McSponge's Top 10 Worst/Best Season 9 SpongeBob Episodes

McSponge

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Happy Presidents Day everybody! Speaking of Presidents, did you know SpongeBob's Ninth Season lasted longer than Barack Obama's second term in office? That's right! This Season premiered in July 2012, a few months before Obama was reelected for a second term, and aired it's final episode in February 2017, a month into the Trump administration.

In honor of it being a three-day weekend and a holiday, I'm going to celebrate by posting two lists, instead of just one. I already posted my thoughts and opinions on Season 8 back on Friday, and since it took a while between the posting of my Top/Bottom 10 lists for Season 7 and the lists for Season 8, I decided to torture treat you guys with another list. Prepare yourselves, as these lists are going to be quite interesting. These are my picks for the Top 10 Worst/Best Season 9 SpongeBob Episodes. Originally written from September 13th-September 19th, 2017.
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f you aren't aware, SpongeBob's Ninth Season is my personal favorite Season in the entire series, containing a small amount of episodes I hate, and tons of episodes I love, even more so than Season 3. Overall, SpongeBob's Ninth Season is a big improvement over it's Eighth Season, whether it's episodes from the first half, or the second half. Still, every Season has it's bad episodes, even the classics have their share of bad ones. Today, I shall be counting down my picks for the Top 10 Worst Season 9 SpongeBob Episodes. As usual, this'll be based off my personal opinion of an episode, as well as how I judge the quality of the episode. Let's get started.

10. It Came From Goo Lagoon
Original Airdate: 2-17-2014
Plot: A mysterious substance deep within Goo Lagoon goes under Plankton's control, in order to be a threat against all of Bikini Bottom, demanding he be given the secret formula to the Krabby Patty. Or else...
Main Characters: SpongeBob, Sandy, Plankton, Patrick
Fun Fact: This is the last special to premiere until 2017.

Surprisingly enough, I hate this special. This is one of the lamest specials within the series, it feels so deprived of creativity. Sure, the concept of mysterious goo within Goo Lagoon sounds like a neat concept, but instead of actually creating some sort of grand adventure, similar to Whelk Attack, The Krabby Patty that Ate Bikini Bottom, and Planet of the Jellyfish, we get an episode centered around...Plankton. This special just feels so forced, as if there's no real reason for it to exist, other than to earn Nick some extra money promoting it, along with the "Goo Challenge" (Yeah, does anyone remember that?). The concept as I mentioned before has plenty of potential, but alas, the writers didn't have any real idea as to what they intended to do with that concept alone, and decided to shoehorn Plankton in. I mean, if this was an episode focusing on SpongeBob & Sandy exploring the deep, treacherous bottom of Goo Lagoon, trying to uncover the mystery of these Goo balls, that would make for a pretty entertaining episode. There's be plenty of great visuals, possibility for self-awareness humor involving them swimming in a Lagoon in the ocean, etc.

Instead, we get one of the most watered down Plankton episodes out there, resulting in a forgettable mess of mediocrity. The "humor" in this episode mostly relies on visual gags. Are they creative? No...

Are they at least provide some form of clever humor? No...

Is the animation good? No...

The humor relies mostly on the characters interacting with the Goo Blobs, and a lot of the jokes really fall flat. I don't think I can think of a joke that's actually funny within this episode. SpongeBob & Patrick finding a way to annoy Squidward with the Goo Balls feels stale, and unoriginal, so far as to make their form of annoying Squidward in That Sinking Feeling appear like a genius form of humor.

The idiotic "SpongeBlob" pun is one of the worst running gags I've seen in this series (Not as awful as the one in Keep Bikini Bottom Beautiful, though), and most of the other gags in this episode are super forgettable. There's not even that much of a climax. Plankton simply pops the Goo Bubble, resulting everyone in a mess, Krabs gets to keep the formula, it's pretty much the laziest, anti-climactic plot point I've seen in a SpongeBob special. Even worse than the climax of Truth Or Square.

A lot of people tend to overlook this one, particularly to criticize Little Yellow Book, SpongeBob You're Fired, etc.

But I personally find this to be one of the most boring episodes in the entire Season, with no real ounce of originality, characters that hardly seem alive, gags that aren't funny, it's a really weak episode, one of my personal least favorite specials in the series.

9. Bumper to Bumper
Original Airdate: 11-17-2012
Plot: Mrs. Puff decides to teach SpongeBob out in empty territory, where he'd likely not be as stressed out on a regular road.
Main Characters: SpongeBob, Mrs. Puff
Fun Fact: This is the only starring role of Mrs. Puff in Season 9.

Meh, this is one of the most unmemorable episodes in the series. While not as bad as It Came From Bikini Bottom, this episode some how manages to be less memorable than that abomination. The premise of this episode just doesn't feel like a completely original idea. It's basic premise feels as if the writers didn't have any new ideas for a Boating School episode, so they decided to bring it into a different environment, having Puff and SpongeBob interact with it. The premise is harmless, it's not executed in a way that essentially makes it feel unoriginal, it just feels only half-baked, you know? As if the writing team gave up once they got across their basic premise. No extra layers, just a Boating School episode taking place in the middle of nowhere. And it doesn't stand out. It blends in with a lot of other Boating School episodes, goodness, those can't even be blended in with this episode, because they usually had at least 1 original element that made the episode stand apart from other episodes of the same genre. This is the most basic episode you can get with making a Boating School episode. The characters in this episode are fine, and there's not that much that seems harmless in the episode...until we reach that stupid ending. Of course, Mrs. Puff has to be arrested. Why? It's pretty much treated like a routine now. There was no reason for Puff to be arrested, or at least in the style she was arrested. This episode contains a story that couldn't really be picked up, nor could it be really ended. The writers went the lazy route by incorporating the "arrest Puff" trope that has been done to death in this series. Oh yeah, the humor in this episode is super forgettable. I can't remember a single joke in this episode. I know some exist that I like, since I usually get good vibes thinking about this episode, but this contains some of the most forgettable sequences in the series. Overall, not that harmless of an episode, but still a pretty weak one.

