With a last name of Belcher, it’s not crazy to think this is another raunchy adult cartoon. Except, of course, it’s the furthest from the truth.

Most TV shows these days feature dysfunctional families with crazy antics in hopes to make the audience laugh. However, over the years, primetime cartoons have steadily lost a key ingredient: genuine love.

Not to get too sappy, but when shows like Family Guy and American Dad are our examples of cartoon families, there is a lack of a loving family dynamic. There is ridicule of idiotic main characters, and a lack of respect between the parents and kids. Even though The Simpsons started off as a great representation of the middle class, it now barely scratches the surface of a realistic family dynamic.

Bob’s Burgers has the perfect recipe for a realistic family sitcom where acceptance of their individuality is the norm, not being the butt of a hit-or-miss joke.

The kids

Bob’s Burgers have the children down so well, it is hard to not see yourself as one of them. Stereotypically sitcoms fall into the pattern of having a brilliant kid along with a dumb kid. The Simpsons are an easy example, but even many live-action shows follow the same mantra.

Tina, Gene, and Louise are some of the few kids on television that are accurately portrayed. Namely, they act like kids. And, as a bonus, most of the time get along with each other. Each kid carries their own, and together makes three kids’ worth of comedy.

There is something so realistic about them; they ride bikes, hang out at the pier, and are afraid of the dentist. But, at the same time, have just enough ridiculousness for it to still feel like a sitcom. The youngest Belcher, Louise, is a budding mastermind that knows way more about the outside world, and things like weapons, for an average nine year-old. Tina is going through puberty and not afraid to share all her emotions, and Gene, well, you just never know with him but it likely would involve lots of eating.

The Parents

Bob Belcher owns and runs a burger joint, and although it’s a far cry from being successful, Bob doesn’t see it as a failure. As other cartoon characters might be pessimistic and never learn from their mistakes, looking at you Homer Simpson, it instead keeps Bob grounded.

While another show might involve more reluctant love towards the children, this one has parents lovingly involved in their three children’s lives.

In season 5 there is entire episode revolved around Tina and Gene’s conflicting musicals at Wagstaff Middle School. Gene starred in his one-man show: Die Hard The Musical, and although laughs were hard to stifle, never once do Bob or Linda complain about being there. Nor do they comment on either of their children as being untalented.

In one episode, Bob goes undercover to try and get back Tina’s prized toy pony, and another Bob and Linda work feverishly trying to make their kid’s dragon Halloween costume. Each and every episode Linda is there as the children’s cheerleader. Easily seen as the most ridiculous out of the bunch, Linda has an enthusiasm that doesn’t only make for great dialogue and story, but helps her be relatable.

The acceptance

Bob’s Burgers does not define their characters by the jokes they tell, but by their individual personalities. Physical comedy is a staple in sitcoms, but that slapstick comedy shouldn’t be the only thing holding a character together. Bob, being one of the more straight-faced characters on the show, always accepts his family and their silliness. Linda, in one episode, believed she was a psychic. Although very skeptical, Bob allowed her to be herself, psychic powers or not.

Gene, the middle child, is probably the closest to the average chubby, food loving goofball commonly seen in comedies, but his existence in the family is just as important as every one else’s. At one point or another every family member has a moment of doing or saying something that would, unfortunately, not go over too well in another show. But being Bob’s Burgers, the accepting environment not only allows for better quality stories, but also an inviting family you wish you were apart of.

Bob’s Burgers certainly isn’t absent of vulgar moments, but it is an example that it doesn’t need that surprising, offensive, push all your buttons, type of comedy in order to be successful. Sometimes the best recipe for a TV family is to be a genuinely loving and accepting family.