It’s been a while since we last saw an episode of Bob’s Burgers. What it been? Two Months? Gotta love those midterm years. That and Football and awards. May be surprising why we’re not on break whenever the Kids’ Choice Awards aired? Anyway, what it do, Bob’s Burgers fans and random people! In this week’s episode of Bob’s Burgers, the playground gets a complete change when Mr. Frond replaces the play area to a Ga-Ga ring where everyone gets excited over it…except for Gene, who’s not gonna take it and be apart of it. All while Linda comes up with an idea of teaching children how to read via costume in the Ninth Episode of the Eighth Season, titled, “Y Tu Ga-Ga Tambien”. And if anyone here speaks perfect Spanish, I’m not, I speak horrible Spanish, you’re free to translate.
Thought we have enough with sports following the end of the 2017-2018 NFL Season from the regular season to getting bumped up an extra one hour and a half following the NFC Divisional between the Saints and the Vikings, the Minnesota Miracle. Turned Massacre in Philadelphia when the Eagles beat them. And beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. And of course, the Olympics, and now that it’s Spring, NASCAR. You really, really want to have just one Sunday. ONE Sunday where there’s no sports taking over the schedule. Well, looks like we got another one, this time in the Bob’s Burgers universe. This time, taking on the sport called Ga-Ga ball. And no, it has nothing to do with Lady Gaga. And I don’t know what this sport is and about. So does like almost much of the fandom. Until earlier this week, before the episode where we got this video.
You'll go gaga over the latest episode of #BobsBurgers: https://t.co/YHGbZdtSwV pic.twitter.com/zdGHognH0m— Bob's Burgers (@BobsBurgersFOX) March 12, 2018
Thanks to the Bob’s Burgers official Twitter Page for explaining what the sport is and how the game work. Because when the episode was in the works via script cover and plot synopsis, people were kinda question what it is. Myself included. So, Ga-Ga ball is nothing like dodgeball. I mean, yeah, the ball in play is like a dodgeball. But this isn’t dodgeball. We’re not playing dodgeball. The game is like dodgeball, but the rules and guidelines are different. You see, in dodgeball, you’re allowed to catch the ball. Mostly with when you catch the ball, you bring the person in your team who been eliminated back into the ring. Where in Ga-Ga ball, there is no catching. Catching is ruled out. Throwing is not allowed as well. Dodgeball has throwing, mostly because that how the game work.
Another difference is on what to do with the ball. Like I said earlier, Dodgeball has throwing. But in Ga-Ga ball, you slap the ball. Yes, slapping is involved in this. It’s like kicking the football or throwing the baseball to the pitcher. And the elimination process is different as well when it comes to the opponent and the ball. In Dodgeball, you hit the opponent anywhere. I mean anywhere. Hell, even in the weak spot. And I think you know what I’m talking about. Where in Ga-Ga ball, the knee is the weak spot. You get hit in the knee, you’re out. Knee and below. Down to the foot.
And of course, like dodgeball, the winning process is different. Where in Dodgeball, if the opposite team is out of members in the ring, your team win. Where in Ga-Ga ball, it’s mostly on who’s the last one standing. It’s kinda like in tournaments. Like in the Super Bowl, most recently, the Philadelphia Eagles became the last one standing after beating the New England Patriots. Or in World Series where the Houston Astros became the last one standing after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hell, the Battle of the Week Voting Tournament I ran, currently in its sixth time running, the character of Milo Murphy from Milo Murphy’s Law became the last one standing after beating Joseph Joestar from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. So technically, it’s battle for survival.
And it looks like everyone is partaking it and they’re really enjoying it. Everyone except for the Belcher children. Because it looks like they’re not gonna participate into the action. Hoping for the thing to die down quickly, probably around lunchtime. And hopes that things would go back to normal. Nope.
