Wouldn't you just kill for a net like Ol' Reliable?
The Pink Purloiner
Original air date: 2/19/2007 (produced in 2006; released on DVD on 1/9/07)
After SpongeBob loses his jellyfish net during the Annual Jellyfish Migration, he suspects that Patrick has stolen Ol' Reliable.
"The Pink Purloiner" contains examples of:
- An Aesop: Don't accuse someone of stealing something you lost; always gather the information first.
- Big "WHAT?!": Patrick lets off one after SpongeBob accuses him of stealing Ol' Reliable.
- Bindle Stick: Patrick carries one when he attempts to run away from Bikini Bottom.
- Call-Back: SpongeBob's prized jellyfishing net is Ol' Reliable from "Nature Pants". Possibly a new one he got after Patrick broke the old one over his knee upon giving up on catching SpongeBob.
- The Cameo: Mr. Krabs makes a cameo appearance when SpongeBob reveals how much he's willing to pay whoever finds his net, without having any adverse effect on the plot.
- Continuity Nod: Patrick mentions finding spiders icky, referencing his established fear of them from "Home Sweet Pineapple".
- Foreshadowing:
- SpongeBob doesn't have his net with him when he and Patrick return home, foreshadowing he left it on the bus.
- If you look at the net that Patrick is playing with, you can clearly see it looks nothing like SpongeBob's. Even its silhouette doesn't match with SpongeBob's net as it lacks a silicone grip.
- Patrick has only one thing to confess to the Confess-A-Bear, which isn't do to with SpongeBob's net, as he had nothing to do with its disappearance.
- Dropped in the Toilet: Patrick confesses that he accidentally dropped SpongeBob's toothbrush in the toilet, and then put it back without cleaning it. Hearing this causes SpongeBob to run around screaming and scrubbing his tongue with his hands.
- Handmade Is Better: Averted. Patrick's net at the start appears to be normal, but he fails to catch a single jellyfish all day and it's shown to be even more shoddy up close when he reveals he made it himself, disintegrating after a day of use. Later played straight when the net he made for SpongeBob is just as good as any store-bought jellyfishing net, implying Patrick tried harder for his sake. SpongeBob is so touched that he gives the newly found Ol' Reliable to Patrick, saying he has a great new net from his best friend to use.
- Happy Ending: SpongeBob and Patrick reconcile in the end.
- Idiot Ball: SpongeBob is usually always lacking in common sense, but he doesn't think twice about double-checking the bus to look for his net.
- Mistaken Confession: SpongeBob gives Patrick a toy called "Confess-A-Bear" to coax him into revealing that he supposedly stole SpongeBob's jellyfish net. Instead, Patrick says that he accidentally dropped SpongeBob's toothbrush in the toilet, and put it back without cleaning it first. SpongeBob hears this and runs off screaming in the background.
- Mistaken for Thief: The main point of the plot is SpongeBob believing that Patrick stole his prized jellyfishing net. Turns out he left it on the bus.
- My God, What Have I Done?: SpongeBob is utterly guilt-ridden after realizing Patrick didn't actually steal Ol' Reliable and actually made him a new net. He makes it up to Patrick by giving Ol' Reliable to him upon finding it on the bus.
- Noodle Incident: All the other times SpongeBob left his net on the bus. Apparently this exact conflict happens weekly.
- Overly Long Gag: Downplayed as it doesn't go on for that long, but Patrick continuously calls SpongeBob asking if he got his net back each time.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: At one point, SpongeBob disguises himself as a billionaire, using nothing more than a mustache to deceive Patrick.
- Red Herring: Patrick didn't take Ol' Reliable; it was left on the bus the whole time. According to the bus driver, SpongeBob leaves it there every week.
- The Reveal: It turns out that SpongeBob left his net on the bus.
- Rule of Three: The Annual Jellyfish Migration lasts three days.
- Sarcasm Mode: "I'm not your best friend. I'm a no-good jelly netting thief fish!"
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Patrick decides to leave Bikini Bottom after SpongeBob falsely accuses him of stealing Ol' Reliable. It takes SpongeBob sincerely apologizing and offering said net to him as consolation before Patrick decides to stay after all.
- Self-Serving Memory: Patrick, jealous of Ol' Reliable, tells SpongeBob he'd kill something small, like a carrot for it ("but not spiders, they're icky"), but otherwise does nothing. When SpongeBob recalls this statement, Patrick actually pulls out a carrot and snaps it in half before laughing as fire burns around him.
