History Analysis / SpongeBobSquarepants

Many fans believe that ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' has had the biggest decline in quality of any show on TV in the 21st century. And while I'm inclined to believe them, let's take a deeper look at how the older ''[=SpongeBob=]'' (Seasons 1-3) differs from the newer ''[=SpongeBob=]'' (Seasons 4-whatever number we're on now).

Many fans believe that ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' has had the biggest decline in quality of any show on TV in the 21st century. And while I'm inclined to believe them, let's take a deeper look at how the older ''SpongeBob'' (Seasons 1-3) differs from the newer ''SpongeBob'' (Seasons 4-whatever number we're on now).

The early ''SpongeBob'', released in 1999, was loved for its humor and nostalgia, keeping the elements we loved from a few 90's shows and putting its own personal ''SpongeBob'' twist on them. It was one of the most recognizable works on television, and technically still is. But older ''SpongeBob'' also had great stories going on. It had its own personal touch on unique elements such as sponges getting the suds instead of cold, or Goo Lagoon being addressed as a mud puddle instead of an underwater body of water. Basically, the old ''SpongeBob'' never forgot that it was underwater, and covered a world that was not human, and did not copy exactly everything that goes on in human society.

Newer ''SpongeBob'', however, tries in a poor way to keep up with what old ''SpongeBob'' laid down. In seasons such as five and six, most fans agree that the plots are forced and unfunny. However, in later seasons, such as seven and eight, we see [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]] such as [=SpongeBob=] mentioning that he had the suds before, while completely out of context to the situation going on in the episode. Newer episodes of ''SpongeBob'' are still trying to keep us hooked on the elements that old ''SpongeBob'' already laid down for us, while most fans who still watch the show are trying not to connect old and new ''SpongeBob''. That being said, new ''SpongeBob'' does not provide any further connections than the pointless [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]], in that all the characters have undergone CharacterDerailment in some way. Even if you don't believe this, many long-term fans of the series can agree that the characters seen in new ''SpongeBob'' do not possess the same charm to them that they did in old ''SpongeBob''. Characters such as Mr. Krabs are now expressed in an antagonistic light, and play to the many rundown plot cliches that are expressed in every episode we see them in.

In conclusion, the decline of humorous occurrences in the new ''SpongeBob'' has to do with the lack of effort to match the two together in the unique elements and character traits that old ''SpongeBob'' already set for us.

Late in Season 4, of which the first half contains some continuity nods that were done with SOME respect (there were some plot holes such as ol' reliable returning, despite Patrick having broken it in "Nature Pants”), more creative reign was allowed, and flanderization ensued. After the particularly harsh backlash against Season 6, Seasons 7 and 8 have been a bit of a return to form, with some episodes, such as "Treats!”, surprising their fandom as the humor is genuinely funny at times and the flanderization isn't as noticeable. The show's writers have noticed the show's decline and have publicly said that they're trying new writing combinations to see what works and what doesn't.

After the movie, series creator Stephen Hillenburg left, leaving the executive producer position to Mr. Paul Tibbit, who seems to allow any episode through, no matter how out of character any given character is. Most fans agree that the majority of Season 4 is at least okay, while Seasons 5 and 6 marked a rapid decline in the show's quality, most likely a cause of the show's writers initially not wanting to disgrace the sheer quality that was the first 3 seasons.

Newer ''SpongeBob'', however, tries in a poor way to keep up with what old ''SpongeBob'' laid down. In seasons such as five and six, most fans agree that the plots are forced and unfunny. However, in later seasons, such as seven and eight, we see [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]] such as [=SpongeBob=] mentioning that he had the suds before, while completely out of context to the situation going on in the episode. Newer episodes of ''SpongeBob'' are still trying to keep us hooked on the elements that old ''SpongeBob'' already laid down for us, while most fans who still watch the show are trying not to connect old and new ''SpongeBob''. That being said, new ''SpongeBob'' does not provide any further connections than the pointless [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]], in that all the characters have undergone CharacterDerailment in some way. Even if you don't believe this, many long-term fans of the series can agree that the characters seen in new ''SpongeBob'' do not possess the same charm to them that they did in old ''SpongeBob''. Characters such as Mr. Krabs are now expressed in an antagonistic light[[note]]As in the episode "One Coarse Meal", where Mr. Krabs goes out of his way to torture Plankton[[/note]], and play to the many rundown plot cliches that are expressed in every episode we see them in.

Concluding on a somewhat bitter note, a large portion of the episodes have still been crap, however, and some members of the fandom argue that no matter how much better the show gets, it will still live in infamy due to Seasons 4-7.