Everyone didn’t even leave the ring. People are enjoying this. My freaking god, this is a trend. This is a trend now. It’s every single internet challenge whenever it pops up on social media, mostly YouTube or Twitter, and everyone want to partake it. From the Cinnamon Challenge to the Dab to the Mannequin Challenge to a stupid idea of a challenge called the Tide Pod Challenge. Seriously, people? What the hell is wrong with y’all? Anyway, the kids in the school got excited. Everyone haven’t left the spot in like minutes. I mean fuck…
Rudy is enjoying this. And there’s that one point of time where Rudy became an expert in this. Rudy is good at a sport. You people remember when Louise told Rudy back in Season 5 in that ice battle rink in the freezer when she told him out for being a pushover and a cupcake. And lost in the first round in like seconds? Well, look who’s laughing now? Maybe now the Cleveland Browns won’t suck now. In an alternate reality. Anyway, the Belcher children, of course don’t want to partake in any of this, and stated that they won’t give into the pressure. And oh…looks like one of their kind has exit stage left.
Yep, Tina has now entered the ring in the group of people who were interested in the sport. Why? Well…
Yep, Jimmy Jr. *sighs* I told you. I told you that the writers are gonna press the reset button after the last episode. You probably thinking that I may had a hidden agenda in place since what happened when Jimmy Jr chose Becky over Tina and then later on, Jimmy Jr call it quits on Becky to be with Tina, proving to be nothing more than a fuckboy. But it looks like that, the events of the last episode and the moment of Tina wanting nothing with Jimmy Jr... erased from history. Hmm…this ship is sorta like Starco lite. Well, way before the Starco pairing came to be. It’s freaking Twilight. It’s fucking Twilight. Tina is Bella and Jimmy Jr is Edward. Don’t ask questions. I had to suffer from it. So Tina became the First Belcher to fell into the Ga-Ga ball experience, leaving Louise and Gene in the uninterested club.
Onto the next day and of course, the two are still uninterested with the sport and of course, became disgusted over it when Tina, Zeke, and Jimmy Jr talked about their experiences. To the next scene where Rudy talked to everyone by the lockers and I would say brag about him being good at Ga-Ga ball. But of course, ever since Ga-Ga ball was brought up into the Wagstaff school grounds, Rudy has become a pro in this. Our Asthmatic Child became an expert in the sport. And keeps on winning. And winning. And winning. And winning.
Rudy is becoming the DJ Kahled of Ga-Ga ball. And I thought out of everyone who would be worried about Rudy and the sport would be Louise. Cause this is Rudy we’re talking about. Be on a lookout for your buddy. Or love interest. Or…I don’t know, you two kissed once. And Louise, yeah, there might be some hints at a potential love interest for Rudy, but she looked out for him. So at least, there would be some moments where Louise would be worried about Rudy becoming addictive over Ga-Ga ball. I feel like there isn’t. Speaking of Louise and Ga-Ga ball, yep, she got sucked into the game as well. So that leaves poor little Gene Bean being all alone in the “not interested in Ga-Ga ball club.” Population: Just Gene.
And that’s where things begin to take things a bit too far when it comes Ga-Ga ball and Gene because Frond announced that he would add more courts into the playground so that everyone can play. And the result?
Cutting the bushes. Not just any bushes. But the bushes that Gene sculptured and cherished since the beginning of the episode. You probably thinking on why are the bushes important? It’s probably Gene being Gene. Yeah, well how will you like it when it was something you cherished gets taken down or taken away? What are you gonna do next? Who’ll be laughing now? And seriously, the bushes? Really Mr. Frond? What did the bushes ever do to you? Did the bushes fuck your mom or something? Jesus. The bushes didn’t do wrong. They don’t deserve this!
Gene got upset over this and of course, the people who partake in the Ga-Ga ball trend for letting this happen. And of course, he stormed off despite he tried to interrupt Frond talking to the students but got ignored. Louise and Tina would cheer Gene up over what happened but of course, more rounds! But it looks like Gene may not be alone after all in the anti-Ga-Ga ball ideal.
