I feel that Squidward is detrimental to the show at large
He's the REAL problem with SpongeBob SquarePants!
The show would improve drastically if he either got removed or at the very least de-emphasized
When he said all that terrible stuff and tried to BOIL SPONGEBOB & PATRICK alive in hot oil (MermaidPants) I felt so bad for them
I get Squidward is miserable due to having to work at the Krusty Krab and live next door to SpongeBob and Patrick but it's not their fault they're that way!
Squidward Tentacles IS ruining the show IMHO
I disagree with your first couple of points. I don’t believe that Squidward is
the issue, I believe that he is one of
many issues that have resulted from multiple different factors (e.g., the show running for so long, different writers). I doubt the show would get better if Squidward was “de-emphasized”, and it is completely farfetched and ignorant to think that removing a core character would “improve”
SpongeBob SquarePants. Squidward’s relationship with SpongeBob provides a key dynamic in the show, one that makes the show
relatable. As children, most can relate to SpongeBob, and as adults, most can relate to Squidward. Fans are able to watch SpongeBob with two different sets of eyes, so to speak. Removing Squidward would not only make the show worse, but the mere concept is practically impossible. There’s so much more to a show than just saying “Oh, I think that character isn’t likable anymore. Remove them!” For a minute or so, just sit down and think about how ludicrous the mere thought of it is. A move like that would only serve to devastate SpongeBob further, if you’d even like to refer to the show as in a state of distress. Personally, I think the show is doing a-okay at the moment. I think you should keep your head up and think positively!
I think what needs to be handled is the scripting. The writers behind
SpongeBob SquarePants need to be less harsh with Squidward’s dialogue, meditate on his persona in episodes like “Dying For Pie”, and tone down the dark jokes. Exploiting his jerkiness for the sake of “humor” is not right, and I doubt many people find it funny that Squidward would, for example, excitedly ask if SpongeBob caught a terminal disease. It’s offensive in a way. They need to consider how far is too far. They need to ask themselves questions like, “Would Squidward care if ___ happened?” Why or why not? If they would sit down and study Squidward’s character, then maybe they’d realize that they’re writing Squidward all wrong.