History TearJerker / SpongeBobSquarepants

* [=SpongeBob=] is genuinely devastated over his pineapple being destroyed. The fact that Squidward is overjoyed over the whole ordeal just makes things worse.

* The GriefSong, simply called "Gary's Song", doesn't help the matter either.

* Sandy becomes even more distressed when [=SpongeBob=] points out that they only have 168 more hours of playtime. The idea of not seeing [=SpongeBob=] until spring genuinely upsets her. No wonder the guy immediately offers to spend all his spare time with her.

** The episode's plot itself, revolving around [=Spongebob=] and Patrick hating one another after [[JerkAss Squidward]] made them believe they were saying mean things to each other, all because they were making noises outside while he was trying to enjoy a meal. It's quite sad to see such a good pair of friends suddenly despise one another. Thankfully, they're back to being pals by the end.

-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' [[TryingNottoCry D-d-don't cry. Whatever you do, don't...]] ''([[BreaktheCutie cries anyway and runs to the girls' bathroom]])''

* Perhaps the worst part of the episode is that Flats ''[[KarmaHoudini gets away with the psychological torment he brought down upon [=SpongeBob=]]].'' Talking to Mrs. Puff about it is no good because Flatts simply makes up the lie of "[[CharacterCatchphrase I'm gonna kick your butt!]]" being a friendly and misunderstood colloquialism and Mrs. Puff believes it, and while Flats does collapse after failing to beat down the punch-resistant [=SpongeBob=], Mrs. Puff mistakes the resulting scene for [=SpongeBob=] beating up Flats and it's implied she punishes ''[=SpongeBob=]'' instead. Keep in mind, this is '''''before''''' Mrs. Puff became a psychopath in later episodes. And sadly, there are one too many cases of school bullying victims getting punished while the perpetrators get off scot-free, though in the modern day, teachers are much more wise to bullies trying to play the WoundedGazelleGambit.

*** The customer from the get-go is foreshadowed to an EntitledBastard, demanding a pizza delivered to his house from a restaurant that neither makes pizzas or delivers. [=SpongeBob=] nonetheless remains resilient and enthusiastic about serving this guy the entire arduous journey, assured the customer is always right, only to get torn apart with another ridiculous demand when he finally makes it.

** Even harsher is that midway through the episode, it seems like Plankton really was willing to change, until [[ToxicFriendInfluence Karen talked him out of it]].

-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' Oh, laddie, I shoulda ''never'', let you go! The Krusty Krab has fallen apart without you! You're rehired, boy!

-->'''Squidward:''' Sponge...? Sponge? I-It's okay. Sponge...? ''([=SpongeBob=] collapses facefirst to the ground and sobs inconsolably)'' Sponge...? ''([=SpongeBob=] keeps sobbing)''

** When Mr. Krabs tries to comfort him saying that it’s not the end of the world, [=SpongeBob=] replies, "Yes, it is!", and even tries out the "magic oven mitts" on his feet, but, "They're not the same!"

--->'''Patrick:''' [=SpongeBob=] doesn't like me anymore!
--->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''(opening the door)'' That's right! [[BlatantLies You're my worst enemy!]]
--->''(Patrick flops on the ground in a sobbing tantrum.)''
** It turns out that [[spoiler:it was [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Opposite Day]] and [=SpongeBob=] was just playing along with it]], but imagine going to your best friend's house (one that you've known ''since you were a baby'') and instantly being rejected for no good reason.

--->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' He's on the other side now...
--->'''Patrick:''' Yeah, he's in a better place.

-->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': [[TryingNottoCry D-d-don't cry. Whatever you do, don't...]] ''([[BreaktheCutie cries anyway and runs to the girls' bathroom]])''

* The DownerEnding of the episode where the Krusty Krab is destroyed from [=SpongeBob=] and Squidward competing too hard. While this was partially brought on by Mr. Krabs himself, he couldn’t have ever predicted it would get this bad. It’s hard not to feel sorry for him when he’s forced to watch as civilians take a way the Krabby Patties from the aftermath and he looks as well as sounds so miserable, yet his employees, being so hyper-focused on the award, ignore his plight. The fact that the episode just ends there makes it even worse.

