“Plane to Sea” is somewhat familiar to me. I know nothing about the episode but I remember the name and title card. So that’s fun. I do like the title card a lot actually, it stands out. I feel like that’s something that’s been happening a lot recently, having these nonstandard title cards. I can’t tell how I feel about it. On one hand, they’re all visually interesting and add some extra character. On the other, they don’t fit the established aesthetic of the show, and I kinda just want a simple title card again.
Not this episode beginning with a gorgeous background
alert! That’s a good way for me to get interested immediately…they have my number now. I love how at this point, Squidward isn’t even fazed by SpongeBob and Patrick’s antics anymore. Decades of living next to neighbors like those would do that to you, I suppose. And it seems there’s no time of day unsuitable for SpongeBob and Patrick to bother their middle neighbor, as it’s clearly dawn and the two have decided to wedge themselves in Squidward’s mailbox. Huh. Now I’m being reminded of “Idiot Box”.
I love how unhinged SpongeBob and Patrick are in this episode. They, for no reason whatsoever, entered themselves and Squidward into a sweepstakes to win a trip to a tropical resort at Bora Bora Bottom. Sure, why not? And I love how Squidward, even though he’s upset by this, doesn’t even seem surprised. SpongeBob and Patrick being unhinged is one of their more entertaining flavors, especially when SpongeBob’s doing most of the legwork. And just one other thing about this scene—certain
moments gave me…uh…flashbacks to another time. To another storyboarded time. To another…Mr. Springer time. Let’s not do this again please.
So now Squidward has to pretend to be SpongeBob and Patrick’s dad. Well, this isn’t much of an important plot point, and it’s more like SpongeBob and Patrick are pretending that Squidward is their dad while Squidward does not care to keep up the ruse. Also, explain this, SquidBob shippers. Ha, you can’t! I win again. Anyway, poor Squidward is stuck between SpongeBob and Patrick during the flight. Man, it’s just like living on Conch Street!
Most of the episode takes place on this plane ride. Which makes me realize we’ve never spent so much time on a plane in this show before. These plane seats have a lot more room than any plane I’ve ever been on. I’ll just pretend that the trio are in first class. SpongeBob and Patrick run around basically acting like children. It’s not annoying, but it is a little much. Things improve once we get to Patrick basically ejecting the flight attendants though. And it eventually builds up to my kind of chaos when the pilots end up being ejected too. Now I’m reminded of “Nautical Novice” lol. And I’m right to be reminded considering the punchline that the plane was on autopilot. Hm. I suppose some could call this a ripped-off joke. Not me tho, y’all stay safe.
“Plane to Sea” was pretty fun. I think my only complaint about this episode is that Squidward didn’t get any kind of win, like at all. It was a little mean-spirited to him. Not in a “Squidward torture” way, though, I would never go that far, but it was rather unsatisfying to see Squidward go through all of this and then have the one thing he wanted pulled out from under him at the very end. But it was morbidly funny, in a certain way, so I’m not even that upset about it. The other problem of this episode is that it’s kind of dull in the middle, but that doesn’t last for too long. Other than that, “Plane to Sea” was funny and enjoyable, other than SpongeBob and Patrick approaching a bit grating at times.
Episode Tier: Great
Episode Score: 8.6/10