant for a bit, already taking a handyman job at the building next door for the soon-to-be antique store called Freaky Antiquies, which is an antique store filled with questionable items being put on display. Occult boutiques, to be exact that, when looking up, tie in with the supernatural. Quite the display for a store that doesn’t sound too suspicious when displaying items that look suspicious, which could hold serious consequences if purchased or stolen. Either for playing God, contracting spirits, or getting isekai’d to another world. And it can give someone like Teddy the spooks when being surrounded by questionable items, I get that it’s a Halloween episode, so you would expect something like this to happen the same way you see some items you see on display when paying a visit to the renaissance festival, but kind of painting the obvious when trying to get to know what kind of episode we’re getting. Especially with the store in question and the owner behind it. Sounds like Christmas came early for Louise after Teddy laid out what the building next door has in store. But if it means getting a huge pay load by setting up shop with the owner of the shop, who doesn’t look too suspicious, then we should be good to go. Even if Teddy has to be surrounded by various amounts of creepy items being put on display.
Oh yeah, we got a subplot in the episode for those who are wondering. Bob’s favorite performing arts group, Cake, touches down in town for their Halloween show, which turns out to be a spinoff of the original. Which, you think that Bob should be excited because it is still the same Cake, just with a holiday theme, whether it’s a Halloween or Christmas themed, but apparently, it's not because of how fast admissions go. Wanting to get his on the tickets to go see the show, but is unable to see it because it’s pretty much first-come, first-served serve like they’re tickets to go see a well-known artist performing. Plus, the tickets are pretty expensive these days, so that can cause some problems in the financial spot. At least there’s some opportunity for Bob and Linda to get into the show at the last minute, with Teddy telling Bob about standby tickets, which are a set of tickets where you and your partner take someone else’s spots if the latter are being declared no-shows. And for a discounted price, too. And that is exactly what Bob and Linda are planning on doing. Setting up their night plans for the night. At least it didn’t specify which seat as long as Bob (and Linda) get to see the performance, even if it’s at the last possible minute.
Bob and Linda plan on heading out to beat the rush to earn the no-show tickets, leaving the kids alone for the night. Meaning I’m guessing Tina got tapped to babysit for the night to watch over Gene and Louise. And quite the unusual timing, tying back to the main plot for a bit, as Bob and Linda leave the apartment, they spot Teddy about to enter the building at night. Usually, it would be during the day when doing his job. But at night, like tonight in the show’s setting? Something has to be off about the store or the owner for picking the nighttime hours to have Teddy do his job. Sounds pretty suspicious if you think about it. Especially since you would think that the lights in the building next door should at least be on, despite the business not having yet opened in a couple of days.
Bob and Linda leave, and the kids spot Teddy outside at the door of the building next door, at night, of course, not looking too sketchy about what is about to come once Teddy enters the building. But not before Louise hands the walkie-talkie to Teddy to give her updates on what is going on inside. Though quite surprising that Teddy doesn't know what a walkie-talkie is, or the kind of walkie-talkie Louise threw to Teddy, luckily coming in clutch once catching it, because he used it once in “Topsy” when doing the electrical stuff for the science fair. So, you think that Teddy should at least know what it is once given to him to record what’s going on once he goes inside the building.
Which he does, or rather, is taken in by the store’s owner, named Gabriel, voiced by Jamie Demetriou, who was going inside to put a package away once he and Teddy go inside. A private talk between the two men once goes on inside, and yes, because it is a Halloween episode, you can tell that Gabriel does look like a vampire or vampiric in nature just by looking at him. I mean, what clues would give that away if he does look like a vampire or someone who is vampiric? The dark clothing? The pale skin? The fact that he has Teddy work at night, has the windows closed off with black curtains, didn’t even bother turning on the lights, and a voice somewhat rivaling Christoper Lee’s performance as Dracula? Yep, nothing too suspicious going on here with the owner of the shop for someone who likes wearing dark clothing, having pale skin, having an ominous voice, having Teddy to work at night instead of the day, and someone who is taller than... well, anyone who walks by him that you think that he should at least join the NBA as a point guard.