[[folder:14a - [=SB-129=]]]

--->'''Mr. Krabs:''' [=SpongeBob=]... you're '''''FIRED!!'''''\\

** [[spoiler:And then the whole thing turns out to be an April Fool's joke on [=SpongeBob=]'s end...]]

--->'''Patrick:''' ''I'' want an award!
--->'''[=SpongeBob=]''' Aww, Patrick, don't cry. ''(Patrick proceeds to cry anyway.)'' You'll get an award one day.
--->'''Patrick:''' I'm never gonna get an award ''(collapses on ground)'' 'cause I've never done anything!
* Patrick’s growing frustration as he fails to do the simplest tasks at the Krusty Krab is hilarious, but can also make you feel sorry for him, especially his reaction to when [=SpongeBob=] gets a whole heap of awards delivered to him, leading to Patrick losing it.
-->'''Patrick:''' '''''WHY CAN’T I DO ANYTHING RIGHT!?'''''
* There’s also his reaction to [=SpongeBob=] trying to imitate him in response to Patrick doing so to the sponge. Instead of acting comically offended or even think of going back to his normal self, Patrick calmly and annoyedly asks what’s so great about being a [[TitleDrop big pink loser]] before solemnly noting he wasn’t a step closer to an award the minute he started copying his best friend. Thankfully, he finally gets an award and returns back to his normal self shortly after.

* The music playing in the scene just before Squidward says he's going to make [=SpongeBob's=] day meaningful might even bring a tear for sensitive viewers [[https://youtu.be/2JZcoQfV3Zo]]

* And then, near the end, there's Squidward bawling over how he killed [=SpongeBob=], saying how he at least made his last day meaningful. [[spoiler:It turns out that he never actually ate the pie-bomb in the first place, but still.]]

-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' I have been publicly humiliated ''for the last time!'' ''(runs off crying)''

* Sandy's games become too much for [=SpongeBob=], and because she's too obsessed with doing every single extreme sport before she starts hibernation, he runs away. Sandy then cuts her activities short and forces the whole town to help her find [=SpongeBob=]. At first, it’s PlayedForLaughs, until everyone bails on Sandy and she tries to find [=SpongeBob=] alone. She’s ripping buildings off their foundations, screaming for him, clearly getting more and more desperate. For all she knows, he’s in terrible danger and she has to find him before winter.
* After Sandy finds [=SpongeBob=], she immediately tries to go back to their hazardous activities, pleading that there’s no time to wait when he doesn’t budge. [=SpongeBob=] decides to come clean about why he ran away, falling to pieces as he does so. The kicker is when he begs for Sandy to forgive him, believing that, since he agreed to be with her during her remaining days awake and backed out on the deal, she won’t want to be his friend anymore.

-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' No more nice warm beds. No more Krabby Patties. No more getting mail. No more Gary. No more movies. No more Squidward. No more Sandy or Pearl or Mr. Krabs, ''NO MORE ANYTHING!''
-->'''Patrick''': ''(crying)'' I WANT ICE CREAM!

-->'''Squidward:''' What's this?
-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' A present. ''(Squidward expresses shock.)'' I made it for you so you wouldn't be left out when... ''SANTA CAME!!!'' ''(continues to cry)''

-->'''Squidward:''' [[JerkassRealization I feel like a...big]] ''[[JerkassRealization jerk!]]'' [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone What have I done to poor [=SpongeBob=]? [...] The poor little guy. All he wanted was to spread a little joy.]]

* Gary becomes friends with Patrick and begins to play with him instead of [=SpongeBob=]. Throughout the episode, [=SpongeBob=] tries to get Gary to come back to him with toys and his favorite snacks. It ultimately ends up with [=SpongeBob=] trying one last time to get Gary to come back by offering things to Gary he wasn't allowed to do before. [[spoiler:Gary goes back to [=SpongeBob=], only because he wanted Patrick for the cookie in his pocket.]]