8. Squid Defense
Original Airdate: 1-1-2013
Plot: After feeling threatened, Squidward goes to Sandy and SpongeBob to help him become skilled in Karate.
Main Characters: Squidward, Sandy, SpongeBob
Fun Fact: This is the third time Squidward has been in Sandy's Treedome (The previous two times being in Squidtastic Voyage, and A Flea in Her Dome).

Eh, this isn't too bad of an episode, but still contains a pretty weak ending. Squid Defense has an actually interesting premise, and you're intrigued by it, wanting to see the results of Squidward's journey to become a Karate expert. So far, we've had really uninspired plots on this list. This is the first episode on the list that actually has a pretty good plot. In fact, there are actually some funny jokes in this episode, particularly when Squidward is training to become the Karate expert. The setup of the conflict is brilliantly well done, the atmosphere, and mood of Squidward' surroundings perfectly fit the situation, and I think the training scenes are actually pretty decent. Of course, until Squidward becomes full of himself, and becomes mad with power. Then, the episode takes a turn for the worst. No one likes an arrogant character. Correction, no one likes an unfunny arrogant character. This show has perfectly created a likable, and funny arrogant character, being none other than Squilliam Fancyson. Of course, in this case I'm referring to Squidward as being handled wrong in terms of his arrogance. He can be full of himself in a way that plays off (Such as his appearances in Not Normal, Squid Plus One, etc.). However, this episode poorly handles his character, utterly shifting from being perfectly in-character, to being completely out-of-character. Why does this happen? I seriously don't know. Maybe the writers wanted to teach a lesson about self-defense? Who knows. But what I do know is that Squidward's attitude towards the end of the episode completely changes the direction of the episode, turning Squidward into the villain, after a big misunderstanding. If you ask me, if the writers wanted to enforce a moral at the end of the episode, this is how they should've done it.

Instead of having Squidward attack the guy who he misunderstood, have the guy return his groceries right before Squidward is about to attack. Before then, you can build up how confident Squid is to "teach this guy a lesson", maybe include some funny visual scenes of him preparing to fight. But, when he's about to fight, the guy hands Squidward his groceries. Squidward asks the guy if he was going to attack him, but the guy informs him that he wasn't, and apologizes for giving off the wrong impression, allowing Squidward to learn his lesson that he shouldn't skip to conclusions, and that there's always some good in people. Then, he also learns to only use violence for self-defense (Thus, incorporating that lesson into the episode as well). We cut to later that week, where we see SpongeBob & Squidward leaving the Krusty Krab, only to be mugged. They look at each other grinning, and jump into a sequence of defending themselves via Karate, allowing for an exciting ending.

See, this is how the episode should've ended. But instead, we get Squidward beating up the guy senseless, followed by him being beat up as they payoff for his actions. It is a really lousy ending, which is a shame, because this could've been one of the better episodes of this Season. Overall, this episode does have some good parts, but definitely is executed in one of the worst ways possible.

7. The Fish Bowl
Original Airdate: 5-2-2016
Plot: Sandy decides to study the traits of her friends when putting one in power of the other.
Main Characters: Sandy, Patrick, SpongeBob, Squidward
Fun Fact: This is the first episode of the second half of Season 9 to gain tons of backlash among fans.

I get what this episode was trying to do. In fact, the plot actually sounds like a really good psychological experiment, which would be pretty need to delve into. Alas, some of the characters in this episode are way too over-the-top when it comes to their behavior. Instead of having a balanced, realistic form of behavior, we get the most unlikable performance from Patrick in the entire series, intentionally, and a super wound up Squidward. Now, I am going to say this, I'm not against wound up Squidward, in fact I find him funny in this episode. Unfortunately, he's the "comic relief", and that results in his joke being pushed into the ground way too much. Patrick's jerky behavior is done intentionally, and Patrick does apologize at the end, realizing what a big jerk he was (Something that was absent from Yours, Mine, and Mine), but unfortunately, the writer of this episode really pumped his behavior, not having a fair balance with his cocky attitude, and his traditional Patrick-like behavior. Instead, we get the worst we've ever seen from Patrick's character. I'm at least happy he feels bad for what he did, but that doesn't excuse the fact that a majority of this episode's humor relies on Patrick's nasty behavior. The episode's premise is quite complex, one that could actually work well, but unfortunately, stretching it out into an 11 minute episode just doesn't work. If it was a 4 minute, even 7 minute episode, this could've been an actually decent episode. Instead, the scenes of SpongeBob & Patrick's interaction is dragged out, and it becomes really irritated. I will give the writer of this episode credit for having SpongeBob stand up for himself (Something SpongeBob DEFINITELY would do if he was driven over the edge, especially by his best friend). This episode could've actually been a fine take on human nature, but unfortunately, we're exposed to plenty of jokes that miss their mark, as well as super unlikable performances from Patrick. It could've been a fine episode, it just went too far.

6. Mutiny on the Krusty
Original Airdate: 10-8-2016
Plot: Sucked into a drift, the Krusty Krab is in chaos. Krabs steps in as a cold, ruthless leader of the people aboard the restaurant, but slowly and surely, people begin an uprising against the Krab.
Main Characters: SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, Customers
Fun Fact: The animation of the fish bouncing around in the Krusty Krab is used twice in this episode, and it's painfully obvious.

Oh no...

Mutiny on the Krusty is a metaphor for how a seemingly heartless captain controls his ship. And unfortunately, this causes some pretty big problems for the episode. The plot is actually quite creative. I like the concept of the Krusty Krab sucked into a drift, and I think the idea of it being used parallel to that of a pirate ship is a pretty genius idea. Unfortunately, the writers stretch Krabs' "Captain" stereotype way too far in this episode. He's just an exaggerated form of a ruthless leader, he is really one-dimensional in this episode. I would've actually liked to see the soft side to this ruthless version of Krabs, talking to SpongeBob. That way, the little exchange of dialogue between the two at the end of the episode would've felt more legitimate than it actually does. It comes off as an ending that wouldn't realistically happen after all the crew has been through. Krabs has shown no signs of mercy in this episode, even for SpongeBob, so showing the "sweet" little exchange of dialogue between the two at the end of the episode essentially doesn't feel as if it'd actually happen. Krabs wouldn't say those things to SpongeBob, it just doesn't follow the type of character he's been throughout the entire episode. As for jokes? Well...there aren't too many. At least, not many that're actually funny. Most of the episode is a lot of screaming, yelling, and suspense, so there's not that many jokes in this episode. What about the rest of the characters? Well...