Anyway, Teddy and Gabriel have themselves a private talk, though, is it really a private talk because Teddy has the walkie-talkie in his back pocket, meaning that Louise, Tina, and Gene can overhear the conversation? Gabriel just wants to talk to Teddy about the progress of the display case regarding a digital lock to have whatever item is going to be installed highly secured. Though someone really told that to the Louvre as of late regarding a theft that happened. So, it’s a work in progress for the display case, just need to have the nooks and crannies work out regarding installing the digital lock, which involves electricity, which is something Teddy is not good at, before the store is good to go for opening day. As for why the display case needs to have a digital lock rather than installing a full-on security system to keep the place secured...
This is why. A mask. A wooden mask carved into what looks like a demon going through an oral exam. That’s the item in question for why it should be locked up in a highly secured case that Teddy needs to install. And you can see why. Despite that, it’s wooden and feels like something coming out of a woodshop class or an expert wood carver out of butt fuck nowhere just for decoration, like, again, like various items you would see at a Renaissance fair or a county fair in general, and you would see some questionable items, some of which are freaking ninja tools. But the mask might as well be the item that needs some serious protection, hence, the display case with the digital lock. Making sure that the item is highly secured, just hoping that no one can come in with a bat or a wrench to break the glass, before opening day the next day. It should be simple once the digital lock is installed and programmed, which shouldn’t take long to set up. A piece of cake... and some luck. However, there is one additional request that Gabriel has to tell Teddy before leaving him alone for the night, aside from setting up the case and putting the mask inside. Which is to not allow anyone into the store, surprised that he didn’t even bother seeing the walkie-talkie in Teddy’s back pocket, because the Belcher kids are eavesdropping on the conversation, be lucky that it’s not a body cam attached to him.
But the additional task that Gabriel gives to Teddy is to not let anyone enter the store if it means keeping the mask highly secured, once the digital lock is installed for the case. And he means no one, not even himself. This confuses Teddy for a bit because we’re talking to the owner of the shop, telling him not to let him into his own building, which he rented, when given the task to do his work, and making sure the mask is secured. And the reason he told Teddy a wild request like that is because he has an identical twin brother, hence, the title of the episode, where he says to Teddy that someone might walk up to the doorstop who looks like him, talks like him, in actuality, it might not be him and instead, it would be his twin brother, later revealed to be Gideon, also voiced by Demetriou, masquerading as Gabriel. Should’ve at least given one distinct touch-up to one of the two brothers to at least tell who is who, just to make it easier. So, to avoid confusion as we prepare to wrap up the first act of the episode, Teddy suggests that a password should at least clear things up to see if Gabriel is actually Gabriel and not Gideon. Gabriel suggests using the word “Mephistopheles” as the word of choice... not a good choice because no one can remember, let alone pronounce that shit. So, the word “puppy” by Teddy should be the way to go.
Gabriel leaves, leaving Teddy behind with the mask inside its case, going into the second act of the episode with him minding his own business with the additional task of keeping the mask safe and not letting anyone into the store. That is pretty much the plan for the night: mind his own business and keep it cool and collected while having to do mask-guarding duty. And maybe then, if there’s no one at the door, he should be good to go. Of course, the kids did overhear the conversation at the end of the first act of the episode, so what’s the perfect time to call up on Teddy to hear what is going on inside? Hoping for any updates on what just transpired. Or, in Louise’s case, wanting to know a thing or two about the mask that Gabriel asked Teddy to keep a watchful eye on. Asking Teddy to send her a photo from his phone to the emergency phone to get a good look at the mask, since they can’t go out for the night. Teddy did the deed and got the reaction from the kids. Mainly with Tina and Gene getting the spooks, but Louise, on the other hand, like I said, it feels like Christmas came early for her in what the store next door has to offer.