* The Jellyspotters viciously calling Spongebob a loser and cruelly laughing about it. Even worse is Spongebob's asking about his membership in the club just causes them to laugh even harder, and Kevin gleefully reveals they were never going to grant membership to someone like him. You can visibly see the heartbreak and betrayal on Spongebob's face as he's left in tears, while the Jellyspotters continue to mock him.

* The episode has three endings, one where each character ([=SpongeBob=], Patrick, or Squidward) gets the final wish. Most fans who saw subsequent airings or home releases of the episode may remember the [=SpongeBob=] ending, which somehow manages to be hilarious since [[spoiler:even though they didn't escape the Flying Dutchman's clutches, they at least weren't ''eaten'']]. The other two endings, however, are quite different. Patrick and Squidward pretty much share the same ending, and we warn you it's [[DownerEnding not a happy one]].

--->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': But Mr. Krabs! I don't wanna work for him! I wanna work for you, here at the Krusty Krab! ''(he hugs Mr. Krabs, crying)''
---> '''Mr. Krabs:''' I'm sorry, boy! ''(cries)'' [[ItsAllMyFault It's all my fault!]] ''(continues to cry)''
---> '''Plankton:''' ''(feigning sadness)'' What kind of a cold, heartless would break apart such a loving relationship? '''I WOULD!''' (jumps on Mr. Krabs' nose and detaches [=SpongeBob=] off of him, with Krabs' arms still attached to [=SpongeBob=])
---> '''Mr. Krabs:''' [=SpongeBob=]!
--->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Mr. Krabs! ''(lands inside a cage, with Mr Krabs' arms flying off from him)''
---> '''Plankton:''' This is your greatest blunder, Krabs. For fifteen years, I've been throwing those card games just waiting for you to slip-up. I may not have the precious Krabby Patty formula, but I've got the next best thing: the guy who makes 'em! I'm gonna run you out of business, Krabs! ''(reveals a propeller in the cage, which starts flying to the Chum Bucket with [=SpongeBob=] inside)''
--->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Mr. Krabs!
---> '''Mr. Krabs:''' [=SpongeBob=]! ''(starts crying again)''

--->'''Squidward:''' Well... you did it. You took my one chance at happiness... and crushed it. Crushed it into little tiny bite-size pieces! I really had expected better of you people--I guess I'm a loser for that, too! Don't bother showing up tomorrow... I'll just tell them you all '''''DIED''''' in a marching accident. ''(as he walks away in tears)'' So thanks... thanks for nothing!

* The entire episode is a glaring example of NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished for [=SpongeBob=] the AllLovingHero. Despite attempting to befriend Flats from the get-go, gently informing Flats's father about his experiences to stop Flats's bullying tendencies but still being generous enough to call his tormentor a "fine boy," and even saving Flats's life literally right after the flounder was ''trying to run him over'' and then bringing him flowers in the hospital to comfort him, all of his compassionate acts are swept aside by Flats's insistence on "kicking his butt."

--> '''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''(crying)'' Squidward, you shouldn't be going through Mr. Krabs' belongings. ''(sniffs)'' HE WON'T LIKE IT!

--> '''Mr. Krabs:''' [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Oh, what have I done?]] I want another chance! [[JerkassRealization I didn't learn anything!]] I lost me best fry cook! [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness I don't want this foul money!]] I want [=SpongeBob=] back!

* Despite having a few genuinely funny moments (including the [[MemeticMutation memetic]] "[=SpongeBob=] and Patrick drops by Squidward's house" scene), most of the episode touches nearly every emotional button of pet owners at the heartbreaking prospect of them running away and leaving them all alone. And there just had to be a montage of [=SpongeBob=] looking for Gary all over town and a song about how much he missed him. It's an easy competitor for one of, if not, the saddest ''[=SpongeBob=]'' episode, even by the show's standards.

