EmployeeAMillion
Season 12 Time!
Moving Bubble Bass (Season 11, Episode 14b)
Original Airdate: March 16 2018
Episode 438 in standard order, Episode 436 in airing order
Plot: Bubble Bass gets SpongeBob and Patrick to help him move out of his mother’s basement
Written by Mr Lawrence
Bubble Bass is one of the most interesting elements of the modern seasons. They took a character that had been mostly absent for years, then brought him back as if he were part of the regular cast. We didn’t see this happen with the bomb-selling pirate, Clamuu or even Squilliam (yet), and that’s because they’ve gotten a ton of mileage out of Bubble Bass. He fits the sorts of things the new crew loves to write about- fat people, geek culture, strange Krustomers, etc., so it only made sense that he’d eventually have his own starring/supporting episode, the first since Pickles. This is the ultimate test of whether he fits the world of Bikini Bottom- can he carry an episode? Turn that tense game show music on.
Speaking of the mind-numbing side of TV, we open on Bubble Bass fantasizing about being a talk show host, interviewing a Krabby Patty man. It clearly demonstrates his ego and gluttony before we even see him awake, so they’re doing something right. He snaps out of it when his Mom tells him to get out of his basement and do a bunch of chores, something we can all relate to.
...Guys?
In all seriousness, Bubble Bass’ Mom really got on my nerves, but at least he makes the decision to move out of the house and live with his grandmother. I shouldn’t be too surprised with the writers giving him a home, lifestyle and motivation to start the plot, but I’m fascinated by this being the debut of these elements for Bubble Bass.
He know has to get some able-bodied idiots to do his dirty work, so conveniently SpongeBob and Patrick enter the frame, goofing around with a wheelbarrow no less. Bass manipulates them into packing his stuff and taking it across town, by first offering them free lunches, then pretending to break his back. Since his first appearance, Bass has always been the deceitful type, so it’s not like they’re already making him out-of-character. He suffers a bit of punishment anyway as SpongeBob and Patrick continue to pack, but break all his stuff to fit it in the boxes. I’ll admit, a bit of the geek inside me died at the sight of them melting action figures and chewing comic books, but it’s not like they’re gonna be let off the hook either, particuarly not by the narrative.
The able-bodied idiots get into a lot of trouble with their 20 foot bag of goods on the street. They accidentally trample the fancy woman from Krusty Katering, and are always blocked by babies, among other inconveniences. This is the part of the episode that I like the least, but it still has some entertaining and memorable moments, like the street somehow turning upwards 90 degrees, making the wheelbarrow move further out of control. There are also some reminders as to why SpongeBob and Patrick are putting themselves through this, with Patrick occasionally thinking about Bubble Bass and the free lunches he’s got. Too bad he and SpongeBob have to deal with the bag rolling up everyone around it like a katamari before that.
After being kicked UP a hill (that’s not how hill works) by the babies, they find an old-fashioned house, then destroy it by shoving the entire bag in at once. This causes the owner of that house (not Bubble Bass or a relative of any kind) to get so mad that he explodes. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. SpongeBob and Patrick don’t seem to be as they cross an unstable bridge, with the bag, with the lady and babies still chasing them. They manage to get there with some more bouncing, but Bubble Bass, not even caring to check if they’ve damaged anything, reveals he ate their lunches and bleches in their faces. If he hadn’t crossed a line already, now he has, and his “able-bodied idiots” aren’t gonna take it anymore.
Patrick throws a fit at him, SpongeBob delivers a great big speech about how mean he was to them, and his mother, who was packed, chases him around town as punishment for getting her dragged across town. It’s a happier ending than it seems, with SpongeBob and Patrick standing up for themselves, and Bubble Bass getting his just desserts for being a massive jerk to them. The storytelling and karma distribution here is more Ed Edd ‘n Eddy-inspired, but I don’t mind that show so it’s all good. (I mean I don’t love it, I just think it worked in its own way.)
The comedy wasn’t as funny as most episodes this season, but it still has some laugh-worthy moments. The one that got to me the most was Patrick’s face getting a realistic close-up when he’s yelling at Bubble Bass, which makes for an absurd climax to the episode’s comedy. I also like the jokes they make with Bass’ talk shot at the start, with him talking to a Krabby Patty man and them taking shots at Mr Krabs. There are a number that I didn’t laugh at however, like much of the stuff with Mother Bass, and SpongeBob and Patrick constantly running over the fancy lady, but it’s balanced out by the guy whose house is destroyed, and his explosion. We’re in the green, ladies and gentlemen.
