Favorite Spongebob Episodes

With all my new-found spare time, I’ve been watching Spongebob Squarepants. You know, I never really appreciated this show when I was younger and now that I’m older, I can see why. It’s not really made for kids, I think. Ha! I mean, it’s broadcasted on a kids’s network and the producers say it’s for kids, but really, I don’t think it is... at least not little kids. 

At first glance, it might seem stupid and mindless which is why it’s mistaken for a kids show. However, it has a very specific type of stupidness that’s tailored for older kids and adults. Sure, the colors and the silly voices might entertain the younger audiences, but the jokes and the stories are for the older ones. 

Anyways... that drabble out of the way, I find it hilarious! There’s a reason it’s been going on for twenty years! And there's been full-length movies plus a Broadway musical (which, frankly, the music is actually really good.) There's just something about this show that really resonates with people.

As is usual whenever I binge-watch something, I’ve decided to compile a list of my favorite episodes. This list is made up of not the most classic/famous episodes, but ones that made me laugh the most and/or I thought were actually clever. Though, I know most of them are classics.

15) Tea at the Treedome

Spongebob meets Sandy the Squirrel for the first time and she invites him to her underwater tree dome for some tea. When he gets there, Spongebob realizes he can’t survive long without water.

I like this one just because of how over-the-top it gets with how much Spongebob is dying. The two sides at war inside himself: stay and make a friend or literally die. Haha! “When in doubt, pinky up.”

14) Dying for Pie

Squidward accidentally gives Spongebob an exploding pie and decides to make his last day on earth the best day of his life.

I’m a littler concerned about the person who wrote this episode. Haha! An exploding pie? But it’s sure memorable. I also love all the random funny moments like watching the sunset with the brick wall between them or Squidward in the salmon suit or Mr. Krabs saying he’s seen this before. Also, I frequently quote, “you had to kill him. The boy cries you a sweater of tears and you kill him.” Haha!

13) F.U.N.

Spongebob decides the reason Plankton is so evil is because he doesn’t have a friend. So he decides to teach him the value of friendship and fun.

Very iconic episode because of the song. Need I say anything more than “the Fun Song”? “F is for friends who do stuff together, U is for you and me, N is for anywhere and any time at all down here in the deep blue sea.” 

12) The Nasty Patty

Mr. Krabs and Spongebob believe the health inspector in the Krusty Krab is an imposter so they serve him a “nasty patty.” But when it appears to kill him, they scramble to cover up their crime.

Such a dark episode! Here’s an example of why I don’t think this show is really for kids. If you commit a crime, just cover it up! Ha! But I love how stupid the whole situation is in the first place. Killing the health inspector lol. And then all the close calls.

11) Arrgh!

Mr. Krabs takes Spongebob and Patrick on a psychotic treasure hunt.

There’s many, many episodes where Mr. Krabs’s money obsession gets a bit out of hand and this is one of them. It’s also funny how naive Spongebob and Patrick are.

10) Wet Painters

Mr. Krabs recruits Spongebob and Patrick to paint his house, but things go awry when they get paint on Mr. Krab’s number one dollar.

So many moments! The first part of the episode is Spongebob and Patrick trying not to get paint on anything and the second part is them trying to get the paint off the dollar bill. “Spongebob, we’re not cavemen. *points to computer* We have technology. *smashes computer on dollarbill*”

9) Squid’s Day Off

When Squidward is made manager for the day, he puts Spongebob in charge so he can take the day off. However, he becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea that Spongebob will mess up and cannot bring himself to relax.

I love this one because of how completely insane Squidward goes while trying to relax. It’s very counter-productive. Haha! 

8) Pizza Delivery

Mr. Krabs sends Spongebob and Squidward to delivery a special Krusty Krab pizza only for them to get stranded in the middle of nowhere. But Spongebob is determined to deliver the pizza no matter what.

Classic episode! “It’s not just a boulder, it’s a rock!” All the things the pioneers did. Haha! Or Spongebob’s singing about the pizza. Or what about “where’s my drink?”

7) Clam

After earning his one millionth dollar, Mr. Krabs takes Spongebob and Squidward on a clam fishing trip. However, he loses his millionth dollar to a giant man-eating clam and he will do ANYTHING to get it back.

This one cracks me up again because of how insane Mr. Krabs goes for the one dollar. It’s even funnier this time because Spongebob and Squidward are there to witness it (and become victim to it). It’s also a rare moment because Spongebob is actually aware of the madness around him and is freaking out rather than laughing and going along with it. I also love the fourth wall break with the orchestra playing the clam’s theme.

6) Krusty Krab Training Video

A training video style episode showing future employees what to do and what not to do while working at the Krusty Krab.

