Yes, I know SpongeBob’s still alive.
So you might be wondering:
“It can’t be that bad if it’s on television, right?”
Well, that’s sadly not the truth.
SpongeBob’s been going down a slippery slope for quite some time.
And there are a lot of reasons that caused the show’s downfall…
Continue reading to discover:
- 3 episodes the show needs to learn from.
- 5 jokes that deserve the cartoon’s attention.
- 10 things that ruined SpongeBob Squarepants.
- And so much more…
What ruined SpongeBob? 10 things
#1: It’s a franchise now
Our favorite yellow table sponge is everywhere now.
SpongeBob shows up on your newsfeed as a famous meme.
New spin-offs like Kamp Koral are airing on TV. Which is a Nicktoon set during the cast’s younger years.
And even Patrick the starfish got his own show too.
But despite all the new content for the audience…
SpongeBob Squarepants feels hollow.
So what gives?
More is always better, right?
Well, now that there’s a bit of everything…
SpongeBob Squarepants has lost its charm.
And what used to be a fun cartoon now feels more like a franchise.
As a result, some of the audience can’t help but think:
“Haven’t they squeezed the poor guy enough yet?”
You can’t even get it out of your mind with all the video games and merchandise for sale.
What’s more, you might want to cut back if it’s making you feel unhappy.
A study shows that happiness leads to a longer life.
So dwelling on the ruin of SpongeBob is bad for your health.
#2: Newer episodes on auto-pilot
SpongeBob Squarepants loves going crazy.
It just never holds back with any of the animations for the show.
And an underwater squirrel turned mad scientist is but the tip of the iceberg.
However, when you look at more recent episodes…
The spark of creativity feels lost nowadays.
In fact, things look like they’re running on auto-pilot…
Sometimes, the seasons simply follow an easy formula.
For example, in season 8, Are Your Happy Now, just messes with Squidward the octopus.
As if we haven’t seen enough of SpongeBob bugging the poor guy…
Sure, some people might get a kick out of Squidward’s rage.
But there are others wondering:
“This isn’t the first time I’ve seen the gag.”
Worse, there are actually gems in recent seasons…
And I wish the Nicktoon paid more attention to what made these great:
Surf N’ Turf
Jokes in this episode were on point.
And seeing Mr. Krab lose was the cherry on top.
Gary and Spot
Meanwhile, this sequence was such a cute story.
Who knew Plankton’s pet amoeba and SpongeBob’s snail were best friends at night?
Smoothe Jazz at Bikini Bottom
This is a season 8 classic.
And showing off the sea sponge’s ukelele skills will always be iconic for me.
#3: Characters’ personality change
SpongeBob Squarepants is a cartoon.
I think we can all agree on that part.
But one thing that ruined the show for a lot of people is the characters’ personalities.
Not their ability to annoy some and be noisy.
Which can be a letdown for others too…
Rather, the sudden change in their actions.
For example, Patrick the starfish used to be a good friend.
SpongeBob could almost always count on him to help.
And even if things didn’t turn out fine…
You could tell that he meant well for our table sponge.
Sadly, this isn’t the case in recent episodes.
For instance, in season 12, The Nitwitting. Patrick introduces SpongeBob to a group that chooses not to think.
And everybody ends up hurting themselves and causing chaos in Bikini Bottom.
In SpongeBob’s defense, research shows that events can change your personality.
But a lot of us didn’t expect this to happen.
#4: Running out of ideas
I’m not a creative genius.
I can’t just think of hit cartoon concepts out of thin air.
And a lot of people would agree that feeling mentally blank sometimes is normal.
But SpongeBob Squarepants has been in a drought for too long…
You can see the show reuses the same elements over and over again.
For example, in season 1, Sandy’s Rocket. The episode starts with a grand reveal of a spaceship.
However, in season 8, Mooncation. We see the exact same sequence happen.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with liking either episode.
The stories go their separate ways.
But we can’t deny the obvious rehashing of plot devices.
What’s worse, SpongeBob Squarepants still makes great stories.
So I don’t understand why they can’t keep up…
When season 12’s The Krusty Slammer is a great example of trying something new:
#5: You don’t learn as much
Sure, I know I’m watching TV.
And I don’t expect to learn algebra while enjoying a SpongeBob episode.
