Line #11 Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E18MissingIdentityPlanktonsArmy


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/3f7b10d0_9309_4054_b546_14fcc8a95f3c.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:How every Monday morning ''[[SarcasmMode should]]'' start.]]
3
4	'''Missing Identity'''
5
6	'''Original air date:''' 1/19/2004 ''(produced in 2002; first aired in Canada on 11/14/02)''
7
8	[=SpongeBob=] recalls a time where he goes into an existential crisis when he loses his name tag, and tries to retrace his steps in order to recover it.
9	----
10	!!"Missing Identity" contains examples of:
11	* AccidentalMisnaming: "Hi [=SpongeBoob=]!"
12	* AnAesop:
13	** Don't overcorrect yourself when trying to retrace your steps.
14	** Don't put your clothes on backwards.
15	** Always make sure you're clean and presentable at work.
16	* AsideGlance: Twice in the episode, [=SpongeBob=] reacts to a joke by staring blankly at the camera with his hand on his cheek -- a ShoutOut to Jack Benny.
17	* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: When Patrick is looking for [=SpongeBob's=] nametag in the dumpster, he comes across a record of a band he likes and wonders, "why would anyone throw this away?"
18	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Have you [[SuddenlyShouting FORGOTTEN WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR]] knee-deep in yesterday's Top 40 songs!?
19	* BaitAndSwitchComment:
20	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' Attention, all employees! Just a quick heads-up, boys. There's going to be a surprise uniform inspection in one hour. Anyone who doesn't pass... gets the boot! ''[[[LiteralMetaphor pulls out a big black boot]] giving off green fumes]'' This boot, to be exact. It's very stinky, and you'll have to wear it all day. See ya in an hour.
21	* BiggerOnTheInside: When viewing the dumpster from the outside, it's normal size, but after [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick jump in, it becomes as big as a swimming pool.
22	* BigWhy: Well, Big "[[GratuitousFrench PORQUOI]]?!" in this case anyway, but the meaning's still there.
23	* BlandNameProduct: Gary (and [[EatingPetFood SpongeBob]]) eat [=SnailPo=], which is the snail version of Alpo pet food.
24	* ComicalOverreacting: [=SpongeBob=] starts hyperventilating and eventually faints because he lost his nametag.
25	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' I lost my nametag! '''''[[GratuitousFrench POURQUOI?!]]'''''
26	* {{Corpsing}}: [=SpongeBob=]'s numerous attempts to retrace his steps always end with Patrick flubbing the line in the same vein as a [[HilariousOuttakes blooper reel]]. By the end of it, he has the giggles.
27	* CruelTwistEnding: [=SpongeBob=] manages to find his name tag in time for inspection, but because he crawled in the dumpster thinking it was there, he smells so bad that he possibly fails.
28	* DisasterDominoes: [=SpongeBob=]'s "horrific incident of terror". He wakes up, tosses his blanket over his head which glomps right over him, he falls off the bed, the alarm clock lands on top, stumbles out the door and falls down the stairs, the alarm clock sends him flying into the window, slides up to Gary, feeds him, and finally takes a whiff of [=SnailPo=] and is so grossed out the company notices.
29	* DistantReactionShot: When [=SpongeBob=] is disgusted from the [=SnailPo=] and yells "BLEH!" in response, the camera cuts to outside his pineapple, to the downtown streets, and finally to [=SnailPo=] Headquarters where one of the workers seems aware of it.
30	* DumpsterDive: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick jump into the Krusty Krab dumpster to look for the nametag.
31	* EatingPetFood: After feeding Gary, [=SpongeBob=] wonders how [=SnailPo=] tastes since he never found out in all his years. He puts his tongue tip in the snail food, and the taste is so disgusting that even the headquarters hear his yelling.
32	* EurekaMoment: Patrick saying "At least I don't wear my shirt backward" causes [=SpongeBob=] to realize he left his shirt on backwards and he was wearing his name tag the whole time.
33	* FailureMontage: [=SpongeBob=] recreating his morning to find out where he left his name tag turns into this, as he keeps starting over when Patrick keeps forgetting to say hi to him.
34	* {{Foreshadowing}}: When [=SpongeBob=] gets dressed, eagle-eyed viewers will notice his shirt is missing the front folds.
35	* FramingDevice: The events are told via {{flashback}} by [=SpongeBob=] at a diner one rainy night.
36	* GratuitousFrench: [=SpongeBob=] cries "'''''POURQUOI?!'''''", which means "why" in French.
37	* HilariousOuttakes: [=SpongeBob=] trying and failing to get Patrick to say hi to him as he retraces his steps is presented as this, complete with Patrick apologizing to the audience for his repeated flubbing.
