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Jul 17, 2023

Bob's Burgers recap: "Gift Card or Buy Trading" is surprisingly sweet

Photo Credit: Bob's Burgers/Fox, Acquired From Fox Flash After a few-week hiatus, Bob’s Burgers is back with a new episode. I don’t know about everyone else, but I really missed seeing the Belchers on

Photo Credit: Bob's Burgers/Fox, Acquired From Fox Flash

After a few-week hiatus, Bob’s Burgers is back with a new episode. I don’t know about everyone else, but I really missed seeing the Belchers on my screen.

Thankfully, we have the next few weeks to look forward to. Somehow, Fox always tends to mess with the schedule for Bob’s Burgers but it looks like we have a few weeks of new episodes.

For this week’s episode though, we’re headed out with the family which is a rarity. The last two episodes were the show’s April Fool’s Day offering and an episode focused on Bob and Tina so I’m excited to get into season 13’s newest addition.

With that being said, there will be spoilers for “Gift Card or Buy Trying” from this point on. If you haven’t watched it yet, this is your spoiler warning!

The episode begins with the family getting a $100 dollar gift card tip and they’re all overwhelmed by how to spend it. After the kids beg and plead, Bob and Linda agree to split the money five ways and take them shopping at the More Store during lunch. Tina wants the first thing she finds while Louise wants a $25.00 archery set and wants Tina to go in with her.

Bob starts off by wanting some cattle bell weights while Linda finds a sewing machine for almost a hundred dollars. As for Gene, he gets excited until he sees his ex-friend, Mitchell. He tries to hide from him while Louise is trying to convince Tina to give her some cash. Everyone in the family keeps finding different things to want but for Gene it comes to a head when he runs into Mitchell.

Gene and Mitchell decide to play the drums together while Linda tries to convince the girls to go in for the sewing machine and Bob keeps having fantasies about what he’ll buy. The episode culminates with Gene and Mitchell getting into an argument, Tina found a puzzle she wants, and Bob and Linda both get socks.

Gene realizes he doesn’t like Mitchell because they’re too alike and they agree to not be friends again. The episode ends with Linda explaining she wants a sewing machine because she likes to sew for the kids and everyone gives up their share so she can get it.

Of all the animation-domination shows, Bob’s Burgers is known for having a loving family unit yet that isn’t always true. No matter how “perfect” the Belchers might seem, they can be selfish and hurt each other. To me, that was what I was thinking towards the end of the “Gift Card or Buy Trying.”

Louise was so insistent and wouldn’t give up, no matter what Tina said. Then Gene was trying to avoid his ex-friend at any cost while Linda wanted her sewing machine. All in all, it seemed like the episode could have gone in a completely different direction but it didn’t. I won’t sit here and act like I wasn’t surprised by what the family chose.

Even so, that’s what makes Bob’s Burgers such a standout even a decade later. While the Belchers can sometimes be mean and rude to each other, they still care about each other in the end. It’s clear how the kids were willing to give up what they wanted for Linda. As for Linda, she only wanted the sewing machine to be able to help the family.

“Gift Card or Buy Trying” had such an unexpected ending. I didn’t even see that coming, but I adored it. Even though the show does have its ups and down, that reminds me why I love Bob’s Burgers and will continue to keep watching.

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

What did you think of “Gift Card or Buy Trying?” Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments.