#my mom played alanis morissette all time when i was growing up. thank you tv show

[aion-rsa]

Why The Great North Isn’t Just Another Bob’s Burgers

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It’s easy to take one look at FOX’s newest animated comedy, The Great North, and assume it’s exactly like the long running and beloved Bob’s Burgers. Two of The Great North’s creators wrote a good chunk of Bob’s Burgers episodes and the shows share a near-identical art style after all. At first glance some of the Bob’s Burgers character archetypes seem to be involved as well: awkward daughter, an odd sarcastic youngest child, and a loving, if somewhat offbeat, father.  So why bother with something like Bob’s Burgers when you could just watch Bob’s Burgers?

While there are a few surface similarities, by the end of the first episode of The Great North you’ll realize there’s so much more to it than just an Alaskan set version of the Belcher family. It’s got humor all its own, unique characters, and the potential to be something that isn’t merely a rival to Bob’s Burgers but a truly unique experience.

So let’s head up north to discover all the reasons why The Great North is so wonderful. As a brief primer, the show is set in Alaska and follows the Tobin family with fisherman dad Beef, artistic daughter Judy, loveably dumb son Ham, bear-suit wearing son Moon, oldest and eager to please son Wolf, his always chipper and new to Alaska fiancé Honeybee, and Judy’s best imaginary friend Alanis Morissette…played by Alanis Morssette.

The Family’s Lack of a Mom is Refreshingly Handled

A lack of a mom is a huge trope in animation at this point (look at damn near every ‘90s Disney movie) and if there is a mom, especially in a comedy, she tends to be wacky or overly loving. The Great North puts a new twist on both of these in its very first episode.

The plot of the premiere deals with Beef struggling to get over his ex-wife years after she abandoned the family. An ex-wife isn’t anything to write home about, a single dad taking care of a family is a comedy trope in of itself, but it’s what we learn about Beef’s ex that makes this element so refreshing.

Instead of the mom just not being present or having died off screen, Beef only acts like she’s dead, a fabrication everyone goes along with to keep him sane. When he isn’t around though Judy is quick to point out the rest of the family doesn’t buy this and they never liked her much anyway. She even flat out states,

“She was a really bad mom, okay? And it was actually better when she left.”

The other kids then list off horrible things she did, like name their dog Grandma solely so, “she wouldn’t be lying when she said we were with Grandma when people asked.” She runs a blog with her “new lover” about stores that wont chase you if you shoplift. Even in her goodbye letter to Ham she just wrote, “smell you later.”

I love this so much because it replaces all the easy sentimentality of a dead or simply absent mom that comedies love and instead opens up some fantastic new storytelling opportunities. In the pilot alone it gives us deep insight into Beef, that despite how awful she was he refuses to think anything but the best of her. Why is he like that? Is it his way of not thinking about all the terrible things she did? She’s left him so broken he has to concoct an elaborate fantasy to keep himself sane. It makes you instantly love the character and while he does seemingly get over this denial in the pilot I can foresee it impacting him for the rest of the series.

It’s also so refreshing because the kids aren’t all that broken up about it. Knowing their mom was terrible helps reflect a lot of what kids go through in real life. Sometimes they just have a bad parent and there’s no deep explanation of why, they just are and it’s not great. Maybe Judy and the others are hurt by this and I’d love to see the show tackle that in the future but even if it strictly keeps this part of their characters on the comedic side of things? It’s empowering. These kids aren’t broken up by their awful mom and want her back; they’re thriving BECAUSE she isn’t around. 

Nick Offerman Being Nick Offerman

Over the years Nick Offerman has perfected the deadpan and loveable character that brought him to fame in Parks and Recreation. His role as Beef isn’t a major departure from that mold but it does allow Offerman to be even warmer than his most famous character. 

As Beef he’s a capable man who gets up to see the sun rise and chop wood. He loves nature so much he steals a potted plant from a mall to take better care of it. His love for his family is on full display and he often goes to absurd lengths to keep them together. Offerman brings a great charm to the role and all of the jokes he delivers are winners. 

The Rural Location

Bob’s Burgers draws much inspiration from its city setting, while The Great North is set in rural Alaska. This may seem like a surface level change but once again opens up all kinds of new opportunities for stories and characters. Where the Belcher family was somewhat cynical to city life (you would be to with a landlord breathing down your neck) the Tobin family openly embraces the chilly north.

Judy sits out on the roof and talks with her imaginary best friend, Moon takes great pride in his ability to mimic a soon to be eaten cadaver laying out in the snow, and Beef specifically gets up every morning to stare in wild wonder at Alaska’s majesty while whispering “hot dog.” The whole family even delights in going to the mall, which is the kind of joy only someone living out in the middle of nowhere can truly appreciate.

