"Ear-sy Rider" is the first episode of the
third season of the
animated
Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby image, still images are manipulated to create Motion picture, moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on cel, transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and e ...
comedy series
Television comedy is a category of broadcasting that has been present since the early days of entertainment media. While there are several genres of comedy, some of the first ones aired were variety shows. One of the first United States television ...
''
Bob's Burgers
''Bob's Burgers'' is an American animated sitcom created by Loren Bouchard for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is centered on the Belcher family—parents Bob Belcher, Bob and Linda Belcher, Linda and their three children, Tina Belcher, Tina, G ...
'' and the overall 23rd episode, and is written by Dan Fybel and Rich Rinaldi and directed by
Anthony Chun
Anthony Chun is an animation director. His credits span ''Rick and Morty, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,'' and '' The Batman''.
Chun worked on adult comedy, children's shows, and action. He has been recognized twice by the Televisi ...
. The episode premiered on September 30, 2012 in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
on
Fox
Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush").
Twelve species ...
.
Plot
Mort is holding a funeral for Horny Dave, the head of an
outlaw motorcycle club
An outlaw motorcycle club, known colloquially as a biker club or club (in Australia), is a motorcycle subculture generally centered on the use of Cruiser (motorcycle), cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and chopper (motorcycle ...
called the "One-Eyed Snakes". After the ceremony, the gang goes to Bob's Burgers to have beers, much to Bob's dismay. After having wrecked much of the restaurant, Critter, the new leader of the "One-Eyed Snakes", pays for the damage and gives Bob a card which he can use to ask the gang for a favor in the future.
Meanwhile, the kids are crossing by a street corner which is often occupied by skateboarding teenagers after school. Louise taunts Logan, one of the teens, to the point where he grabs Louise's bunny ears and runs off. Louise, unable to cope with the loss, starts to act crazy and wears a hoodie as a replacement. She is determined to get her bunny ears back. When bribery fails, Louise begins to follow and stalk Logan in numerous desperate attempts to get them back. Logan is resistant because he believes that the bunny ears have given him good luck. She finally tattles on Logan to his parents. When his parents confront him, Logan tells Louise that he had them sent to the dumpster. Louise tries to track them down to the waste management plant, but it is believed that they are
incinerated
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of substances contained in waste materials. Industrial plants for waste incineration are commonly referred to as waste-to-energy facilities. Incineration and other high ...
and she is too late.
This brings Louise to her breaking point as she plots revenge. She cashes in the "One-Eyed Snakes" card and the gang arrives to threaten Logan. He confesses to never having thrown the bunny ears away and pulls them out of his backpack to give back to Louise. The gang returns to Bob's Burgers to celebrate, as Louise tells them food and drinks are on the house.
Having learned that their son was threatened, Logan's family gathers the neighbors and they all confront the "One-Eyed Snakes" in the restaurant. Linda also gets into a fight with Logan's mom. When Critter tries to break up the fight, Logan's mom accidentally tears off Horny Dave's jacket from Critter, and a standoff between the neighbors and the "One-Eyed Snakes" ensues. Critter, in an attempt to prove his leadership, plans to beat the neighbors up. Before the fight can begin, however, Mudflap, Horny Dave's pregnant lover, who Critter had sex with, goes into labor. Logan's dad is a doctor and takes charge of the delivery, where everyone in the restaurant lends a hand. After the baby is born, Mudflap confesses to Critter that he is the child's biological father.
Everyone is at peace, except for Louise and Logan, who were looking forward to the fight. But Louise is happy to have her ears back anyway.
Reception
Rowan Kaiser of ''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
'' gave the episode an A−, saying "'Ear-sy Rider' ... acts as an extraordinarily effective traditional season première in that it demonstrates the best and most representative qualities of ''Bob’s Burgers''. This show is already great on a regular basis, and the third season has the chance to solidify it as one of the best on TV."
Ross Bonaime of ''
Paste
Paste is a term for any very thick viscous fluid. It may refer to:
Science and technology
* Adhesive or paste
** Wallpaper paste
** Wheatpaste, a liquid adhesive made from vegetable starch and water
* Paste (rheology), a substance that behaves as ...
'' gave the episode an 8.2 out of 10, saying "“Ear-sy Rider” does a great job of combining two seemingly unconnected stories, into a predictable, yet fun way. The show uses the ideas of family unity and just how insane the Belchers can be, into a great start to the third season and showcases why ''Bob’s Burgers'' is the best animated show on television today." The episode received a 2.6 rating and was watched by a total of 5.46 million people, this made it the third most watched show on
Animation Domination
Animation Domination (also called AniDom, Fox AD, and AD) is an American animated
Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby image, still images are manipulated to create Motion picture, moving images. In traditional animation, images are d ...
that night beating ''
American Dad!
''American Dad!'' is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker (producer), Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series premiered on February 6, 2005, following Super Bowl XXXIX, with the r ...
'' but losing to ''
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
'' with 8.08 million.
References
External links
*
{{Bob's Burgers episodes, 3
2012 American television episodes
Bob's Burgers season 3 episodes
Television episodes about bullying