Is Plankton Evil, Or Just A Jerk?

[Cha]

When he builds gadgets to steal the formula and does all that mad scientist stuff, I lean towards villian. Though stealing itself is a very petty crime, I'd say it's more jerkish. We're talking about stealing a recipe of a hamburger here.. Then again, we saw what happens when there are no longer any more Krabby Patties in Bikini Bottom, the citizens go haywire. So maybe stealing the formula is at times like a federal offense? Then there's the original movie. Plankton inslaves dozens of people and tries to kill Krabs, Patrick and SpongeBob. I say he's an evil jerk.

 

[BabySmitty]

Also, why doesn't he get put in jail?! Sure we've seen him be in jail (for a good five seconds), or get arrested, but he never seems to stay. I know, yeah, SB wouldn't have that happen in three episodes in a row, but c'mon. If he's so bad and considered to be an evil character, why wouldn't they lock him up?

Because he's an evil genius. When he's not being a ditz he's a brilliant mastermind. He always finds a way to break out of jail.

Jealousy and misery don't excuse the things he does. If it was minor stuff then maybe, but he repeatedly breaks the law and hurts people. He chooses to pursue the Krabby Patty so in a way his continued frustration is self-inflicted. He could move away from Krabs or try a different career altogether, like in New Leaf, but instead of improving his life he focuses his energy on trying to ruin other people's.

Plankton could almost be considered an evil counterpart to Squidward.

Wallows in self pity, doesn't have the ambition to change, treats others badly, selfish. The difference is that Squidward has a heart underneath all that curmudgeon.

 

[DadMom AngryPants]

Because he's an evil genius. When he's not being a ditz he's a brilliant mastermind. He always finds a way to break out of jail.


Plankton could almost be considered an evil counterpart to Squidward.

Wallows in self pity, doesn't have the ambition to change, treats others badly, selfish. The difference is that Squidward has a heart underneath all that curmudgeon.

Episode idea: Squidward and Plankton switch situations for some reason (the Switch-lives-just-to-know-what-it's-like-o-mogrifier was already used in Season 3 so I'll have to think of something else ... darn) and are mad at first but secretly end up enjoying it. To begin with, at least. Then Squidward realises he's not cut out to be evil and Plankton realises he's not cut out to be SpongeBob's neighbour.

 

[The Real Nostalgia Critic]

Episode idea: Squidward and Plankton switch situations for some reason (the Switch-lives-just-to-know-what-it's-like-o-mogrifier was already used in Season 3 so I'll have to think of something else ... darn) and are mad at first but secretly end up enjoying it. To begin with, at least. Then Squidward realises he's not cut out to be evil and Plankton realises he's not cut out to be SpongeBob's neighbour.

Maybe Plankton conks Squidward and accidentally knocks himself out as well and they knock their brains out (lol Snowball Effect reference) and some doctors find them and accidentally switch their brains around so that Plankton's memories and voice goes in Squidward's body and Squidward's memories and voice goes in Plankton's body. Now, they must cope with living in different bodies until Sandy Cheeks performs a brain transplant on them.

How's that? I'm trying to stay away from similar plots in The Algae's Always Greener and Patrick SmartPants and I'm also trying to make it kid-friendly as well. I don't exactly know how the "Squidward and Plankton go unconscious and knock their brains out" thing would work on a kids network.

 

[BabySmitty]

Episode idea: Squidward and Plankton switch situations for some reason (the Switch-lives-just-to-know-what-it's-like-o-mogrifier was already used in Season 3 so I'll have to think of something else ... darn) and are mad at first but secretly end up enjoying it. To begin with, at least. Then Squidward realises he's not cut out to be evil and Plankton realises he's not cut out to be SpongeBob's neighbour.

That's a good idea.
I think one of the reasons "The Algae's Always Greener" was so interesting is because in a way it showed us the relationship of Krabs and Spongebob, indirectly. Plankton could barely last a few hours with the guy- but Krabs respects him enough to not only tolerate him, but mostly appreciate him.

That's a great episode idea.

 

[iedasb]

Plankton is evil, but it's Mr. Krabs fault, Mr. Krabs is the true jerk there.
But sometimes Plankton act like a jerk... But it's normal for evil guys.

 

[BabySmitty]

Plankton is evil, but it's Mr. Krabs fault, Mr. Krabs is the true jerk there.
But sometimes Plankton act like a jerk... But it's normal for evil guys.

How on earth is it the fault of Krabs that Plankton A) betrayed Spongebob's trust and made him cry (F.U.N) B) took advantage of Spongebob's kindness and brought him to tears again (Walking Small) C) forcibly took control of Spongebob's brain, forcing him to badmouth Squidward and almost put Krabs out of business, (Plankton!) D) made Spongebob his personal slave and then ripped out his brain (Welcome to the Chum Bucket,) and then hired a hitman to kill Spongebob and Patrick, then took over the world? (the first movie)

Krabs is pretty much a sociopath but Plankton is far worse.

 

[iedasb]

How on earth is it the fault of Krabs that Plankton A) betrayed Spongebob's trust and made him cry (F.U.N) B) took advantage of Spongebob's kindness and brought him to tears again (Walking Small) C) forcibly took control of Spongebob's brain, forcing him to badmouth Squidward and almost put Krabs out of business, (Plankton!) D) made Spongebob his personal slave and then ripped out his brain (Welcome to the Chum Bucket,) and then hired a hitman to kill Spongebob and Patrick, then took over the world? (the first movie)

Krabs is pretty much a sociopath but Plankton is far worse.