Checking up on the subplot because yes, we have to incorporate that into the episode, with Bob and Linda just a step away from getting their hands on a set of no-show tickets at a discount as their only window of opportunity to get into the Performing Arts Center. Bob is a cash or card away from getting him (and Linda) to their seats as long as the two people who bought the tickets before them don’t show up once their names are called up. He is about to have himself yet another Cake experience in his life, I mean, he is already wearing the Cake shirt that he wore all the way back in Season 2, but is moments away from doing that... only for another couple arrives at the last minute right as Bob is about to make the purchase. No tickets for Bob. No Cake for Bob. And this isn’t a “Oh, well, we can go back tomorrow if there’s any available seating left for us to take”. This might as well be a one-stop tour where the performing arts group makes a stop at one town for one night and then heads off to another. And for Bob... yeah, this ain’t your night, pal. This ain’t your night. Might as well take home a consolation prize for the night, that being bacon-wrapped hot dogs that the vendor in the background is selling. It’s probably for the best. Even if they had to burn the grease off when walking back home.
We go back to the main plot, where we have the kids doing their own thing while keeping tabs on Teddy as he is doing his job for the night. We have Tina keeping guard as she looks through the window, while Louise decides to do some research on the mask that Teddy took a photo of and was sent to them. Checking on what’s so special about the mask that needed to be protected, which we’ll get the answer to once we get to the end of the first half of the episode. But before that, it looks like we've got trouble afoot once Tina sees Gabriel, or rather someone who resembles him, probably Gideon, it’s going to be confusing to tell who is who because both Gabriel and Gideon are identical twins. It’s not the same level as Andy and Ollie because their shirt colors and different hairstyles should at least tell you who is who, along with which Silverman sister is voicing who. It’s a slight edge on how to tell The Simpsons characters Sherri and Terri apart, like with Gabriel and Gideon. It’s a confusing trait when it comes to the identical twin trope that you’re hoping for at least one difference in their appearance to help tell who is who when it comes to twins of the same gender.
Anyway, Gabriel, Gabriel, whatever the fuck you want to call him now, since the show likes to test the viewers on who is who and not add one additional detail to separate who is actually who out of the two identical twin brothers, stopped by at the door and asked Teddy to let him in. And yes, I understand the stereotype regarding vampires that they only enter a house if they’re invited in. Anyway, Gabriel or Gideon, pretty sure that’s Gideon and not Gabriel, stands outside the door, hoping for Teddy to let him in. Of course, Teddy denies Gabriel/Gideon’s request because he has to abide by Gabriel’s request not to let anyone, and he means anyone, including Gabriel himself, enter the building. Because remember, Gabriel made it clear not to allow anyone, including himself, into the building because he and Gideon are identical twins, and that can fuck with his senses on who is who just by looking the same, like they’re Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Thankfully, the password idea from Teddy earlier in the episode is coming in clutch once he asks Gabriel/Gideon what it is for entry, which is, of course, the word “puppy”.
Yes, this pretty much confirms that this is indeed Gabriel’s brother, Gideon, standing outside the door because he doesn’t know the password that would deny him entry. Sure, that could’ve been Gabriel, and he probably forgot what the password is, as if it’s that one scene from the second Chunin Exams in Naruto, but it did help Teddy to follow what Gabriel said to him before leaving him alone for the night, as if he did a big brain move. And that is exactly what happened once Gideon left, but not before telling Teddy that he’ll be coming back to make sure he enters the building by any means necessary. But for now, it was a major close call for Teddy when having to hold down the fort all by his lonesome. A major close call, and the kids saw it since they got a front-row seat to the encounter that just happened. So, bullet dodged... at least, for now.
Going back to the subplot, and after failing to get the no-show tickets at a discounted price, Bob and Linda decide that it’s best to walk home, disappointed that they will not be able to go see the show on stage. Finishing up their bacon-wrapped hot dog and having to burn the grease away step by step, they come across one of the performers, who happens to be one of the performers from the original Cake show, wearing a skeleton costume. And doesn’t seem too happy with the idea of being on the show. Treating it as if he was being demoted of some sort. Going from one of the lead performers in the main show to an extra in the spinoff. To the point where the guy might be planning on quitting the show just because of some mistreatment regarding his position. Yep, this is pretty much the subplot, folks. This is pretty much the subplot because we can’t have Bob and Linda be sidelined for the rest of the episode. We already did enough for a few episodes in the later part of Season 15. We can’t have that in the current season. Kind of wish this wasn’t a subplot, but I guess what’s done is done, I guess. You know points are going to be deducted, right? It’s already losing a few brownie points.
