"It's so cute how their glasses reflect off each other!" - Tammy"Yeah, like two mirrors that go on forever!"- Zeke
If there is one redeeming quality to the over-marketed nonsense surrounding Valentine's Day, it is that it allows for extra adorable story lines in your favorite shows-- Galentine's Day anyone?!-- and often a huge romantic development. This week's Valentine's-themed episode was no exception. When Darryl (voiced by everyone's boyfriend Aziz Ansari) offers to help Tina pass math if she agrees to go with him to the Valentine's Day dance and make upperclassman Rosa want him, Tina says yes but at what cost? Meanwhile, Bob does a little (x-rated) dance for Linda as well, at the cost of his dignity. What does it all add up to? An amazing episode worth every penny (that is, if you pay for TV).
Tina
"I've seen enough romantic comedies to know you're probably going to fall for me... Fight that feeling."- Tina
Tina, Tina, Tina. You fall into your own trap, and yet we love you all the more. Tina is in her element when it comes to unrequited love, but the change-up from Jimmy Jr. to Darryl kept the episode fresh and inventive. Tina learns though her requests of Darryl what she actually wants in a boyfriend, and ends up realizing that she needs her lover to have more than just a cute butt. He needs to compliment her achievements-- opening her locker on the first try-- and also make out a lot. Like, a lot and very much in public. By the last scene she is once again back to Jimmy Jr.'s side, but this time it seems Tina is less of a stalker and more of a chill classmate. She has finally learned how to play it cool... at least for this episode.
Linda
Linda: Say goodbye to the pressure of being super romantic on one day and say hello to being somewhat romantic for a bunch of days leading up to the big V!
What a woman! Most women in love with Bob-like men would give up after one or two Valentine's Days, but instead Linda thinly veils an over-the-top Valentine's Day week as a "compromise." If that doesn't make Linda a mastermind I don't know what would. That Linda is completely oblivious to what is the difference between sexy and disturbing, makes her the perfect match for Bob, whose body hair is disturbing. Her hidden strawberry tastes like dish soap. Her bath bubbles cause stinging sensations. And her ideal lap dance scenario involves her lap and Bob's dance. Linda is actually worse at Valentine's Day than Bob, which is what makes her a perfectly endearing character to watch as she fails the holiday.
Darryl
Darryl during the fake breakup: "I cant change how incredible I am, just like you can't change how phenomenal you are!"
If you are in the market for a fake boyfriend, Darryl is totally your man: he follows instructions, practices non-creepy hugs and he will even tutor you in math! Sometimes he gets overly animated, but that's just because he's a cartoon...
All silly jokes aside, we got to see a more sympathetic and relatable demeanor in our favorite gaming nerd, and it was pretty impressive to realize that Darryl had fallen in love with Rosa because they shared similar interests. Usually at that age, it's because their hair is shiny or they wear a nice smelling lip gloss. Props to Darryl for teaching Tina a lesson by example, even if it wasn't a math lesson... which is why she came to him in the first place...
Bob
Linda, on Bob's strip tease: "I like ya circling around! I'm getting dizzy!"
There has perhaps never been so hairy a man in existence, animated or otherwise. And yet, the man sure can dance when asked to rotate in an orbital motion. It was wonderful to see Bob come around by week's end to understand that nothing is more romantic to Linda than losing oneself in the moment. Sure, when it comes to this show most of Bob's moments are humiliating, but when Bob lets one of them go by performing a strip tease even after people outside heckle him, you know that's their version of true romance. Any man who is willing to sexily dance for his wife deserves a good grade for just existing. However, Bob gets a few points taken off for lack of personal maintenance and complaints of soap in eye. No woman wants to hear that.
Can't Buy Me Math.
The course of true love never did run smooth, but with the Belchers it's more like one of those old wooden roller coaster courses where it's nothing but bumps. Just like with those rides, you feel queasy the whole time, but end up loving it so much you go again. Tina and Linda may never be smooth operators when it comes to love, but luckily Linda found Bob to love her bumpy ways, and Tina is well on her way! After all, it is as a bowling alley that Tina screams, "There are no leagues!...okay, except bowling leagues but there shouldn't be people leagues."
When an episode can be so multi-layered but also deliver a clear message, it is so easy to fall in love with it. I think I will have to write this episode a valentine.
Extra Credit
- Jimmy being in Tina's new remedial math class:"You want to be bad at math together?"
- All of the outfits and decorations at the dance.
- Tammy and Zeke's romantic observations of Darryl and Tina.
Demerits
- So. Much. Body Hair
- What else was in Linda's Valentine's Week?
Episode Grade Points:
4