Is Plankton Evil, Or Just A Jerk?

BabySmitty

BabySmitty

Porous Freak
Is Plankton a sympathetic jerk who uses underhanded tactics to achieve his goals, or is he actually legitimately evil?

Does it all depend on the "era" of show? In the first couple of seasons, Plankton was not above harassing/taking advantage of his rival's friendly fry cook- and off the clock to boot. Spongebob is pretty friendly with Plankton off the clock- or at least, he tries to be. He has made attempts to be Plankton's friend, and he even gave him a personalized valentine- and he shows concern for the little dude every time he seems upset. And how does Plankton repay him? By brutally taking advantage of his kind nature (Walking Small,) ripping his brain out (Welcome to the Chum Bucket) and then trying to kill all his friends (the first movie.)

The post-movie episodes turned Plankton into more of a bumbling jerk than the legit villain he was later on. The new writers like to make him sympathetic and pitiable despite the fact that he has almost murdered the titular character only out of greed.

Still... he's done some shady things. Knowing that the first movie is the canonical end of the show, (and knowing that he is at his absolute worst in that film,) that raises some questions on whether or not Spongebob should even bother being nice to him at all. HE'S PLOTTING TO ENSLAVE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND LOVE.





 
I think he's mostly evil, though if you consider him crushing anyone and everyone to get what he wants being a jerk, then yeah, he's a jerk to. I say he's mainly evil because all he really wants is the Krabby Patty formula and he does anything to try and get it (steal it, yup, that's evil) and he doesn't really go around stepping on people's shoes (though he's been stepped on :P ) or walk around calling people names for no reason.

And when he is a jerk, it's usually because he doesn't have the formula/failed at getting it.
 
Murvine Taylor said:
I think that it depends on the episode. Sometimes Plankton can have a soft side, (kind of like Squidward).
Click to expand...
"Depends on the episode" I think you're right. All the episodes / writers have different takes on the characters.
Take Spongebob for example. Sometimes he's very intelligent and reasonable, other times there's... whatever the heck happened to him in "Sandy's Rocket."
 
I can never decide. Sometimes I think that he's evil at his core because of all the genuinely horrific things he has done and the fact that even when he does do something nice it's usually a trick, or part of a larger evil plan, and then he defaults back to being terrible. Other times, like SpongeBob, I think he's sad, lonely and mad about being small.

Maybe it's a combination of both, but either way he still does evil things.
 
DadMom AngryPants said:
I can never decide. Sometimes I think that he's evil at his core because of all the genuinely horrific things he has done and the fact that even when he does do something nice it's usually a trick, or part of a larger evil plan, and then he defaults back to being terrible. Other times, like SpongeBob, I think he's sad, lonely and mad about being small.

Maybe it's a combination of both, but either way he still does evil things.
Click to expand...
Do you think he became evil after a life of hardship (ie after a lifetime of being stepped on?)
 
BabySmitty said:
Do you think he became evil after a life of hardship (ie after a lifetime of being stepped on?)
Click to expand...
Probably. Remember how he just got ditched by his best friend when he teamed up to make a recipe? That's rough man. :O
 
I"m pretty sure Plankton is both a jerk and evil. However, as the series progress, it seems that he have become less a jerk and have more nice moments than before. Maybe because SpongeBob is nicer to him than before? Or because Mr. Krabs increasing jerk attitude? dunno.
 
The Drifter said:
I"m pretty sure Plankton is both a jerk and evil. However, as the series progress, it seems that he have become less a jerk and have more nice moments than before. Maybe because SpongeBob is nicer to him than before? Or because Mr. Krabs increasing jerk attitude? dunno.
Click to expand...
Either way, in the canonical ending of the series, Plankton tries to enslave everyone, kill his rival, and take over the world.
 
BabySmitty said:
Either way, in the canonical ending of the series, Plankton tries to enslave everyone, kill his rival, and take over the world.
Click to expand...
Then where is Sponge Out of Water in the timeline? He's too nice in that movie.
 
Overall, no. In episodes we've seen him be "caring" (or try to at least) Plankton isn't a pure jerk, I mean sure he can be "cruel" to SB or Krabs or whatever, but he has a good reason to. He wants to have the joy of costumers, and the Krusty Krab is in the way of that. Besides, of the good joint on the same street as you has all the moolah, you wouldn't just be fine with that.
 
EVSPONGEFAN said:
Overall, no. In episodes we've seen him be "caring" (or try to at least) Plankton isn't a pure jerk, I mean sure he can be "cruel" to SB or Krabs or whatever, but he has a good reason to. He wants to have the joy of costumers, and the Krusty Krab is in the way of that. Besides, of the good joint on the same street as you has all the moolah, you wouldn't just be fine with that.
Click to expand...
Jealousy and misery don't excuse the things he does. If it was minor stuff then maybe, but he repeatedly breaks the law and hurts people. He chooses to pursue the Krabby Patty so in a way his continued frustration is self-inflicted. He could move away from Krabs or try a different career altogether, like in New Leaf, but instead of improving his life he focuses his energy on trying to ruin other people's.
 
DadMom AngryPants said:
Jealousy and misery don't excuse the things he does. If it was minor stuff then maybe, but he repeatedly breaks the law and hurts people. He chooses to pursue the Krabby Patty so in a way his continued frustration is self-inflicted. He could move away from Krabs or try a different career altogether, like in New Leaf, but instead of improving his life he focuses his energy on trying to ruin other people's.
Click to expand...
I see your point. Like some others said, it really depends on the situation. There are much better things he could possibly try, like you said. Plankton's actions shouldn't be considered 'jerky', I do see him moar evil than anything else.
 
EVSPONGEFAN said:
I see your point. Like some others said, it really depends on the situation. There are much better things he could possibly try, like you said. Plankton's actions shouldn't be considered 'jerky', I do see him moar evil than anything else.
Click to expand...
Even though he's bad it's hard not to feel sorry for him sometimes. He's probably been this way for so long that it would be really difficult for him to change his mindset.
 
DadMom AngryPants said:
Even though he's bad it's hard not to feel sorry for him sometimes. He's probably been this way for so long that it would be really difficult for him to change his mindset.
Click to expand...

Also, why doesn't he get put in jail?! Sure we've seen him be in jail (for a good five seconds), or get arrested, but he never seems to stay. I know, yeah, SB wouldn't have that happen in three episodes in a row, but c'mon. If he's so bad and considered to be an evil character, why wouldn't they lock him up?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top