Line #43 Recap/SpongebobSquarepantsS2E4DyingforPieImitationKrabs


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/21d8bdaf_5ef4_46a7_be8f_1206d078150c.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Careful, Squiddy. You're [[EatTheBomb handling an explosive]] there.]]
3
4	'''Dying for Pie'''
5
6	'''Original air date''': 1/27/2001 ''(produced in 2000)''
7
8	It's Employee Brotherhood Day at the Krusty Krab and Mr. Krabs has [=SpongeBob=] and Squidward exchange gifts. Since the gifts have to be homemade, Squidward buys a pie from a crew of pirates and tries to pass it off as his own cooking, but the pie turns out to be a bomb in disguise. When it appears that [=SpongeBob=] has eaten it, a guilty Squidward endeavors to make his last few hours before the bomb detonates as joyful as possible.
9	----
10	!!"Dying for Pie" contains examples of:
11	* AnAesop: Don't always assume a product is safe even if the owner says it is. It could just be a scam for money.
12	** Alternatively, homemade efforts, even if imperfect, come from the heart and are more genuine than attempts to deceive with store-bought items.
13	* AffablyEvil: The pirates are actually pretty polite to Squidward, even initially warning him against taking/eating the pies due to being bombs. The captain, however, is FauxAffablyEvil, as he has no qualms over selling a powerful explosive for twenty-five dollars despite knowing just how dangerous it is.
14	* AllForNothing: Squidward spends the whole afternoon doing activities with [=SpongeBob=] so his last moments before the pie bomb hit his lower intestine would be happy, only to find out that [=SpongeBob=] never ate it in the first place.
15	* AmbiguousSyntax: The second item on [=SpongeBob's=] list is to introduce Squidward to everyone in town wearing a salmon suit. Squidward asks "You're going to be wearing a salmon suit?" Cut to the two of them meeting with some passerby... and ''Squidward'' is the one wearing the salmon suit.
16	* {{Angrish}}: Upon seeing that [=SpongeBob=] is still alive after sunset, Squidward starts spouting gibberish in disbelief:
17	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Squidward, we already played "Babble Like an Idiot"!
18	* AnArmAndALeg: The pirate captain threatens his crew with this if they drop any of the pies.
19	-->'''Captain:''' If you drop one ''single'' slice of me booty, I'll have... your booty!
20	* BaitAndSwitch:
21	** When the sun starts to set, [=SpongeBob=] announces he loves to count down the sunset and starts to do so, but then tells Squidward to do the rest.
22	--->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Here it is, the SUNSET! I love to count it down! FIVE... you do the rest, buddy!
23	** [=SpongeBob=] seems to explode after the sun sets, but it turns out that he was just blowing bomb-shaped bubbles.
24	* BenevolentBoss: Mr. Krabs plays this role again, which isn't outside of the norm for the pre-movie seasons. He organizes the whole "Employee Brotherhood Day" schtick after noticing Squidward's rotten attitude towards [=SpongeBob=] and forces the former to find a gift for his fry cook when Squidward tries to leave. Then, when it seems that [=SpongeBob=] ate the explosive pie Squidward bought, Mr. Krabs gives him an appalled WhatTheHellHero for seemingly dooming him to an early death.
25	* BizarreBelching: [=SpongeBob=] has accidentally swallowed a bomb, which will explode once it reaches the end of his digestive system. Near the end of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] burps, which he interprets as a sign that something has wrapped in his lower intestine. Fortunately, this turns out to be {{Fauxshadow}}ing, since it's then revealed that the protagonist hadn't eaten the bomb to begin with.
26	* {{Bowdlerise}}: All airings of "Dying for Pie" on YTV remove the title card for Canadian audiences. This is so children wouldn't see a [[NeverSayDie reference to death]] in the episode's title. Despite this, the episode itself is left uncut.
27	* BreakTheCutie: [=SpongeBob=] is heartbroken when Squidward rejects his eyelash sweater, to the point where he cries him a new sweater.
28	* BrutalHonesty: When [=SpongeBob=] doesn't explode after sunset, Squidward tells him point-blank that the pie he supposedly ate was a bomb.