-->''More than a pet, you're my best friend''
-->''Too cool to forget''
-->''Come back, 'cause we are family, and forgive me for making you wanna roam''
-->''Now my heart is beating like the saddest metronome''
-->''Somewhere, I hope you're reading my latest three-word poem:''
-->''Gary, come home...''

--->'''Patrick''': Oh, the GloryDays... Why have we grown ''[[WeUsedToBeFriends apart]]''?

'''Mr Krabs:''' [[BaitandSwitch Come here. Help us cheer for Jim.]]

--->'''Squidward''': You two have ruined my life! ''(cries hysterically)''

* After having his nose destroyed by the [[spoiler:giant stinkball]], Patrick laments that he just wanted to smell like his friends and runs away crying. We then cut to a funeral for his nose, with [=SpongeBob=] sadly stating that [him and his friends] punished Patrick for just wanting to be like them. Squidward, though, shows no sympathy, but then finds out [[spoiler:Patrick has gotten ears and heard his insult.]]

--->'''Plankton:''' Who's to blame for this? ''Who?!''
--->''([=SpongeBob=] watches from a distance, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone clearly saddened by what's happened]].)''

-->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': I know, Gary! I ruined your life! Do you have to rub it in?!?

* In the same episode, a guy with a pet worm walks in and [=SpongeBob=] says pets aren't allowed and they walk away sadly; It's sad until [[spoiler:Mr. Krabs allows them inside anyway.]]
* The ending, as well, at least on Gary's part. [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=] drags Gary to work against his will so he won't neglect him, and Mr. Krabs basically uses Gary as free labor.]]

-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' What about the younger Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy? Surely, they refused to surrender without a fight.
-->'''Mermaid Man:''' You got spaghetti for brains, kid? [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome We ARE the younger ones]]! The older ones, bless their souls... ''[sobs]'' have been immortalized in this very restaurant. ''[pan right to grave-site]''
-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' I am so sorry for your loss of... yourself.

** Plankton getting stalked for [[spoiler:16 more days.]]
** [[spoiler:Plankton lays in the middle of the road, [[DriventoSuicide attempting to kill himself.]]]]

-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Mr. Krabs, I know you and Plankton are sworn enemies and all, but... [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Putting on a dress to frighten him? Isn't that taking it a little too far?]]

*** What's worse is that TheBadGuyWins (and in case you aren't sure, the bad guy is [[spoiler:Mr. Krabs this time around).]]

* Perhaps the worst part of the episode is that Flats ''[[KarmaHoudini gets away with the psychological torment he brought down upon [=SpongeBob=]]].'' Talking to Mrs. Puff about it is no good because Flatts simply makes up the lie of "[[CatchPhrase I'm gonna kick your butt!]]" being a friendly and misunderstood colloquialism and Mrs. Puff believes it, and while Flats does collapse after failing to beat down the punch-resistant [=SpongeBob=], Mrs. Puff mistakes the resulting scene for [=SpongeBob=] beating up Flats and it's implied she punishes ''[=SpongeBob=]'' instead. Keep in mind, this is '''''before''''' Mrs. Puff became a psychopath in later episodes. And sadly, there are one too many cases of school bullying victims getting punished while the perpetrators get off scot-free, though in the modern day, teachers are much more wise to bullies trying to play the WoundedGazelleGambit.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjmxVnwZsf8&list=LL&index=1 An AI Cover]] of the ''Spongebob cast'' singing Hallelujah, already a sad song, as a tribute to Stephen Hillenburg, it's been 5 years after his death, it's still left a pernament traumatic scar for the show's fans since.

* [=SpongeBob=]'s crying, while annoying, is still very understandable since he had lost a possession that was close to him, that being his spatula. He had to sell everything he has just to have Le Spatula, who just straight up runs away because the food he was bought to cook isn't what he expected it to be.
** Spat betraying [=SpongeBob=] in the infirmary, leaving the latter to cry once more all the way back to the Krusty Krab.