He spotted Zeke hiding behind the trash can. Apparently, he too is sick and tired over Ga-Ga ball. Mostly because he’s been taking one too many Ls in the game. So much that he had to lie to Jimmy Jr in the one round, which apparently happens to be the current one we’re at, to the yearbook room to fart in when the ball was out of the ring and into the direction of both Gene and Zeke. Jimmy Jr spotted Zeke and as for Gene. He slapped the ball hard back into the pit. Meaning that Gene could partake in this. Even though he doesn’t want any of this. Until Frond decided to make an announcement that there will be a tournament. In which the winner will get bargaining rights. Meaning of course, if Gene enters the tournament, he’ll get a say in this and want the things to go back the way it used to be. And of course, he’s gonna enter.
We have a montage of the rounds throughout the game of Ga-Ga ball, and if you’re hoping for some drama? Yeah…no. While some people do enjoy montages, you kinda wish like if we had some drama into the mix. That’s mostly how sports work. There’s excitement and there’s drama. And then there’s people who leave within the first hour of the game. Sadly, we don’t have those type of people here. I mean, if this episode was like a two-parter, they could add some drama into the mix. But since we’re doing not, we gotta pace things so don’t want to lose people. And we made it the Quarterfinals.
Consists of Gene, Rudy, Jocelyn, and five random people, let’s call them…Background Characters Numbers S8e9-1 through 5. And Rudy…oh boy…Rudy is really fired up over the game. We’re dealing with a professional that has no experience in any sport. He’s becoming a pro in this. Probably the Ga-Ga ball version of either Tom Brady or LeBron James or Steph Curry or I don’t know? George Springer? Rudy…is the GOAT. He’s the GOAT. Even before the Ga-Ga ball was brought up…according to some people in the fandom. But of course, like the NBA Finals for the past few years, it was predictable on who’s gonna be in the finals.
Yep, Gene vs Rudy. Gene vs Rudy…predictable. It was predictable that I think anyone’s mother can predict on who the two characters to be in the finals are gonna be. It’s like the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. So I think that would make Gene the Warriors and Rudy the Cavaliers. Or if you want to follow the whole blow a 3-1 lead like when the Warriors fell to the Cavaliers in 2016, pretty sure it won’t be like that. Nope, but instead, Rudy’s ego has cost him the match. You think because you’re all high and mighty that you’re gonna hit Gene in the knees with the ball within like seconds. But nope, that cost you the lead. Thus handing Gene an “upset” win. Key word, “upset” because it the show’s case, if you were a student at Wagstaff, you would be surprised over Gene’s comeback. But you are one of the viewers who thought Gene was gonna win over Rudy, yeah…it was pretty much predictable.
So Gene won, meaning of course he now got bragging rights. Guess that would make him MVP. So Gene said to everyone on the megaphone from Frond tell the people to cut the crap with Ga-Ga ball. Mostly because of peer pressure. Pressure by their friends. Pressure by Mr. Frond. Hell, it’s possible that you got pressured by yourself. And that of course, he wants things to go back to the way it used to be. And have recess back with people around the area. Mostly because the reason why Frond want Ga-Ga ball to around the play area because he thinks that the system is broken. Everything has been out of bounds. And that brining in the sport can bring people together. Gene however, is against this. He said it with full of heart and compassion following his victory over Rudy. But then Frond decided to cut him off. Almost feels like that got no one’s attention. Until Zeke begins to break the silence and tag along with Gene on bringing back recess. And then, the rest of the students have begun to stand up against Frond and now want Ga-Ga ball out. And we got a brief flashback coming from Mr. Frond. Yes, we finally got a flashback from a side character…that isn’t named…I would Teddy being the prime example. But of course, he wasn’t a main back then. Closest being Gayle, despite it was Linda’s backstory.
