Disclaimer that I forgot yesterday: I'm also using Employee's grading system.
Episode 216a
Cave Dwelling Sponge
Air-date September 23 2017
Plot: When a cave sponge runs loose in Bikini Bottom, Spongebob has to help him before he causes more chaos.
Title Music: Spongebob History Song
Writer: Mr. Lawrence
Oh boy, I'm hyped to get started. I haven't seen this episode since September until a few days ago to get prepared for the review. This episode is definitely divisive, with some people saying that this episode was a leftover from season 10. This had me worried, since I wasn't a big fan of season 10s direction. Quick recap of my thoughts about season 10. The episodes were so hit or miss for me. You could have a poor episode, like Whirly Brains, paired with a fantastic gem, like Mermaid Pants. This kept the season interesting to watch, but I can't call the whole season a good experience. I know many people have said it, but I loved 9b a lot, despite quite a number of bad or boring episodes, and Sewers of Bikini Bottom made me find my love for the show again after a 5 year hiatus. Season 10 overall feels weaker than 9b. Common complaints include little dialogue humor, wacky expressions, and fast pace gone too far. My stance on these episodes is that it depends on how the episode uses it. Mimic Madness had all these characteristics, yet is loved by the fandom. Heck, most people say it's the best episode of Post-Sequel, which might seem like faint praise, but we are about 85 episodes in, so that is no easy feat. Mimic Madness managed to balance everything, creating a great product, which I wish most season 10 episodes followed, and it made me weary of watching this, but I was pleasantly surprised on re-watch.
Let's get started with this journey. The premise of the episode might seem a bit redundant. We already have 2 other prehistoric sponges, so won't a third one be overkill? Well believe it or not, this is actually the first time that Spongebob has interacted with a cave sponge, which sets a new dynamic for the characters reacting to this event. Now onto the actual episode.
The story starts off with Spongebob and Patrick hiking across some national park. They find a cave, and Patrick thinks that the ice is a treat, and licks the ice. Unfortunately, his tongue gets stuck onto the ice, and Patrick panics. However, Spongebob saves him by using hot chocolate (I actually really like this plot device. It seems really minor, but hot chocolate to melt ice seems like such a Spongebob thing, and the joke has a weird charm). Spongebob thaws Patrick, who throws a rock at his tongue to stop it from burning. However, a cave sponge pops out of the ice Spongebob melted, and it immideitly drawn to Spongebob's shoes, and decides to hide in Spongebob's backpack. How is this beginning? I can say that it is...alright. I love the hot chocolate joke, and the animation is smooth, but Patrick is kind of on the loud side, and I feel a few more jokes besides lol Patrick doesn't get life could have been added. However, the episode does pick up some momentum in the following scenes.
Spongebob takes Patrick home, and has to get ready for work. The cave sponge follows Spongebob into the bathroom, where Spongebob has some contraption to get ready. Call it a plot convenience if you want, but I think it serves what the episode wants to do well. One thing I will praise later on in the review is how well they do the doppelganger plot. The cave sponge and Spongebob look similar that too a passerby, they might as well be the same person. Spongebob starts doing his regular activities, such as using a stick to hit a fence, and swinging around a statue. The cave sponge tries to do it too, but ends up being too rash and breaking everything. It's a simple scene, but I really like how the cave sponge tries to copy Spongebob, only to break everything.
When Spongebob gets to the Krusty Krab, the cops are there to arrest him. The cave sponge is hiding in the kitchen confused at whats going on. The civilians that had their property destroyed confirm that it looks like Spongebob was the one who did it. Mr. Krabs however doesn't believe that it was Spongebob, and races to the jail (something else I'll praise later on), and leaves Squidward for kitchen duty.The cave sponge (who from this point on I will refer to as Spongy Spongy) falls on Squidward, and Squidward mistakes Spongy Spongy as Spongebob. Squidward tells Spongy to cook some patties, but Spongy Spongy hijacks a car, takes the engine, and uses that as the patty for the burger. The customers hate it, which causes Spongy to rage, resulting in him going loose.
Spongebob and Krabs are trying to figure out what is going on, while Spongy Spongy is roaming behind the jail hears Spongebobs shoe, and breaks in. Now Spongebob's name is free, but Spongebob wants to help Spongy Spongy. Through some funny exposition from Perch Perchins, the crew head to city hall to confront the cave foe. Spongebob introduces himself to Spongy Spongy, and the two bond (with a fun music number), however Spongy Spongy gets annoyed, and destroys city hall. BUT, it's okay cause.....it was going to be destoyed next week.