29	* BumperSticker: "Don't Ask Me About My Day".
30	* CardiovascularLove: [=SpongeBob's=] sweater for Squidward reads "I ♥ U". Squidward reads it as "I heart you".
31	* CelestialDeadline: When [=SpongeBob=] is thought to eat the exploding pie, Mr. Krabs says he's only got until sunset before it drops into his lower intestine and that’s the time he is to explode.
32	* ConvenienceStoreGiftShopping: Defied; when told he needs to exchange gifts with [=SpongeBob=], Squidward says he’ll just “buy the little twerp a gumball” before Mr. Krabs informs him that he has to make the gift himself.
33	* CrappyHomemadeGift: [=SpongeBob=] makes Squidward a sweater for Employee Brotherhood Day. The hole for Squidward's head is way too big ([=SpongeBob=] says he used a watermelon for scale) and it's itchy because [=SpongeBob=] made the sweater out of his ''eyelash hair.'' Disgusted, Squidward throws the sweater back at [=SpongeBob=], making the sponge cry... and he uses his tears to make a ''new'' sweater for Squidward.
34	* CrashingDreams: The episode opens with an ImagineSpot of Squidward on an island playing tropical music on a piano when he's interrupted by [=SpongeBob=] ringing a bell yelling "Order up, Squidward!", which resulted from his ringing alarm clock.
35	* DisneyDeath: Once the sun sets, we hear an explosion behind the brick wall, and Squidward breaks down in tears, thinking [=SpongeBob=] finally died. Then another explosion occurs, and the wall falls down, revealing [=SpongeBob=] is still alive and well, making bomb bubbles which caused the explosions.
36	* DisproportionateRetribution: When the first crumb of the pie goes off, Mr. Krabs initially thinks Squidward was trying to kill him over his "new age management".
37	* EatTheBomb: The whole episode has Squidward and Mr. Krabs believe that [=SpongeBob=] did in fact eat an exploding pie, [[SubvertedTrope but in the end, it's revealed that [=SpongeBob=] never ate the pie at all, and just wanted to share with Squidward]]. However, he ends up tripping on a rock and [[PieInTheFace throwing the pie in Squidward's face]], causing the entire town to blow up.
38	* EveryoneHasStandards: Squidward hates [=SpongeBob=], but he's not willing to ''kill'' him, and is horrified to learn that he has apparently made it so he will die after eating an explosive pie.
39	* FailedASpotCheck: Upon entering Mr. Krabs' office, [=SpongeBob=] instantly took notice of the pie on his desk, ignoring the huge hole in the wall.
40	* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: It's only an ImagineSpot, but the scene where Squidward imagines [=SpongeBob=] literally exploding in the middle of serving a customer is chilling even for a children's program.
41	* FiveSecondForeshadowing: In Squidward's ImagineSpot when [=SpongeBob=] explodes, chunks of his remains rain down around the customer; when the sun sets and an explosion occurs behind the brick wall, no sponge chunks rain down, giving away that [=SpongeBob=] is not dead.
42	* FreudianSlip: Mr. Krabs does this when explaining [=SpongeBob=]'s plight to Squidward:
43	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' I've seen this before. When that pie goes up to bat- I mean, hits his lower intestine... '''''BOOM!'''''
44	* GoryDiscretionShot: While the aforementioned imagination sequence doesn't show [=SpongeBob=] exploding on-screen, we do see pieces of what used to be the sponge sprinkling all over the restaurant to give the impression that that's what happened.
45	* HairTriggerExplosive: A bite of that pie falling on the ground is enough to blow up Mr. Krabs' office, which makes you wonder [[FridgeLogic why it didn't explode when Squidward dropped it on Mr. Krabs' desk]]. During the ending scene, [=SpongeBob=] shows Squidward that he never ate the bomb pie, he was saving it in his pocket the whole time. He then trips, dropping the pie and causing a ''nuclear explosion'' that leaves Bikini Bottom in tatters.[[invoked]]
46	-->'''Squidward:''' [[MajorInjuryUnderreaction Ow.]]