The customers come off as really weak, flexible characters. For the longest time, they hate Krabs, but once Squidward is eaten, they immediately beg for Krabs' mercy. Their viewpoint on the situation is quickly altered with no restraint! They feel like pawns used to keep the story running around, they don't feel that necessary, not really swaying character's interactions. What about Squidward? He tries to be a good leader, but once he ultimately fails due to lack of experience, everyone turns their back on him with no remorse. I guess that does fit the pirate way of this episode, but it simply doesn't provide a fair reason for Krabs to return as the main character. The episode does have some pretty good action moments, but for the most part, this is a very flawed episode, with plenty of characters failing to keep the conflict well developed.

5. Yeti Krabs
Original Airdate: 3-29-2015
Plot: In order to keep SpongeBob & Squidward busy, Mr. Krabs makes up the tale of the "Yeti Krab", in a way to warn SpongeBob and Squidward that if they don't work, the Yeti Krab will attack them. But, what happens when the Yeti Krab turns out to actually be real?
Main Characters: SpongeBob, Squidward, the Yeti Krab, Mr. Krabs
Fun Fact: This episode aired exactly one year after it's partner episode, Kenny the Cat aired.

Just...what is this episode? This has got to be one of the silliest premises I've ever witnessed. In a way, it kind of feels like Gullible Pants, Face Freeze! & The Monster Who Came to Bikini Bottom had a baby to create this. How do I describe Yeti Krabs? Well, first off the plot is laughably bad. No seriously, it's a so-bad-it's-good premise. Just the sheer absurdity of this plot, the fact that writers came up with such a ridiculous idea for an excuse of an episode, likely because they were out of ideas to create episodes alone makes this a ridiculous episode. How do I put this into words? I can't take this episode seriously. You can't wince when Squidward pokes fun at the Yeti Krab, or when the Yeti Krab attacks him, because it's such an insanely absurd episode. The episode is extremely forgettable first off (Likely thanks to Nick not airing it until a year after it's partner episode aired), and the humor isn't even that good. It's a pretty bland, predictable episode if you ask me. You can't take this episode seriously, because of the way the plot is executed. It's not even done in a serious manner, it's done in an unoriginal, predictable format. I don't even think our main characters leave the Krusty Krab. The entire episode takes place here. Yeti Krabs is truly a marvel for all the wrong reasons.

4. Company Picnic
Original Airdate: 9-25-2015
Plot: After holding a cheap Company Picnic, Plankton persuades Krabs into giving him the formula, by giving him the picnic of a lifetime.
Main Characters: SpongeBob, Plankton, Mr. Krabs
Fun Fact: The episode began production around 2013, but was put on hold due to production on Sponge Out of Water. After production of Sponge Out of Water finished, this episode was picked up by the newer staff.

Oh good grief. Such a flawed episode in many, many ways. Just how do I even point out how stupidly idiotic Krabs becomes in this episode? He goes completely out of character, ditching the one possession his life has centered around, in exchange for a free, fun picnic? That's absurd even for Krabs. No matter what the price is, no matter how free, Krabs would never give up the formula to Plankton. It's completely absurd! There's no way I'm wasting my time going super in-depth over what's wrong with such a plot hole, that's large enough to fill the Grand Canyon. The writer of this episode literally broke the main premise of the Krabs/Plankton formula...Krabs doesn't give Plankton the formula. Hence, why he tries to steal it. It's completely redundant from this character's main outlook on life for over 15 years! He wasn't even offered physical money, just a chance to attend Plankton's company picnic.

Also, the humor in this episode is very pathetic. There are some funny gags, like the face painting gags, as well as SpongeBob's pickle family, but for the most part the jokes in this episode really fail to entertain me. The main concept of the episode too seems pretty flawed as well. Why would Plankton compete with the Krusty Krabs' company picnic? Hello! He spent an entire episode trying to steal the formula while the Krusty Krab was empty...twice! (Frozen Face Off, and Bucket Sweet Bucket). Overall, Company Picnic really botches the Plankton/Krabs concept, and essentially fails at trying to be funny, as well.

3. SpongeBob You're Fired
Original Airdate: 11-11-2013
Plot: SpongeBob is fired from the Krusty Krab for budget cuts, so now he has to figure out what to do with his life.
Main Characters: SpongeBob, Restaurant Owners
Fun Fact: This is the only SpongeBob special to garner plenty of controversy aside from critical backlash.

Oh man. Do I have to talk about this one? *Sigh* Oh, okay. Well friends, it comes to no surprise that this one is in the Top 3 for this list. SpongeBob You're Fired is the ultimate example of when writers are forced to write a special against their will. At least they tried in Atlantis SquarePantis, and seemed like they had fun working on it. At least they developed some funny/creative sequences in Truth or Square. This is the most unoriginal episode in the entire series. First off, how do I even describe how foolish the motivations for Krabs is in this episode? This could've been avoided if he fired Squidward. Goodness, I'd WANT to see a special where he fires Squidward. Why do the writers pull this crap? They always have a moment where SpongeBob is let go, yet whenever they do, Squidward remains an employee. Why? Krabs has obviously learned his lesson from past atrocious experiences (Like in Pickles), so how come he pulls off such an idiotic move from a business standpoint? SpongeBob is in it for the love of working, Squidward does it for earning money. FIRE THE SQUID! This type of plot has been done before as well! Bummer Vacation, Model Sponge, even Le Big Switch did this to an extent. Why do this type of plot with such awful motivations! There's no care put into the setup for the conflict, it's just a shameless "What if..." scenario that has no respect for past episodes similar to this one. The humor in this episode...there is no humor. People became offended by the "Unemployed" scene, but personally I find it harmless. Goodness, it's one of the stronger parts of the episode. Still completely out of character for Sandy, well done.

