Coming up next in the Legends of Bikini Bottom anthology, we’ve got “The Main Drain”! I think for the longest time I had considered this to be my favorite of the anthology. Now, it’s up against some stiff competition, considering that every episode so far has been “Amazing” tier. But I have faith in this episode. I think it can be the best. So let’s find out.
First off, I just think the plot for this episode is great. This the kinda stuff you’d be seeing in Regular Show or Adventure Time. But it’s also so very SpongeBob SquarePants. I mean, the ocean just having a random drain like a bathtub, that can literally empty the entire ocean into who knows where? Sure, why not. This show quickly established in “Reef Blower”, and later in “A Flea in Her Dome”, that anything is possible when it comes to ocean physics. So this is not surprising. I just think it’s fun.
And the way this episode begins is fun too. There’s some good gags here, like the one with SpongeBob’s tongue being made out of sponges (and how Squidward calls back to that like 30 seconds later), or the one where Patrick ends up tripping on the wet floor sign. I loved how this episode just went straight with making SpongeBob look like a little creepy guy. So funny. And then we get a random Patrick appearance, which isn’t necessarily unwelcome. But I do still eye it warily. It ends up being okay though. I loved the moment later in the episode where we get to hear the inner thoughts of Patrick while he completely tunes out SpongeBob. This episode doesn’t get quite into the swing of things so quickly like the other episodes of this anthology, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m enjoying myself so far, even if it does take a second to get to the actual main drain part of the episode.
We do get there, though, once Mr. Krabs overhears SpongeBob talking about pulling the drain plug to the sink, and he completely freaks out about it. I love how he creates his own moody ambiance just to tell the story (with Patrick trying to help haha). And another thing that’s neat about this episode is that Mr. Krabs’ reaction (his instant alarm, and then later when he clearly knows the location of the main drain) actually foreshadows the later twist, I think that’s pretty good writing. But anyway, the story Mr. Krabs tells is pretty nice, because it is that complete randomness I love. Though I do wonder, how exactly did Bikini Bottom get restored? Or is this a process doomed to repeat itself….they get pulled into another ocean that looks the same, with another drain like this. Who knows? I probably shouldn’t be thinking so deeply about it, but y’all know me.
And then we get Plankton’s entrance into the episode. And this part is also rife with foreshadowing, which I adore. His segment is rather short, but not to fear, because then we get the sudden appearance of Old Man Jenkins! I just really love the vibes in this episode, can’t you tell? Having this mystery that only the older inhabitants of Bikini Bottom know about, it feels like a kind of trope I’ve seen before, but I don’t know what I’d call it. I should consult TV tropes, but I don’t feel like doing that at the moment.
Thus begins SpongeBob and Patrick’s journey to find the main drain. I love that SpongeBob’s bubble-blowing prowess is brought back here, it’s been so long since we’ve seen that, I feel. I choose to believe that the moment with Squidward is a nod to “Pizza Delivery”. It was funny in any case. And I love how Patrick’s like “I don’t want to walk”, but he’s fine with acting like a horse and pulling his house with his mouth…okay sir. I also like that even though it’s clearly dumb, Patrick actually raises a legitimate argument for pulling the drain. I mean, it’s still a horrible idea, but I like that it wasn’t just completely stupid, you know? It’s the little things.
Then we get the reveal that the kids in the story were actually Mr. Krabs and Plankton, as they go to stop SpongeBob and Patrick from pulling the drain. I love that we got to see their little kid designs too, because they were so adorable!! And once we cut back to SpongeBob and Patrick, and they’re at that zoomed in camera angle, you can tell immediately what’s about to happen…and it does, as Patrick accidentally pulls out the main drain, and history repeats itself all over again. Patrick’s delayed reaction was hilarious to me, I don’t even know why. The episode then ends with the second reveal that this was all a story SpongeBob was telling Patrick. I love how instead of the normal, “that’s the scariest story I’ve ever heard”, Patrick calls it the most “realistic” one. Oh Patrick, never change.
“The Main Drain” was a really fun episode. But…I’m not sure I can call it the best of this anthology, which hurts my soul. I just don’t know…this episode had lots of funny moments, but I wouldn’t call it the funniest of the anthology. So far, that’s probably “The Curse of the Hex”. I do like the plot of this one the most though, and I like the usages of the characters involved. So it’s really hard to say. I think right now, it’s the second best. But that just means that this little series is still hitting hard, with 4 Amazing-tier episodes in a row. Quite impressive.
Episode Tier: Amazing
Episode Score: 9.2/10
Note: For anyone curious, the ranking of the anthology so far is Curse of the Hex > The Main Drain > The Monster Who Came to Bikini Bottom > Welcome to the Bikini Bottom Triangle
Dancing (Good)