47	* HomemadeSweaterFromHell: [=SpongeBob=] makes Squidward a sweater made from his own eyelashes. Later he makes another one from his own tears.
48	* ImagineSpotting: Upon hearing that the last thing on [=SpongeBob=]'s list is watching the sunset, Squidward recalls Mr. Krabs saying that's when the bomb hits his lower intestine and kills him. His ImagineSpot doesn't go unnoticed.
49	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Hey, it's Mr. Krabs! Hi, Mr. Krabs! ''(Thought Bubble!Mr. Krabs runs off crying like the real Mr. Krabs did)'' Okay! See ya later!
50	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Squidward once again expresses concern for [=SpongeBob=] as he waits in fear for the bomb to go off. When it ''doesn't'' go off, however, [[NoSympathy Squidward angrily berates SpongeBob]] for not exploding [[AllForNothing because of all the time he wasted doing things with him]].
51	* JustJokingJustification: The pirate captain pulls this on Squidward about his pies actually being bombs the moment he hears Squidward say he wanted to buy one of them.
52	* KarmaHoudini: As far as we know, the pirates never got their comeuppance for tricking Squidward into thinking one of their bombs was an actual pie. At the very least, they conned him out of his money, and their trick could very easily have killed somebody.
53	* KickTheDog: [=SpongeBob=] makes an eyelash sweater for Squidward, who responds with angrily throwing the gift on his face, making him cry a new sweater.
54	* LameRhymeDodge:
55	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Sunsets always remind me of bowls of fruit. What do they make you think of, Squidward?\
56	'''Squidward:''' ''(has an ImagineSpot of [=SpongeBob=] happily running and laughing then suddenly exploding)'' Explosions. I-I mean, uh... e-erosions.
57	* LastDayToLive: Squidward is convinced [=SpongeBob=] ate the bomb pie, so he is tasked by Mr. Krabs to enjoy his "final hours" with him. [[AllForNothing When he doesn't explode after all, Squidward isn't too pleased about it.]]
58	* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: Squidward literally gets caught in a nuclear explosion underwater and his only reaction is nothing more than a simple "Ouch". Plus Mr. Krabs' reaction to almost being blown up basically amounts to, "You seriously thought you were the first to try and kill me over a new management idea?"
59	* MeatgrinderSurgery: [=SpongeBob=] "performs" open-heart surgery on Squidward by opening his chest cavity and poking his heart with his finger. This causes blood to come squirting out, though Squidward is alive and well in the next scene.
60	-->'''Squidward:''' Are you sure you should be poking it like that?\
61	'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Who's the doctor here?
62	* MediumShiftGag: When the bomb finally goes off, it cuts to live-action StockFootage of an underwater atomic explosion.
63	* MistakenForDying: Squidward believes [=SpongeBob=] ate the bomb pie and tries to make the best of his "last day on Earth". [[AllForNothing He is none too happy when he finds out [=SpongeBob=] never ate the pie.]]
64	* MistakenForMurderer: Briefly, when the pie crumb destroys Mr. Krabs' office, he accuses Squidward of trying to off him over a little "new age management". Squidward immediately clears it up by saying he didn't know, [[WhatTheHellHero only to be accused once more]] when it's thought that [=SpongeBob=] ate the bomb.
65	* MoodWhiplash: Squidward goes from fear to guilt to tears to confusion and finally to annoyance when he believes [=SpongeBob=] exploded and died, only to find out he's still perfectly fine.
66	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: When he thinks [=SpongeBob=] is going to die from eating the exploding pie, Squidward has this reaction.
67	* NonFatalExplosion: In the very end when the bomb pie hits Squidward.
68	* NoodleIncident: Mr. Krabs has seen people die from eating exploding pies before. Eleven times, in fact. As has the doctor Squidward calls.
69	* NoSympathy: Initially quite averted with Squidward, who is quite guilt-ridden to learn that [=SpongeBob=] will supposedly die at sunset because of him and willingly joins [=SpongeBob=] in a variety of ridiculous (and even dangerous) activities to make his last hours as meaningful as possible. However, when [=SpongeBob=] does ''not'' explode as expected, instead of being happy, Squidward is [[AllForNothing angry because his time was wasted]].