Newer ''SpongeBob'', however, tries in a poor way to keep up with what old ''SpongeBob'' laid down. In seasons such as five and six, most fans agree that the plots are forced and unfunny. However, in later seasons, such as seven and eight, we see [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]] such as [=SpongeBob=] mentioning that he had the suds before, while completely out of context to the situation going on in the episode. Newer episodes of ''SpongeBob'' are still trying to keep us hooked on the elements that old ''SpongeBob'' already laid down for us, while most fans who still watch the show are trying not to connect old and new ''SpongeBob''. That being said, new ''SpongeBob'' does not provide any further connections than the pointless [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]], in that all the characters have undergone CharacterDerailment in some way. Even if you don't believe this, many long-term fans of the series can agree that the characters seen in new ''SpongeBob'' do not possess the same charm to them that they did in old ''SpongeBob''. Characters such as Mr. Krabs are now expressed in an antagonistic light[[hottip:*:As in the episode "One Coarse Meal", where Mr. Krabs goes out of his way to torture Plankton]], and play to the many rundown plot cliches that are expressed in every episode we see them in.

Late in Season 4, of which the first half contains some continuity nods that were done with SOME respect (there were some plot holes such as ol' reliable returning, despite Patrick having broken it in "Nature Pants”), more creative reign was allowed, and flanderization ensued. After the particularly harsh backlash against Season 6, Seasons 7 and 8 have been a bit of a return to form, with some episodes, such as "Treats!”, surprising their fandom as the humor is genuinely funny at times and the flanderization isn't as noticeable. The show's noticed the show's decline and has publicly said that they're trying new writing combinations to see what works and what doesn't.

After the movie, series creator Stephen Hillenburg left, leaving the executive producer position to Mr. Paul Tibbit, who seems to allow any episode through, no matter how out of character any given character is. Most fans agree that the majority of Season 4 is at least okay, while Seasons 5 and 6 marked a rapid decline in the show's quality, most likely a cause of the show's writers wanting to not disgrace the sheer quality that was the first 3 seasons.

Late in Season 4, of which the first half contains some continuity nods that were done with SOME respect (there were some plot holes such as ol' reliable returning, despite Patrick having broken it in "Nature Pants”), more creative reign was allowed, and flanderization ensued. After the particularly harsh backlash against Season 6, Seasons 7 and 8 have been a bit of a return to form, with some episodes, such as "Treats!”, surprising their fandom as the humor is genuinely funny at times and the flanderization isn't as noticeable. The show's noticed the show's decline and has publicly said that they're trying new writing combinations to see what works and what doesn't. A large portion of the episodes have still been crap, however, and some members of the fandom argue that no matter how much better the show gets, it will still live in infamy due to Seasons 4-7.

After the movie, series creator Stephen Hillenburg left, leaving the executive producer position to Mr. Paul Tibbit, who seems to allow any episode through, no matter how out of character any given character is. Most fans agree that the majority of Season 4 is at least okay, while Seasons 5 and 6 marked a rapid decline in the show's quality, most likely a cause of the show's writers wanting to not disgrace the sheer quality that was the first 3 seasons. Late in Season 4, of which the first half contains some continuity nods that were done with SOME respect (there were some plot holes such as ol' reliable returning, despite Patrick having broken it in "Nature Pants”), and some episodes that tried hard to stay close to the original formula. Late in Season 4, more creative reign was allowed, and flanderization ensued. After the particularly harsh backlash against Season 6, Seasons 7 and 8 have been a bit of a return to form, with some episodes, such as "Treats!”, surprising their fandom as the humor is genuinely funny at times and the flanderization isn't as noticeable. The show's noticed the show's decline and has publicly said that they're trying new writing combinations to see what works and what doesn't. A large portion of the episodes have still been crap, however, and some members of the fandom argue that no matter how much better the show gets, it will still live in infamy due to Seasons 4-7.

In conclusion, the decline of humorous occurrences in the new ''SpongeBob'' has to do with the lack of effort to match the two together in the unique elements and character traits that old ''SpongeBob'' already set for us.

Newer ''SpongeBob'', however, tries in a poor way to keep up with what old ''SpongeBob'' laid down. In seasons such as five and six, most fans agree that the plots are forced and unfunny. However, in later seasons, such as seven and eight, we see [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]] such as [=SpongeBob=] mentioning that he had the suds before, while completely out of context to the situation going on in the episode. Newer episodes of ''SpongeBob'' are still trying to keep us hooked on the elements that old ''SpongeBob'' already laid down for us, while most fans who still watch the show are trying not to connect old and new ''SpongeBob''. That being said, new ''SpongeBob'' does not provide any further connections than the pointless [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]], in that all he characters have undergone CharacterDerailment in some way. Even if you don't believe this, many long-term fans of the series can agree that the characters seen in new ''SpongeBob'' do not possess the same charm to them that they did in old ''SpongeBob''. Characters such as Mr. Krabs are now expressed in an antagonistic light, and play to the many rundown plot cliches that are expressed in every episode we see them in.