10 Best Spongebob Squarepants Episodes Of All Time, Ranked

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As a longtime fan of SpongeBob SquarePants, I must say that this cartoon has always been a source of joy and laughter for me throughout my life. From the whimsical underwater world of Bikini Bottom to the quirky characters that inhabit it, there’s just something about this show that resonates with people of all ages.

It’s hard not to love SpongeBob SquarePants (Tom Kenny), the ostensibly young adult sponge with a childlike personality, a best friend, and a passion for low-wage fast-food work and jellyfishing. That childlike innocence behind his big round eyes was a huge part of what make the little “absorbent and yellow and porous” dude’s Hawaiian music-scored adventures in the undersea world of Bikini Bottom one of Nickelodeon’s longest-running shows during its original run.

At its peak, “SpongeBob SquarePants” is a tale that encapsulates the essence of our inner child trying to preserve innocence amidst adulthood. Its quirky humor and daring animation techniques, such as incorporating real video footage and self-referential jokes, make it one of the most adult-friendly children’s shows ever produced. Interestingly, when the series debuted, almost 40% of its viewers were young adults aged between 18 and 34 years old.

As a devoted fan, I’d say the standout “SpongeBob” episodes perfectly blend SpongeBob’s childlike innocence with the show’s exceptional elements: stunning animation, cleverly timed visual and auditory jokes, compelling narratives, and a dash of the bizarre. However, the absolute best “SpongeBob” episodes skillfully tap into the characters and their relationships to weave stories that resonate universally, even when the series delves into its most eccentric realms.

Welcome to the Chum Bucket/Frankendoodle – Season 2, Episode 14

Welcome to the Chum Bucket: What makes it even more agonizing for SpongeBob is his deep affection for his job at the Krusty Krab. Unfortunately, Mr. Krabs loses him in a poker game with Plankton, who had wagered SpongeBob as part of his plan to obtain the secret Krabby Patty formula. However, SpongeBob turns out to be such a nuisance for Plankton that he ends up compensating Mr. Krabs to let him return. This episode is particularly touching, highlighting the special bond between Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob.

“Frankendoodle” – An Unusual Episodes of SpongeBob Often Stand Out as Gems

Survival of the Idiots/Dumped – Season 2, Episode 9

“The Idiosyncratic Survival”: SpongeBob and Patrick find themselves trapped inside Sandy Cheeks’ treehouse during her hibernation phase. They struggle to rouse her, but their efforts only lead to comical mishaps since she’s now in a bear-like state due to consuming an excessive amount of acorns before her long slumber. Even if she wanted to wake up, she couldn’t. As the treehouse starts freezing, the duo are forced to take drastic steps. While it may not be as amusing as “Dumped,” “The Idiosyncratic Survival” is still a fairly strong episode with numerous humorous moments.

“Dumped”: This standout episode features a heartwarming tale between SpongeBob and his best friend, Gary the Snail. When Gary starts favoring Patrick over SpongeBob, they find themselves in a custody battle reminiscent of “Kramer vs. Kramer.” To cope with the void left by Gary, SpongeBob takes in the wild and cranky Larry the Snail, ultimately leading him to recognize the depth of his feelings for his original pet.

This episode’s moving soundtrack enhances its comedic aspects, particularly when we learn that Gary had merely coveted the cookie in Patrick’s pocket. The title “Dumped” has become renowned due to an intriguing urban legend about a cursed version of this episode, linked to unexplained deaths and vanishings.

Dying for Pie/Imitation Krabs – Season 2, Episode 4

“SpongeBob’s Pie Predicament”: In this amusing tale, Squidward inadvertently leaves a pie containing explosives for SpongeBob. When they find out about the mix-up, Krabs and Squidward attempt to retrieve it, only to discover SpongeBob enjoying his treat and expressing gratitude towards Squidward. Stricken with guilt but seemingly unfazed by proximity concerns, Squidward tries to make SpongeBob’s remaining moments enjoyable by helping him complete a bucket list featuring tasks such as telling knock-knock jokes and touring the town in a salmon suit. The episode ends with an actual footage of a bomb test explosion from Bikini Atoll following Operation Crossroads, serving as a dramatic climax.

