Original air date: 12/10/2021
When Santa misses the Christmas gift SpongeBob left for him, SpongeBob journeys to the North Pole with Patrick and Plankton to deliver it to him.
Tropes appearing in this episode:
- All There in the Script: The blue-nosed reindeer is called "Bludolph" according to the credits.
- Anthropomorphic Shift: Reindeer here are portrayed as Funny Animals like the rest of the cast, whereas previously they were depicted more realistically, sometimes even in live action.
- Breaking Old Trends:
- Patchy is not depicted in live action like he is in the vast majority of his appearances, but is instead animated like the rest of the cast. As a matter of fact, everything above water is 2D animated instead of the typical live action or photo-realistic style.
- This is the first Christmas-themed episode where Sandy is absent.
- Brick Joke: Near the beginning of the episode, Plankton assumes Santa has him on the Naughty List because of his "Born to be naughty" tattoo. Later on, after he steals what he thinks is the secret formula, Plankton shows off his tattoo.
- Call-Back:
- Santa calls SpongeBob a menace like he did back in "Goons on the Moon" (aka, "SpaceBob MerryPants").
- SpongeBob points out that Patchy is his number one fan, which he learned after meeting the pirate in "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout".
- Christmas Episode: The third one in the series.
- Christmas in July: Most of the episode takes place in July, which is when SpongeBob discovers the present that Santa (accidentally) left behind.
- Eye Scream: Patrick's eyes freeze and crack to pieces from the cold of the North Pole
- Human Popsicle: By the time they reach the North Pole (for real this time), Plankton's frozen in an ice cube.
- Idea Bulb: Patrick's eyes turn into lightbulbs when he gets an idea of how to get inside Santa's workshop.
- Malaproper: After SpongeBob tells Plankton "You just gotta believe", Patrick repeats, "You just gotta bleed".
- Mind-Control Eyes: Patrick gets these after eating a candy cane, and again after he craves more.
- Moose Are Idiots: When Bludolph suspects Plankton of trying to break into Santa's workshop, Plankton insults the reindeer by calling him a moose.
- Portmanteau: After noticing the snow and smog in the Christmas Land Theme Park, SpongeBob and Patrick call in "snog".
- Road Trip Plot: The episode centers on SpongeBob, Patrick, and Plankton travelling to the North Pole.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Plankton's plan to sneak his way onto the nice list falls apart when he impulsively steals Santa's gift under the assumption that it's the secret formula. It's not, and the act of stealing from Santa himself gets him put back on the naughty list.
- Shaking the Rump: Santa does this while delivering presents at SpongeBob's house. This causes him to knock the present SpongeBob left for him under the couch.
- Shout-Out: The book Plankton sits on is called Twenty Thousand Leagues Above the Sea.
- Time Skip: The episode begins on Christmas Eve, and then skips ahead seven months later. The last minute of the episode then skips ahead to next Christmas.
- Top-Heavy Guy: All of Santa's reindeer are incredibly buff from working out.
- Trailers Always Spoil: Previews for the episode spoiled the appearance of Patchy the Pirate in animated form, which was supposed to be a surprise.
- You Need a Breath Mint: After Patrick licks the ice Plankton is trapped in, Plankton jumps out of his mouth.Plankton: Eat a breath mint, trench mouth!
- Your Head Asplode: SpongeBob and Patrick's heads explode into confetti when "Santa" reveals himself to be Patchy the Pirate.