We got a brief flashback of a young Frond playing around with bugs on the ground. And it looks like he was enjoying playing the bugs around until that one moment when a kid yanked him from his spot to play football. Frond refuses to play but I guess the grip was too strong for Frond to resist. Flash forward to decades later where we are now, history might’ve repeated itself but with a new face. You know how in playgrounds, there’s always that one person who happened to be the jerk in the playground. Well, Frond became that when he pressured the students to play Ga-Ga ball. And in hopes to not let this happen again in the distant future, Frond tells Mr. Branca, the janitor, to tear the Ga-Ga ball pits, all except the one, the original, down. A la quoting Ronald Reagan when telling Gorbachev to tell the Berlin Wall down. And with that, Ga-Ga ball is now a thing of the past. Despite the pit is now the only one left standing. Don’t worry, it’s not gonna reappear in the distant future. So recess is back in session. Everyone is now free to do whatever they want and as for the Belchers and Rudy…
Decided to play a round of Ga-Ga ball. They decided to play the game despite that Gene want the thing gone. Okay. Okay, fine. At least things got back to normal. So my initial thoughts on the A-plot, despite being predictable in the end, it was somewhat enjoyable. You gotta hand to Gene, he was trying to get things back what it used to be when the school became obsessed over the sport. And seeing the bushes he worked get taken down, that really pushes him into his limits. Messed up because he’s the only one in the campus who hate the sport…well, until Zeke comes in, but that’s mostly because he doesn’t want to keep on losing. And to Rudy. Oh my god, Rudy. The sport is changing him. Making him into an egotistical jerk because he kept winning, and winning, and winning. No, that doesn’t make me hate Rudy. I have nothing against Rudy. No one should hate Rudy. But we’ll get more on that later on in this review.
So while the kids are on Ga-Ga ball watch, the B-plot takes on Linda and of course, taking over the story time position. See, the guy, Frank, who dressed up as a wizard for kids at a local library, is about to exit out of town, meaning that now he got to cancel Friday’s reading. That was until Linda decided to fill in the spot. Of course, it ain’t gonna be easy shoes to fill. Because you will be at a library. And you’ll be reading it to kids. And you gotta get their attention. But for Linda, she thinks that it will be a piece of cake. On to the setup!
Linda has to come up with an introduction. She had one, which is of course to dress up as a librarian, and then reveals herself. She thinks is a clever idea, but everyone here think that this was a bad idea. Mostly because you want to get the kids’ attention at the library for story time, not scarring them for life and a trip to the psychiatrist office. So it looks like the we’re gonna be here for a little while.
That leaves to the next day when Linda has finally, finally found the perfect idea for a character. Dressing up as a punk rocker. Originally, I would say from the 2000s. But she dressed up Punky Brewster, which is a character from a show from the 1980s? I don’t watch shows from the 80s. Hell, one person during the live blog thinks that she dressed up as Videl from the Anime Series Dragon Ball Z. I don’t see the resemblance. Although, the rocker look does look good for Linda. I mean, she used to be with the Ta-Ta’s in High School. So it’s quite fitting that Linda would dress up like that. And of course, carrying a guitar. Despite that she was the lead vocal, never have I ever seen her playing a guitar. So, this should be the first. Also, she hires Teddy to do some behind the scene work with some lighting and sound and shit.
The day of reckoning has arrive. Just as Linda prepares to get her, I guess, big moment, preparing to go into character and read to kids until she soon finds out at the last minute when Frank, the wizard that was supposed to go out of town, supposed to go out of town but it looks like he ain’t going anywhere. So does that mean Linda now has to go away? Create her own event? Nope, she’s gonna challenge. Two readers, one book. Only one will be crown reader for the kids. So won the match? Because the montage we had between this and the Ga-Ga match, it’s more of who’s taking turns. One shot, we got Linda. Other shot, we got Frank. One way after another. Wonder if they decided via coin toss. Pretty sure Linda went first.
And by the time the two-finished reading the story, no one won this match. Decided to settle their differences. And about to be arrested by police because one of the parents just called the cops after noticing a switchblade. A switchblade? Really? Really?! You had to be a dumbass to carry that around. But yeah, settle their differences despite some parents saw a switchblade in their props, thus ending up calling the police. Don’t worry, they made it out just before the cops made it. It’s just…guys…and gals…if you’re planning to be a storyteller and in character in hopes get kids to read…don’t be like them. Why can’t be like…any show from PBS in the olden days like…Between the Lions. Remember that? That was my shit. I was like…second, third grade when that happened. But anyway, note to future readers, be creative and don’t bring any props that can could end up posing as a threat. And this is why we’re losing people to the internet.