So dumb, but awesome! The jazzy theme music, the narrator, “don’t be a Squidward”, P.O.O.P., the super long reveal of the Krabby Patty at the end, and then never actually revealing the Krabby Patty’s secret formula. I’ve seen real companies homaging this episode as a way to train their own employees for their company. Haha!

5) Graveyard Shift

The Krusty Krab is now open 24 hours a day. Bored, Squidward makes up a scary story about a ghostly fry cook, the Hash-Slinging Slasher, in order to scare Spongebob. However, the later they stay, the more it looks like the Hash-Slinging Slasher might actually be real.

I relate to this one so hard because I always had the night shift at Jimmy Johns. But I love it so much because of the set up with the Hash-Slinging Slasher. And it’s got great quotes! “I used your clarinet to unclog my toilet!”, “The walls will ooze green slime!!! ...oh wait, they always do that.”, “AAHHH! I burned my hand! ...At night.”

4) Just One Bite

After finding out Squidward has never had a Krabby Patty before, Spongebob forces him to try it, convinced no one can resists its flavor. Squidward pretends to hate it, but secretly craves more. 

Once again, a character slowly going insane over something. The length Squidward goes to in order to get another patty, but keep it hidden from Spongebob is hilarious. Also the visuals of his cravings just emphasize it more. The ending is the real pay off. “Squidward, you can’t eat all those patties!” “What’s going to happen? Am I going to blow up?” “No worse! It’ll go straight to your thighs!”

3) Something Smells

Spongebob’s breath stinks so bad, people are running away, crying, and passing out. He believes it is because he is ugly.

I cannot with this episode. “Excuse me sir, I hope my horrible ugliness doesn’t offend you.”, “I’ve caught the UGLY!”, “I’m ugly and I’m proud!”, -“How long have I been ugly?” -“As long as I can remember.” Or what about Patrick’s story abut the ugly barnacle? Haha! I also love all the different reactions to the smell; the passing out, running away, screaming, crying, etc. 

2) Band Geeks

Squidward’s snobbish arch rival, Squilliam, asks Squidward for his band to play at the Bubble Bowl. Afraid of being judged by Squilliam, Squidward scrounges up a “band” and tries to teach them to play before the Bubble Bowl.

I’m probably being sacrilegious to the Spongebob fandom somehow for this episode not being my number one. However, I still LOVE it! There’s definitely a reason it’s everyone’s favorite and one of the most famous ones. “Is mayonnaise an instrument?” And that ending though! Iconic!

1) Chocolate With Nuts

Spongebob and Patrick decide to become traveling chocolate bar salesmen in an effort to become entrepreneurs. 

There are no words to describe this episode. I love all the colorful characters Spongebob and Patrick meet on their little escapade (ex: the old woman and her mother, the salesman, the man with paper skin and glass bones). And then there’s actually a couple plot twists that are hilarious. And let us not forget “Chocolate? Chocolate! CHOCOLAAAATTTEEEEE!!!!!!!!”

Honorable Mentions:

Artist Unknown

Squidward becomes an art teacher, but his only student is Spongebob. He refuses to acknowledge Spongebob’s masterpieces and exceptional talent, eventually breaking his spirit. But then an art collector offers to buy Spongebob’s art and Squidward realizes he needs Spongebob after all.

Bubblestand

Spongebob sets up a stand, selling the opportunity to blow bubbles for 25 cents (and lessons for another 25 cents).

Camping Episode

Squidward gets roped into Spongebob and Patrick’s backyard camping experience (featuring the famous Campfire Song Song).

Idiot Box

Spongebob and Patrick get a giant cardboard box to play imagination in which Squidward scoffs at. However, he becomes more intrigued with it as he hears intense and amazing sound effects coming from the box.

No Weenies Allowed

Spongebob tries to get into an exclusive club where only hard core tough guys are allowed.

Rock Bottom

Spongebob accidentally gets on the wrong bus that takes him to a strange town far from Bikini Bottom called Rock Bottom. He struggles to get on a bus back home, but might be stuck forever in the strange place.

(This episode literally haunted me as a kid. This is one of my worst nightmares.)

Sailor Mouth

After reading a strange word on the side of a dumpster, Spongebob and Patrick begin using it, believing it is a “sentence enhancer.” However, they soon realize it is a bad word and Mr. Krabs forbids them to use it ever again (along with the rest of the 13 bad words).

Sandy’s Rocket

Sandy builds a rocket so she can go to the moon. However, Spongebob and Patrick accidentally blast off instead, but miss the moon completely and land back in Bikini Bottom. They then venture about, believing their hometown in an alien world.

Secret Box

Spongebob becomes obsessed with what is inside Patrick’s secret box.

Suds

Spongebob contracts a sickness called the Suds (where every time he sneezes, he leaks bubbles). Spongebob is about to go to the doctor, but is scared out of the idea by Patrick who instead tries to cure him on his own.