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13 Real Reasons Why You Hate SpongeBob Squarepants (2023)

SpongeBob’s cute and all.

And I think his playfulness and puppy dog eyes are proof enough.

But if you’re thinking…

“Man, that table sponge is getting on my nerves.”

You’re not alone. 

In fact, there’s more than one reason why he’s not as beloved as people think…

Continue reading to discover:

  • 3 times the same joke pops up in SpongeBob.
  • 5 moments when the show got inappropriate for kids.
  • 13 real reasons why you hate SpongeBob Squarepants.
  • And so much more…

“I hate Spongebob” – 13 reasons why


#1: Lost its charm

SpongeBob Squarepants follows a basic Nicktoon formula.

The show sets up a crazy problem.

And our yellow sponge can’t seem to make heads or tails of what he needs to do.

Afterward, SpongeBob and the rest of the cast for the episode pull off something crazy. 

An out-of-this-world solution that would only make sense in Bikini Bottom.

And while it might sound effective on paper, things have become stale… 

So much so that SpongeBob Squarepants lost the charm it had during its first 3 seasons.

As a result, a lot of people don’t like the more recent episodes for that same reason.

For example, when was the last time anyone remembered a good song from the show?

In fact, most musical references come from earlier seasons.

Plus, if any of these facts make you hate what they’ve done to SpongeBob… 

It’s perfectly normal.

A study shows that getting mad is a regular emotional reaction to things that bring you distaste.

As a result, there’s nothing wrong if you expect more from SpongeBob.

#2: Irritating personalities

I’m not saying SpongeBob should suddenly turn into a boy genius.

That’s just out of character.

And I know that his singing and screaming are part of his personality.

However, there are moments when the cast of SpongeBob Squarepants does too much.

The characters become so maddening that it goes from comical to extremely annoying.

Yes, it can be pretty funny at first…

But playing off the same thing, again and again, is irritating.

For example, SpongeBob talking in jumbled-up words is a running gag you’ll see way too many times.

And even if Squidward’s attitude can be iconic…

Nobody wants to feel like him while trying to enjoy the Nicktoon.

In fact, Patrick’s an even worse offender.

His stupidity blows the roof off, causing nothing but trouble for everyone around him.

Continue reading: 7 Real Reasons Why SpongeBob Is So Annoying

#3: Too naive

I Hate SpongeBob Because It's Too Naive

I understand that SpongeBob represents childish innocence.

He’s so happy and gullible that he ends up tripping over every little bump in the story.

But is it just me…

Or has SpongeBob become a bit too naive?

Of course, I’m not expecting the yellow table sponge to change into a smarty-pants. 

However, even earlier seasons prove that SpongeBob has a brain.

For example, he made everyone believe that Squidward was a good guy…

By telling everyone to put the unhappy octopus as the hero in their good memories.

Sadly, you no longer see this in any of the modern SpongeBob episodes.

Most of the time, he just trips and falls over every little problem as a punchline.

In fact, it doesn’t make sense how the table sponge hasn’t learned anything…

The show expects us to forget all of his achievements and believe he’s the same naive SpongeBob. 

#4: Very little substance

I won’t deny that SpongeBob has its moments.

It can have great moral lessons if you read between the lines.

Like being kind to others, even if they’re as self-centered as Squidward. 

However, that’s exactly where the problem lies.

How are kids supposed to extract this lesson when it requires extra effort?

These are children who have 0 ideas about how context clues work.

As a result, the show offers no substance.

Worse, the lack of it has become a bigger issue in recent episodes.

For instance, season 11, Ink Lemonade, centers around Squidward’s fluids as a secret ingredient for delicious lemonade.

So what does Patrick the starfish do to get more?

He scares the living daylights out of Squidward over and over again.

It’s not even funny anymore…

Just downright disgusting. 

#5: Jokes are getting old

Jokes Are Getting Old

SpongeBob’s shenanigans aren’t for everybody.

However, let’s not forget that there are many gems in the series.

Who could forget the chocolate-obsessed fish screaming everywhere SpongeBob and Patrick went?

But a joke is only good the first few times.

Anything beyond that is overkill.

And in the case of SpongeBob, they’ve been beating the same dead horse for many seasons.

Sure, there’s nothing wrong with small references.

It helps Bikini Bottom feel more interconnected…

Yet dedicating an entire episode is a bit too much.

Such as the “My Leg!” episode, which was a running gag.

However, taking it out from the background and making it the entire theme seems like a stretch.

Some of the ones I despise the most are:

  • SpongeBob always saying I’m ready.
  • The way Mr. Krabs says the word money.
  • SpongeBob and Patrick constantly annoy Squidward.

You might even start stressing over the same jokes with every new episode.

Plus, a study shows that too much stress can impair body functions.

And SpongeBob’s the last thing you want as a reason for hospital admission. 