38	* IdentityBreakdown: Parodied, as misplacing his nametag sends [=SpongeBob=] into a spiral.
39	* IdiotBall: Granted, [=SpongeBob=] isn't the wisest guy around, but even he should still realize that by "retracing his steps", he should just look around to where he was at the moment, not put himself in the same predicament.
40	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall:
41	** Patrick trying to say hi to [=SpongeBob=] and constantly flubbing his lines is very similar to a blooper reel. After hysterically laughing at accidentally calling his friend "[=SpongeBoob=]" he says to the camera "sorry, people."
42	** When [=SpongeBob=] finishes his story at the diner, the waitress tells him that he "managed to kill eleven minutes", which is the typical length of an episode.
43	* {{Melodrama}}: [=Spongebob=] has a near-mental breakdown (including screaming "WHY?!" in French and fainting) over losing his nametag.
44	* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: After [=SpongeBob=] tastes Gary's food and goes '''"Bleagh!"''', miles away at [=SnailPo=] headquarters, an employee says [[Film/ANewHope "I feel... a disturbance."]]
45	* OverlyLongGag: In trying to retrace his steps, [=SpongeBob=] has to recreate his morning exactly -- including stumbling down the stairs and tasting Gary's snail food -- over and over, because Patrick kept flubbing his lines.
46	* RewatchBonus: Eagle-eyed viewers will notice [=SpongeBob's=] clothes actually are on backwards way before he actually notices himself. And during the retracing steps montage, he keeps skipping a step between eating [=SnailPo=] and saying hi to Patrick; putting his clothes on.
47	* RightForTheWrongReasons: Both [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick were wrong that his name tag was in the apple Mr. Krabs threw out, but they were right about finding it in the dumpster, as they were in the dumpster at the time [=SpongeBob=] found his name tag.
48	* RunningGag: [=SpongeBob=] keeping getting his recreations of his morning wrong (waking up still dressed and with the blankets on his head, falling off the stairs inside the his alarm clock, bumping the window after getting hurled by the alarm clock, feeding Gary, tasting the [=SnailPo=] ('''"BLEAGH!"''') and Patrick keeps messing up his lines when he's supposed to say hello to him). All this in a montage that lasts around one minute and thirty seconds.
49	* SeriousBusiness: To [=SpongeBob=], losing his nametag was a literal identity crisis.
50	* ShaggyDogStory: Turns out [=SpongeBob=] has his nametag on all along, he just had his clothes on backwards. Not to mention he still "got the boot" because he just got back from dumpster diving.
51	* ShoutOut:
52	** At the [=SnailPo=] headquarters, Peterson says that he "feels a disturbance", albeit not a [[Franchise/StarWars disturbance in the Force]].
53	** In [=SpongeBob=]'s ImagineSpot, the bank robber wearing his nametag shouts, "[[Film/DogDayAfternoon ATTICA!]]"
54	** Stingray 5000 are a rather on-the-nose homage to Music/Powerman5000.
55	* SmartBall: Patrick grabs it after enough failed attempts at recreating the events of the morning, asking [=SpongeBob=] to go over everything else he did that day instead of just repeating the same thing over and over.
56	* StaircaseTumble: [=SpongeBob=] falls down the stairs after waking up. He then has to do it over and over again when trying to retrace his steps.
57	* TemptingFate: [=SpongeBob=] says that he'll never have to taste Gary's snail food again. He does exactly that while retracing his steps.
58	* ThatCameOutWrong: In one of the attempts at recreating [=SpongeBob=]'s morning routine, Patrick greets him with "Hi, [=SpongeBoob=]". This causes him to burst out laughing.
59	* WearingItAllWrong: When [=SpongeBob=] puts on his pants, they first end up on his hand, then on his head. He eventually gets it right, but fails to notice that his shirt is backwards.
60	----
61	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bb9da7b0_447f_4443_9a9f_05995df8776a.png]]
62	[[caption-width-right:350:"Victory, thy name is Plankton!"[[note]]...So, where's the root beer at?[[/note]]]]
63
64	'''Plankton's Army'''
65
66	'''Original air date''': 1/19/2004 ''(produced in 2002; first aired in Canada on 11/14/02)''
67
68	After realizing there's strength in numbers, Plankton hires his relatives to help him get the Krabby Patty formula once and for all, and almost succeeds.
69	----
70	!!"Plankton's Army" contains examples of:
71	* AnAesop: Working with others is often much more effective than working alone.
72	* ArtisticLicensePhysics: As small as Plankton is, he shouldn't have been able to fit inside a two-dimensional dollar bill. Of course, RuleOfFunny was probably in effect.