70	* ObliviousGuiltSlinging: As [=SpongeBob=] and Squidward are watching the sunset.
71	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' You know, if I were to die, right now, in some sort of fiery explosion due to the carelessness of a friend... well, that'd just be okay.\
72	'''Squidward:''' ''(tears up)''
73	* OhCrap: Squidward and Mr. Krabs, after they think [=SpongeBob=] ate the pie.
74	* PieInTheFace: Squidward gets an ''explosive'' pie in the face at the end of the episode.
75	* APirate400YearsTooLate: Squidward buys his pie bomb from an anachronistic-dressed pirate crew (complete with their captain even speaking with a grizzled pirate accent), although they seem to be familiar with 21st century currency.
76	* ReadingForeignSignsOutLoud: The German dub has a few of the characters' voice actors doing it. (For example, translating the BumperSticker from "Don't Ask Me About My Day" to "Frag Mich Nicht Wie's Mir Geht").
77	* RidiculouslyPotentExplosive: PlayedForLaughs. When the bomb disguised as a pie finally goes off at the end of the episode, the explosion is so great we see {{stock footage}} of an underwater A-bomb going off and the blast was large enough to destroy the entire city.
78	* SceneryGorn: Bikini Bottom and its surroundings are positively ''TOASTED'' after the bomb goes off.
79	* SeriesFauxnale: The episode's basic plot makes it look like this is gonna be the series finale, [[BaitAndSwitch but then we find out that SpongeBob never ate the pie in the first place]].
80	* ShaggyDogStory: It turns out [=SpongeBob=] never ate the bomb pie; he was saving it in his pocket, and he really ate a different pie offscreen which was completely non-fatal.
81	* ShoutOut: Squidward's line "There’s gonna be love... SO MUCH! He's gonna ''drown in it! DROWN IN IT!''", especially the way it's read, channels [[Series/TheHoneymooners Ralph Kramden]]'s famous outburst to his mother-in-law: "YOU are a ''blabbermouth!'' A ''BLABBERMOUTH!''"
82	* SkewedPriorities: After Squidward explains to him about the exploding pie, the first thing Mr. Krabs comments on is [[{{Greed}} the twenty-five dollars Squidward spent on the pie]]. Which is a pretty decent point, considering that's $42 in 2022 and the average pie that size should only cost about half that. Justified as well due to the fact that a BOMB costing only twenty-five bucks would also be pretty concerning.
83	* StockAudioClip: [=SpongeBob's=] laughing as he checks the items off his list is used again after "exploding" for Squidward.
84	* StuffBlowingUp: This episode is filled with explosions.
85	* TearsOfRemorse: Squidward sheds these when he thinks [=SpongeBob=] has exploded.
86	* ThreeTwoOne: Squidward hesitantly counts down the sunset to [=SpongeBob=]'s request, when he believes his explosion is going to happen any second.
87	* TooDumbToLive:
88	** [=SpongeBob=], who ''completely'' looks past that Squidward just explained that the pie was a bomb and still suggests that they eat it anyway. He then trips over a pebble, accidentally sending the pie flying into Squidward's face, blowing up all of Bikini Bottom in the process.
89	** Squidward as well, for knowingly buying a pie explicitly said to be a bomb by the pirates, and taking their word for it when they say that they were [[JustJokingJustification just]] [[BlatantLies kidding]] as they con him out of a fast buck, although Squidward probably didn't care enough to think twice and only wanted to get Mr. Krabs off his back.
90	* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: "Mr. Krabs, are you okay? I heard a-... Wooow! ''(approaches the hole in the wall)'' [[BaitAndSwitch A]] ''[[BaitAndSwitch pie]]''!"
91	* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom:
92	** Mr. Krabs, who told Squidward he had to make a gift for [=SpongeBob=].
93	** Squidward also counts, as he believed the captain when the latter said they were kidding about the pies being bombs.
94	* WatchingTheSunset: [=SpongeBob=]'s last thing to do is to watch the sunset with Squidward. While the former enjoys such, the latter panics as this is the time the pie drops into [=SpongeBob=]'s lower intestine and will explode any second.