Yeah, if there is one thing to complain about, it definitely is how stupid that plot twist is. Considering how they don't say where Spongy Spongy's future is going to go, it just feels stupid. To top it off, the episode just magically ends. It decides to go with the (admittedly hilarious) comedy ending instead of tying loose ends, which loses a couple points in my book.
I feel that the episodes story suffers from the problem that Krusty Katering and Trident Trouble have, which is little focus on the plot. However, to give the episode credit, the problem isn't that bad. The episodes stakes are at rapid fire speed though, and it seems like a machine gun, going from situation to situation. With that being said though, the episode does have some quiet moments which raises the story up a little. I like the jail scene, and the dance number, and they give a bit of breathing room compared to the sugar high Krusty Krab scene (not a jab at it, it has to fill a lot in that scene).
With a semi poor story, there are quite a lot of positives. Let's start with the characters, who are for the most part great. Patrick in the beginning kind of got on my nerves, but I think it's more than made up by how well they got Spongebob down. Spongebob is the perfect protagonist, who has the combination of sympathy for the cave sponge, and worried for his own well being. Mr. Krabs was a big shock for me. Maybe I'm still used to him mentioning money 24/7, but I don't think Krabs mentions money at all in this episode. Perch Perkins is also great too, with his 4th wall breaking. Spongy Spongy is more treated as a scared creature (though treated way better than Squidward in The Thing, where they point blank call him a wild animal), but I think he is alright.
The comedy is also surprisingly strong. When people were calling this a season 10 holdover, I thought there would be nonstop slapstick and wacky expressions, but I saw little here. There was actually some humorous dialogue here, like as I said, Perch's 4th wall breaking at the jail, with Mr Krabs' great "We do?" line back. There's also the joke where Spongebob says hello to Squidward, who reponds with a dead pan line, only for Spongy Spongy to just punch Squid instead. There is not much to say here without just point blank explain the jokes, but I though there was an ample amount to keep me invested in what was happening. For what it's worth, I thought this episode was funnier than 80% of season 10.
Now onto my biggest praise for the episode. They did the doppelganger plot beautifully. In these plots, the person accused is faced with mass scrutiny and backlash which he doesn't deserve, therefore killing an otherwise decent episode. Heck, if this episode was made in season 6, it probably would have been as bad as I have been describing it, as that season didn't have the good atmosphere that post sequel has. The similarities between Spongebob and Spongy Spongy are noticeable, and from a distance, I can see how someone could mistake the two, and it isn't as bad as some of the disguises in the Imitation Krabs imitations (see what I did there?
), and I can tell the writer didn't want this episode to be totally nonsensical. Also, I appreciate how the writers didn't dwell on Spongebob's suffering in prison, like Gone and The Splinter. It's a quick scene of him going to jail, and a quick scene of Spongebob at jail. They treat it realistically, which doesn't make this episode frustrating, like Gone.
Pros:
Ample amount of good jokes that keep me invested
Good use of the doppelganger plot
Strong character leads in Spongebob and Mr. Krabs
Fluid animation
Doesn't feel too fast paced or wacky
Cons:
Still, there are no clear stakes. There is little transition from point to point, and the story feels weak
The Krusty Krab scenes after Spongebob is arrested do feel on the pointless side
I have no stong feelings for Spongy Spongy
With that all in mind, I was conflicted of the rating. This episode is definitely between a 6 or 7. Heck, I would have given it a 6.5 if I had the rating, but I am going to use full integers. The positives are pretty good, but the episodes story was a bit weak, and the story doesn't have any real stakes. However, i still do enjoy watching the episode, and it does feel like a fun ride that I can safely call it a
GOOD episode, albeit barely.
Rating:
GOOD
Score:
7/10
Thoughts: (An enjoyable experience)
Place:
#1/1
Season 11 as a whole
7/10
1. Cave Dwelling Sponge
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed the review, even though I thought it might be a little shorter than this. Tune in next Sunday for an episode that gets even worse on rewatch. Until than, hippythehippo signing out. :thumbsup:
QOTD: Who is your favorite prehistoric sponge?