“Robot Mr. Krabs”: In his latest scheme to grab the Krabby Patty recipe, Plankton manufactures a robotic version of Mr. Krabs, named “Robo-Mr. Krabs.” This mechanical doppelganger deceives SpongeBob, leaving Plankton delighted but puzzled as extracting the formula from SpongeBob proves more challenging than expected. The absurdity in the story soars when even though Robo-Mr. Krabs has noticeable metallic traits, SpongeBob can’t distinguish between them. The hilarious portrayal of a duplicate character is enjoyable to watch, and it’s entertaining to witness Plankton’s plans fall apart again.

Something Smells/Bossy Boots – Season 2, Episode 1

“Something Stinks”: In a classic Pee Wee Herman fashion, Spongebob finds himself in a pickle when “Something Stinks.” Waking up early and eager for a Sunday breakfast sundae, SpongeBob discovers he’s out of ice cream and other essentials. Not one to give up, he makes do with what he can find – a bowlful of ketchup, onions, and an entire peanut plant complete with soil. Unfortunately for SpongeBob, the strange concoction leaves him with foul breath that keeps everyone at bay, including his own reflection.

In this episode titled “Something Smells,” Patrick believes SpongeBob feels unattractive due to his appearance. Eager to help, he sets off on a mission to assist his friend in accepting this supposed truth. However, instead of addressing the issue, they share some leftover ice cream sundae, causing the “ugliness” to spread like a contagion. This humorous episode, one of the most memorable from the series, sparked over half a dozen memes and even led to the creation of the video game “SpongeBob’s Stinky Swagger.

“Pearl Takes Charge at the Krusty Krab

Graveyard Shift/Krusty Love – Season 2, Episode 16

“All-Night Tale”: During a sleepless night, Squidward regales SpongeBob with a chilling ghost story about the Hash-Cooking Slasher, a bumbling Krusty Krab fry cook who tragically lost his hand and replaced it with a rusty spatula after an accident. Later hit by a bus and fired at his funeral, the Slasher’s vengeful spirit returns every Tuesday night to wreak havoc — but their shared fear causes them to scare each other instead in this classic Squidward-SpongeBob tale. The peculiar duo and an unexpected appearance by Count Orlok from “Nosferatu” make this one of the spookiest episodes in “SpongeBob SquarePants,” much to fans’ delight.

“Krusty Love”: The Tale of Mr. Krabs and Mrs. Puff

Arrggh/Rock Bottom – Season 1, Episode 17

In this episode, the focus is on Mr. Krabs becoming fixated on a board game called “The Flying Dutchman’s Treasure Map”. Invited by SpongeBob and Patrick for a game on a quiet day at the Krusty Krab, he develops an instant obsession and goes all out, even arriving with a genuine pirate ship the following day, using the map from the board game. When they find the actual ghostly treasure of the Flying Dutchman, the phantom appears to reclaim it. This episode marks the debut of the Flying Dutchman’s Ship on the show.

“Rock Bottom”: Although “Arrgh” is typically a lively SpongeBob escapade, “Rock Bottom” stands out as one of the most eccentric and imaginative episodes within the SpongeBob universe. This episode commences when SpongeBob and Patrick inadvertently board the wrong bus following a day of fun at Glove World. Instead of arriving in Bikini Bottom, they find themselves in Rock Bottom – a mysterious deep sea trench teeming with anglerfish and other peculiar creatures. Somehow, Patrick manages to escape, but leaves SpongeBob stranded behind. As he’s unable to catch another bus, SpongeBob finds himself in a perplexing location where the locals don’t comprehend his accent, which he refers to as “advanced darkness.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but share my love for the hilarious memes that “Arrgh” and “Rock Bottom” have spawned over time. Apart from the iconic “advanced darkness,” there are two more that never fail to crack me up – Patrick’s perplexed navigation quandary, “East? I thought you said weast!”, and Spongebob’s heartfelt plea, “Mr. Krabs, I really need to go to bed!” These timeless jokes never cease to bring a smile to my face!

