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UltimateGoblin616
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SpongeBob SquarePants: Nature Pants/Opposite Day (1999)
Nature Pants/Opposite Day
I think "Opposite Day" is better, than "Nature Pants". "Nature Pants" is funny, but too weird and it feels kinda forced. Also I don't know why Krusty Krab kitchen was changed for this episode. The series sometimes has the stove in some weird new positions and I can't stop noticing it. Well, there were cool gags in "Nature Pants", but I wish there was something more to it.
"Opposite Day" on the other hand is a classic example a good old SpongeBob episode. I also love how both of these episodes here are kinda similar and work around "moving to somewhere" theme. But yeah, for me, the second one is definitely better.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Sandy's Rocket/Squeaky Boots (1999)
Sandy's Rocket carries the episode
I'm honestly not a fan of "Squeaky Boots". It's funny, but too weird. However, it introduces Perl for the first time and she was always kinda boring for me, but I'm fine with her when she's not a main character of a story.
"Sandy's Rocket" on the other hand is really funny, but also interesting. If you look at this from Bob and Patrick's perspective, then you can really feel how they felt. They did quite an alien hunt indeed... I also love how Sandy just casually flew to the Moon without any rockets... And how Moon looked small in comparison with her. It's the time when absurdity of episodes wasn't painful for them and was actually really funny instead.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Hall Monitor/Jellyfish Jam (1999)
Hall Monitor/Jellyfish Jam
I know that "Jellyfish Jam" is really loved by fans for its music and I do love this music myself, but sadly the episode is a bit... boring? I mean, nothing really happens for most of the story. Instead it has some visually and sonically remarkable parts. It's cool to watch on YouTube separately, but in the episode itself it feels like a way to fill the 11 minute episode with content. But the episode is still fine, Bob and Squid's interaction is hilarious as always and the story has some... moral.
"Hall Monitor" isn't my favourite episode as well. It has many funny gags, I really loved how cops laughed at Patrick, I love how Bob and Patrick bought some ice cream twice in a row and etc. Basically, it's Patrick who carries the episode (surprisingly), but SpongeBob is a bit annoying. Also that's the first time Mrs Puff goes to jail and I think this was really exploited by future seasons too much. For me the episode itself feels a bit too forced, but it really atones for it with some awesome gags. It truly is classics.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy/Pickles (1999)
You forgot the pickles!!!
"Pickles" is a bit dumb, but still good episode for the series. It's unclear who this Bubble Bass is and why everyone care about what he thinks about food. It's also unclear why Bob couldn't just show him pickles in the burger before giving it to him. But who cares? The episode is really funny and SpongeBob is just SpongeBob like always. Everything got mixed up in his head... I love how even the music was reversed, when Krabs came to Bob's house. And I can't not laugh at Squidward every time watching this episode... That's how you make a hilarious supporting characters. Bubble Bass casually throwing him everytime is gold.
Also "Marmaidman and Barnacleboy" episode introduces some real retired Bikini Bottom superheroes and I'm personally not a fan of M&B episodes (especially the titles of their episodes, so unique...). Their first appearance is just okay and there will be better M&B episodes, but it's definitely not the worst one. However, it's "Pickles" what carries the episode.
Hit-Monkey (2021)
Surprisingly a good show
I didn't expect the show to be any good, but it's much better, than most of the MCU shows. And to think about it - it's just some cool killer monkey, how can it be any good at all? But it is. Maybe partially that's because the monkey has some ghost partner, who actually talks. I love that they didn't make Hit-Monkey talking or super clever or something like this. It really is just an ordinary monkey, but maybe not entirely ordinary... Hit-Monkey really can kill and kill good. The show was mostly fun to watch and there was almost no boring moments. It has some comic easter eggs and it really uses some things from a few Hit-Monkey comics that exist.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Naughty Nautical Neighbors/Boating School (1999)
The show predicted modern exam cheating
Wow, this time I want to talk about the second story of the episode first - "Boating School". It introduces Mrs Puff - a bit flat (imagine) character, but perfect for her purpose in the show. She already has PTSD because of Bob... Honestly, boating school episodes are rarely my favourite, but this one is absolutely perfect! Also who would have known that after a 10+ years people will be able to do such cheating for real! I mean, you don't need to put a radio inside of your head - there are some small earphones and you can make your friend telling you all the answers... I don't know, if you think about it - it's really genius.
The "Naughty Nautical Neighbors" episode might be another Squidward torture episode, but doesn't he deserve it? I mean, he didn't care about the noise - he hates to hear other people laughing and having fun. When he made Bob and Patrick hate each other and yell - he laughed himself and it couldn't stop him from eating the cake... Squidward started it and he was punished for this. Also the episode is really funny to watch, it's full of iconic gags and I love how Patrick saved Squid for real. Like, actually saved him... Patrick from the new episodes would sit on him or something like that...