Reaction/Thoughts:
So what’s the rundown in this week’s episode of Bob’s Burgers? Honestly, this was an okay episode, even though the A-plot was enjoyable with Gene being the exception from everyone when being obsessed with Ga-Ga ball, and for watching his pair of bushes by the gates being torn down in his own eyes, which really pushed him to his limits, while it was enjoyable to watch. Gets pretty much predictable that quickly right through the tournament section of the episode. Gene became the person of interest in the spotlight when both Tina and Louise succumb into the Ga-Ga ball trend despite that in the beginning of the main plot of the episode, the three were not interested in it until pressure comes into play with Jimmy Jr asking Tina to come play, in which she ends up playing it. And then Louise…I would probably say Rudy might’ve pressured her into playing it. Thus leaving Gene all alone. Ignoring it until Frond tells the school that more Ga-Ga ball pits will be in the works, meaning that the bushes that Gene worked on gets torn down right in front of this eyes. Thus kinda pushes his limit and want to get things back to the way it used to be. And when Frond announced that there would be a tournament, that gave Gene an opportunity because the winner gets bragging rights. But of course, had to get through everyone. All the way to the finals when taking on Rudy. And speaking of Rudy, my god, this sport changes him. I mean, yeah, Rudy is not the athletic type, mostly because he’s more…frail. Or as Louise would say back in “Friends with Burger-fits”, a pushover. Well, ever since Ga-Ga ball got into the school grounds, Rudy on his try, he almost won. By the time the sport become more and more interesting in the eyes of the students at Wagstaff, he won. And kept on winning. And kept on winning. And kept on winning. He keeps winning, and winning, and winning, and winning. He’s becoming the Energizer Bunny in Ga-Ga ball. I mean, if Ga-Ga ball was a major league sport, Rudy would’ve an athlete. But of course, by the time we head over to the final round with his match against Gene, he let his guard down, thus handing Gene the win. Ego is what cost Rudy the win. Remember kids, ego kills. Thought Louise and Tina would be the supporting factor with Gene in this one, they probably were in the beginning, but of course, pressured into playing the game. Leaving him all alone. Well that was until Zeke comes into the picture. He used to be in favor, then he’s against it. Mostly because he kept on losing. And sorta agree with what Gene is saying. And when Gene was trying to get people’s attention when he won the match against Rudy, when Frond cuts him off. Zeke ends up becoming the first to break silence and then, others joined in as well. So I kinda like that. Seeing more of some Gene and Zeke interaction. Let’s hope for more in the future. So the A-plot was enjoyable yet predictable, but the B-plot of the episode, it was okay. Though there were some pacing, mostly around the whole read-off scene. Mostly because of the transition between this and the Ga-Ga ball tournament. Of course, the thing happened to be stalemate in the end. The most enjoyable in the subplot was Linda’s costume. Like I said, really digging the rocker outfit. Despite that she used to be with the Ta-Ta’s in high school, it fits her well. I would say “I hope we can see more of that”. But that looks like it’s gonna be a one-shot and one-shot only. So…yeah…that’s the only highlight in this subplot. So all and all, I think this episode is enjoyable, worth the month wait, but yet pacey and predictable. This Episode receives a yahoo20127 score of…
An 8.5 out of 10. The series have returned from us following a month break because of the Olympics and well…we got a standard episode. Not bland, just standard. Enjoyable yet predictable. Mostly around the ending. And just put this out there, this would consider to be a Gene episode. Despite that all three in the beginning not want to partake in the Ga-Ga ball trend but of course, two of the three decided to partake. It was enjoyable, but the ending happened to so predictable. Although, that Frond flashback, hope we can see more. Maybe with the other side characters in the series. And as for the B-plot…it was okay. The Linda punk rock costume, yeah, pretty much the highlight for the subplot. So there’s that. And this is the first one of what appears to be a parade of new episodes. We got another this upcoming Sunday with the Belcher kids investigating something odd when they discover a secret room. This should be interesting to see. In the tenth episode of Season 8, titled, “The Secret Ceramics Room of Secrets.” So until then, I’ll probably see you then. Emphasis on probably.
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