Chocolate with Nuts/Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy V – Season 3, Episode 12

“Chocolate with Nuts”: Inspired by Squidward’s upscale lifestyle magazine, SpongeBob and Patrick dream of living high and embark on an entrepreneurial venture, peddling candy bars from door to door. Unsurprisingly, they turn out to be dismal salespeople and end up spending their earnings on unnecessary items from the households they’re supposed to be selling to. However, they eventually discover the art of deception, transforming themselves into charismatic, if not dishonest, peddlers of their product. Each door they knock on unveils a new joke, showcasing some of the series’ more subtle humor, even in its darker moments.

“Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy 5” – In the vibrant underwater city of Bikini Bottom, an urgent call for help echoes as Barnacle Boy, Mermaidman’s trusty sidekick, disintegrates into a group named EVIL (Every Villain is Lemons). To combat this menace, Mermaidman recruits SpongeBob, Sandy, Patrick, and Squidward to form the new IJLSA (International Justice League of Super Acquaintances), each donning flashy costumes imbued with unique powers. This episode is filled with laughter catering to older audiences, featuring hilarious dialogue from one of the top 10 characters on “SpongeBob SquarePants”. The episode playfully satirizes DC superheroes and villains, offering a delightful spin-off adventure.

Wet Painters/Krusty Krab Training Video – Season 3, Episode 10

“Wet Painters” presents SpongeBob and Patrick in a tricky predicament where they are tasked with painting the interior of Mr. Krabs’ house without causing a speck of paint on any item, under the looming threat that their backsides will be hung on his walls if they fail. Overwhelmed by all of Krabs’ multitude of trinkets, knick-knacks, and artwork, the terrified duo invest countless hours in avoiding it, eventually completing the task flawlessly except for a tiny paint droplet on Mr. Krabs’ initial dollar bill.

“Krusty Krab Training Video”: In this hilarious pair of episodes, the standout is undoubtedly “Krusty Krab Training Video”. The episode is designed to resemble a real-life fast-food training video, featuring an upbeat narrator (Steve Kehela) who appears to confound the characters, especially Patrick, as if he were a disembodied voice. Tom Kenny, the actor behind SpongeBob, has named this one of his favorites, stating on Amazon that it’s titled “‘P.O.O.P – People Order Our Patties.’ That repeated phrase always makes me chuckle. I must be quite mature indeed!

In collaboration, the episodes earned music editor Nicholas ‘Nick’ Carr the prestigious Golden Reel Award for outstanding achievement in sound editing within television animation – music category, in the year 2003.

The Secret Box/Band Geeks – Season 2, Episode 15

“The Mysterious Chest

In a frantic attempt to uncover Patrick’s hidden treasure, SpongeBob shares numerous personal details about himself, such as his habit of spreading jelly on both slices of toast and his peculiar practice of wearing multiple pairs of underwear simultaneously. Apart from being amusingly quirky, the episode “The Secret Box” offers a heartwarming glimpse into the deep bond shared by SpongeBob and Patrick over their years-long friendship.

“Squidward’s Big Break

Nasty Patty/Idiot Box – Season 3, Episode 4

“Nasty Patty” – This “SpongeBob” episode is filled with subtleties that only adults may grasp. Often considered one of the series’ more somber episodes, “Nasty Patty” carries a tone reminiscent of an adult crime drama, such as what you might see on “Dateline.” In this storyline, SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs become convinced they have murdered a health inspector, leading them to attempt the disposal of his body and associated evidence. However, their attempts prove more challenging than anticipated. The intriguing contrast between these grim events unfolding within the context of cheerful children’s animation makes this episode especially amusing. As one IMDb reviewer put it, “The humor and gags in this episode are truly fantastic, and it’s quite entertaining to witness a typically kid-friendly cartoon tackle themes like the murder of a health inspector and the subsequent burial of his body.

“The Idiot Box”: One of the funniest episodes in “SpongeBob SquarePants” has to be “The Idiot Box.” It starts when Squidward jokes about it being ‘happy hopping moron day’ as he watches SpongeBob and Patrick go crazy over a mail truck delivery. To make things more peculiar, a massive television set arrives, which they discard so they can play in the box instead! Despite Squidward accidentally damaging the TV, he gets hooked on the lifelike sounds coming from the box that SpongeBob and Patrick are hiding inside. The episode’s humor, including visual gags, auditory puns, and Squidward’s obsession with the mysterious box, is pure gold – and so is the iconic “imagination rainbow” scene that inspired countless memes.

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2024-12-27 15:30