They’ve still got some things they can do with the animation 2 decades on, and I’m so happy about that. When SpongeBob looks down from the bridge, the show’s famous flower clouds are used to give depth. It’s a remarkable visual flair, and I’m happy to have seen it. There’s also the way the street turns up 90 degrees like something from Inception. Granted this episode isn’t anywhere near as epic as that movie, but it’s got some neat faces. Bubble Bass’ Grinch-like faces are creepy, but really funny, and my praise for the character animation extends into my favourite visual gag. Patrick and SpongeBob get get stuck in the top and bottom of the bag respectively, and SpongeBob keeps on trucking on, making Patrick look insanely fat.
The characters are honestly pretty thin here, but I guess that’s to make it so it’s not as painful to see them get punished. SpongeBob and Patrick are prretty destructive, and that’s all there is to them for the first 10 minutes, but I can get behind that. The recuperation of their dignity at the end when they leave Bubble Bass is a satisfying enough close to their story. Bubble Bass is finally another main character again, and he’s just as bratty and manipulative as when we left him. I’m unfortunately a few years away from relating to him, but still see him as a scumbag, albeit a “love to hate” kind of scumbag. Lady Harrington from Krusty Katering returns as an obstacle for SpongeBob and Patrick, and she’s alright, with her ego getting her into enough trouble. A character I don’t like is Mother Bass, but only because they give me darn good reasons for why her son wants to move out asap. This is a colourful cast that’s beaten and bruised just enough.
Moving Bubble Bass (or Move Your Bubble Bass, as it was originally called) wasn’t much better than I was expecting, but it’s an adequate episode anyway. It has enough good dialogue to feel like a moving story, and enough tasteful visual gags to keep the kids happy. The characters can drain on you however, so if you’re easily sickened by them being zany, this may not be your cup of tea. I personally went into this one curious with how they would portray Bubble Bass, and wondering if they’d make him more sympathetic, due to the higher amount of focus. They kept him just as mean as ever, and I couldn’t have him any other way.
Final Verdict: Good 7/10 (solid but not top notch)
Mermaid Pants < Moving Bubble Bass < Tutor Sauce
Question of the Day: How similar would you say you are to Bubble Bass?
Prepare to get pretty high tomorrow, and not in that way. Until then, man, early 2000s games were wierd.
:sbthumbs:
Original Airdate: March 16 2018
Episode 438 in standard order, Episode 436 in airing order
Plot: Bubble Bass gets SpongeBob and Patrick to help him move out of his mother’s basement
Written by Mr Lawrence
Bubble Bass is one of the most interesting elements of the modern seasons. They took a character that had been mostly absent for years, then brought him back as if he were part of the regular cast. We didn’t see this happen with the bomb-selling pirate, Clamuu or even Squilliam (yet), and that’s because they’ve gotten a ton of mileage out of Bubble Bass. He fits the sorts of things the new crew loves to write about- fat people, geek culture, strange Krustomers, etc., so it only made sense that he’d eventually have his own starring/supporting episode, the first since Pickles. This is the ultimate test of whether he fits the world of Bikini Bottom- can he carry an episode? Turn that tense game show music on.
Speaking of the mind-numbing side of TV, we open on Bubble Bass fantasizing about being a talk show host, interviewing a Krabby Patty man. It clearly demonstrates his ego and gluttony before we even see him awake, so they’re doing something right. He snaps out of it when his Mom tells him to get out of his basement and do a bunch of chores, something we can all relate to.
...Guys?
In all seriousness, Bubble Bass’ Mom really got on my nerves, but at least he makes the decision to move out of the house and live with his grandmother. I shouldn’t be too surprised with the writers giving him a home, lifestyle and motivation to start the plot, but I’m fascinated by this being the debut of these elements for Bubble Bass.
He know has to get some able-bodied idiots to do his dirty work, so conveniently SpongeBob and Patrick enter the frame, goofing around with a wheelbarrow no less. Bass manipulates them into packing his stuff and taking it across town, by first offering them free lunches, then pretending to break his back. Since his first appearance, Bass has always been the deceitful type, so it’s not like they’re already making him out-of-character. He suffers a bit of punishment anyway as SpongeBob and Patrick continue to pack, but break all his stuff to fit it in the boxes. I’ll admit, a bit of the geek inside me died at the sight of them melting action figures and chewing comic books, but it’s not like they’re gonna be let off the hook either, particuarly not by the narrative.