The rest of the episode is essentially Le Big Switch mashed with Whatever Happened to SpongeBob?. SpongeBob being fought over isn't new, him messing up with cooking, only to have it actually succeed isn't knew, the whole montage of jobs isn't new. It's a pathetically lazy sequence. The one saving grace...THE ONE SAVING GRACE of this episode is Squidward. I loved how he saved SpongeBob at the end of the episode, and his motivations for his actions are justified. Still, it's followed by an incredibly stupid reason for Krabs to fire him. Overall, a nasty mess of writing without any care put into it.

2. Little Yellow Book
Original Airdate: 3-2-2013
Plot: Squidward gets a hold of SpongeBob's diary, and mocks him.
Main Characters: Squidward, SpongeBob, Bikini Bottomites
Fun Fact: This is the only Season 9 episode in which a massive meme was spun off of it.

I tried, I really tried to avoid having this so high on the list, as that's generally the case for most Top __ Worst lists for Season 9, but unfortunately, I have to talk about this episode. I ranted about how selfish the Bikini Bottomites were in The Sponge Who Could Fly, way back in my Season 3 Top 10 Worst list. Now, I think they were poorly written even more so in this episode than that lousy special. This episode, I think would actually be fine if they weren't apart of it. The concept of Squidward getting ahold of SpongeBob's diary is actually a pretty interesting concept, and there are actually a handful of jokes I find to be really funny in this episode. Alas, the level of hypocrisy of the Bikini Bottomites is insanely high. You think their opinions/views were biased depending on their situation in Mutiny on the Krusty? Oh man, they look like someone who voted for Trump & Hillary at the same time compared to the citizens in this episode! They go from laughing, and ridiculing SpongeBob at the beginning of the episode, to suddenly being angry at Squidward for reading SpongeBob's diary! And no, they didn't just realize he was reading it the moment SpongeBob pointed out that it was his diary, in fact, Squidward himself pointed out that he was holding SpongeBob's diary before even mocking him, to a customer! They are gigantic hypocrites in this episode! I don't know if it's to make themselves look good, or because they're flat out idiots. They know darn well Squidward was reading SpongeBob's diary. They know that. That's not an opinion, that's a fact. And they switch their position on the situation faster than Bush did on taxes in '92 (Okay, enough with the politics). Oh yeah, and once SpongeBob decides to publish his diary it ends up (Which alone sounds like a funny concept, until it's automatically ruined by...) becoming a best seller! Just...how!? People apparently love this stuff, but they're took cowardly to admit it, and join in the party when it means they look bad! It is a disgusting trait, and is in control of Squidward's fate in the episode. The episode relies on what happens to Squidward, Squidward isn't in control, it's the people around him. That's what makes this one of the worst episodes in the series, because such a crucial detail within the episode is severely messed up. Oh yeah, Squidward reads SpongeBob's other diary right afterwards, and is ridiculed once again (Yet, apparently SpongeBob's diary was a best selling book? That's a load of garbage!).

Before I move onto the Number 1 pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Snail Mail- A pretty weak episode, with a generic plot, and hit/miss humor.

Kenny the Cat- Meh, this one just doesn't do it for me. Especially the abrupt ending.

Two Thumbs Down- Not as funny as the writer intended this to be. Also, the plot is lame.

Lame and Fortune- Yeah, I actually dislike this episode. Never really enjoyed it.

And finally, the Worst Episode of SpongeBob's Ninth Season is...















































































1. Squid Baby
Original Airdate: 9-3-2012
Plot: After hitting his head too many times, Squidward has the mind of an infant, and it's up to SpongeBob & Patrick to keep watch of him, and keep him from hitting his head too many times.
Main Characters: Squidward, SpongeBob, Patrick
Fun Fact: All the scenes at the Krusty Krab take place during a rainstorm. This is likely symbolic of SpongeBob and Patrick's mood towards parenting Squidward.

I can't stand this episode, sincerely, I can't stand it. Squid Baby is one of the worst episodes in the entire series, it is an absolutely horrendous episode, just who even has the brain cells to find this episode funny!? The plot is ludicrous, I don't even know anyone who would think a plot like this would be actually funny, and worst of all, this episode's sense of humor is absolutely terrible! There are tons of awful jokes in this episode, from gross-out gags, to the super annoying "head smashing" running gag, this episode's humor contains some of the worst forms of humor in the entire series! The plot is ridiculous (With the premise of SpongeBob & Patrick taking care of an infant already being done in Rock-A-Bivalve), thus causing it to rely heavily on jokes. And of course, the jokes in this episode are even worse than the concept alone! SpongeBob & Patrick's immaturity is cranked up to the max at the beginning of the episode. We've seen SpongeBob & Patrick flanderized before to better fit the episode's plot, but this episode takes it way too far. Never would SpongeBob and Patrick find joy out of playing with baby toys, no matter what Season or Era, this is completely out of character. Tons of pain-driven scenes, and no cartoony pain, I mean realistic pain, it is awful to watch. The constant gross-out humor, nonstop head gags, resulting in a super frustrating mess to watch unfold. Such an atrocity, such an awful, such a horrendous mess that I consider to be the worst episode of SpongeBob's Ninth Season.

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So there you have it. Overall, Season 9's bad episodes don't tend to be as bad as Season 8's bad episodes. There are still flawed episodes, but a lot of episodes still have at least some redeeming quality to it (Like Bumper to Bumper and Mutiny on the Krusty). As for the rest of Season 9, well. There's a lot of great episodes in this Season, 10 of these great episodes will be analyzed and reviewed next time, in my picks for the Top 10 Best Season 9 SpongeBob Episodes.
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It's time for a list I've been waiting to make for over 2 years now. It's time for a list I'm sure tons of fans have been waiting for years to make. It's time to share my picks for my favorite Season in SpongeBob, Season Nine. These are my picks for the Top 10 Best Season 9 SpongeBob Episodes (Based on my personal opinion, and the quality of the episode).

