Fresh off the heels of its sister episode, we've got the episode with SpongeBob's first (original) musical number! Like "Help Wanted" and especially "Bubblestand," this episode has stood the tests of time and is labeled as a classic. It's funny, thinking of how SpongeBob is a children's cartoon, because the show doesn't actually have many of these fable-like episodes with a moral at the end. At least, there aren't many that make it explicit like this episode does. Sure, children can learn that if they want to enjoy life, they should act more like a SpongeBob rather than a Squidward, but usually the show doesn't get explicitly moral about it. So in that way, "Ripped Pants" is a special case.
This is the first time we see SpongeBob doing something we as the audience might see as "bad". Now, of course, SpongeBob isn't malicious here (a line I personally think he should never cross), but he does make a mistake in this episode, a big one. And it's nice to see more depth to both his character and the show's storytelling. We care about SpongeBob learning from this mistake because we care about SpongeBob.
The episode is pretty funny throughout, and it gives us a good look into another part of the Bikini Bottom world—Goo Lagoon. We're also introduced to fan-favorite Larry the Lobster, as well as Sandy's weight-lifting hobby. This episode is also the first time background fish (other than the anchovies) have played a supporting role in the show. It's also the first time we see a secondary character too. So all of this expands the world of SpongeBob just a bit more.
The last thing I want to talk about in this episode is the song, which is excellent. It's an iconic moment for good reason. I don't think I'm speaking too broadly when I say that most people who've seen SpongeBob know at least a good chunk of the lyrics. And the song itself makes the episode's message very clear, speaking to good songwriting.
Fun fact, one of my first forays into meme culture as a kid came from this episode. Probably around a decade ago at this point, the lifeguard in this episode became a meme (completely with impact font top and bottom text). I just looked it up and yep, it's got a knowyourmeme
page. I specifically remember one of the memes I had saved onto my computer was one of those "In Soviet Russia" ones. I also looked this up and I think this was it?
Personally, I find this episode to be the weakest of the first five. It's still a very funny and enjoyable episode, but it drags for me a little bit as I get tired of the ripped pants jokes a bit quicker than the Goo Lagoon goers do. So, this episode sits firmly in the "Great" category.
Episode Tier: Great
Episode Score: 8/10
