Factory Fresh (Season 9, Episode 22)
Original Airdate: February 20 2017*
Episode 381 in standard order, Episode 391 in airing order
*produced in 2016
Plot: SpongeBob invents Frozen Krabby Patties, but things soon start smelling like big business
Written by Kyle McCulloch
[titlecard]200[/titlecard]
Title Card Music: Sailor’s Sting 28
200 half-hours! It’s a pretty big milestone, and I feel like I’ve gotten over the biggest hurdles in this project. On top of that, not only is this the first review to be just a year behind the episode, but this is the first (chronological) episode to air after I started this project! I’ve covered a great deal of SpongeBob history, and my personal history surrounding the show, so now I can finally get to episodes I was too “behind” to cover when they came out. With that, I really dislike how they changed this episode’s title at the last minute to Goodbye Krabby Patty?/Krusty Krab, to make it honestly feel like this’ll be the end of so many years. I’m thankful to say this isn’t the end of my enjoyment of the show, as this is a pretty good special.
Segment 399 begins with SpongeBob and Patrick having a nice day, they get stung by jellyfish, brush each other’s teeth and wear a pair of jeans together. It’s an all-around simple, feel-good opening that lets you in on what their friendship is like. It’s pretty silly, but they’re happy with the free time they have. Their great day ends with a trip to the grocery store to get some ice cream, where they spend more time than they need to in the frozens section. After all, ice cream choosing is a serious and time-consuming job. There they meet Mr Krabs picking up some frozen dinners, and SpongeBob comes up with the idea of frozen Krabby Patties, which Mr Krabs takes credit for. It’s one of the problems people might have with this episode, that SpongeBob’s pushed aside in favour of the rich and glamourous, but to me, it symbolises that he, a kid, can’t fit into this big business lifestyle.
Once again, Mr Krabs makes a cheap, unprofessional commercial promoting Krabby Patties featuring Pearl and SpongeBob in the background, though this time it’s so bad that the executives don’t want to air it. This group of executives includes Don Grouper, voiced by Mad Men star Jon Hamm and is Mr Krabs’ new husbando. He’s got a very swave, on-the-dot view on how the Krabby Patty should be marketed, and although he takes the new slogan from some yellow box, he’s got a good idea in getting the average joe to be the spokesperson. This is one of the times in this episode that I find SpongeBob being pushed to the sideline justified, as Patrick’s much more of an average joe, and has probably eaten more Krabby Patties in his lifetime. That’s not to say SpongeBob shouldn’t be completely pushed to the sideline, but a fry cook being the spokesperson wouldn’t be as relatable of an idea.
After the commercial’s filmed Don talks to Mr Krabs about making adjustments to the Krabby Patty’s formula to mass produce it and make more money, but the mouthwatering amount of digits they’re discussing clouds Krabs’ common sense and he accepts. SpongeBob is very much upset with the decision, but things only get worse as the Frozen Krabby Patties get their own production factory. It’s a busy yet soulless place where sand is used as filler to make the patties seem complete, and the testing area is rigged. A side effect is pointed out here, where the frozen burgers cause one’s own buns to expand. It’s a bit immature, but a cartoony way of showing side effects. At least they don’t get pimples or aneursyms like they would’ve 9 years ago.
When SpongeBob and Mr Krabs eventually get back to the Krusty Krab, Krabs informs SpongeBob that they won’t be cooking Krabby Patties anymore. Instead the Krusty Krab’s being converted into a museum, as it’s old news now. SpongeBob’s devastated by the news, getting fired for the sixth time in one season, but Squidward’s ecstatic, declaring his resignation and reading his overzealous memoirs. It’s dramatic and over-the-top, but it’s pure Squidward. As time goes on, SpongeBob gets less happy, Mr Krabs gets richer, Patrick more famous and the Frozen Krabby Patties are a phenomenon. It’s a good way to end the first half, with a lot of changes that you’d like to see undone.
Segment 400 begins with Patrick and his crew gearing up for his 400th commercial. I like this little nod to the fact the show’s now got roughly 4,400 minutes of material, though I’d question just how long a timeframe the story takes place across. If it’s years, most likely decades, then that’s worrying, but I digress. Patrick’s evidently grown tired of his stardom, as it means less hanging out with SpongeBob, and the Krabby Patties he eats for them keep tasting worse. Perhaps my favourite scene in the episode is where SpongeBob heads to Patrick’s new mansion for a party with ice cream in tow, but is pushed aside by all of Patrick’s new “friends”. It ends with his agent telling him that he’s a star, he doesn’t need friends, which while not true in this day and age, I can let slide for dramatic purposes. This scene isn’t that funny, but it shows how distant SpongeBob and Patrick have become.
SpongeBob’s job at the Krusty Krab museum remains miserable, with Squidward returning because his dreams can’t be achieved with just 17 years of cashier experience. I like how this is another nod, this one to the fact that this episode was produced 17 years after the show began airing. Even Plankton can’t find any joy in obtaining the secret formula anymore, as they’re being sold as souveniers. This is what you call depression, when all emotion’s sucked out of the room, even anger and dread. Plankton takes a Frozen Krabby Patty to go, and SpongeBob also eats one, only to find it tastes disgusting, due to it being filled with sand. I would’ve liked it better if Plankton analysed his Krabby Patty and came to that conclusion, as it would make his role in the episode more useful, but this is fine too.
