History SpongeBobSquarePants / TropesJToP

* KillItWithFire: In the castaway episode.

** In "Karate Island" [=SpongeBob=] was portrayed as a karate novice when earlier episodes established he and Sandy were equally matched.

* MiniGolfEpisode: "A Friendly Game" has [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick build a miniature golf course inside [=SpongeBob=]'s house when it's raining. They then try to play a round without disturbing their GrumpyBear neighbor Squidward.

* NiceMeanAndInbetween: The trio of [=SpongeBob=], Patrick, and Squidward. [=SpongeBob=] is pretty much the kindest and idealistic character of the series, often to the point where others are annoyed about it, taken for granted, and to the point of being naive. Squidward is the GrumpyBear who barely shows his heart of gold, but this is because of dealing with [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick as neighbors. Finally, Patrick mediates between the two, but this is mainly because of his stupidity.

** [[UpToEleven Taken this to a whole new level]] with the "Free-form jazz" scene. For reference, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4sEcIHG0Yc here]] is the original scene, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgFy5L11Umw here]] is the full song. It's over '''63 TIMES''' shorter than the original song.

** In the episode "[=MuscleBob=] [=BuffPants=]," [=SpongeBob=] is portrayed as being extremely weak physically-- at one point, he's unable to lift a beverage glass ([[UpToEleven as well as the straw inside it]]). In subsequent episodes, he's lifted Mr. Krabs into the air with ease, [[ItMakesSenseInContext dragged himself across the ground while strapped to a giant anchor]], and pushed his own bed (with Squidward in it) ''through the wall of his house and all the way to the Krusty Krab.''

** There have been [[UpToEleven SIX]] different characters named Larry: Larry [=SquarePants=] ([=SpongeBob=]'s cousin, mentioned in the ''Operation Krabby Patty'' game), Larry the Lobster (a lifeguard at Goo Lagoon), Larry Luciano (a ''very'' old snail), Larry the Snail (a temporary replacement for Gary), Pinhead Larry (a criminal in Sandy's dream), and Lucky Larry (a shopowner mentioned in "House Sittin' for Sandy").

* PredatoryBusiness: UpToEleven with Kelpshake in "Best Frenemies", which drains business from both Mr. Krabs and Plankton, forcing them into an EnemyMine pact to try and get rid of them. Off-screen, the stands themselves somehow ''divide like bacteria'' and Bikini Bottom has a ton of them. By the end of the ep, all the Kelpshake stands get shut down because not only were the drinks addictive, they were also ''toxic'', Plankton having detected radioactive material in it, and everybody who drank one (including Krabs, Plankton and [=SpongeBob=]) somehow ''grew green fur'' as a side-effect.

* TheOneWhoWearsShoes: [=SpongeBob=] himself; he wears his shoes to bed ''every night''.
** Pearl and Mrs. Puff also wear shoes more often than not.
** Sandy's diving suit could also count-- when she's at home in her treedome, however, she goes barefoot.

* OnionTears: [[RuleOfThree Three times]] in "My Pretty Seahorse".
** Also seen in "Something Smells" when [=SpongeBob=] chops onions for his sundae.

* LegoGenetics: Done in at least two episodes:

* LineOfSightAlias: When the Flying Dutchman comes for Mr. Krabs' soul in the hospital, Mr. Krabs insists that he is "Harold Flower", after the flower on the end table.
* LiteralMetaphor: In "Missing Identity", Mr. Krabs initiates a surprise uniform inspection, declaring that any employee who doesn't pass "gets the boot." He then produces a literal boot, claiming that "it's very stinky," and the punishment is having to wear it all day.

* LostHimInACardGame: Mr. Krabs lost [=SpongeBob=] to Plankton.

* LyingFingerCross: Played with in one episode. When [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick promise Mr. Krabs not to play on the fishing hooks, Patrick claims he had his fingers crossed. [=SpongeBob=] then points out that Patrick has no fingers.

* MadScientist:
** Plankton.
** Also Sandy in a few episodes.

* MadeOutToBeAJerkass: In the infamous "Stuck In A Wringer", [[LethallyStupid Patrick's stupidity results in [=SpongeBob=] being trapped in a wringer and can't get out]], and despite Patrick trying to convince him otherwise, nothing goes right for him anymore. Finally, at an amusement park, [=SpongeBob=] yells at Patrick, saying it's all his fault his life is ruined. After a sad Patrick leaves, the crowd around [=SpongeBob=] get on his case.

