The Simpsons has long been hogging the animated spotlight with their annual Halloween themed “Treehouse of Horror” episodes, but they’re hardly the only series to get in on the Halloween spirit. Really, any time a non-horror series gets into the spooky festivities, it’s usually a blast and Bob’s Burgers has been celebrating the best holiday of the year since its third season (it’s first full-length season).
The series follows the Belcher family, consisting of parents Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) and their children Tina (Dan Mintz), Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Louise (Kristen Schaal), and their family-run burger joint. This means that there’s usually a burger of the day corresponding with the episode. So not only do their Halloween episodes offer up seasonal laughs and tons of Halloween and horror references, but there’s a delightfully horror-themed burger to pair with it. The best part is that all are available on Hulu now, including the most recent episode that aired on October 21. So, if you need a reprieve from your October horror watchlists, here’s the seven Halloween episodes to watch and the burgers to pair with your viewing.
“Full Bars”
Halloween Burger of the Day: “The Jack-O-Lentil Burger”
The very first Halloween episode of the series sees the kids going trick-or-treating on their own for the first time, while Bob and Linda attend a quirky adult Halloween party. The kids encounter bullies in their quest for the coveted full-sized candy bars while Bob learns a hard lesson in showing up to a Halloween party with no costume.
“Fort Night”
Halloween Burger of the Day: “The Cauliflower’s Cumin from Inside the House Burger.
In an effort to maximize candy collection during trick-or-treating, Tina, Gene, and Louise team up with their friends to wear one big dragon costume. While Bob and Linda are stuck making the costume, their kids get trapped in their makeshift fort while classmate Millie psychotically tortures them from the outside. It’s a humorous play on familiar horror tropes that feature paranoia and group tension in claustrophobic settings, and the burger itself is a fun nod to When a Stranger Calls.
“Tina and the Real Ghost”
Halloween Burger of the Day: “Texas Chainsaw Massa-curd Burger” and “The Human Polenta-pede Burger”
When Linda and the kids use an Ouija board to communicate with a ghost, they decide to trap it in a shoebox to get rid of it. The problem is that Tina decides the ghost is her new boyfriend and takes it with her everywhere. Things get further complicated when the shoebox ghost breaks up with Tina to date her frenemy Tammy. This episode gets not one, but two themed burgers of the day; a play on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Human Centipede. Eat at your own risk.
“The Hauntening”
Halloween Burger of the Day: “Breaking Radish Burger”
If you only watch one Halloween episode of Bob’s Burgers, make it this one. Unlike Gene and Tina, who scare very easily, Louise laments that it’s impossible for her to feel fear. To rectify that, Linda and Bob take the family to a haunted house. But when they arrive, cultish mayhem ensures, threatening the family with more than just a tame, spooky fun time. Despite such a great horror filled episode, this burger of the day takes its inspiration from Breaking Bad.
“Teen-a-Witch”
Halloween Burger of the Day: “Muenster Under the Bun Burger”
Tina comes up with a clever costume idea to win the annual contest, but when it’s stolen she turns to witchcraft. Meanwhile, her father is on a mission to discover who is stealing his pumpkins. Tina goes on a spell-casting spree, leading her to develop a more gothic appearance and bolder personality. A trash-talking, confident Tina is always a favorite. This Halloween burger is a play on the monster under the bed trope.
“The Wolf of Wharf Street”
Halloween Burger of the Day: None
Sadly, this episode has no themed burgers, as Bob is laid out on the couch with a broken leg. Linda takes the kids trick-or-treating, and tries to impress them by having them hunt for a reported wolf terrorizing the town. Bob happens to suspect his friend Teddy might be a wolf himself, thanks to a mysterious bite mark on his arm. The two storylines collide in one paranoia filled werewolf mystery.
“Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street”
Halloween Burger of the Day: “My Bloody Kale-Entine Burger”
The newest Halloween themed episode sees the Belcher kids once again resuming their usual trick-or-treat shenanigans, only this time they have to contend with everyone having their candy bags stolen. That’s ok, because Louise, Gene, and Tina are on the case. Bob’s friend Teddy decides to decorate the Belcher burger joint, but gets carried away in a competition with a handyman down the street. A simple Scooby-Doo type plot with a burger-themed after My Bloody Valentine is always a plus.