10. Pineapple Invasion
Original Airdate: 7-14-2016
Plot: Since Plankton is getting closer and closer to stealing the formula through each attempt, Krabs gives SpongeBob the formula to hide at his house. Plankton catches on, and tries to steal it. There's only one obstacle in the way, and that obstacle is Gary.
Main Characters: Plankton, Gary, SpongeBob
Fun Fact: Plankton screams "My Leg!" in this episode (A nod to the classic running gag in which Fred, a background character also voiced by Mr. Lawrence screams "My Leg!")

Ah, Pineapple Invasion. One of the funniest episodes in the entire Season. This episode is such a breath of fresh air, filled to the brim, with fast-paced humor. Non-stop, about every half a minute or so, I find a gag that's really funny. Sometimes it's a simple visual based gag, other times it's a more complex joke, with a funny set up, and hilarious payoff. The plot for this episode isn't that good to be honest, but the humor really keeps this a strong episode. The Mr. Stinky opening is one of the funniest jokes to kick of the episode in the entire series. Seriously, this is such a hilarious sequence, from the character's reaction to the skunk, Krabs using SpongeBob's arm to replace his nose in a cartoony fashion, the hilarious concept of this scheme alone, and the hilarious failed ending to the opening. This is how the entire episode works. When a joke comes off strong, it usually does so in layers, with multiple reasons as to why it's a funny joke. It relies on simplistic humor every now and again, but we usually get at least more than one reason why the joke works. The interaction between Plankton and Gary are directed very well. Plankton and Gary have only interacted with each other previously, in Shellback Shenanigans, so seeing this newly developed chemistry form between the two is an absolute delight. I just can't keep going on praising the pacing of this episode, because I'd just repeat myself. The humor works in part of this episode's pacing. It comes off as a pretty fast paced episode, when it needs to be. It isn't crazy all the time, it perfectly paces itself, when some moments are needed to be a little more crazy than usual, and the other moments don't need to rely on fast animation. The animation in this episode is awesome, they really push the boundaries with what you can get away with in a cartoon. The opening sequence alone can sum up what's in store for you in the rest of the episode. The climax of this episode is very well directed, and I love the plot twist ending, that tied back to a previous instance where Plankton is happy that he doesn't have a nose. It's a perfect form of foreshadowing, and doesn't come across as a lazy ending shoehorned into the episode. It's a great way for Plankton to get defeated. Rather than being caught, he is the cause of his own failure, which is a great change from the typical climax/ending of a Plankton episode. Overall, despite having a really simple plot, the episode manages to stay lively with brilliant direction.

9. Tutor Sauce
Original Airdate: 7-16-2015
Plot: Mr. Krabs teaches SpongeBob how to drive a boat.
Main Characters: SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs
Fun Fact: It's revealed Pearl never went to Boating School, and Krabs taught her, himself.

I don't think...I've ever laughed at an episode as much as I did this one. Tutor Sauce is an amazing episode, I love this episode. It's one of the funniest episodes in the series. While not as funny as Chocolate With Nuts or Wet Painters, it still holds up as an extremely funny episode. The episode is one of the simplest episodes you can get. And all the time in this episode is dedicated to these short little sequences of SpongeBob somehow finding a way to damage the Krusty Krab. And no, it's not done in a such a predictable way. The writer of this episode wrote out very clever sequences that differs from past episodes relying on running gags as a key source of comedy (I'm talking to you Someone's In the Kitchen With Sandy!). I'm not going to go out of my way explaining how funny these jokes are, they're just simply funny! There's a lot of funny jokes in this episode, and that really makes for a likable episode. Also, not all the jokes rely on SpongeBob's failing. This episode has an odd blend of surreal humor mixed in with it's main content. While on one hand the episode feels like a Looney Tunes cartoon, on the other end, you get this weird sensation that differs from any other episode in the series. The climax of this episode is hilarious random, and is executed in such a bizarre way. Still, great designs are used in this sequence that enhances how absurd the sequence appears. The ending is a little predictable, but c'mon. The rest of the episode completely separated itself from a regular SpongeBob episode, it's perfectly fine to have a little more "down-to-earth" ending. Also, I really like Krabs' character in this episode. The writer of this episode made him a much more compassionate character, caring about SpongeBob personally, and not from a greedy perspective. A nice change that makes Krabs feels a little more well-rounded. That's not to say he hasn't done good deeds without the want for money, he just hasn't done it in a while up until this point. It's a great dynamic between the more level-headed Krabs who tries to keep his cool with the spasmodic Sponge. It's also kind of funny to see Krabs' bill constantly go up after years of episodes where losing even a single dime could make him go crazy. It's a brilliantly done episode that really goes out of it's way to be sometime completely out of the ordinary for a SpongeBob episode.

8. Bulletin Board
Original Airdate: 10-1-2016
Plot: The Krusty Krab puts up a bulletin board for customers to write out their thoughts and opinions on the restaurant. However, after a negative comment shows up, customers begin to turn to a more negative outlook on the Krusty Krab. Mr. Krabs wants to obliterate the comment, but SpongeBob tries to keep it as a way to respect freedom of speech.
Main Characters: Patrick, SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs, Bubble Bass
Fun Fact: This is the first major appearance of Bubble Bass in over 17 years, since his debut in Pickles.

What a charming episode. I mean it, what a charming episode! Such a brilliant metaphor for social media, this episode's complexity takes things to a whole new level as we get a charming little episode about a bulletin board, shaped into a commentary on misunderstanding forms of writing. Anything written or typed, doesn't have a voice to it. For all you know, I could be typing this in a happy nature, or I could by typing this in a depressed nature. Words don't have a tone to them, unless they're delivered, so the whole miscommunication "plot twist" of this episode is completely warranted. You could mistake this for a lame plot twist, but honestly, it's a perfect conflict that indirectly teaches the viewer a lesson. That says, aside from the rich message put within a simple plot, does this episode deserve to be so high on the list? I would say so. Patrick is such a lovable character in this episode. Finally, we get a super friendly, innocent version of the sea star. Not the jerk we've seen in past episodes. Seriously, Patrick is such a likable character in this episode, I don't even feel frustrated by his commitment to posting mean comments about the Krusty Krab. His personality in this episode is so pleasant to see, that you kind of root for the guy, who was put in a situation he didn't want to be in, in the first place. The rest of the characters are pretty good too. Also, you gotta love that Bubble Bass is a prominent character in this episode. And it's not like he's shoe horned in just for fan service, oh no, he perfectly fits in this episode. His personality, being a stubborn, "know-it-all" critic perfectly fits him in as a tool to help the conflict move along. He serves a purpose, he's not there just for laughs, he's there because he's vital to the plot. This is the perfect environment to be in, too. It's not like he's there because "script says so", this is the type of situation I can genuinely believe that he'd get into. While there's not too many jokes I find that funny in this episode, Bulletin Board perfectly masters delivering a solid story, one that shows you there's both sides to everything, and not in cheesily forced fashion either.