73	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Plankton's family isn't particularly villainous or malicious, nor are many of them especially intelligent... but together they easily take full control of the Krusty Krab and allow Plankton to open the secret formula vault.
74	* BriarPatching: Mr. Krabs begs Plankton not to read the secret formula, telling him that he won't like what he sees. Naturally, since the secret formula is a decoy, this is exactly what he ''wants'' Plankton to do, and Plankton takes the bait.
75	* BrickJoke: [=SpongeBob=] is sent to clean the bathrooms early in the episode. He doesn't appear again until the end, after the whole ordeal with Plankton and his relatives is over.
76	* CountryCousin: Plankton's relatives all turn out to be hillbillies, much to his surprise.
77	-->'''Plankton:''' I've been away from home longer than I thought.
78	* CrazyPrepared: As it turns out, Mr. Krabs anticipated the possibility of Plankton actually succeeding in getting his hands on the formula, so he planted a fake one in which ''ground plankton was the secret ingredient'', sending Plankton and his entire family running for the hills. What he didn't count on was Squidward correctly guessing where the real formula is.
79	-->'''Squidward:''' Let me guess. It's at home, under your mattress.\
80	'''Mr. Krabs:''' ''(runs all the way home)'' CURSE YOU, SQUIDWARD!!!
81	* ADayInTheLimelight: This episode primarily focuses on Plankton's plan to use his relatives to steal the formula. [=SpongeBob=] spends the bulk of the episode OutOfFocus.
82	* DemotedToExtra: [=SpongeBob=] only appears at the very beginning and the very end of this episode.
83	* DidntThinkThisThrough:
84	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' Plankton! You knew I would never distrust a dollar!\
85	'''Plankton:''' That's right, Krabs! Now hand over the Krabby Patty secret formula!\
86	'''Mr. Krabs:''' ''[[{{Beat}} (beat)]]'' Or what?\
87	'''Plankton:''' I don't know. [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption I never thought I'd get this far.]]
88	* DisappointingHeritageReveal: Plankton calls on his many relatives to help him get the Krabby Patty formula, assuming that they're all criminal masterminds like him. Imagine his disappointment when they turn out to be dimwitted backwoods hicks.
89	* EatTheCamera: The camera zooms into Plankton's open mouth as he and his relatives burst into the Krusty Krab.
90	* EmbarrassingFirstName: Plankton's first name is revealed to be Sheldon, much to Karen's amusement.
91	* EpicFail: Clem can't interpret that the recipe book was saying that Krabby Patties are made of plankton by stating he's illiterate (he can't read). However, there was a picture of Sheldon himself on that book, and Sheldon was outright audibly reading out the whole recipe.
92	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Despite all the underhanded attempts he's taken to steal the Krabby Patty formula, when Plankton thinks one of the ingredients [[TheSecretOfLongPorkPies is ground plankton]] [[GoMadFromTheRevelation he runs out screaming]] like the rest of his family[[note]]except Clem who's illiterate[[/note]].
93	* ExpospeakGag: Plankton claims to know how to speak to criminals, but then he enters a BadGuyBar and gets beaten up after giving them the following line.
94	-->'''Plankton:''' Felicitations, malefactors! I am endeavoring to misappropriate the formulary for the preparation of affordable comestibles! ''[[SuddenlyShouting Who will join me?]]''
95	-->'''Plankton:''' ''(bandaged, bruised and sitting in a wheelchair)'' I don't get it. No matter what I do, I always end up squashed by someone bigger than me!
96	* GivenNameReveal: This episode reveals that Plankton’s first name is "Sheldon", and his middle name starts with a J. Naturally, when Karen learns this, she finds it funny and mocks Plankton relentlessly until he finally decides to power her down.
97	* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Seeing that the phony SecretIngredient for the Krabby Patty is ground plankton causes Plankton and his relatives to run screaming out of the Krusty Krab, except for Clem who can't read.
98	* HayseedName: Plankton's hillbilly relatives; when Clem introduces them all he gets pretty tired of the names:
99	-->'''Clem:''' Of course, you remember Zeke, Rufus, Geke, Billy Bob, Billy Jim, Billy-Billy Bo-Illy Bonana Fanna Fo-Filly, Doug, Enos... ''(some time later)'' Hatfield, Fletcher [=McGee=], Rainchild, Zeke Junior--\
100	'''Plankton:''' '''''ALRIGHT, I GET IT!!!'''''
101	* ImmediateSelfContradiction: Plankton claims he knows how to speak the language of his potential minions: cue him meeting a bunch of tough guys and talking to them in SesquipedalianLoquaciousness.
