After inheriting a storage unit from his maternal uncle in the week before Christmas, Bob discovers a man named Chet living there. Chet turns out to be a former department store employee with a talent for window displays who happens to believe he's a mannequin come to life.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Tropes:
- Angst? What Angst?: In-universe (and at least mildly justified in Louise's case); Linda is the only Belcher even mildly upset about Uncle Ernie's death. Bob seems indifferent, mentioning that the last time he saw Uncle Ernie was years ago. Louise has to ask who Uncle Ernie even is, implying that Bob's last meeting with him was before Louise was born. Tina doesn't react at all. And lastly, Gene decides to honor Uncle Ernie's memory... by using his name as a euphemism for pooping (something even Bob finds inappropriate given the circumstances).
- Big Damn Kiss: Chet engages in one with Nadine near the end of the episode. It gets a little... spicy.
- Big "WHAT?!": The final line of the episode is one of these from Bob, as his reaction to Chet revealing that he has a loft in Manhattan.
- Bittersweet Ending: Chet is reunited with Nadine, but it takes all the money the Belchers have earned from the window displays, undoing the brief streak of success they had.
- Both Sides Have a Point: While Linda is right about Bob being a little brutal in his honesty towards Chet, Chet is clearly not mentally stable and Bob is right to have his reservations about him.
- Brutal Honesty: Bob loses his temper with Chet and tells him that Nadine is probably in a dump somewhere and he'll have to move on, which sends Chet into a Heroic BSoD.
- Chekhov's Boomerang: Uncle Ernie's storage unit is not only where the Belchers find Chet, but it's also where they find presents for the kids when they use the money they'd saved to buy Nadine from the sex shop.
- Chekhov's Gun: The mall is briefly mentioned as putting Uncle Ernie out of business. Turns out it's also what separated Chet and Nadine.
- Christmas Episode: The first in the series.
- Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Chet's a crazy person who thinks he's a mannequin come to life with an unhealthy obsession for another actual female mannequin.
- Companion Cube: Chet's mannequin wife Nadine, whom he treats as a living being.
- Crazy Homeless People: Chet is found living in Uncle Ernie's old storage unit, and believes he's a mannequin brought to life by heartbreak over being separated from his wife. Then it turns out he's not actually homeless, he's living in the storage unit while his loft apartment in Manhattan is being renovated.
- Cringe Comedy: Linda's attempt at a Christmas poem to appease the customers, coupled by her complete failure to even spell Christmas.
- Cutaway Gag: When Bob chastises the kids for searching for Nadine against his will, Gene comments that it's like intruding on Bob while he's using the bathroom. Cut to Bob using the bathroom and Gene emerging from the showers to scare him.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: Tina, Gene, and Louise are aware that their presents come from Bob and Linda, and ask them for specific things. Some of the following Christmas episodes would establish that the kids believe in Santa Claus, with Louise in particular not being able to comprehend how they could get gifts on Christmas from anyone but Santa.
- Epic Fail: Whoever it was that somehow mistook Bob's Burgers for a gas station.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: The contents of Louise's Christmas wish list (her own apartment, towels for said apartment, and a doll that doubles as a knife) are only briefly shown onscreen, and only the apartment is directly mentioned.
- Given Name Reveal: Of a sort; Bob's mother's maiden name is revealed to be Lombard. Her first name, however, remains unrevealed until Season 13.
- Gorn: When Chet gets depressed, the window scene he makes gets a little... graphic, with an elf hanging from a noose and decapitated reindeer decorated with ketchup and hamburger meat for entrails.
- Harmful to Minors: There are at least two kids watching the display when Chet begins making out with Nadine, and that's not including the Belcher kids.
- Murderous Mannequin: Discussed; Chet makes sure to specify he's not one of these.
- Noodle Incident: The reason the Belchers haven't been doing so hot financially is because they were apparently once listed as a gas station.
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: Linda does this when after Bob unintentionally upsets Chet.Linda: (angrily) Kids. Bed. Now. I wanna talk to your father.
- Secretly Wealthy: The final reveal of the episode—Chet owns a loft apartment in Manhattan and was only living in the storage unit (and later the Belcher home) while it was being renovated.
- Shout-Out:
- Gene wants the actual bobsled from the movie Cool Runnings for Christmas.
- Gene shouts "Snakes on a plane!" when the kids let loose a bunch of vibrators on the sex shop's floor.
- We Need a Distraction: The kids distract Sal, owner of the sex shop where they find Nadine, so Bob can steal Nadine and reunite her with Chet.