Nhah I know. But...
I don't like Krabs :P

 

[BabySmitty]

Nhah I know. But...
I don't like Krabs :P

Neither do I. Something about his character went really REALLY sour in season 2.

 

[iedasb]

Neither do I. Something about his character went really REALLY sour in season 2.

So even if Plankton is a jerk, did all that stuff. I still think who's a jerk is Krabs. XD

 

[BabySmitty]

So even if Plankton is a jerk, did all that stuff. I still think who's a jerk is Krabs. xD

They're both jerks, but Krabs is marginally better seeing as how Plankton was the one who plotted to take over the world, enslave the entire undersea population, and hire a hitman to kill the two main characters.

then again... Krabs once sold Spongebob's soul to Satan.

 

[iedasb]

They're both jerks, but Krabs is marginally better seeing as how Plankton was the one who plotted to take over the world, enslave the entire undersea population, and hire a hitman to kill the two main characters.

then again... Krabs once sold Spongebob's soul to Satan.

So the two are jerks and end this conversation.

But I think the first movie, if SpongeBob had a time line, didn't happened yet. it's future, and I see that movie as an ending to the show.

 

[DadMom AngryPants]

Krabs is often out of line but overall he doesn't compare to Plankton. Krabs's goal is to make money. Plankton's goal is to take over the world. Krabs does go too far because of his greed sometimes and ends up doing really bad things (which he often regrets) but Plankton's default position is basically the opposite - he does evil things as standard and only occasionally acts like a decent member of society.

 

[Supmandude]

Plankton's goal is to take over the world.

I think that brings up another question. How consistent is Plankton's desire to take over the world? In almost all of the episodes of the show, he just wants to have a successful burger joint, right? But in both movies he's shown desire to take over the world and actually did it in the first movie. Has he ever really stated he wants to take over the world in any of the actual episodes?

Maybe both movies take place after the show and he went a little crazier by those points. :P

 

[DadMom AngryPants]

I think that brings up another question. How consistent is Plankton's desire to take over the world? In almost all of the episodes of the show, he just wants to have a successful burger joint, right? But in both movies he's shown desire to take over the world and actually did it in the first movie. Has he ever really stated he wants to take over the world in any of the actual episodes?

Maybe both movies take place after the show and he went a little crazier by those points. :P

In the episode where he teams up with Man Ray he says something about there being a correlation between dominance in the fast food market and world domination, so getting the Krabby Patty recipe and taking over the world are linked in his mind, and we see how he actually manages to connect the two in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

Even when he's not specifically thinking about stealing the recipe there is a recurring theme of him wishing he was big and powerful. He imagines zapping people with the jellyfish in F.U.N., being a giant who stomps on people in Sleepy Time and in Wishing You Well he wishes he was huge.

 

[BabySmitty]

Krabs is often out of line but overall he doesn't compare to Plankton. Krabs's goal is to make money. Plankton's goal is to take over the world. Krabs does go too far because of his greed sometimes and ends up doing really bad things (which he often regrets) but Plankton's default position is basically the opposite - he does evil things as standard and only occasionally acts like a decent member of society.

IMO Krabs is often grossly insensitive to the feelings and physical well-being of other people. And Plankton is downright maniacal. Due to the scale of Plankton's dastardly deeds, Plankton is far worse. Usually the victim of Krabs' greed is just one person, not an entire town.

I'm honestly kind of saddened by Krabs' behavior in certain episodes. I mean, I grew up with the show. Krabs was so nice in episodes like "Pickles," "Suds," "Sailor Mouth," and "Hooky." He clearly cared about Spongebob (and Patrick,) acting as a sort of surrogate father figure to him. (I mean, Spongebob's dad is a good dad, and alive and well, but he lives fairly far away.)

Then we started seeing a really rancid side of Krabs, in episodes like "Jellyfish Hunter," (okay, maybe that's in-character for him,) "Born Again Krabs" (which I consider his #1 absolute low, considering who the victim of the episode is,) and "Krabby Land."

He went from treating Spongebob like a son and caring about his feelings, to selling his soul to Satan, and then apathetically mocking him after he's been brutally beaten up to the point of dismemberment.

Like.... seriously, what happened to Mister Krabs?

 

[BlueberryFieldsForever]

Is Plankton a sympathetic jerk who uses underhanded tactics to achieve his goals, or is he actually legitimately evil?

Does it all depend on the "era" of show? In the first couple of seasons, Plankton was not above harassing/taking advantage of his rival's friendly fry cook- and off the clock to boot. Spongebob is pretty friendly with Plankton off the clock- or at least, he tries to be. He has made attempts to be Plankton's friend, and he even gave him a personalized valentine- and he shows concern for the little dude every time he seems upset. And how does Plankton repay him? By brutally taking advantage of his kind nature (Walking Small,) ripping his brain out (Welcome to the Chum Bucket) and then trying to kill all his friends (the first movie.)

The post-movie episodes turned Plankton into more of a bumbling jerk than the legit villain he was later on. The new writers like to make him sympathetic and pitiable despite the fact that he has almost murdered the titular character only out of greed.

Still... he's done some shady things. Knowing that the first movie is the canonical end of the show, (and knowing that he is at his absolute worst in that film,) that raises some questions on whether or not Spongebob should even bother being nice to him at all. HE'S PLOTTING TO ENSLAVE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND LOVE.

What episode is that pictures from?

 

[BabySmitty]

What episode is that pictures from?

Plankton's Good Eye
a really sucky episode
but that one scene was kinda funny.... and at least we got to see Bubble Bass again.