** The "Challenge Coin" from ''Sponge On the Run''.

-->'''Patrick''': ''[gives a thumbs-down]'' [[LamePunReaction Boo]]!

%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Arguably Squidward and Mr. Krabs [[DependingOnTheWriter on their better days]].
%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* JoinsToFitIn: Squidward's whole reason for leaving his own neighborhood and moving to Tentacle Acres.
%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* JokeOfTheButt: Often seen in post-sequel seasons, often with [[FatComicRelief Patrick]].

* JumpScare:
** '''''"Hi, mailman!"'''''
** '''''BZZZZZZZZZZ'''''

** These have popped up from time to time. Probably the most notable is Granny from the episode "Have You Seen This Snail?".

** We never saw who came up with the Kelpshake stands and if they ever got punished for selling addictive, toxic drinks to the population of the city.

** In "The Suds", Patrick tells [=SpongeBob=] of the horrors of the doctor's office which he knows because "I know a guy who knows a guy who went to the doctor once".

** In one episode, a tree is shown wearing scuba gear.

* JerkassBall: The normally sympathetic Mrs. Puff becomes a jerk in "Demolition Doofus" as she tries to outright MURDER [=SpongeBob=]!
%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample** Practically everyone in the show at some time or the other, with Mr. Krabs and Squidward being the most prominent examples, although it [[DependingOnTheWriter Depends On The Writer]].** [=SpongeBob=] tends to grab these in the later seasons, especially in "A Pal For Gary".

* PrecisionFStrike: If "Texas" is to be believed, "ass" is not one of the Thirteen Dirty Words.

* KnightOfCerebus:
** Granny from the episode "Have You Seen This Snail?". She, unlike other recurring villains in the series (including Plankton and Mr. Krabs, who is considered funny in his actions even more deplorable), she contrasts absolutely comical traits, and the episode itself made things very serious.
** Dennis and The Cyclops as well, in TheMovie.
** Surprisingly, Plankton manages to act as one in the same movie.

* LaughablyEvil: Dennis, Plankton's Assassin from TheMovie, is downright sadistic and threatening. He's also very entertaining to watch due to his over-the-top nature and constant EvilLaugh.

* TheMovie: ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater''.

* ThePowerOfRock: In TheMovie and "Band Geeks."

** Subverted with Patchy the Pirate. He wears an eyepatch, being a pirate and all, but one episode reveals that the covered eye still works.

--> '''Tour Bus Driver:''' And if you look to your right, you'll see two naked guys fighting over a can of paint.

* JoinsToFitIn: Squidward's whole reason for leaving his own neighborhood and moving to Tentacle Acres.
* JokeOfTheButt: Often seen in post-sequel seasons, often with [[FatComicRelief Patrick]].

* PlotHole: In "Squilliam Returns", [=SpongeBob=] ends up forgetting his own name, but after he serves Squilliam, Squidward addresses [=SpongeBob=] by name, and [=SpongeBob=] replies as if he knows his name.

* JerkassGods:
** Neptune, especially in "The Clash Of Triton" where he traps his son in a cage for wanting to meddle in the lives of mortals instead of smiting them, but he gets better.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Arguably Squidward and Mr. Krabs [[DependingOnTheWriter on their better days]].

** Practically everyone in the show at some time or the other, with Mr. Krabs and Squidward being the most prominent examples, although it [[DependingOnTheWriter Depends On The Writer]].

** Dylan in "Whale Watching", after talking Pearl into sneaking out to a breach party(where everyone jumps out of the water and surfaces) once Pearl accidentally beaches herself, he(and everyone else at the party) immediately runs off, basically leaving her to die, good thing Squidward came along and him and Pearl got Dylan back at the end by torturing him with [=SpongeBob=].

* JerkassBall:
** [=SpongeBob=] tends to grab these in the later seasons, especially in "A Pal For Gary".
** Even the normally sympathetic Mrs. Puff becomes a jerk in "Demolition Doofus" as she tries to outright MURDER [=SpongeBob=]!
** Post-HD episodes tone this down, thanks to Stephen Hillenburg returning to production until his death.