The Different Character Dynamics

Even after eleven truly fantastic seasons Bob’s Burgers characters still manage to never feel stale and the team behind the show always finds new ways to play around with them. With such a rock solid cast of characters you’d think they could tackle any story imaginable but The Great North is already proving to be a home for stories that just wouldn’t work for Bob’s Burgers.

The most noticeable change is that most of the kids are older. Judy and Ham are both sixteen which opens up a lot of possibilities that couldn’t be done with the Belcher kids. They can get involved in more serious relationships, have jobs (as Judy gets in the first episode), and are able to be more autonomous from the family. Wolf, the oldest of all of them, is engaged! Imagine what could be done with a soon-to-be married couple? Honeybee herself also functions as a delighted fish out of water to Alaska, her thoughts on the Tobins’ life a needed commentary. Her outgoing personality also clashes well with Moon’s stoic nature.

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Judy and Ham also share a more loving sibling dynamic than any of the Belcher kids ever have. In Bob’s Burgers the kids don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves, they’re more likely to make sarcastic quips about one other. The Great North though has Judy and Ham share a special bond, the two have a secret handshake that goes for an indeterminable amount of time. It’s really sweet and it makes me excited to see what kind of comedy can be mined from this more openly affectionate family.

Ham Is Gay And I Love Him

Ham is my favorite character so far in this show. He’s a little slow on the uptake but loves everyone in his family a lot and can even make a perfect replica of a cadaver… in the form of a cake. He also happens to be gay, a fact that is wonderfully confirmed in the first episode when he blurts out, “I AM GAY!

To which Moon responds, “we know. You’ve come out to us a bunch of times.”

Beef then adds, “we love you just the way you are, damn it!”

Ham, clearly not remembering his past comings-out, yells, “WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ALLY!”

It’s a great scene and kicks any subtext out the door. Queer audiences don’t have to sit around guessing who COULD be queer in the show (as they’re so often forced to do with so little representation in media) there’s a character who said OUT LOUD he’s gay. He’s one of us!

Bob’s Burgers has had several one-time gay characters (Bob did refer to himself as “mostly straight” once but that was more of a gag) but getting a gay teen in the main cast is sublime. He’s also a different sort of gay teen then we’re used to in television, with a tiny “probably thinks it’s cooler than it actually is” mustache and his “not quite all there” personality. He’s not a stereotype, he’s got some obvious flaws, but he’s loveable! Sure enough, his family loves him and accepts him.

Having a gay character in the cast opens up so many story possibilities. Are there any other gay kids in this rural town? What if there’s only one and he’s forced to date him? Does he know what kind of guys he likes yet? Where do the gay kids hang out in this town? 

It also must be reiterated that his family loves him and accepts him. While drama over coming out and acceptance is totally valid, I’m glad that Ham will get the chance to just be gay and his family will support him all the way. We can just see him happily (if somewhat absent-mindedly) live his life and that’s needed in a world with so little queer representation. As a pansexual man myself it’s heartwarming. I wish I had a character like Ham when I was growing up. 

Alanis Morissette Is A Main Character

Yes, Alanis Morissette is in The Great North (played by the actual Alanis Morissette) but in an absolutely perfect choice she’s not the REAL Alanis Morissette, she’s Judy’s best imaginary friend who just happens to be Alanis Morissette. Judy’s artistic so it makes sense she’d look up to someone as incredible as the Canadian musical genius. As an imaginary best friend she tends to serve as a sounding board for Judy’s thoughts and gives absolutely flawless advice.

Even better though? The imaginary Alanis Morissette also only appears in the Aurora Borealis. That’s… incredible. What a way to take advantage of the show’s location!

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 The Great North is a delight. It’s only been two episodes (the third one premieres February 14 and the first two are available on Hulu) but it’s already shown a lot of promise. Not in the “oh it’ll get good eventually” sense but in the “no it’s already great and I want to see more of it!” Don’t think of it as another Bob’s Burgers, just think of it as its own wonderful moose-filled show (it’s Alaska, what did you expect) and you’ll have a fantastic time. Truly, in these dark times we could all use a little help from imaginary best friend Alanis Morissette.

The post Why The Great North Isn’t Just Another Bob’s Burgers appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[awkwardmills]

Better questions

1. coffee mugs, tea cups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans?

glass water bottles

2. chocolate bars or lollipops?

chocolate

3. bubblegum or cotton candy?

bubble gum

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you?

smart, annoying, distracted

5. do you prefer to drink soda from soda cans, soda bottles, plastic cups or glass cups?

cans

6. pastel, boho, tomboy, preppy, goth, grunge, formal or sportswear?

business

7. earbuds or headphones?

headphones

8. movies or tv shows?

tv shows

9. favorite smell in the summer?

summer rain

10. game you were best at in p.e.?

jump roping

11. what you have for breakfast on an average day?

nothing

12. name of your favorite playlist?

idk

13. lanyard or key ring?

lanyard

14. favorite non-chocolate candy?

marzipan

15. favorite book you read as a school assignment?

