So remember when I said I couldn't stand secondhand embarrassment? Yeah..."Hooky" almost always immediately comes to mind when I think of episodes I just cannot rewatch. But, before y'all get your pitchforks (actually, I don't know the public consensus on this episode, I might read some reviews once this one is posted), I don't think it's a bad episode. I think it's very nearly good. The only problem is that it feels like watching a trainwreck in slow motion once we get to the second half.
Let's talk about the good first, though, because there's definitely a lot of it! Mr. Krabs is great in this episode, his dramatics are just perfectly done, and it makes total sense that he'd have experience with the hooks, given that he's our older, father-figure character. I also just like the idea that yep, humans still exist in the SpongeBob world. In fact, with the way this show is written, it basically takes place on the same Earth we live in now. So basically, SpongeBob is real confirmed (/j). SpongeBob and Patrick's antics with the hooks are also pretty funny, and I appreciate that SpongeBob is tentative at first, which makes for some good interactions with Patrick. And then the scene where Mr. Krabs finds out SpongeBob took a break is also pretty funny, and I love the whole "Chum famine of '59" bit, like it's the kind of throwaway world-building I like to see. I also do like the very ending of the episode, with the Patrick stinger ending, but that's about all I like that takes place between Mr. Krabs chastising SpongeBob and Patrick and the episode cutting to black.
Now, after SpongeBob swears not to play on the hooks anymore, before proceeding to do that once losing all resolve, this is where the episode begins to fall apart for me. Well, fall apart is a harsh phrase, but I suppose my enjoyment of what I'm watching does begin to crumble after this point. And it's all because of the secondhand embarrassment. Seeing SpongeBob try to hide the hook in his pants just feels like watching a trainwreck in slow motion, as I've said before, because you know it's a forgone conclusion, so it's like why even bother. Then of course, we have the entire scene of SpongeBob basically having to get naked in order to be free of the hook, to the amusement of Pearl and her friends (which now that I think about it, that's weird asf. thank god they don't do that thing where they censor part of SpongeBob to make it seem like he has...yeah). And then of course we get the reveal that this was a set up that Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and Pearl were in on that was meant to teach SpongeBob a lesson about not playing on the hooks.
Frankly, that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. First off, I cannot stand when SpongeBob is the subject of embarrassment like this (feel free to read my "Stuck in the Wringer" review), I just can't stomach it at all. Maybe it's because I love the little square dude so much, not sure. And then I can't say I've ever been a fan of the "public embarrassment to teach a lesson" story. I'm not sure if any one here is familiar with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, but if you are, this episode reminds me a lot of "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well". That's similarly an episode I can't stand to watch because of the secondhand embarrassment, not to mention the embarrassment being brought on by the subject's friends. Like, no thank you.
I used to have this episode in my "Good" tier, but I think I'll have to bump it down a notch just because of it's pure unrewatchability for me, and the fact that the second half of the episode is just too hard to watch. If I'm not getting enjoyment out of watching, then there's no point. But the beginning of "Hooky" is definitely strong, I'll say that much, so I don't think it deserves to be any lower than a high "Okay". Also, I said in my review of "Nature Pants" that it was my least favorite season 1 episode, but I think that's changed now, my least favorite is this one.
Episode Tier: Okay
Episode Score: 6.8/10