7. Safe Deposit Krabs
Original Airdate: 5-25-2013
Plot: In an effort to not split up from his penny after depositing it, Krabs ends up locked in the new Bikini Bottom Mint Vault. It's up to SpongeBob & Patrick to save him, as he slowly goes insane within the money vault.
Main Characters: Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob, Patrick
Fun Fact: This is the first time SpongeBob and Patrick attempt to break into a bank (They've previously tried to rob one in Doing Time).

By far, one of the most creative episodes in the entire Season, Safe Deposit Krabs gives us a crazy scenario, and despite it's absurdity that sounds ludicrous, the episode is surprisingly executed very well. We get a completely original plot that's very entertaining to witness be carried out. The humor is a little more subtle in this episode (When it's not being pointed out in your face in a very obvious way, particularly Patrick's reaction to SpongeBob asking him if he could help him break into a bank). I think the highlight of the episode is just seeing Krabs slowly lose his sanity within the vault. It's such an entertaining sequence, with some good jokes here and there, and it also gives the episode a kind of suspenseful tone to it. Seriously, up until this point, the episode feels like a bland, predictable episode, but with the whole "losing air" plot device introduced, it totally gives the episode an entirely new rush of excitement. SpongeBob & Patrick's sequences breaking into the bank are pretty funny (Goodness, anything involving SpongeBob & Patrick breaking into something is funny), but I personally feel as though it's overshadowed by Krabs' sequences. Also, I gotta love seeing Krabs beat up the vacuum. Just the direction of the scene really pays off, somehow making the big climax even more exciting then it's intended to be. It's a quirky episode, and that gives it this creative charm that I can really admire. There was never a need for an episode like this, but the writers made it not because they had to, but because they simply wanted to, thinking it's a good idea. It keeps itself separated from past episodes focused on Krabs and money, by focusing on Krabs losing air (Which in itself doesn't make sense since they're underwater, but hey, swimming pools exist in this universe too, so it's not the only time logic was completely defied), allowing more outlandish sequences to occur, rather than feeling like a stale episode we've already seen before (Mr. Krabs Takes a Vacation). Overall, it's a one-of-a-kind episode.

6. Pull Up A Barrel
Original Airdate: 9-18-2015
Plot: Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob & Squidward a story from back when he was in the Navy.
Main Characters: Mr. Krabs, Esign, Captain Scarfish
Fun Fact: Vincent Waller has officially revealed that this episode is shown from SpongeBob's perspective, which is why the main characters represent characters from Krabs' navy days.

Ah, Pull Up A Barrel. One of the more endearing episodes of the Season. This is the first time we really get a look at what it was like back when Mr. Krabs was in the Navy. Sure, Shell of a Man touched on his Navy Buddies, and how he was "the toughest of the tough", but this is the first real in-depth look at what it was like for him in the Navy, and honestly, it's a nice episode. Nothing really too complicated about it, it's just a fun little look at a story from Krabs' Navy Days. Rather than introduce completely new characters, we are given the interpretation of what the events look like through SpongeBob's mind when listening to the story (While eating really stale crackers). And I must say, using the characters we're already familiar with to fill in the spots of completely new characters actually works pretty well. The interpretation of Captain Scarfish makes for a very memorable character, and a great antihero. It's also nice to see something we don't actually see in SpongeBob...character development. The non-caring, seemingly ruthless captain of the ship is later revealed to be secretly a coward, afraid to face his fears (Even his scar is fake!). It wasn't that shocking of a plot twist, but it was kind of a nice detail that sets up the climax. Sandy being the villain was great to witness, that was something I found really entertaining. While I didn't care for Esign too much, he made for a decent companion to Krabs. Overall, it tells a nice little tale about how Krabs went from a rebellious chef on a navy ship, to the hero of the ship. It's a shame that this episode had to wrap up so quickly, I feel as though this would make a great special if it was extended. Still, one of the best episodes of the Season. (Also, is it just me, or do you think the villain could possibly be Pearl's mom?)

5. CopyBob DittoPants
Original Airdate: 5-5-2016
Plot: Taking an extract of SpongeBob's DNA, Plankton tries to create a clone of SpongeBob to steal the formula.
Main Characters: Plankton, SpongeBob, Clones
Fun Fact: This is the second time Plankton has built up an army (The first time being in Plankton's Army).

One of the more unique "Plankton steals the formula" episode, this one tends to rely more on silliness, rather than the build-up to Plankton executing his plan. In fact, we literally jump right into the plan the moment the episode starts. One side note: I really love how the episode starts. Just the up-beat music, along with the cartoony movement of The Chum Bucket really establishes an exciting opening to get you hooked on the episode. And that's essentially what this episode seems to master, it has very well laid out sequences that keep the episode flowing, but are tons of fun to watch. The simplest scene, the clones of SpongeBob marching out of the Chum Bucket was animated, and paced in a such a goofy, and entertaining fashion. The writer of this episode definitely had a lot of fun writing this one, I can just feel it coming from the goofy nature of the episode. There are tons of funny jokes (Like the "Me 2" line, or even the small detail Plankton adds to know which one is his clone, and which one is the real SpongeBob some how manages to get me laughing). There's a wide assortment of humor spread out in the episode, that it never really feels tired. The running gag of Krabs cutting SpongeBob's pay is not overused, and is done in a highly comical way, and Squidward's little scenes are much better than him shrugging off the multiple Sponges. Overall, this episode turns one of the more basic concepts you could have with a Plankton plot, and turns it into one of the many highlights of the Season.

