10. Season 6, Episode 1: “Sliding Bobs”
Playing off the 1998 Gwyneth Paltrow film Sliding Doors, “Sliding Bobs” imagines what would happen if Bob and Linda had met under different circumstances — specifically, if Bob hadn’t had his trademark mustache that Linda found to be so sexy.
Each of the kids takes turns imagining this alternate universe to hilarious effect, only to eventually realize they’re all together anyway and that’s what counts. The episode also provides a great insight into each of the characters.
For Gene’s part, he imagines a Robocop-esque alternate reality in which his dad is a grumpy cop, “Robo-stache.” Louise pictures Bob as a hairy circus freak thanks to a Big-style wish gone wrong. Tina, of course, wants to believe in true love and destiny, and that her parents would have met no matter what.
The episode is funny, but it also allows for a sweet take on something we’ve all pondered before: What would have happened if I had made a different choice, or if I hadn’t happened to cross paths with this person at this particular moment? When Bob’s Burgers intersects with real, human emotion, and manages to keep it funny, it fires on all pistons.