Checking back with Teddy as he continues to attempt to focus on his work after that little confrontation with someone who might be Gideon or whoever, because identical twins can’t tell who is who. Continuing to give updates to the kids as well on what is going on through the walkie-talkie as he returns to the room for him to install the digital lock on the display case. Already scared shitless because of that little confrontation between Teddy and Gideon won’t be the only time those two speak eye to eye. The sounds of the knock spook Teddy, thinking that it’s Gideon again, or Gabriel, or whoever, but it turns out to be the delivery guy delivering the jukebox for the store that Gabriel ordered. And just to play it safe, Teddy asks the delivery guy to slide the forms through the door for him to sign before taking the jukebox inside. Usually, when having to be carted into the store, it shouldn’t be too heavy for someone like Teddy to bring it inside. So, you know that something has to be up for something like a jukebox to be weighted more than what is supposed to be weighted. Perhaps a Trojan horse, to be exact, as if this were a drastic measure to get into the building.
We got some information on the mask and why it’s so important for Teddy to be tasked by Gabriel to protect it. And quite the lore that the mask in question got as Louise reads through the background to explain why it’s so important to be protected in the first place. According to Louise, the mask is called the “Veraxion Executioner’s Mask”, which was originally used in the Middle Ages, because, of course, it was from that era in history, in which Veraxion executioners wore it to strike fear into the public and to protect their identity. Pretty much the same way as most authoritarian countries these days, using the military to stoke fear in the public, just to do the leader’s bidding. So, to sum it all up, it’s pretty much made for decoration. A decoration of fear, but a decoration, nonetheless.
But why stop there? According to Louise, when reading through the website, we got some additional information about the mask. Two additional trivial facts to be exact. The first is that it was used in the 1880s in London, and it had ties to the string of murders there. Definitely has no ties to infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. And the second... immortality. Yep. The mask grants immortality when being worn and having to commit the murders, in GTA. Treating it as if... well, like with Naruto, where there’s a religion, or a cult, called the Jashin, where the so-called prophet called Jashin demands its followers to pop off on death and destruction. But with a mask.
Yeah, this might as well be a freaking JoJo’s reference. It might as well be one. And I say that because in Phantom Blood, Part 1 of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise, you have a mask that looks vampiric in nature, and whoever dons the mask, like the character of Dio, transforms into a vampire and also has their life extended. Though not quite immortal despite the end of Phantom Blood and going into the start of Stardust Crusaders, where Dio had to take Jonathan’s body. Mostly because Dio would have to go and lose at the end of Part 3 of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to Jotaro in a Stand battle. Just don’t get me started with Battle Tendency with Kars. The point is that the mask that Teddy is tasked to guard once the display case is ready to go for opening is important, and it shouldn’t fall into the wrong hands. But, at least it’s just Teddy and Teddy himself doing the work. Minding his own business to finish up installing the digital lock for the display case, and hoping for nothing bad and sinister to magically and creepily appear out of the box.
Assholes are about to be clinched tonight, folks. Because, out of the fucking nowhere, is Gideon, who happens to come out of the jukebox to sneak himself into the building. Pretty much used the jukebox as a Trojan horse after being denied entry into the building, just to get his grubby little hands on the mask. Good God, that was something to have Gideon appear out of fucking nowhere while having Teddy not notice that the guy has now infiltrated the building like a vampire coming out of its coffin. Quite the move there to close out the first half of the episode. And what’s funny is that the display case has glass. You’d think that Teddy would at least see a reflection of Gideon popping out, just by looking at the reflection from the glass. Although if Gideon (and Gabriel) were to be actual vampires, or at least vampiric beings, because one of the most stereotypical traits of a vampire is that they cannot see their reflection in the mirror, oh yeah, it is GGs for Teddy. It is GGs.