4. The Whole Tooth
Original Airdate: 12-3-2016
Plot: Patrick's last baby tooth becomes loose, yet he's afraid to have it taken out of him.
Main Characters: Plankton, SpongeBob
Fun Fact: Production wise, this is the last episode of Season 9.

I love this episode. I kid you not, this has grown on my as one of my favorite episodes in the series. The Whole Tooth is such a charming, and innocent episode, with lots of great humor, characters, and even a completely unexpected plot twist that actually manages to be funny. Again, one of the more generic episode concepts out there, yet the writer of this episode manages to expand it far beyond you'd expect. These predictable "afraid of the dentist" episodes are a type of episode I'd expect to see in a little kid's cartoon, yet this episode manages to be an episode enjoyable by all ages. Personifying Patrick's tooth was very creative, and made for some of the episode's funniest gags (Particularly that one gross-out gag at the Krusty Krab, that was hilarious!). Patrick is a likable protagonist, and can be easily relatable to kids who've been afraid of losing their teeth. Though I was never really afraid when I was a kid, it still was slightly overwhelming, as I'm sure it is to most kids out there. There are tons of funny jokes in this episode, that feel like they come out of nowhere. It's not the type of humor that's random for the sake of being random, somehow it's humor that connects to the plot, and actually fits in with the episode (Primarily the doctor's glasses gag). The plot twist was hilarious, one of the funniest plot twists I've ever seen. Who knew that a literal pun could be so funny? With the proper build-up, it can. Overall, The Whole Tooth is a great Season finale to a great season, and is definitely one of the best in the entire Season.

3. The Sewers of Bikini Bottom
Original Airdate: 11-11-2015
Plot: SpongeBob ends up flushing the Krusty Krab safe down the toilet, and it's up to Squidward and SpongeBob to get it back from the sewers. Meanwhile, the recently built Krusty Krab stadium deals with the dangers of flooding.
Main Characters: Squidward, SpongeBob, Charlton Hawkfish
Fun Fact: This is the second time SpongeBob has flushed himself down a drain (The first being the drain in Squidward's tub, in Squid's Day Off).

Just...how does one even come up with an episode like this? We've seen absurd episodes before (Like the previously listed Safe Deposit Krabs), but that feels like a Boating School episode compared to this one. This episode is completely out of the ordinary. And it's awesome, too! The writer of this episode simply didn't care, and just went all out with the crazy scenarios the characters get into, and it makes a seemingly forced plot evolve into a more interesting, suspenseful plot. The way Squidward sets up the conflict feels SUPER forced. Seriously, no one, not even Patrick would have the brains to propose such a ridiculous idea of flushing things down the toilet for fun. But, what happens as a result of the safe being flushed into the sewers is all worth. SpongeBob & Squidward have great chemistry in this episode, watching the two bounce off each other is really fun. SpongeBob's uplifting personality is one of the various highlights of this episode. He's such a cheery, jolly person, that he doesn't care that he's roaming through a sewer, and it's pretty funny to watch. We even get one of the shortest, catchiest songs in the series' run. Squidward, despite going crazy at moments (Which are pretty funny to witness), is in character for a good chunk of the episode, so his regular grouchy attitude, playing off of SpongeBob's positive outlook on the situation, in a SEWER of all places really makes for a very entertaining episode, because we know these two can work well together if written appropriately. Also, I really love the sideplot, I must say. The newly introduced character, Charlton is such an awesome character, he's so spirited, and it's great to see his responses to the massive situation he has on his hands. He's a very exciting, and memorable new character, that really helps these scenes at the stadium shine. Plus, they're not all pointless, as it does tie into the main safe plot. Also, this episode dodged a bullet by not shoehorning in Plankton into exploring the sewers, or by having Krabs be the cause of the budget cuts at the stadium. It's a brand new experience, giving the episode a breath of fresh air. One of the very best this Season has to offer.

2. Sandy's Nutmare
Original Airdate: 7-12-2016
Plot: After using her tree's nuts to create Nutty Butter, Patrick gives some samples to citizens in Bikini Bottom. It becomes such a success, they go to Sandy begging for more. Now, Sandy uses a scientific growth serum to speed up production of the tree's nuts, at the expense of the tree itself.
Main Characters: Sandy, Shaman, SpongeBob
Fun Fact: The Shaman's hat is a Jellyish (Okay, this one was difficult to find a Fun Fact).

Ever since I originally saw this episode, it has remained one of my favorite episodes of the Season. It does so many things right, I'm not sure where to even begin. First off, this episode has a perfect blend between Science Sandy, and natural Texas Sandy. How? I'll explain soon. For starters, it's great to see a Sandy plot branch out from a science related plot, a karate related plot, or a survival related plot. Though never really a focus at all in the series, this episode focuses on the tree within Sandy's Treedome itself. Past episodes focused on the air within the dome, but this is the first time we really get some time dedicated to the tree, and I can appreciate that. It's a pretty original plot. As for the conflict, I think it's set up, executed, and resolved in a such a perfect way. The conflict involves Sandy speeding up the production of nuts produced by her tree, via Science (This isn't until a few funny gags play out), and she uses it for the tree. Now, I'm against overused cliche episode concepts in cartoons. Preserving nature is one of those (With being afraid of the doctor/dentist being another), but this episode doesn't present the "Respecting Nature" lesson in an entirely forced way. In fact, it's done in one of the most creative ways possible. The Shaman character in this episode is fabulous, not doubt about it. He's such a delight to watch, I really love this character. From his distinct design, to his vibrant personality, he's just such a fun, and lovable character. The climax of the episode (The Moon/Sun/Star Sequence) is incredibly creative with it's unique art style, not to mention it's a very funny sequence as well. This episode shares a commonly used lesson within cartoons, but manages to present it in such a way that differs from most other cartoons. It's funny, it's very creative, it has a cast of likable characters, there's one episode in this season better than this one.

Before we move on to the Number 1 pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Eek, and Urchin!- A pretty funny episode, that takes full advantage of taking place underwater.

Jailbreak!- It's awesome to see Plankton's experience in jail, it's a type of episode we have never seen before in the series.

