"The Amazing Rudy" is the 2nd episode of the fourteenth season of the American animated comedy series Bob's Burgers and the 262nd episode overall. It was written by Lizzie Molyneux & Wendy Molyneux and directed by Ryan Mattos.^[1] It originally aired in the US on Fox at October 8th, 2023. In this episode Rudy prepares for an awkward night out with his divorced parents and their new partners. Meanwhile, the Belcher's make an important casserole to celebrate Gene's new grade.^[2] The episode is notorious for its overwhelmingly positive critical reception, with many citing it as one of the series' best.

Plot

Rudy is apprehensive as he prepares to attend a dinner date alongside his divorced father, Sylvester. He prepares for the dinner by seeking out a new magic trick to perform at the table, one which he hopes will be able to unify even the "most awkward of dinner-dates". While later shopping at the mall, Rudy encounters the Belchers, who tell him that they will have a special family dinner at home celebrating Gene's improved schoolwork. Louise invites Rudy to join them, but he declines because of his family plans.

Back at home, the dinner is revealed to be the monthly dinner that Rudy and Sylvester have with Rudy's mom. Unlike other times, it will include Sylvester's new romantic partner, Vicki, and Rudy's mom's partner, Paul, which makes both Sylvester and Rudy nervous. They arrive at the dinner, and Rudy recalls all the times he performed magic tricks in front of his parents at restaurants, even as the marriage gradually declined. Now ready, Rudy performs his trick, but a miscalculation causes it to fail and stain Vicki's dress. Furthermore, to assure Vicki, Rudy accidentally reveals how the trick works, violating one of his rules to never real his magician's secrets. Despondent, Rudy excuses himself to the bathroom, but instead of going to the bathroom, he secretly flees the dinner in tears.

After walking around the city alone, Rudy arrives at the Belcher's restaurant. Louise notices Rudy outside and asks him why he isn't at his dinner. Rudy lies by telling Louise that it didn't happen and that his parents dropped him off here. Louise invites him to join them. As the family begin eating, Rudy accidentally reveals that he was at dinner, and tearfully explains that he ran away after failing to perform his magic trick. While Bob and Linda contact his parents, Rudy despondently waits on the stairs to return to his family's uncomfortable dinner. Seeing how upset he is, Louise suggests she should walk Rudy back to the restaurant alone and offers to accompany Rudy to dinner, and Rudy happily agrees. Bob and Linda watch the two walk away, admiring the kindhearted daughter they've raised.

Before arriving, Louise and Rudy devise a new magic trick to perform. They arrive at the restaurant. Rudy hugs his parents and he and Louise join the table, with the entire party having a good time together, eating and talking.

Reception

Meredith Loftus of Collider called the episode "emotionally impactful", saying, "With just the second episode of this new season, 'The Amazing Rudy' champions experimentation through the perspective of a side character we've come to love. Through the new depth we discover about Rudy, this episode serves to highlight why the Belchers remain one of the most wholesome families on television. If and when this series comes to an end, don't be surprised when you see 'The Amazing Rudy' in the conversation as one of the best episodes of its run."^[3]

David Kaldor of BubbleBlabber gave the episode a 9/10, saying, "Getting a perspective episode on a character who isn't one of the Belchers is rare enough already, but giving all of the episode to Regular Sized Rudy is a big swing that I think really pays off...this episode has certainly set a high bar for the episodes to follow."^[4]

Tara Mccayley of Comic Book Resources praised the episode, saying in her article, "Though Bob's Burgers has expanded its ensemble exponentially over its 14-season run, 'The Amazing Rudy' offered a fresh deep-dive into another member of the Seymour's Bay community. The trope of highlighting a slice-of-life perspective from a minor or background character is a tried and true television tradition. However, it is not something Bob's Burgers has dealt too heavily with despite its sprawling ensemble. 'The Amazing Rudy' thus allowed a unique and welcomed deviation from the show's comfortable formulas while still commenting on the central themes of family, community, and parenthood that rest at the series' core."^[5]

References

External links

• "The Amazing Rudy" at IMDb