So yeah, for me this is another pure gold of the series.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Jellyfishing/Plankton! (1999)
Squidward's torture begins here
Yes, I'm one of those, who love Squidward's torture episodes. They got worse and more violent with time, visually painful to see, but these first ones are pretty cool. This time Squidward involuntarily participates in jellyfishing and well... I think it will make him remember about the importance of watching the road when you are driving...
And "Plankton!" episode shows us, that SpongeBob wasn't fired from KK after the conclusion of "Help Wanted", but it also introduces one of the best characters of the series: Plankton! That's a good episode and that's the first time SpongeBob's insides are explored. There will be much more moments like this, but worse and disgusting. Also I love how SpongeBob's bedroom and Krusty Krab already look familiar and not weird like in "Help Wanted". And I really think it's cool, that Sponge isn't that dumb here, plus the gag with a gramophone might be used too much here, but it's so funny... I couldn't not mention it.
Overall, both parts of the episode were cool and memorable, but not really 10 for me.
SpongeBob SquarePants: BubbleStand/Ripped Pants (1999)
Another awesome episode of the awesome cartoon
Well, it might look like I throw tens like it doesn't matter for me, but it does matter and there for sure will be tons of ratings below 5 for most of the future episodes from me... For now I really want to enjoy the show when it was still good.
This "BubbleStand" episode is ultra funny and many future Squidward series used the same scenario. Remember "Skill Crane"? It's almost 100% the same: Squidward sees something he finds weird, he decides to try that, because it seems too easy for him and he thinks he can't not be good at everything, he loses and then spends a lot of money to actually make a successful attempt and raise his self-esteem, then he finally makes it (with the help of SpongeBob, of course) and then his pride just clouds his mind, but it the end it backfires. In this episode it was especially funny, because Squidward's self-esteem was boosted SOOO well, that he even started to play his clarinet like a pro! I never noticed that as a kid, but now it makes it even better for me.
And it's not only "Skill Crane" that was inspired by this episode. There are also those stories with piece of paper, cardboard box and etc etc etc. These Squidward episodes are really my all-time favourite and I can watch them forever - they never get old even seeing the similarity between them. So yeah, BubbleStand is 100% iconic for me. It nails Squidward as a personality like nothing else.
"Ripped Pants" isn't any worse at all. It introduces Goo Lagoon and new characters like Larry the Lobster. To be honest, I never was a fan of Larry, he's kinda boring, but works fine as a side character like here. And the message of the story is really good - know when your joke becomes too old. The creators of the modern SpongeBob episodes should remember this episode and learn this idea... Add to this a really memorable song (I swear I had goosebumps for the whole song, that's how nostalgic and iconic it turned out to be for me) and you'll get an absolutely perfect SpongeBob episode. God, I remember laughing at the "play dead" joke. It's not that hilarious when you saw the episode for a few million times, but I can't not mention it.
Yeah, I really love how Steven Hillenburg was building his SpongeBob world brick by brick, episode by episode, adding more depth to the existed characters and introducing some new ones. I mean, all the side characters add some variety to the series and each of them got some unique style of the stories they are involved in.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Help Wanted/Reef Blower/Tea at the Treedome (1999)
Solid start
This first episode actually makes a really solid start for the series. In the "Help Wanted" we see Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob, his friend Patrick, Squidward, Mister Krabs and Krusty Krab for the first time. We know that Squidward for some reason doesn't like Bob and we could already guess why, but a short "Reef Blower" story makes an awesome explanation without even any words at all!
Actually, "Reef Blower" is a filler, but it has a lot of simple (but good!) gags and it is a good addition to the episode.
As I remember, "Help Wanted" was a pilot episode and you can really see how different even Squidward's house in this story in comparison with the next one. I love "Help Wanted", from the very beginning it makes you understand what SpongeBob series actually is. The characters didn't get their depth yet, but the foundation was set. The choice of music is especially awesome, by the way!
Visually these first episodes might look really old, especially by today's animation standards and standards of today's episodes of SpongeBob and I personally don't really like the colors, I prefer the brighter visuals, but the animation itself is really spectacular. All the characters are alive, they are different in every scene and each expression feels fresh and cool. I guess it was pretty innovative at the time.
"Tea at the Treedome" also introduces Sandy Cheeks and the story itself is really good. It's funny, a bit unexpected even. I can even hardly find anything to not like here. The story flows naturally and every scene feels necessary.
So yeah, for me the first episode is a pure classics of the show and it's an outstanding introduction of the world of SpongeBob. And it's only the beginning! I really love how ALL iconic SpongeBob characters were made by the original creators.
I grew up with this series and stopped watching it after the terrible modern seasons, but now I want to rewatch and review every single episode and actually refresh my memories.