aspieducklover-02304 Reviews

SpongeBob SquarePants: MuscleBob BuffPants/Squidward the Unfriendly Ghost (1999) Season 1, Episode 11

A pretty good episode

[7/10 · 10 February 2023]

Neither episode is great, though they both have their moments

Musclebob buffpants (7) This segment is interesting in how it shows Spongebob's more unlikable side while still making him a complex and sympathetic character. It's not that funny, but it has some very creative visual gags and good animation.

Squidward the unfriendly ghost (7) The middle of the episode drags on and is very unfunny but the opening and ending have some great moments as well as an entertaining plot that either soars or sinks depending on what joke they're running with.

All in all, it's one of the weaker episodes of the season, though still worth watching if you've exhausted all the better ones.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Culture Shock/F.U.N. (1999) Season 1, Episode 10

An incredibly F.U.N episode

[9/10 · 9 February 2023]

Both episodes in this are classics.

Culture shock (9) Culture shock is mainly a montage of events in a talent show, but these events are not only incredibly creative, they're also incredibly funny. Each character gets a moment to shine and the jokes are some of the best yet. It's simple yet immensely effective.

F. U. N (9) The song is a bit overrated, but the episode is great. Spongebob and plankton counter each other perfectly and the story has some good drama and comedy. It's brilliantly paced and has some really good character moments, though it isn't quite as funny as some of the other episodes.

This episode is better than all those that came before it and it has two classics. What's not to love about it?

SpongeBob SquarePants: Nature Pants/Opposite Day (1999) Season 1, Episode 9

A decent episode and an absolute classic

[8/10 · 9 February 2023]

Nature pants is servicable, though it can't even begin to hold a candle to the masterpiece known as opposite day.

Nature pants (6) Nature pants has some funny moments (like the amazing Patrick face that has spawned many memes decades later) and a good story, though the jokes are far from the best the show has to offer and the payoff is a bit formulaic. It's okay for what it is, but don't expect anything amazing.

Opposite day (9) Opposite day is almost a ten. It is consistently hilarious and has some great voice acting from Tom Kenny, showing his impressive range. The jokes hit fast and land hard and the story is charming and immensely enjoyable. Even Gary and the Real estate lady get funny moments.

The second half it by far the best part of this episode, though the naturepants segment is a perfectly servicable appetizer.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Sandy's Rocket/Squeaky Boots (1999) Season 1, Episode 8

One step forward and one step sideways

[7/10 · 9 February 2023]

Sandy's rocket is a classic and squeaky boots is alright.

Sandy's rocket (9) Like hall monitor from last episode, it's interesting to see just how reckless Spongebob can be due to his naive behavior. Him and Patrick have a great dynamic and the second half is unpredictable in the best possible way, with a hilarious and rather dark conclusion showing spongebob is near its best when it embraces its more surreal side.

Squeaky boots (6) Squeaky boots is a bit above average, though a disappointment compared to the amazing rocket episode. The telltale heart parody is quite funny and there are a few decent moments but the story is too dull and limited to carry half an episode and the jokes aren't at their strongest.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Hall Monitor/Jellyfish Jam (1999) Season 1, Episode 7

Chaos in the (near) best way

[8/10 · 9 February 2023]

Both episodes are highly entertaining, and far more random and surreal than most before it.

Hall monitor (9) Hall monitor is the absolute best that can be done with such a strange concept. Seeing Spongebob mess things up in the most outlandish ways possible using an otherwise mundane occurence is a blast and the dramatic irony employed in the episode's second half is hilarious. It's one of the season's strongest without a doubt.

Jellyfish jam (8) Jellyfish jam is a bit less funny, though that's an easy bar to fall under. The antics the jellyfish get up to are ridiculous yet highly enjoyable and the jokes come fast and hit hard, even if it loses its way by the ending.

These episodes are up there with the strongest in the season, making this one worth watching if you want to enjoy yourself immensely.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy/Pickles (1999) Season 1, Episode 6

Above average entertainment

[7/10 · 9 February 2023]

These two episodes are enjoyable but mostly unremarkable

Mermaidman and barnacleboy (7) This episode introduces two elderly superheroes. It's an interesting look at people past their prime and they're both enjoyable characters with fantastic voice acting. The jokes are quite hit and miss but the story hits most of the right beats and it never drags on for too long, throwing at least one good joke per scene.

Pickles (7) Pickles starts off poorly and ends brilliantly. The plot is a bit too unbelievable for someone like spongebob and the jokes miss quite frequently during the first half. When Mr Krabs enters, it shows that he can be a rather helpful person even when he's still a greedy jerk and the last two minutes are hilarious, topping off with one of the funniest jokes in the season. It's rough, but it nails the landing.

