Bob's Burgers: Gift Card or Buy Trying (13x18)

This was fun, getting to hang out in a different setting than usual!

Cons:

As everyone's dreaming of the different stuff they want to buy, we see Bob wants cattle bell weights, and later he wants a headlight, and his little fantasies about these objects were fine, but probably just the least interesting/enjoyable character beats of the episode. Easily forgettable.

Pros:

I like how the whole family goes into the store, which is basically like a Walmart equivalent, a huge store with lots of different departments and things to buy, and immediately we've got different backdrops for our characters to interact with than usual. We see them exploring the toys and the home goods, we see them slipping in and out of fantasies of what they'll do with their new purchases. All very fun.

Gene gets the most robust subplot of the episode, as he runs into a kid at the store who he finds really annoying. The two used to be friends, but he plays the slide whistle in a way Gene finds objectionable. After the two of them try to share a toy drum set and get along, they each angrily declare that they find the other annoying, and each take credit for avoiding/pulling back from friendship with the other. In the end, Gene realizes that he and Mitchell have more in common than he wants to believe, considering he finds him so irritating. He goes over to make peace, and the two agree that they can look back on their time together fondly, but they won't stay friends.

Linda falls in love with a new sewing machine, but it will cost the entire $100 gift card that the family has agreed to split evenly five ways. She resigns herself to not getting it after Bob seems skeptical that the kids will give up their new toys for her, but in the end when she talks about all the stuff she wants to make for her family, everyone gives up their dreams so Linda can have her new sewing machine. What a sweet, considerate family! And of course Louise has to demand that someone get her the bow and arrow set for her birthday, or else!

This was a fun outing, with the whole family in a nice setting, showing off that wonderful Belcher family connection. They can all be pretty selfish at times, but they're also willing to do something nice for each other in a moment like this.

9/10