102	* NeverTrustATrailer: The promos for this episode hyped up Plankton finally learning the Krabby Patty formula. That doesn't happen (the "secret formula" was actually a decoy to scare him and his cousins off).
103	* NonstandardCharacterDesign: Clem's antennae are actually part of his hat, unlike Plankton and the rest of his family who have real antennae.
104	* NotMeThisTime: A suspicious-looking robot customer casually enters the Krusty Krab, remarking to itself (but loudly enough for all to hear) that it would like to "sample the wares" of the "quaint restaurant." Mr. Krabs immediately deduces that it's a plot by Plankton and that the "customer" will order a Krabby Patty. Instead, it buys a single serving of chili coral bits, even after Krabs suggests that the robot order a Krabby Patty instead. It is then subverted when Plankton [[KansasCityShuffle leaps out of a hidden compartment in the dollar the robot used to pay for the food]].
105	* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Even though Plankton's relatives turn out to be clueless rednecks instead of the super smart criminal masterminds he had expected them to be, they overpower Mr. Krabs and obtain the supposed formula rather quickly and effectively.
106	* PrivacyByDistraction: At the beginning of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] is told to mop the men's bathroom, getting him out of the way so that Mr. Krabs can deal with the robot customer.
107	* TheSecretOfLongPorkPies: Plankton and his relatives are [[EvenEvilHasStandards understandably horrified]] to discover that the meat in a Krabby Patty is made from their kind. {{Subverted\|Trope}} when Mr. Krabs reveals that it was just a decoy recipe.
108	* ShooOutTheClowns: [=SpongeBob=] is absent from the scene where Plankton has Mr. Krabs and Squidward trapped in the toilet. He reappears, [[BrickJoke mop in hand,]] after Plankton and his therebetween find out about the Krabby Patty formula. This is an odd case, as the proceedings that go on without him are just as clownish.
109	* SouthernFriedGenius:
110	** While almost all of Plankton's southern cousins are dimwitted, one appears to be a technology buff, as his request for helping Plankton get the formula is to receive some more memory for his laptop.
111	** They also apparently know about the human anatomy. They're capable of forming a working human ear.
112	* SpeciesSurname: This episode reveals that Plankton's full name is Sheldon J. Plankton.
113	* StatusQuoIsGod: Krabs points out the supposed formula the Plankton family found is just a decoy, and Plankton will almost certainly figure that out soon and revert back to trying to steal the real one.
114	* SynchronizedSwarming: The Planktons, as {{Lampshaded}} by Mr. Krabs.
115	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' Curse you, Plankton, and your ability to join together to form a working human ear!
116	* ThatsNoMoon: Plankton's family surrounds the Krusty Krab and Mr. Krabs asks "You planted grass?" Then the "grass" starts laughing and reshaping itself into limbs and ears...
117	* TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow:
118	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' (tied up, while Plankton is about to read the secret Krabby Patty formula/recipe) I'm telling you! You won't be able to handle the truth! There are some things in this world that weren't meant for mortal eyes!\
119	'''Plankton:''' [[{{Cyclops}} Eye]].\
120	'''Mr. Krabs:''' Eye.\
121	'''Plankton:''' I don't care!\
122	''(some time later)''\
123	'''Plankton:'''... mixed together with the most important ingredient of all: four heaping pounds of freshly ground... (turns page, sees picture of himself) plankton!?\
124	'''Mr. Krabs:''' [[IWarnedYou I warned ya]].\
125	(Plankton screams and runs back to the Chum Bucket)
126	** Fortunately for everyone, the recipe was a decoy.
127	* ToiletTeleportation: After he sees Plankton jump out of the dollar that the robot gave him, Mr. Krabs flushes Plankton down the toilet. [[BrickJoke Later]], Plankton tries to flush Krabs down the toilet, but fails because [[DidntThinkThisThrough Krabs is too big to fit down the pipes]].
128	* TokenMinority: Whilst most of Plankton's cousins are from the underwater version of the DeepSouth, a few appear to be Russian and Mexican.
129	* VillainEpisode: This episode focuses largely on Plankton as he recruits his extended family to get the formula.
130	* WaxingLyrical: One of Plankton's cousins is Billy Billy Bo-Illy Bonana Fanna Fo-Filly, a lyric from the Shirley Ellis song "The Name Game".
131	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We see a robot (built by Plankton, presumably) purchase chilli coral bits, and gives Krabs a "dollar" from which Plankton jumps out of. So, what became of the robot?
132	* YouAndWhatArmy: Mr. Krabs asks this to Plankton, who then introduces him to his relatives.

Context Recap / SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E18MissingIdentityPlanktonsArmy