But I’m not alone in thinking:
“Huh, this show used to teach a lot of lessons before.”
For example, SpongeBob would tell us to accept who we are.
And while being funny is okay, self-love is far better.
So even in a silly manner, the table sponge shares good life advice.
Sadly, those meaningful moments don’t happen as often.
As a result, the Nicktoon feels more shallow than it used to be.
#6: Being super over-the-top
I don’t mind exaggerating things.
Especially with SpongeBob because it adds flair to the fun.
And because many other cartoons are no strangers to the idea either.
However, the show does the over-the-top sequences a bit too much.
So much so that we end up trading substance for whacky moments.
For example, going back to The Nitwitting. All the chaos did nothing for the story.
Sure, it gave a bit of insight into Patrick the starfish’s free time.
But was it really that interesting anyway?
Of course, I’ll give credit where it’s due.
A club for cleaning the mess left behind was smart.
Sadly, the punchline feels mishandled…
Even so, you’re free to enjoy the jokes.
Research supports it can help heal sickness.
But in the case of SpongeBob, I wasn’t laughing.
#7: Visual gags versus smart word-play
There’s something different with cartoons today.
You don’t hear a lot of witty dialogue like before.
And while some jokes might fly over kids’ heads…
They were great additions to SpongeBob Squarepants.
In fact, even if the episode Sailor Mouth was inappropriate…
It’s a good throwback to a lot of people’s experiences learning their first swear words.
In contrast, you don’t see that type of humor play out anymore.
Most of the jokes got replaced with visual gags…
So you can’t expect any smart wordplay from them.
For example, Plankton messing up his plans and imploding in his face is what you can normally see today.
And while I enjoy my fair share of explosions…
It doesn’t feel the same when that’s the only type of fun you’re getting.
I just wish they took a look at their older jokes for reference:
- Patrick can’t open a jar.
- “When Worlds Collide” song.
- Dr. SpongeBob’s surprising skills.
- Patrick already hears voices in his head.
- How handsome Squidward gracefully falls down.
#8: Fighting one’s own shadow
Many people like saying SpongeBob’s first 3 seasons were the best.
And even if I have some favorite gems in more recent ones…
I’ll have to agree that the most relatable episodes came from earlier seasons.
However, while that may sound like a good thing at first.
It’s actually not.
People remember the first 3 reasons too fondly.
So much so that they can’t help but compare what’s missing…
All the time.
As a result, SpongeBob’s busy fighting himself.
To the point where no amount of hard work can top the originals.
Of course, nostalgia’s not that bad.
Even research says it helps with your mood.
But in the case of SpongeBob…
It has trouble outshining the shadow of its past.
Editor’s pick: Old vs New SpongeBob: 5 Biggest Differences
#9: It never got the ending it deserved
Stephen Hillenburg, SpongeBob’s original creator, passed in 2018.
It was his most successful production.
And he loved the show dearly.
But believe it or not…
It wasn’t meant to live past the first movie.
Stephen wanted to give the show a proper send-off.
A beautiful conclusion to SpongeBob’s story.
And many others would agree he achieved it with the film.
However, Nickelodeon wanted otherwise.
So if you think the show feels stretched out thin.
It’s no surprise why…
Stephen originally meant for 3 seasons and 1 movie only.
But now SpongeBob has over 13 seasons…
And that’s not even counting all the spin-offs as well.
#10: Overreliance on the show
Nickelodeon used to be home to a lot of cartoons.
But when SpongeBob Squarepants aired…
It felt like the only thing showing at the time.
Nothing compared to its success.
In fact, it had over 50 million viewers each month back in the early 2000s.
And all the recognition worldwide was unlike any other.
As a result, Nickelodeon relied on SpongeBob…
But maybe a bit too much.
Every new show would face the same impossible standard.
If it didn’t reach the same popularity…
That meant goodbye and onto the next one.
Sure, in recent years, there have been a few more cartoons on the block.
Just like The Loud House being one of the more successful new Nicktoons.
In fact, the show’s renewed for it’s seventh season in 2022.
Sadly, the overreliance on SpongeBob started to show.
So I’m not keeping my hopes up for newer cartoons to receive the same treatment.
And now that it’s gone for this long now…
It’s no wonder why something so great feels ruined.