#6: Encourages bad behavior

I know SpongeBob Squarepants is a kid’s show.

And I’m not going to assume Mr. Krabs’ money-grubbing behavior is the root of capitalism. 

But this Nicktoon does encourage a lot of bad behavior.

As a result, kids wouldn’t think twice about imitating their favorite cartoon characters. 

For example, SpongeBob can get pretty annoying when he wants to.

In fact, he runs circles around Squidward every chance he gets.

But does anyone teach SpongeBob a lesson in any meaningful way?

No.

Most of the time, he escapes scot-free and onto the next episode.

And if you don’t believe me, this montage should be proof enough:

Worse, there are also other violent episodes.

Like Biddy Sitting, where SpongeBob and Patrick get beaten up by the end of the episode for laughs.

#7: Inappropriate for kids

“How could a cartoon show for kids become inappropriate?”

Of course, not every second from the Nicktoon shows something rated R 18+.

This is SpongeBob Squarepants we’re talking about. Not an adult show like Rick and Morty.

However, there are moments when the show becomes inappropriate for kids.

For example, in the episode One Course Meal. It shows off Plankton attempting suicide…

And they play it off as a joke.

Another culprit is the episode Sailor Mouth. Where SpongeBob and Patrick find dumpster writing of bad words.

And then, they proceed to scream these swears throughout the episode.

Here are other contenders too:

  • Squidward joking about suicide.
  • SpongeBob’s disgusting splinter.
  • Plankton stealing Sandy’s fur coat.
  • Mrs. Puff wishes SpongeBob would die.
  • Squidward going on a psychotic rampage.

#8: Simple characters

None of us expect character development from SpongeBob that will make us bawl our eyes.

In fact, SpongeBob won’t even make it anywhere near an Oscar award for his acting.

But a lot of the characters in SpongeBob Squarepants are way too simple.

So much so that their actions have become very predictable in more recent seasons. 

For example, you can probably tell when SpongeBob is about to cry. 

And that’s because it doesn’t take much to upset the table sponge. Let alone how frequently he makes rivers with his tears. 

#9: Plot recycling

SpongeBob has 13 seasons worth of episodes, and it’s still going.

As a result, it’s no surprise why the Nicktoon ends up reusing the same plots.

However, the show does it so on-the-nose that you can organize them by category.

There are numerous episodes dedicated to SpongeBob going to boating lessons…

He tries his best to learn how to drive a boat and fails comically.

Rinse and repeat.

You see this happen multiple times, and you can’t help but get upset.

And research shows it can impair decision-making.

So hold off on any repeat plot devices for your sanity. 

#10: So many fillers

While hand-drawn SpongeBob animations are nostalgic…

Recent episodes look way crisper and have better quality.

However, despite the improvements in visual goodness, most of it goes to fillers.

In fact, there are episodes of SpongeBob flipping patties for minutes.

And does it add anything to the story?

Absolutely none!

It’s just there for no reason.

As a result, you can’t help but feel like the show’s deliberately wasting your time.

Sure, many TV series and cartoons do the same…

But just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t mean it’s any good. 

#11: SpongeBob isn’t the same

In earlier seasons, the bright yellow sponge was known for being a good friend and excellent fry cook.

He would even get the entire Bikini Bottom to help him find his snail Gary who went missing. 

But today?

He acts more like a spoiled child than anything else.

Sure, some would argue it’s just a bit more exaggeration for the storylines.

However, if he’s doing it constantly and very different from his past self…

You can’t really excuse it anymore.

As a result, it’s no surprise why long-time fans start to hate SpongeBob now.

He’s just not the same goofy goober we met before. 

#12: More cruelty than ever

Bikini Bottom used to be a place full of friendly people and loveable characters.

Now, it almost seems like everyone’s a jerk.

In the episode Gone, Bikini Bottom turns into a ghost town. 

And Spongebob wakes up with nobody around but himself.

Freaked out, he starts looking everywhere, searching for anyone. 

This goes on for weeks and nearly turns SpongeBob crazy…

The punchline?

It was actually national no SpongeBob day. 

Everyone was having too much fun to remember going back home.

They even built a wooden effigy of our table sponge friend and burned it down.

And even Patrick’s there, supposedly SpongeBob’s best friend. 

#13: Everyone’s stupid

I don’t want SpongeBob to have super-genius levels of IQ.

He’s not going to need those smarts anyway since Bikini Bottom’s not in that kind of danger. 

However, it seems like everyone in the show’s stupid.

And what used to be a trait dedicated to SpongeBob and Patrick is now everywhere.

For example, everyone in Bikini Bottom knows Plankton is an evil genius.

But in the episode Chum Bucket Supreme, a witty slogan makes them forget everything.

As a result, the Nicktoon becomes increasingly boring once you notice the patterns.

In fact, a study explains that boredom can impact your learning engagement…

So you might want to lay off on any SpongeBob episodes if you’re busy studying.