Not me already getting behind on my season 4 schedule for the month...let's see how much I can fix that. Today we're here with "Dunces and Dragons", a very popular episode that I...somewhat agree with the majority on. Let's talk about it!
First off, this episode is just weird. Like the plot is weird lol. Like we get no explanation for anything that happens in this episode and I can appreciate that. But the part of me that overthinks everything does not lol. But we're not listening to that part of me today.
This special is pretty funny. I think the best joke for me was that part at the very beginning where the worker literally wanted to k!ll himself, like that's dark as H and also extremely relatable for workers who are forced to do embarrassing things for the job. Also the whole setting of this episode, as in the setting in the modern day, I'm wondering if it's just a spoof on that Medieval Times restaurant. I still own the plastic cups I got from there the one time I went. Do I remember much else from that visit? No lol, but I remember the cups. Speaking of spoofs, I guess I should say that I recognize that the title of this episode comes from Dungeons & Dragons. I've only played D&D a couple times before, not my type of game.
I love how SpongeBob and Patrick are basically immediately thrown into a dungeon, which is where we meet the medieval version of Squidward! Or Squidly, as he's called here. It's funny to watch this isekai episode because I've been playing The Cosmic Shake these last few days, and that game is like this episode but with a bunch of different worlds lol. Anyway...Squidward being a jester is something I didn't realize I needed. Also I love how a giant jellyfish is a dragon in this world. This episode does a great job of immersing us in the medieval environment (while skillfully taking us out of it for comedic moments with SpongeBob and Patrick). Like they even make a lot of the jokes fit for the time as well. I'm thinking of when Pearl tells Mr. Krabs "think of your blood pressure! You wouldn't want another leech treatment, would you?". I also love how when the duo realize they're in medieval times, Patrick's like "oh no I think I left the water running at home" lol. I really like jokes like that for some reason.
Mr. Krabs and Pearl being king and princess, respectively, is also something I didn't realize I needed to see. Pearl inclusion in an episode is always a win (not because I love her character necessarily, but because she is a main character and so it is nice to see her being treated as such). I love how Squidly is such a little menace in this episode too, especially when he starts trolling the king with his song. Why Squidly thought that would be a good idea, I don't know, as it sends all three of them to the guillotine lmao. Also I love how when SpongeBob is trying to plead their case, Patrick just deadpans like "idk what to add man", that was pretty funny. Patrick being a source of deadpan humor is something both unexpected and hilarious when done correctly and sparingly.
Anyway, from here the episode really gets rolling. I love the whole bit about SpongeBob and Patrick kicking themselves out. And then we get a real D&D-type segment as the heroes gear up for their adventure. I love that Karen is a crystal ball, and Plankton is a wizard in these medieval times. The coughing bit with Plankton is decently funny as well. And then we move onto probably my favorite medieval character aside from Squidly, Sandy! Who in these times is a knight, which I think is pretty cool. Her fight against SpongeBob is pretty fun, and I love how it ends with SpongeBob's powder self literally choking her. The part where she just turns into a stock image of a squirrel is hilarious. I love how out of all the medieval characters, Sandy is the one that speaks the most stereotypically old English. I wonder if that's because in the normal show, she's the only one with a certain speech pattern (other than Mr. Krabs, who keeps his pirate speak in this episode), so they were like "let's give her a speech pattern here as well!" Either way, I think it's cool and it makes her stand out. Anyway, this segment of the episode really makes me think of D&D as Sandy joins their party in the quest.
I love the part where Sandy sneaks everyone in, you can tell Carolyn Lawrence had fun recording that bit of dialogue. And then a little later, the slight at Squidly (calling him royal doofus) is pretty funny. The stair segment reminds me of that one
part in Kung Fu Panda 2. Ah, that was a good movie. I need to rewatch it.
Anyway, I love the final battle against Plankton. That joke with the water is hilarious if only for the delivery of "sike-eth!" And I love how the dragon is "defeated" with the chekov's krabby patties from earlier. And I love how it's Squidly's terrible playing that ends up getting SpongeBob and Patrick flung back to the present. The ending stinger of the episode is highkey the most memorable part of it all to me. Like every time I think of this episode, without fail I will hear that little sound from Squidly's clarinet after being crushed by Patrick. Just hilarious.
So earlier I said I "somewhat agree with the majority" about this episode. What I meant by that is that although I think this is a really good episode, part of my "Amazing" tier, I think it tends to be overrated. I think the reason this episode is overrated is because it's in season 4, where many people lose their minds and talk about how this is the beginning of the end for SpongeBob, so whenever an episode is really good like this, they blow it out of proportion. At least that's how I see it. But like I said, this still is an excellent episode that I have no problems with, so it's definitely in my "Amazing" tier.
Episode Tier: Amazing
Episdoe Score: 9.2/10