95	* WeaponOfMassDestruction: The pie bomb Squidward buys is strong enough to level all of Bikini Bottom. Even just a crumb of it was able to obliterate the back of the Krusty Krab.
96	* WhamShot: A second explosion occurring behind the brick wall when Squidward is breaking down, which causes the wall to fall and reveal [=SpongeBob=], still alive and well.
97	* WhatTheHellHero: Mr. Krabs gives one to Squidward when it looked like [=SpongeBob=] has eaten the exploding pie.
98	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' You had to kill him. The boy cries you a sweater of tears... and you kill him. How are you gonna live with yourself?
99
100	----
101	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4af1d706_bc0b_47c6_af92_b2a5531cb0fe.png]]
102	[[caption-width-right:350:"Until I know who the ''real'' Mr. Krabs is, nobody moves... nobody gets hurt!"]]
103
104	'''Imitation Krabs'''
105
106	'''Original air date''': 1/27/2001 ''(produced in 2000)''
107
108	Plankton uses a robotic duplicate of Mr. Krabs to try and steal the Krabby Patty formula, and [=SpongeBob=] believes it's the real thing.
109	----
110	!!"Imitation Krabs" contains examples of:
111	* AccidentalTruth: [=SpongeBob=] [[MistakenForAnImposter mistakes a customer who makes an innocent query about what's in Krabby Patties for Plankton in another disguise]] and rips off his head. Turns out, he ''was'' wearing a mask, but only because he's insecure about the fact that his real head is disproportionately small for his body.
112	-->'''Customer:''' Everyone at the Head Enhancement Clinic said nobody would notice! ''(runs away crying)''
113	* AnAesop: Don't be fooled by imposters.
114	* AirQuotes: Used by Squidward when he meets Robot Krabs.
115	-->'''Squidward:''' You're not Mr. Krabs.\
116	'''Robot Krabs:''' Hey, why don't you take the rest of the day off?\
117	'''Squidward:''' We-e-ell! Whatever you say, "Mr. Krabs".
118	* BaitAndSwitch: Initially, it seems that [=SpongeBob=]'s second SpotTheImposter question is, "How much does a Krabby Patty cost?" But when Mr. Krabs gives the answer, it turns out [=SpongeBob=] was pausing for dramatic effect, and the full question is, "How much does a Krabby Patty cost... on Wednesday?"
119	* BehindAStick: After getting the real Krabs out of the way, Plankton's robot Krabs emerges from behind the mast in front of the Krusty Krab.
120	* BerserkButton: Asking for a day off, let alone ''saying'' the words "day off", is enough to send Mr. Krabs into a rage.
121	* BigShutUp: [=SpongeBob=] eventually can't stand Mr. Krabs and Robot Krabs' arguing during the episode's climax, and shuts them up with this and a vat of tartar sauce as a weapon.
122	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' '''''QUIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!''''' ''([[OhCrap Both versions of Krabs turn to see him holding a hose of tartar sauce]])'' Until I know who the real Mr. Krabs is, nobody moves, nobody gets hurt!
123	* BigWhat: Plankton screams this after 6½ hours of random requests from [=SpongeBob=] before giving him the formula. Since he’s speaking through Robot Krabs, it comes out rather dull.
124	* BottleEpisode: The entire episode is set at the Krusty Krab, and [=SpongeBob=] is wearing his hat almost the entire time.
125	* CallBack: Back in "[[Recap/SpongebobSquarepantsS1E20HookyMermaidManAndBarnacleBoyII Hooky]]", Mr. Krabs mentioned that nobody has taken a day off at the Krusty Krab since the Great Chum Famine of '59, which is supported by his violent reaction to Squidward taking the day off.
126	* CrazyPrepared: Mr. Krabs instructed [=SpongeBob=] to never actually speak the Krabby Patty formula.
127	* DeusExMachina: Nowhere was the self-destruct switch foreshadowed before it comes into play.
128	* DidntThinkThisThrough: Plankton didn't count on [=SpongeBob=] using the coin-operated self-destruct system.