The episodes are more inconsistent than previous ones, though they're still of a high quality, even if far from the best the season has to offer.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Pizza Delivery/Home Sweet Pineapple (1999) Season 1, Episode 5

Enjoyable antics from everyone's favorite sponge

[7/10 · 8 February 2023]

These two episodes are enjoyable and funny, though nothing superb.

Pizza delivery (7) Pizza delivery has some great character interactions and an oddly wholesome moment from Squidward of all characters, plus the antics of the two are charming and humorous. It's a well paced and entertaining concept though it's never anything above very good.

Home sweet pineapple (7) Home sweet pineapple mixes jokes with a simple yet accomodating story to a good effect. Seeing Spongebob try to adapt to a sudden change leads to some very good animated gags even if they're rather predictable and never above a chuckle. Squidward being a horrible person is certainly the episode's highlight, as it portrays him as a jerk without making him too unlikable.

I'm not a huge fan of the episode, but that's not to say it isn't enjoyable throughout.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Naughty Nautical Neighbors/Boating School (1999) Season 1, Episode 4

A perfect balance

[8/10 · 8 February 2023]

Spongebob (the show, not the character) so far has mastered the art of making characters flawed yet sympathetic.

Naughty nautical neighbors (8) Spongebob and Patrick are the textbook definition of manchildren, so seeing them inadvertedly imitate a nasty breakup/rebound is hilarious. Squidward shows that despite being a jerky killjoy, he still has some humanity (for lack of a better word,) making him feel like a complex yet cruel antagonist. It's simple, stupid, and incredibly entertaining.

Boating school (8) Mrs Puff is a character I disliked as a child but really enjoy now. She has every right to be cynical and is a perfect foil to Spongebob as a grounded yet jaded authority figure. Spongebob and Patrick's dynamic carries the segment and the message at the end is both a worthwhile one while also being a humorous payoff to the episode.

Both episodes are solid and worth watching, proving that Spongebob has an unusually impressive first season for a cartoon.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Jellyfishing/Plankton! (1999) Season 1, Episode 3

Blown out of the water

[8/10 · 8 February 2023]

This episode has one good segment and one brilliant one.

Jellyfishing (7) Jellyfishing has good pacing, great slapstick, and Spongebob and Patrick are irritating without being unlikable. The visual gags are bombastic and frequently very funny, and Squidward gives as much as he gets, even if I feel a lot more sorry for him now than I did when I watched this as a kid.

Plankton (9) I'm almost tempted to give this episode a 10, but I won't quite. Plankton's introduction is amazing, he's a witty and sinister character with some absolutely incredible one liners and wonderful voice acting. The plot is surreal and slightly disturbing, showing a great contrast between the well meaning yet loyal Spongebob and the cynical and conniving Plankton. Plankton insulting Squidward is definitely. The episode's highlight. The only thing making this not a solid 10 is that it's funny without being hilarious.

SpongeBob SquarePants: BubbleStand/Ripped Pants (1999) Season 1, Episode 2

Talk about an improvement

[8/10 · 8 February 2023]

Episode 2 is such a massive improvement over the first episode in so many ways.

Bubblestand (8) Bubblestand is such a charming episode. The visuals are great, the story is simple yet extremely effective, and the chemistry between the main characters is wonderful and natural. The "it's a giraffe" joke will always be a classic.

Ripped pants (9) Ripped pants is a terrible idea turned into a fantastic episode. The story relies on a joke that has an incredible conclusion just after it wears out it's welcome. The visual gags and dialogue are top notch and there are some genuinely sweet moments that lend into a well-earned and wholesome ending with a positive message. Spongebob goes through some character development in just ten minutes and cements himself as a cartoon icon with a banger of a song.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Help Wanted/Reef Blower/Tea at the Treedome (1999) Season 1, Episode 1

The start of something special

[7/10 · 8 February 2023]

The first episode of spongebob serves as a brilliant introduction to the series, even though it's not amazing.

Help wanted (7) It's a great introduction to the characters and it has some great visual gags, though the dialogue is a bit stiff.

Reef blower (5) Personally, I don't think this episode has aged that well. The visuals are well done though it seems overly subdued and slightly bland. It's a good benchmark for some of the experimental and animation focused episodes later on though it doesn't stand up to well on it's own.

Tea at the treedome (8) It's a charming and funny episode with some great visuals and witty dialogue, plus Sandy is an amazing character. The running gags are well paced and they all hit the mark. The pinky finger jokes are a perfect mix of stupid yet endearing.

It's a very good introduction to the series, even if it is still an obvious pilot.