- Shout-Out: The title is a reference to The Pink Panther.
- Sudden Anatomy: Patrick grows a third arm when SpongeBob asks to see what's in his other hand.
- Toilet Humour: Patrick reveals that he once dropped SpongeBob's toothbrush in the toilet, then put it back without washing it.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Mr. Krabs vows to find SpongeBob's net, but completely vanishes from the episode afterwards.
- With a Foot on the Bus: Patrick attempts to leave Bikini Bottom, only to find that SpongeBob left his net on the bus.
- You Don't Look Like You: In "Nature Pants", Ol' Reliable looked just like any other wooden jellyfish net. Here, it's made out of composite materials.
"Squidward! It's me, Mini Squidward!"
Squid Wood
Original air date: 7/24/2007 (produced in 2006; released on DVD on 1/9/07)
When Squidward won't play with him, SpongeBob creates a ventriloquist dummy of Squidward. Soon, everyone in town prefers the dummy to the real thing!
"Squid Wood" contains examples of:
- Cosmic Plaything: Squidward is put through never-ending hell in this episode. First, he is persistently harassed by SpongeBob, then SpongeBob creates a puppet version of Squidward that steals his identity, talents, and to top it all off, results in ignorance of the real Squidward.
- Crazy-Prepared: SpongeBob also had a tiny dancing workout suit created for his dummy.
- Did You Get a New Haircut?: Patrick mistakes the Squidward puppet for the real Squidward.Patrick: (to Mini Squidward) Squidward, you look a little different. Wow, have you been working out?
SpongeBob: Actually, Patrick, this is...
Patrick: Hold it, SpongeBob. Ooh, I know. You shaved your beard. (SpongeBob and Mini Squidward look at each other) - The Door Slams You: SpongeBob's front door slams Squidward in the face when he first meets Mini Squidward.
- Downer Ending: On Squidward's part.
- Furry Reminder: At one point, SpongeBob makes his dummy move like an actual cephalopod.
- Here We Go Again!: The episode ends with SpongeBob showing Squidward a dummy he made of himself, which further annoys Squidward.
- Idiot Ball: This is yet another episode where SpongeBob can't get it through his thick skull that Squidward doesn't want to hang out with him. Especially he could easily ask Patrick to do that stuff with him (he even appears later so it's not like he has an excuse not to ask), but instead focuses on Squidward. Squidward also doesn't tell Sponge Bob that he could do all those activities with Patrick just to get him out of his hair.
- Ironic Echo: "Who has the Krabby Patty, and who has the crabby patty?"
- Jerkass Ball:
- SpongeBob just won't leave Squidward alone despite the latter's insistence. And let's not forget him constantly sneaking into Squidward's home one way or another.
- As a matter of fact, everyone at the Krusty Krab treats Squidward like crap by preferring Mini Squidward over him. This shows just how mean-spirited the town of Bikini Bottom is.
- Preferable Impersonator: Everyone in the Krusty Krab prefers the Squidward puppet to Squidward, mostly due to the former acting much more enthusiastically.
- Reaching Between the Lines: SpongeBob sticks his lips through the phone when he asks Squidward if he wants to play Hangman.
- Shake Someone, Objects Fall: Frustrated with SpongeBob repeatedly asking him to play a game, Squidward shakes him, causing several games to fall out of his pants.
- Shaking the Rump: This is featured at least 3 times near the end of the episode. Apparently this is one of Squidward's moves, as SpongeBob does this with Mini Squidward during his dance in the Krusty Krab. Two Bikini Bottomites even do this themselves afterward! Squidward follows through after he shoves the two aside to demonstrate that that's his move, though his version is a lot more like twerking than a simple rear shake...
- Shout-Out:
- 12 Angry Jellyfish is a parody of 12 Angry Men.
- The Clammy Awards is a parody of the Grammy Awards.
- Suddenly Shouting:
- When Squidward gets a call from SpongeBob:SpongeBob: How about a game of Hangman?
Squidward: How about a game of Hang up?! (hangs up the phone) - Squidward shakes SpongeBob after he interrupts his bath:SpongeBob: Whoa, I've never played this game before. What's it called?
Squidward: It's called, I will never play with you... EVER!
- When Squidward gets a call from SpongeBob:
