“Sanitation Insanity” is one of those season 11 episodes I remember very little about. Like legitimately before rewatching (and before skimming the SpongeBob Wiki), I could tell you exactly nothing about this episode. Now, after skimming the wiki, I have realized that I remember parts of this episode, but I didn’t know that they were a part of this one. So all of that’s to say that I clearly have not watched this episode very much.
The first surprise for me is that this episode starts at the Krusty Krab, since I wasn’t expecting this to be a Krusty Krab episode at all. I guess it isn’t strictly one of those episodes, but it does begin at the restaurant with Mr. Krabs being his normal cheap self. His insistence on using one trash bag is relatable, though I think that he and I do this for two very different reasons. The usage of one trash bag backfires completely, as the thing explodes with all the nasty garbage in it. Cartoon garbage is so funny to me, because obviously we’re not throwing away unidentified solid-liquid substances. Anyway, this first part of the episode has some decently fun visuals, but nothing really makes me laugh. But I don’t get the sense that the episode is trying too hard to do that.
The trash inspectors pull up to the scene, and order Mr. Krabs to clean up all his trash. I like their trash inspector swag. Mr. Krabs, of course, can’t be bothered to actually clean up his own mess, so guess who’s forced to do it? That’s right, SpongeBob and Squidward. Well, now this episode just reminds me of “Keep Bikini Bottom Beautiful”. Heck, if Squilliam wasn’t a major player in that episode, someone could maybe possibly legitimately make the rip-off argument. Maybe. Anyway, once Mr. Krabs pawns the job of cleaning up trash onto SpongeBob and Squidward, my memory of this episode returns in full. So now I know exactly what to expect.
Before I get into the rest of the episode, I have one little nitpick…there was no reason to use
Spongemonger when Squidward and SpongeBob start their ride. To me, Spongemonger is reserved only for chase scenes. This isn’t that, and there’s not even chaos involved in it either.
Maybe Slide Whistle Stooges could’ve worked for this scene. Heck, I would’ve even taken
Hillbilly Chase. Even
12th Street Rag woulda been fine. But Spongemonger? Nah, it doesn’t fit. And I usually think that this show has perfect score selection, so moments like these really stick out to me. Okay, that’s my little tangent-y nitpick, back to the show!
Much of the rest of the episode consists of SpongeBob and Squidward on trash-pickup duty, meaning it’s an opportunity for ample jokes and little plot. It’s fun to watch SpongeBob ride on the back of the truck, even though again there’s not much to laugh at here. Then it’s Squidward’s turn to ride on the back, and of course he doesn’t have such an easy time as SpongeBob (and notice how this part uses Slide Whistle Stooges…okay I’ll stop now), providing us with some good slapstick. And a funny joke involving SpongeBob’s lack of a license. Finally, been waiting for some laughs. And we even got some character cameos out of this too, a double win!
Moving on, the next bit of the episode to make me laugh is everything with the trashed doll. Now
that was funny. And then we get the famous scene (I’ve seen it so many times on Twitter) of Tetris SpongeBob and Squidward. It’s also pretty funny. The ensuing montage of SpongeBob and Squidward picking more trash is entertaining, but again, not too many jokes in this part. But it’s always fun to see Squidward and SpongeBob working together towards some goal, so I’m never bored or anything like that.
Finally, Squidward and SpongeBob have just one last house to clean up. And of course, it’s Patrick’s house, because yep, surprise Patrick appearance. This part is probably my favorite bit of the episode, because Patrick is hilariously possessive of his trash (reminds me of “Sentimental Sponge” and “The Gift of Gum”). And even more importantly, we get the freaking
Power Rangers battle between Patrick and SpongeBob + Squidward (complete with lens flares and split cuts). That was so random and out of left field, it’s hilarious. Funny that Patrick’s been involved in two battles like that now, when we remember “Sand Castles in the Sand”. But this scene reminds me even more of “The Battle of Bikini Bottom”. And it ends with trash being spread everywhere, undoing all of Squidward and SpongeBob’s work. And when Mr. Krabs comes to complain about it, well, finally Squidward gets a win, and Mr. Krabs gets his comeuppance. That is, until a full-blown trash fight breaks out. Then it’s trash duty for everybody!
Episode Tier: Great
Episode Score: 8/10