Mall Girl Pearl- The attention to detail in this episode is incredible, and the plot/lesson is pretty charming too (With funny moments included).

Don't Look Now- Always liked this episode. It's a funny episode, with a pretty entertaining climax.

And the Number 1 Best Episode of SpongeBob's Ninth Season is....





































































































1. Sharks vs. Pods
Original Airdate: 5-4-2016
Plot: SpongeBob ends up joining a biker gang of Sharks. However, when it's possible he may get involved with illegal activity, SpongeBob tries to leave the group...until Gary is in possible danger...now it's time to fight...
Main Characters: SpongeBob, The Sharks, The Pods (Squidward included)
Fun Fact: Plankton is the only main character absent from this episode.

Yes! Sharks vs. Pods is my favorite episode of my favorite Season of one of my favorite cartoons! Sharks vs. Pods is such an incredible episode in so many different ways, I can't tell you how much I love this episode. The plot is a parody of traditional "gang" movies, and it really does a good job poking fun at the cliches found within the whole "gang" genre. The Sharks are such an entertaining group of characters, I absolutely love them, from their designs, to their personalities. They really make for strong characters, as it's kind of difficult to tell if they're really bad guys, or good guys. They're decent enough, but it's implied they're actually a bad group. As it turns out this is wrong, and SpongeBob misinterpreted the entire scenario. Speaking of SpongeBob, he's a good protagonist. He doesn't seem too stupid to not notice these guys may be trouble, nor is he too innocent to understand what a "gang" does. In this episode, he's just...SpongeBob. And there's not really much to praise about his character, nor is there anything to criticize. He's perfectly in character. The best part about his character is when he sees that Gary, yes Gary, his own pet snail, could be in danger. This is the time when he mans up, and proceeds to train for the fight, in a visually funny way. The episode has tons of Easter Eggs, from the Hydro-Dynamic Spatula appearing in one of the pictures in one of SpongeBob's rooms, to the return of Reg from No Weenies Allowed. The episode is full of quirky little moments that make for a majority of the humor in this episode, and I must say, they're not bad. They're entertaining, and pretty funny jokes overall. The best part, THE BEST PART, by far is the dance off. If this scene didn't exist within the episode, I'm pretty sure this would be at #5 on the list, but no. The dance off is the highlight of the episode, the visuals in this sequence are outstanding. They're not the greatest animation I've seen in the series, but the absurd amounts of creativity poured into the variety of different dances (From the generic snapping dance from the Sharks, to...oh man...the surreal dances of the pods). The Pods' dances are hilarious, when I first saw it, I was in awe of how strange, yet hilarious this dance sequence is. The police and swat team mix of the dances as well, which I found to be pretty enjoyable, supplying the climax with a good variety of dances. The ending continues to spew out tropes found in the "gang" movies (From "We saved the Rec Center!" to the jumping freeze frame). I feel as if my reasoning and explanation as to why I love this episode doesn't feel really valid, nor as professional sounding as most of my other reviews on these lists, but I'll tell you, whether I can explain it or not, I love this episode. Tons of humor, tons of great moments and characters, a fantastic climax/ending, it is by far the best episode of SpongeBob's Ninth Season.



So there you have it everyone. I've been waiting to do this list since May 2015, and I'm really happy that I've finally got it finished. So...now what? I've been writing out these Top 10 lists all year, and I've finally got caught up to the current Season, that being Season 10. Well, once Season 10 is finished, around November I'll start working on it, and I'll be sharing my opinions on the Top 10 Worst Season 10 SpongeBob Episodes. After I do a Top 10 Worst/Best for that Season, I'll start working on the grand list, oh yes, that's right, my picks for the Top 10 Worst and Best Episodes from the first 10 Seasons. Why not the entire series? Season 11 isn't even over yet, and Season 12 is in production, so my plan is to a grand list for the first 10 Seasons only. After that, these will stop coming out frequently, and I'll only do the Top 10s once each Season ends. I'll do another grand list whenever the series ends (Which I hope is with Season 12, since that'd be the perfect time for it to end, wrapping up during the same year the third movie comes out, and during the 20th Anniversary).

That's all for now, but once Season 10 ends, be on the lookout for the Top 10 Worst Season 10 SpongeBob Episodes.





Are you mad that Plankton's Pet wasn't anywhere close to the Top 10?

__________________________________________________________________________________

So there you have it, my thoughts on my favorite and least favorite episodes of SpongeBob's Ninth Season. Any comments on my list? Any thoughts and feelings about my episode choices? Any confusion as to why Plankton's Pet was absent from my Top 10 Best list? Share them, I'd like to hear them.
 

Klu

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Pretty good list! I agree almost with everything, I almost got nostalgic about 9B when I was reading it. (You know, SpongeBob is one of my favorite, not only cartoons, SHOWS... Not even shows, THINGS ever, so such return to the form is like being a child again.)

Season 10 list will be intriguing, because season 10 and 11 the most divided seasons in the series, maybe on par with seasons 4 and 5.
 

McSponge

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Klu said:
Pretty good list! I agree almost with everything, I almost got nostalgic about 9B when I was reading it. (You know, SpongeBob is one of my favorite, not only cartoons, SHOWS... Not even shows, THINGS ever, so such return to the form is like being a child again.)

Season 10 list will be intriguing, because season 10 and 11 the most divided seasons in the series, maybe on par with seasons 4 and 5.
Indeed. Though honestly, I feel as though my Season 10 list is a little more predictable than my Season 9 list, as a lot choices are generally what you'd expect out of a Season 10 list (With some surprises every now and again). Season 11 is definitely the list I'm looking forward to doing to most once Season 11 is over, since that seems to be an even more divided season than Season 10.
 

Depressed Luigi

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This is my favorite list, probably the most agreeable and most well-written

Also, IDC that Plankton's Pet wasn't mention, I find it a little overrated :P There are episodes I like more that weren't mentioned
 

Honest Slug

Ink Lemonade hurts me.
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Season 9 is a mediocre season to me. On one hand 9a is completely terrible, but 9b is superb. So it balances out to being meh.
 
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