After filming the 400th commercial, Patrick gets completely fed up with his fame and the horrible food he has to eat, and shoos everyone out of his lounge, before SpongeBob runs to his mansion and calls out to him. They reunite and SpongeBob tells him the patties are made of sand, and then gives his friend a real Krabby Patty. It’s such a sweet scene after how far the distance between them had gotten, and seeing Patrick’s friendship and faith in Krabby Patties restored is awesome. It makes him feel like he’s gone through something, and that SpongeBob’s a great friend for bringing him back to his senses. He has to choose what’s right for the Krabby Patty, so he spills the beans that they’re made of sand at the sales conference he attends. It’s the same plot element as in Selling Out, I’ll get that out of the way, but it’s got a new meaning and weight to it.
Because the truth’s now revealed, sales of the Frozen Krabby Patties plummet, Krabs and Don’s partnership’s broken, and everyone vomits the sand back out when they hear the news. Like many others, I consider it the worst scene in the episode, not just because it’s gross, but because it adds nothing except turning everyone’s butts back to normal. Things pick up again though for the ending, where Mr Krabs is shocked to see the Krusty Krab back in business. This is due to the warmth and taste of the original Krabby Patty and its formula, cooked for the past 200 episodes by SpongeBob SquarePants. 298 frozen patties later, I’ve gotta say this is a pretty big story. It feels like a great expansion of the Post-Sequel era’s identity into 22 minutes, having shades of mindless nonsense, but being character-driven and relatable. It just feels like they had a more elaborate story to tell, and they went through with it without resorting to using too much filler.
For such a big story, I’m glad that it’s filled with comedy. Listing all the jokes would be useless, but I’ll point out the ones that are my favourite, or benefit the story the most. I like SpongeBob picking Rocky Road ice cream at the start, because his friendship with Patrick has never been rocky, as if Naughty Nautical Neighbours, The Fry Cook Games and Yours Mine and Mine among others don’t exist. The Frozen Krabby Patties slogan “they taste so nice that they taste nice” is simple yet effective, and I like how the museum’s filled with animatronics. As for character jokes, Don Grouper and Squidward get them the best, with Don being so chill yet powerful and Squidward always getting the short end of the stick, yet not quite giving up hope on his future.
The running “yellow box” gag, where SpongeBob’s mistaken for a yellow box by the media, isn’t something I find as bad as other people do. It’s quite repetitive, but I like how these people see SpongeBob as nothing, and that’s what pushes him to hate his own creation. As for the jokes that aren’t very good, I’m not a fan of the “sandy cheeks” either. It’s pretty immature, and leads to one of the grossest scenes in Season 9b. While not really bad, I feel like a punchline was missing. Still, I’m impressed by the good jokes that this episode’s littered with. A good 22 minute story’s one thing, but making it fit the show’s tone is an extra treat.
With the animation and art direction, you can tell Factory Fresh wanted to be bigger and grander than a typical episode, and it works. Most of the newly-introduced rooms and buildings like the conference room, frozen patty factory and Patrick’s mansion are exquisite, with great colour combinations and enough characters to seem busy. Another thing that seperates it from other episodes in the first 9 seasons is the modern technology used. The conference room has a sci fi hologram projector (don’t pretend your business doesn’t have one), and there’s a gag where a baby uses a smartphone to go on social media. For such a business-centric episode, I’m good with it depicting business in the modern day. Besides, there was already a much smaller cell phone joke in Fear of a Krabby Patty, so there’s a mild sense that technology’s marching on. There is some mild gross-out with the sand-puking scene and SpongeBob and Patrick getting stung by jellyfish at the beginning, but they feel in-line with the Pre-Movie seasons.
As another character-driven episode, Factory Fresh nails many of its characters, especially Patrick. He’s the strongest link in the episode for me, as he has to deal with a world that slowly loses its glamour, and that makes him sad and nostalgic for his time with SpongeBob. It’s an emotional arc that I’m surprised fits his character. My second favourite character here is Don Grouper. Hamm really brought all his sophistication to the table here, as he can make anything sound cool and marketable. Sure he ditches Mr Krabs in the end, but that’s showbiz for you. It may sound nice, but it’s got consequences.
Also pretty good here is SpongeBob, as not only does he have to watch his work life crumble at the hands of big business, but he finds a way to restore everyone’s faith in the Krabby Patty, by cooking them right. It goes to show how capable he’s gotten as a fry cook, and as a fan of Krabby Patties. Squidward’s also got a lot of funny lines and jokes, even if he doesn’t contribute much to the story. I’m a bit iffy with Mr Krabs, as he tosses away everything he liked about the Krabby Patty for money, but it’s for more than 62¢. The digits are in double digits, it’s an unrealistic profit he’s turning over. Another character I don’t like but don’t mind is Plankton, because he just seems obligatory. Again, I would’ve been more sold in his personality and customs if he examined the frozen patty and found it full of sand.
I don’t ask for SpongeBob to be too serious or epic, but it’s more welcome for a special, a milestone celebration no less. I feel like the advertising pushed the intended impact of the episode too far though, which is why I’ll always call it Factory Fresh. The Krusty Krab and Krabby Patty aren’t even let go, they’re just reworked. Still, I think this is a really good example of a SpongeBob special. The story’s got weight to it, the jokes are plentiful and most of the characters have a purpose. They even snuck in a guest star without it feeling out of place. The second hundred episodes may be the show’s all-around worst in terms of quality and consistency, but it’s good to see it go out so well.
Final Verdict: Good 8/10 (an enjoyable if not mildly flawed episode)
License to Milkshake < Factory Fresh < The Sewers of Bikini Bottom
Question of the Day: Would you eat a Frozen Krabby Patty if it didn’t have filler?
Tomorrow’s episode is one I remember not being particularly nutmarish. Until then,
congratulations on 200 episodes, SpongeBob!
:sbthumbs:
