Ah, back to episodes that I distinctly remember premiering. This is another one of those episodes that I wrote a blog post about, all those years ago. So I can remember it pretty well. I really liked it back then, and I can tell you now, that opinion hasn’t changed very much over the years.
So the first thing I like about this episode is the atmosphere. While not as palpable as some episodes, like “Gone” or “SpongeHenge” or (as we will get to eventually) “Squid Noir”, I think there’s just something about this episode that makes it stand out on vibes. Maybe it’s just this beginning scene in the graveyard, but I think it’s the whole thing. It really leans into some action movie tropes and feels that I love, which really builds the atmosphere from the ground up.
I also like that this is a boating school episode. It reminds me a lot of “The Hot Shot”, but better. Just something about SpongeBob and Mrs. Puff being involved in this criminal chase is very appealing to me. And the way the episode sets this up is entertaining. The graveyard scene was funny and enjoyable, and it doesn’t feel forced at all to have SpongeBob back them all the way up to a prison, or for Sticky Fins Whitling to mistake SpongeBob as his getaway driver. Speaking of Sticky Fins Whitling, Joe Pantoliano does a great job in voicing him (as does Steve Buscemi with Dorsal Dan).
From here, the episode somewhat splits into two plots: SpongeBob and Sticky Fins Whitling, and Mrs. Puff and Dorsal Dan. The plots intersect a lot, so that’s why it’s more of a kinda split. I love the way these duos interact with each other. Sticky Fins realizing that SpongeBob is absolutely bonkers is great, I love how SpongeBob is such a force of nature behind the wheel. And then Mrs. Puff intimidating Dorsal Dan at first is hilarious, and I love how that develops into a certain kind of companionship for them. The cheesy romance is just so fun!
This episode also is almost entirely comprised of one of my favorite tropes: a chase scene. Again, there’s a reason I love action movies. SpongeBob is such a fun getaway driver to watch. And there’s all kinds of fun jokes in here, like the ole going through the clothes routine. It’s just so much chaos and entertainment, I love it! I won’t go through all the jokes, so just know I was thoroughly amused. The parts with Mrs. Puff and Dorsal Dan provide some relief from the chaos, but that doesn’t mean they’re not good. Just the opposite, actually. And one joke I did want to point out specifically was the Kaz easter egg, loved that! Just another one of the many great visual gags in this one.
As for the ending of “The Getaway”, I quite like this too. “
Prefer Jail to the Protagonist” is an oldie, but a goodie. And unfortunately for Mrs. Puff, Dorsal Dan goes off to jail too…hey, at least Mr. Krabs is still around!
Episode Tier: Amazing
Episode Score: 9.4/10
