Original air date: 11/25/2011
The Way of the Sponge
SpongeBob works toward getting a karate belt.
"The Way of the Sponge" contains examples of:
- Achievement In Ignorance: Fuzzy is severely beaten by SpongeBob, but only because the latter was completely unaware that there was even a fight happening to begin with due to being busy with Krusty Krab orders.
- An Aesop: Sometimes your talents may lie elsewhere.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: While SpongeBob is working, this part comes up.SpongeBob: You little Krabby Patties are so cute! Hmm... something's not right here... [sniffs] It's the onions! They've gone bad!
- Comedic Underwear Exposure: SpongeBob's pants drop and his underwear is exposed when Fuzzy takes his belt. The same thing happens to Fuzzy at the end when he rewards Sandy his blacker belt.
- Continuity Nod: SpongeBob was able to absorb one of Fuzzy's kicks and send him flying back (because he's an invertebrate), just as he absorbed Flatts' punching in "The Bully".
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Fuzzy's fight with SpongeBob at the Krusty Krab is entirely one-sided and the squirrel master ends up getting beaten, without the sponge even realizing he was there (nor being aware of the fight to begin with).
- "Everybody Laughs" Ending: The episode ends with everyone in the Krusty Krab laughing after Fuzzy's pants fall down.
- Gross-Up Close-Up: This happens with Fuzzy after he lies defeated from his "match" with SpongeBob.
- Left the Background Music On: When SpongeBob is on Sandy's treadmill, cartoony tiptoeing sounds are heard. Then we see a piano player inside the treedome.
- Medal of Dishonor: SpongeBob is at first given the Clear Belt after failing his karate match against Sandy until Fuzzy decides he shouldn't wear a belt at all.
- Old Master: Fuzzy Acorns is the one who taught Sandy the way of Karate.
- Shout-Out:
- The episode title is a reference to Way of the Dragon.
- SpongeBob's training is a reference to Rocky.
- Special Guest: Rich Fulcher as Fuzzy Acorns.
- Super Not-Drowning Skills: Downplayed. Fuzzy's training has allowed him to not only breathe underwater for a while, but also talk underwater. However, once he's innocently beaten by SpongeBob, he gets too dizzy and talks incomprehensibly until Sandy gives him an air helmet.
- Training Montage: SpongeBob's training is shown as a montage. However, he just gets tired and it turns into a Failure Montage.
- Unknown Rival: Fuzzy Acorns tries fighting SpongeBob in the Krusty Krab, but SpongeBob is completely oblivious to all the attacks. This, combined with his natural cooking skills, leaves Fuzzy on the end of a brutal Curb-Stomp Battle.
Bubble Troubles
SpongeBob and Patrick search for oxygen for Sandy after they ruin her supply.
"Bubble Troubles" contains examples of:
- Ash Face: Happens to Squidward after a large hot sauce bubble pops on him.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: During when SpongeBob decides to go to the surface to get oxygen for Sandy.Patrick: But how are you gonna get up there?SpongeBob: Well, I'll use this tank of oxygen as a makeshift rocket!Patrick: An oxygen tank?! (Beat) Great idea, buddy!
- CPR: Clean, Pretty, Reliable: Patrick, at one point, does this to Sandy.
- Eye Scream: SpongeBob and Patrick get hot sauce bubbles in their eyes repeatedly.
- SpongeBob accidentally jabs Patrick in the eye with the connected straws, though he seems unbothered by it.
- Furry Reminder: This is the first episode that highlights how Pearl, being a whale, is also a mammal that breathes oxygen like Sandy, but she can stay underwater for much longer periods of time. Pearl tries supplying some of her own oxygen into Sandy to help her hold her breath longer.
- Oh, Crap!: SpongeBob and Patrick have this reaction after Sandy warns them to keep bubbles away from her treedome, unaware that the treedome is filled with one large bubble that causes the dome to float to the surface.
- Oxygenated Underwater Bubbles: SpongeBob tries searching for these to give Sandy more air. First, on the ceiling of the Krusty Krab, then from Mr. Krabs' head, then inside of Pearl's blowhole. Eventually, SpongeBob decides to surface to create a giant air bubble for Sandy's then-flooded treedome.
- Inflating Body Gag: Sandy gets puffed up by Pearl.
- Sanity Slippage: Sandy as a result of oxygen deprivation.
- Too Dumb to Live: When Sandy points out that her submarine has enough oxygen for her to breathe while she goes to the surface, SpongeBob opens the door for her, letting the submarine get filled with water. Even Patrick knew that was a dumb move.
- SpongeBob decides to go up to the surface and get some air for Sandy. How does he get up there? An oxygen tank.
