Bob Belcher revisits an underused theme at the end ofBob’s Burgersseason 15, suggesting great things for the series’ future. It’s been a fantastic season, full of new canon, zany adventures, and plenty of chances for every Belcher to shine. But theBob’s Burgersseason 15 finalebrings back a wonderful Bob trait that much of the season forgot.
“InsomniBob” isn’t quite what most fans would label one ofBob’s Burgers’ weirdest episodes, but it’s not for lack of trying.The finale revolves around Bob creating the alter ego “Night Bob” to work on new recipes while the family’s asleep, touching on themes in the process that are certain to resurface at the start ofBob’s Burgersseason 16.
Bob’s Burgers Season 15 Finale Is The Season’s First To Feature Bob’s Culinary Passion
Considering the show’s title, it’s impressive how many episodes almost manage to forget that the diner exists.There’s not much reason to talk about beef patties when Teddy’s courting a murderer or Linda’s running around town with a grocery bag for pants, but even several episodes that take place in the diner aren’t really about the business or the food.
Season 15’s open mic night episode takes place in the diner, but food is hardly the main focus. And before “InsomniBob,”Bob’s genuine love for cooking has hardly featured in season 15 at all. His peach burger informed a plot point inBob’s Burgersseason 15, episode 11, but only served as a minor detail to pad out Fischoeder’s story.
In fact, most of season 15’s references to Bob’s love of cooking were similarly minor, if not more so. Just four episodes after the peach burger, we learned some rather juicy details aboutLinda Belcher’s secret familywhileBob spent the entire episode obsessing over the joys of slicing his own prime rib. It was the season’s most forgettable storyline.
But theBob’s Burgersseason 15 finale refocuses the narrative on Bob’s passion for cuisine.We learn that he’s interested in other foods such as pâté, but only when they complement a burger, providing a sense that he has greater food knowledge yet has a preference for how to utilize it. And that’s almost inarguably one of his best traits.
Some Of The Best Bob’s Burgers Episodes Have Featured Bob Belcher’s Love Of Food
Perhaps season 15 doesn’t emphasize it much, butBob’s Burgershas made some of its best impressions by focusing on Bob’s love of cooking.The season 1 episode “Burger War” features Bob devising several different burgers to save his restaurant, with the added bonus that it’s one of few episodes to feature more than one pun-based special burger.
The very next season gave us “Beefsquatch.” Although it follows the sad trend of nearly every Gene-focused episode trying to make the character as unlikable as possible,Bob’s genuine enthusiasm for appearing on a cooking show is at the very core of the episode’s heart. He’s clearly portrayed as a man with a dream that the diner does not fulfill.
Just these two episodes alone, while not necessarily consideredBob’s Burgers’ best episodes, leave at least enough impression that fans still talk about them today. Butthe Thanksgiving episodes that fans do consider among the best frequently focus on turkey, demonstrating that Bob has strong opinions about non-burger cuisine. And this is something season 15 largely failed to capture.
Whether fans agree or disagree on the merit of non-cooking episodes is ultimately beside the point. Not every episode needs to be about that. However,the season 15 finale is one of the best episodes in terms of balancing Bob’s love of cooking with his love of family. That’s the balance we should hope to see more in season 16.
How Bob’s Burgers Season 16 Can Make Up For Season 15 Ignoring Bob’s Passion
AtHulu’s 2025 San Diego Comic-Con panel, it was announced that the 300th episode ofBob’s Burgerswould involve the origins of both the restaurant and the Belcher family.TheBob’s Burgersseason 16 premiere will depict Tina’s birth during the diner’s grand opening, providing yet another chance for Bob’s culinary passion and his love of family to shine equally.
The promise ofnewBob’s BurgersTina loreis exciting, but it also speaks to the direction the show might be taking in the future. After almost an entire season of outside adventures,it appears thatBob’s Burgerswill finally return to its roots with increased focus on the diner. Of course, that assumes the episode won’t be a one-off.
Since theBob’s Burgersseason 16 premiere coincides with the series’ 300th adventure, it’s natural they’d want to revisit the Belchers’ roots. But whether this speaks to a new trend or not,exploring the origins of the Belcher clan and how they affected the diner is a major story beat. It should provide a better sense of Bob’s work-life balance.
Exploring why Bob got into cooking and why he still has dreams above his station isn’t necessary to the success ofBob’s Burgers, but it’s always been a fun topic to dive into. After waiting until the end of this season to finally revisit that, it’s exciting to know we won’t have to wait long before seeing more of it.
Bob’s Burgers
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Bob’s Burgers: Premiering in 2011, Bob’s Burgers follows Bob Belcher, a third-generation restaurateur, as he manages his burger restaurant alongside his wife and three children. Despite operational challenges including poor location, they remain committed to their business’s success.