The Giver

16. most comfortable position to sit in?

legs propped

17. most frequently worn pair of shoes?

slippers

18. ideal weather?

65 with a slight breeze

19. sleeping position?

stomach, right side of face on the pillow with arm under

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a notebook, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)?

phone

21. obsession from childhood?

Harry Potter

22. role model?

Winston Churchill

23. strange habits?

Picking to stim

24. favorite crystal?

Labradorite

25. first song you remember hearing?

Meet Virginia- Train

26. favorite activity to do in warm weather?

Drink a beer

27. favorite activity to do in cold weather?

light candles and read

28. five songs to describe you?

Fat Lip- Sum41

You’re Gonna Go Far Kid- The Offspring

The Taste Of Ink- The Used

Hand in My Pocket- Alanis Morissette

Drive- Incubus

29. best way to bond with you?

Watch my favorite tv shows with me 

30. places that you find sacred?

Lands where my ancestors are from

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names?

A blazer and form-fitting dress

32. top five favorite vines?

Any five of Brendan Urie

33. most used phrase in your phone?

Yeah, K

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head?

“it’s like a SAUna in here”

35. average time you fall asleep? 

10:30ish

36. what is the first meme you remember ever seeing?

grumpy cat

37. suitcase or duffel bag?

suitcase

38. lemonade or tea?

lemonade

39. lemon cake or lemon meringue pie?

neither

40. the weirdest thing to ever happen at your school?

someone had sex on the staircase in highschool

41. last person you texted?

My husband

42. jacket pockets or pants pockets?

Jacket pockets

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket?

cardigan or leather

44. favorite scent for soap?

endless weekend

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy or superhero?

all of them

46. most comfortable outfit to sleep in?

tank top and undies

47. favorite type of cheese?

meh

48. if you were a fruit, what kind would you be?

cherry

49. what saying or quote do you live by?

“it’s none of your business what other people think of you”

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have?

When my best friend randomly brought The Wizard of Oz into an already far-fetched scenario

51. current stresses?

going out of town

52. favorite font?

times new roman

53. what is the current state of your hands?

itchy from poison ivy, but my nails look good

54. what did you learn from your first job?

That adults are just taller children

55. favorite fairy tale?

Hansel and Gretel

56. favorite tradition?

putting the tree up the night of Thanksgiving

57. the three biggest struggles you’ve overcome?

Breastfeeding, jealousy, learning to forgive

58. four talents you’re proud of having?

writing, speed-reading, strength-building, mothering well

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be?

“thank god you’re here”

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be?

I don’t know anything about anime

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.?

“I’m not a solution to your problems”- Joan Holloway

62. seven characters you relate to?

Joan Holloway

Kittie Foreman

Samwell Tarley

Monica Gellar

Eliot Waugh

Betty Draper

Stef Adams Foster

63. five songs that would play in your club?

five lil john songs

64. favorite website from your childhood?

xanga

65. any permanent scars?

one on my butt from climbing out of a window in a car accident

66. favorite flower(s)?

pink tulips

67. good luck charms?

my labradorite necklace and a bracelet that says “just breathe” from a lady who is like a mother to me

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried?

black licorice

69. a fun fact that you don’t know how you learned?

skin gets wrinkly when wet to provide better grip under water

70. left or right handed?

right

71. least favorite pattern?

animal print

72. worst subject?

math

73. favorite weird flavor combo?

onions and strawberries

74. at what pain level out of ten (1 through 10) do you have to be at before you take an Advil or ibuprofen?

8

75. when did you lose your first tooth?

I don't remember

76. what’s your favorite potato food (i.e. tater tots, baked potatoes, fries, chips, etc.)?

Mashed

77. best plant to grow on a windowsill?

bamboo is the only thing I can keep alive

78. coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store?

sushi

79. which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo?

neither

80. earth tones or jewel tones?

earth

81. fireflies or lightning bugs?

lightning bugs

82. pc or console?

pc

83. writing or drawing?

writing

84. podcasts or talk radio?

talk radio

84. barbie or polly pocket?

polly pokcet

85. fairy tales or mythology?

mythology

86. cookies or cupcakes?

cupcakes

87. your greatest fear?

dying in a car accident

88. your greatest wish?

that my daughter is happy

89. who would you put before everyone else?

my daughter

90. luckiest mistake?

I don’t know

91. boxes or bags?

Bags

92. lamps, overhead lights, sunlight or fairy lights?

overhead lights

93. nicknames?

mom

94. favorite season?

fall

95. favorite app on your phone?

facebook

96. desktop background?

Ravenclaw

97. how many phone numbers do you have memorized?

three

98. favorite historical era?

the early 2000s