It didn’t take long for Teddy to notice what the hell was going on, going into the second half of the episode, with him now noticing the jukebox open once he finished installing the digital lock, and hopefully to put the mask inside the case. Already causing Teddy to be anxious that someone, probably Gideon or Gabriel, but mostly Gideon, may have infiltrated the building without Teddy even noticing because he was too focused on his job. I mean, the best possible way when dealing with the situation would be to... well, I guess run or hide, probably hiding as if you’re in a horror movie or playing any of the horror games y’all play... or I guess seeing your favorite streamer doing the job playing it. This might be treating it as one, as Teddy is now on full alert that Gideon is inside the building. Hoping to get out of dodge or at least get Gideon out before Gabriel comes back.
Too bad for Teddy because Gideon spots Teddy in his tracks. Standing in the way of what is pretty much the only way out of harm’s way. Even though he could find a crawl space as a possible hiding space, and hopefully go up to the second floor and use the emergency exit to get into the alleyway to make a break for it. But that’s no fun, is it? Anyway, Teddy is pretty much trapped, and I guess being held hostage now by Gideon, who asks Teddy to hand the mask over to him. Treating it as if he were held at gunpoint with all of this. And with no way out of this, Teddy is pretty much forced to do as Gideon says and takes him to where he put away the mask: the basement. And if you’re the Belcher kids listening to all of this, it might be go time for the three siblings to take matters into their own hands.
Checking back on why is this even a thing in the episode, you have a therapy session going on with Bob and Linda with one of the performers of the show, who is planning on quitting the group. Didn’t expect this to become a Sunday morning political talk show coming from the performer when talking about the real backstory behind the song “The Baker’s Man” and how it should be used as a protest against the Gulf War in the early days of Cake. Having to use it as a way to tell the military industrial complex to go fuck themselves... I didn’t expect this type of political statement from this little talk from a guy who plans on quitting performing, but uh... based. Pop off, man. But other than that, the performer wants to call it quits because of the position he is in, treating it as a demotion of some sort, and wants to finish his PhD degree and pursue a real job. Of course, Bob, a Cake fan himself, ain’t going to let that happen once we check back with them later in the episode.
Going back to the main plot of the episode, Teddy is still being held hostage by Gideon in the basement of the building next door. Having to be forced to retrieve the mask from there, as the spot where Teddy hid it for him to place it into the display case once the digital lock is installed, before Gabriel’s return to the store. He pulls out the mask from the pile with the cloth covering it, and just as he was about to give it to him, not knowing the consequences that come with the mask, whether or not it’s an actual mask, unless it’s a fake to make it look real, like you see in most county fairs when coming across a few stands, the fight or flight instinct comes knocking in and decides to make a break for it. Planning to make his escape and possibly throw away the mask because of the shit the mask holds. Pretty much shades of “Apple Gore-chard (But Not Gory)” with Louise thinking that she would be “sacrificed” after thinking that she’s the hero of the harvest. Teddy plans his escape and takes the mask with him...
Only to be stopped by Gabriel with the box for the store. And by box, I mean the altar that Gabriel had to drive down from Bog Harbor, and is about to ask Teddy to help him move the altar into the building, not knowing that Teddy is planning on getting rid of the mask after seeing Gideon, who, of course, broke in by stuffing himself into the jukebox. And speaking of Gideon...
Prepare for trouble, and make it double. We have both brothers in the same building. Fighting now over who calls dibs on the mask, and, of course, holding Teddy hostage like it’s a fight over who gets the final slice of pizza if that slice of pizza somehow has consequences just by having the backstory. A brother's quarrel, to say the least, as we are about to close out the third act of the episode with Teddy being cornered, now caught in the crossfire, with him being forced to lock himself into the glass display with the mask in his possession. Thinking that it’s a good idea by turning it into a standoff, if it means hoping that he doesn’t get sacrificed if either of the brothers gets the mask. Though this might not be Teddy’s greatest idea to do that, because if you remember from two seasons ago in “Mission Impossi-Bob”, it was mentioned was Teddy has claustrophobia. And him having to lock himself in a small space like a display case, especially a glass case, with no holes to breathe in oxygen, while being surrounded by a couple of identical twin brothers wanting to go off on each other over who has the right to carry the mask, he may need to rethink that decision to do just that.