The able-bodied idiots get into a lot of trouble with their 20 foot bag of goods on the street. They accidentally trample the fancy woman from Krusty Katering, and are always blocked by babies, among other inconveniences. This is the part of the episode that I like the least, but it still has some entertaining and memorable moments, like the street somehow turning upwards 90 degrees, making the wheelbarrow move further out of control. There are also some reminders as to why SpongeBob and Patrick are putting themselves through this, with Patrick occasionally thinking about Bubble Bass and the free lunches he’s got. Too bad he and SpongeBob have to deal with the bag rolling up everyone around it like a katamari before that.
After being kicked UP a hill (that’s not how hill works) by the babies, they find an old-fashioned house, then destroy it by shoving the entire bag in at once. This causes the owner of that house (not Bubble Bass or a relative of any kind) to get so mad that he explodes. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. SpongeBob and Patrick don’t seem to be as they cross an unstable bridge, with the bag, with the lady and babies still chasing them. They manage to get there with some more bouncing, but Bubble Bass, not even caring to check if they’ve damaged anything, reveals he ate their lunches and bleches in their faces. If he hadn’t crossed a line already, now he has, and his “able-bodied idiots” aren’t gonna take it anymore.
Patrick throws a fit at him, SpongeBob delivers a great big speech about how mean he was to them, and his mother, who was packed, chases him around town as punishment for getting her dragged across town. It’s a happier ending than it seems, with SpongeBob and Patrick standing up for themselves, and Bubble Bass getting his just desserts for being a massive jerk to them. The storytelling and karma distribution here is more Ed Edd ‘n Eddy-inspired, but I don’t mind that show so it’s all good. (I mean I don’t love it, I just think it worked in its own way.)
The comedy wasn’t as funny as most episodes this season, but it still has some laugh-worthy moments. The one that got to me the most was Patrick’s face getting a realistic close-up when he’s yelling at Bubble Bass, which makes for an absurd climax to the episode’s comedy. I also like the jokes they make with Bass’ talk shot at the start, with him talking to a Krabby Patty man and them taking shots at Mr Krabs. There are a number that I didn’t laugh at however, like much of the stuff with Mother Bass, and SpongeBob and Patrick constantly running over the fancy lady, but it’s balanced out by the guy whose house is destroyed, and his explosion. We’re in the green, ladies and gentlemen.
They’ve still got some things they can do with the animation 2 decades on, and I’m so happy about that. When SpongeBob looks down from the bridge, the show’s famous flower clouds are used to give depth. It’s a remarkable visual flair, and I’m happy to have seen it. There’s also the way the street turns up 90 degrees like something from Inception. Granted this episode isn’t anywhere near as epic as that movie, but it’s got some neat faces. Bubble Bass’ Grinch-like faces are creepy, but really funny, and my praise for the character animation extends into my favourite visual gag. Patrick and SpongeBob get get stuck in the top and bottom of the bag respectively, and SpongeBob keeps on trucking on, making Patrick look insanely fat.
The characters are honestly pretty thin here, but I guess that’s to make it so it’s not as painful to see them get punished. SpongeBob and Patrick are prretty destructive, and that’s all there is to them for the first 10 minutes, but I can get behind that. The recuperation of their dignity at the end when they leave Bubble Bass is a satisfying enough close to their story. Bubble Bass is finally another main character again, and he’s just as bratty and manipulative as when we left him. I’m unfortunately a few years away from relating to him, but still see him as a scumbag, albeit a “love to hate” kind of scumbag. Lady Harrington from Krusty Katering returns as an obstacle for SpongeBob and Patrick, and she’s alright, with her ego getting her into enough trouble. A character I don’t like is Mother Bass, but only because they give me darn good reasons for why her son wants to move out asap. This is a colourful cast that’s beaten and bruised just enough.
Moving Bubble Bass (or Move Your Bubble Bass, as it was originally called) wasn’t much better than I was expecting, but it’s an adequate episode anyway. It has enough good dialogue to feel like a moving story, and enough tasteful visual gags to keep the kids happy. The characters can drain on you however, so if you’re easily sickened by them being zany, this may not be your cup of tea. I personally went into this one curious with how they would portray Bubble Bass, and wondering if they’d make him more sympathetic, due to the higher amount of focus. They kept him just as mean as ever, and I couldn’t have him any other way.
Final Verdict: Good 7/10 (solid but not top notch)
Mermaid Pants < Moving Bubble Bass < Tutor Sauce
Question of the Day: How similar would you say you are to Bubble Bass?
Prepare to get pretty high tomorrow, and not in that way. Until then, man, early 2000s games were wierd.
:sbthumbs: