With her exuberantly bubbly personality and penchant for bursting into song, Linda Belcher quickly became one of Bob's Burgers' most beloved characters. Always around with something nice to say, Linda is the polar opposite of her dour and downbeat husband, Bob. With her three children in tow, there's almost nothing she can't do.
Whether she's striking it out on her own or making the best of a bad situation, Linda never lets her positivity slip. Though she is usually the standout character every week, some episodes of Bob's Burgers serve up quintessential Linda Belcher goodness.
"Lorenzo's Oil? No, Linda's" (S9 E11)
Linda's relationship with her sister Gayle is rocky at best, but she never stops trying to do what is right by her sibling. The episode "Lorenzo's Oil? No, Linda's" sees Linda invited to an essential oils party by a new acquaintance, sensing something is amiss, Gayle believes she must rescue her sister.
Though the episode is one of Gayle's funniest outings, it also shows off one of the best aspects of Linda's personality, her social skills. She is roped into the essential oils party because she is too kind, and though she is skeptical at first, she finds herself loving it. In the end, having fun is what Linda loves to do most, and she is at her best when she can cut loose.
"Purple Rain-Union" (S4 E6)
While she is a bastion of positivity for others, Linda has often shown that she isn't immune to the hardships of life herself. "Purple Rain-Union" is Linda at her most vulnerable when she is invited, along with the rest of her former bandmates, to play at her high school reunion. Plagued by the memory of their first bad performance, Linda struggles to cope with her stage fright.
Never a show to shy away from heartwarming moments, the episode is both hilarious and touching at the same time. Linda's emotional fragility causes her to lash out at her sister, and she comes to realize that having fun while performing is more important than being good. Like the lessons she imparts to her kids, Linda learns a valuable lesson in "Purple Rain-Union".
"Adventures In Chinchilla-Sitting" (S5 E15)
Coming as one of the best Linda and Bob moments of the show, "Adventures In Chinchilla-Sitting" gave some insight into the couple's relationship. With their anniversary looming, Linda quickly learns that Bob's idea of a romantic date is a trivia night at a local bar. Determined to have a good time, the couple get way too invested in the game.
Seeing Bob and Linda find pleasure in the simplest things in life is one of the strongest aspects of the show. As always, they take things to farcical proportions, but nevertheless find a diamond in the rough on their anniversary. Linda shows that she is willing to go to any extreme to squeeze even a drop of fun out of a night out.
"Friends With Burger-Fits" (S5 E3)
Though she is a great mom in general, sometimes Linda can get too wrapped up in the kids' fun, and become a bit of a bad influence. In "Friends With Burger-Fits", Bob and Teddy enroll in a stuntman camp while Linda hosts a series of wrestling matches between the neighborhood kids in the walk-in freezer.
Seeing Linda cast as the ring-leader of the kid's ice wrestling league is a hilarious turn for her character. Similar to the Thunderdome in the third Mad Max film, Linda eggs on the fighters but ultimately goes too far. Linda learns that sometimes a parent's job is to think about safety, even if it ruins the fun.
"Seaplane!" (S4 E3)
Though Bob does his best to provide for his family, he isn't always the most attentive husband, and Linda has to look elsewhere for some excitement. In "Seaplane!" Linda signs herself up for flying lessons after Bob's date night idea is a dud. She finds that she has taken a liking to flying, and also to the suave instructor with a seedy reputation.
The episode tests her loyalty to her husband, but ultimately Linda does the right thing. Following in the lines of similar sitcom premises of the bored spouse, Linda is given a chance to wander but she remains faithful. While Linda's journey is the premise of the episode, she teaches Bob a lesson about contributing to the relationship.
"Human Flesh" (S1 E1)
The episode that started it all gave fans a deep look at Bob and Linda's relationship while simultaneously delivering a hilarious premise. "Human Flesh" sees the grand re-opening of Bob's Burgers stalled by a jealous health inspector who was once spurned by Linda in the past.
Bob needs Linda as his support, and the first episode gave her a chance to bolster his confidence to get through the hardships. Jealous of her previous loves, Bob learns that Linda chose him over another man which shows that she is really committed to their relationship.
"The Hurt Soccer" (S8 E12)
Coming as one of the best mother-son moments from the show, Gene and Linda get a chance to live a dream while the family is away. "The Hurt Soccer" sees Bob tapped to coach Louise in the final game of her soccer season, while Gene and Linda decide to turn the restaurant into a piano bar.
Undoubtably the most musical pair in the family, Linda and Gene play off of one another magically in the episode. Though their musical approaches are unorthodox at best, their passion for performing is undeniable. While it is merely a pipe-dream, Linda's moment in the sun gives her a chance to show off for an audience.
"Dawn Of The Peck" (S5 E4)
While the annual Thanksgiving episodes are usually Bob's time to shine on his favorite holiday, "Dawn of the Peck" saw Linda turn into an action hero to save the day. When the Thanksgiving day Turkey Run goes awry, a gaggle of dangerous fowl attack the wharf and the Belchers are caught in the melee.
Though Bob's Thanksgiving plans are ruined, the rest of the family gets to go on a raucous adventure that has them appreciating a simple holiday. With the town in shambles, it is Linda's quick thinking that eventually saves the day.
"Lindapendent Woman" (S3 E14)
Linda's bubbly personality is one of her strongest assets, and the episode "Lindapendent Woman" put it to the test like never before. Tired of working in Bob's shadow at the restaurant, Linda decides to find a job of her own at a local supermarket as a cashier.
While Linda learns that the outside world is tougher than she thought, the restaurant falls to shambles as Bob cannot manage it alone. With their relationship strained, both Bob and Linda learn that they need each other to truly be their best selves. Ultimately she returns, and has a whole new outlook on her role at the restaurant, and Bob learns to appreciate his wife more.
"Eat, Spray, Linda" (S5 E18)
Even though it's her birthday, the episode "Eat, Spray, Linda" is anything but a gift for the overworked mother of three. When Bob needs more time to plan her surprise, he sends Linda out of the house on errands. When she goes missing on a strange odyssey, the family must work together to find her.
Linda's resolve is severely tested in the episode, and it seems as if everything went wrong for her. Despite that, Linda remains positive and is able to work through all of her problems alone, in her own way. Separated from her family, Linda proves that she is strong and capable, and can even face hardships with a smile on her face.