So, going into the fourth and final act of the episode and with Teddy now trapped inside the display case while both Gabriel and Gideon surround him as they fight over who gets to call dibs on the mask, not knowing that was actually happening, the Belcher kids think that Teddy is about to get murked by the brothers just because they look vampiric in nature. You already know this is going, the Belcher kids have no other choice but to step in and help Teddy. As much as they, primarily Tina and Gene, don’t want to do this, mainly Tina because she is the babysitter in all of this, and she would have to put her foot down on this, what choice do they have? They ain’t going to stay on the sidelines while letting Teddy continue to be cornered by both Gabriel and Gideon. Not the first time the kids had to take drastic measures against what they thought were supernatural beings. It’s mainly the items they can grab from the kitchen to serve as weapons. Though you think they would at least carry garlic around them just in case. Just in case.
Back to the subplot, we go to the alleyway of the Performing Arts Center, with the performer that Bob and Linda have been talking to for hours is being told to get ready by the stage handler that who needs him to get ready to perform with the others, even though he is planning on quitting anyway because he doesn’t want to do it anymore. Of course, Bob won’t let him do that. Telling him to rethink his decision while hoping, at the same time, for him and Linda to score a couple of seats in the process, as their window of opportunity. The good news is that the performer takes up Bob’s word and decides not to quit the group. The bad news, yeah, Bob and Linda are not getting inside the arts center to see the show. Mainly because those two seats that were available... well, he has no power over that. He can’t even bring his parents on board, which sounds fucked up, but it is what it is. So, the best Bob can have as a consolation prize for the night is a high five from the performer. It’s better than nothing, I suppose. Why is this even a subplot to begin with? That I don’t know.
Transitioning back to the main plot with Teddy is cornered by Gabriel and Gideon while holding on to the mask inside the display case for his own safety. Gabriel tries to reason with Teddy by telling him to get out of the display case, thinking that what is going on is all one big misunderstanding with the whole mask situation and pretty much everything else. Of course, Teddy won’t budge and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. Once again, not his best idea for safety, knowing his claustrophobia. Especially when Teddy thought he was going to be sacrificed, which is what this mess is about. And much like what we saw in “Apple Gore-chard (But Not Gory)” with Louise thinking she was going to get “sacrificed”, a big misunderstanding. And here we go again, with both brothers going at it over the rights to carry the mask. And at this point, this Halloween episode, or at least, the fourth act of the episode, might as well be a sibling therapy session because we have twin brothers bickering over a freaking mask. One wants to put it on display like it’s a museum, hopefully with better security than those at the Louvre, while the other... well, I guess for funsies but mostly over who really called the shots on finding and buying the damn thing.
Did I mention that it’s all one big misunderstanding? It might as well be, as Teddy is starting to lose control because of his claustrophobia, as Gabriel puts in the code to unlock the case. Putting in the right digits, but ended up pressing the star button by mistake and not the pound button. At least we’re seeing Teddy freaking out in full display, no pun intended, with him already feeling as if the walls are closing in. It’s, I guess, on par of how Darryl would freak out when being in small spaces in “Fort Night”, as I’m guessing it’s the usual response to the phobia in comparison to, let’s say The Great North with Walt in “For Whom the Smell Toll Part Two” with him dealing with claustrophobia, only internally freaking out instead of externally because it would have his body froze.
Thankfully, Teddy got out after Gabriel put in the correct code to open the case, going into the two-minute warning of the episode. And with that little experience coming to an end, because that is what Teddy was hired to do, installing the lock for the case for the mask to be put into said case. But it looks like Gabriel doesn’t need to put the mask up on display because it appears, according to him, that he may have found a buyer for the item in question, named Mansfield. In which Teddy thought it was a history buff at first, knowing the backstory of the mask that Louise read to him earlier in the episode, and how it ties to the Middle Ages and late 19th-century London with the murders. But nope, turns out the guy whom Gabriel came across likes the dark arts. Or, in this case, not helping Teddy’s case, or anyone’s, in that matter, thinking that he might be going as King Von on Halloween. And that mask is known for holding serious consequences. So uh... yeah, not helping anyone’s case with the mask situation. Especially Teddy’s.
The kids are armed as they are ready to take matters into their own hands. Though, with less than two minutes left in the episode... their services are not needed. They are not needed since the episode is about to come to an end soon. But that’s not going to stop the Belcher kids from planning on going on attack mode towards Gabriel and Gideon. Remember when I said that their services are not needed for this with nearly a minute left in the episode?
Yeah, Teddy decides to get out of dodge in Sonic speed while carrying the mask, planning to throw it into the ocean. Shades of the end of “Eggs for Days” after getting the lone rotten egg out of the apartment. The Belcher kids see it firsthand right outside the store, right as they’re about to take matters into their own hands. The same goes for Bob and Linda as we transition to them for a bit after being unable to score some seats, but were able to get a high five from the performer as a consolation prize. So, the mask is pretty much out of the way. Into the ocean and hoping for no one to get their hands on it. So, there goes the item that would’ve been purchased by the buyer, but it was for the best. I mean, bullet fucking dodged as the scene transitioned back to Gabriel and Gideon, along with the Belcher kids, seeing the whole thing unfolding before the kids leave and back to the apartment. Hoping what happened didn’t happen without having to cause any problems between the two parties.
Of course, like some horror movies, or any movies in general, fucking sequel bait as we reached the final scene of the episode, with the mask that Teddy threw into the ocean washed ashore. Back to the town’s shore as if it never left. Hoping to find its next victim for it to take. And lo and behold, it’s Gus who ended up finding the mask as the piece he needed for his costume. Yeah, no freaking way it’s getting a sequel. Bait us all you want, but it’s never going to happen.
Reaction/Thoughts:
So, all and all, what do I think about this week’s episode of Bob’s Burgers? Well, this was an interesting episode for this Halloween holiday. Decently better than last year’s Halloween episode, so that said for something. But other than that, it’s an average episode at best, where the main plot stole the show while the subplot... once again, why do we even have one?
You have to give it to Teddy for handling this on his own, despite the Belcher kids doing the help from behind the scenes, he did held everything down despite feeling some spooks throughout his work in an uncomfortable environment at night. Especially when the owner who hired him looked a bit vampiric in nature, just by looking at the owner and his brother, when it comes to their appearances. But you have to give it to Teddy for holding down the fort and the episode altogether. The suspense was there to give it some horror into the Halloween episode throughout the first three acts of the episode, before turning into a bit of a therapy session going into the fourth, before going back to the horror for a brief moment regarding one of the buyers were planning on wearing it for all the wrong reasons to be more than enough for Teddy to go and get rid of it. Well, before it washed up back to the shore of the town. So, there’s that.
The subplot... I’ll just say it again. It’s unnecessary to have one, but what’s done is done because we can’t have Bob and Linda take a bye week for this week’s episode. Also, it’s Cake. The fans love some Cake, even if you only saw the performance in the credits with one of the performers in the skeleton costume, along with Gabriel and Gideon, performing while you see a glimpse of Tina, Gene, and Louise in their costumes. Other than that, an average episode for this year’s Halloween episode, but at least it’s decently better than last year’s, just... the subplot was pretty much unnecessary to have. So, I’ll give “The Twinnening”...
A 7 out of 10. But that’s my opinion, and I want to hear yours in the comments below. We have a new episode this upcoming Sunday with Gene and Louise having to clear Tina’s name after getting fired from her hall monitor duties in the fourth episode of Season 16 of Bob’s Burgers in “The Skids in the Hall”.
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