129	-->'''Plankton:''' Coin-operated self-destruct? Not one of my better ideas. ''(runs off back to the Chum Bucket with the formula)'' '''''HEEEEEELLLLLP!!!!!''''' ''(the robot explodes, destroying the Chum Bucket and causing the giant fist to land on him)'' Ouch!
130	* DramaticGasp: When Mr. Krabs walks in on [=SpongeBob=] about to give Robot Krabs the secret formula, everyone gasps, [[AnimateInanimateObject including the penny Krabs was chasing]].
131	* EasilyForgiven: Mr. Krabs forgives [=SpongeBob=] for his tests, being satisfied that the secret formula was alright. However, he does tell [=SpongeBob=] that the penny Plankton used is coming out of his paycheck, though [=SpongeBob=] is unsure if Mr. Krabs is joking or not.
132	* EverybodyLaughsEnding: At the end of the episode, Mr. Krabs says, "That penny is coming out of your paycheck". He and [=SpongeBob=] then laugh before [=SpongeBob=] says, "Really?".
133	* FireballEyeballs: Robot Krabs has them when [=SpongeBob=] refuses to tell him the secret formula.
134	* FlawExploitation: Plankton keeps Mr. Krabs out of his hair for a while by using his own greed against him, getting him to chase after a rolling penny.
135	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: The opening pan of the Krusty Krab's interior shows the patrons enjoying their burgers in... creative ways. For example, one customer is sucking on it like a pacifier while another has removed the top bun and is licking the inside like an Oreo.
136	* HighPressureEmotion: Mr. Krabs quite literally blows off steam after he realizes "he" (in reality Plankton as Robot Krabs) gave Squidward a day off:
137	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' Day... '''''OOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFF?????!!!!!'''''
138	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[SelfDestructMechanism "Coin-operated self-destruct.]] [[LampshadeHanging Not one of my better ideas..."]] [[note]]Doubly so, since Plankton was the one who threw the penny for Mr. Krabs to catch in the first place.[[/note]]
139	* HumansAreCthulhu: One human tried eating Mr. Krabs with a fork.
140	* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne:
141	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' If I were a robot, which I'm not, at least I'm well put together, not some rusted-up, steam-driven pile of junk.\
142	'''Robot Krabs:''' Who are you calling steam-driven?
143	* InventionalWisdom: Even Plankton admits that equipping his robot with a ''coin-operated'' SelfDestructMechanism wasn't a good idea.
144	* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: [=SpongeBob=] attempts to SpotTheImposter between Mr. Krabs and Robot Krabs by metaphorically holding ''both'' of them at gunpoint with a hose full of tartar sauce while asking them trivia questions that only the real Mr. Krabs would know.
145	* JerkassHasAPoint: [[LazyBum Squidward]] jokes that it's better to put things off until tomorrow. Mr. Krabs counters by pointing out that ''today'' is yesterday's tomorrow, and immediately puts him to work on inventory. Krabs may be a cheap, lousy boss, but he knows how to cut the crap.
146	* LookBehindYou: When Plankton hears Mr. Krabs coming, he says to [=SpongeBob=], "Look, a jellyfish!". [=SpongeBob=] [[CrazyPrepared whips out his net]] yelling "I got it! I got it!" and chases the nonexistent jellyfish while Plankton converts his robot into a toaster.
147	* MachineMonotone: Robot Krabs has no inflections, even when Plankton yells.
148	* MaliciousMisnaming: Near the end when [=SpongeBob=] hands Robot Krabs the Krabby Patty formula, Plankton/Robot Krabs calls [=SpongeBob=] "[=SpongeDupe=]".
149	* MistakenForAnImposter: When a customer wonders what Krabby Patties are made of, [=SpongeBob=] assumes it's Plankton in disguise and rips his head off. Turns out he was just a regular guy wearing a prosthetic head.
150	* MotorMouth: [=SpongeBob=] giving Plankton the Krabby Patty disclaimer all in one breath.
151	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [=SpongeBob=] realizes his mistake when he finds out that Mr. Krabs wasn't a fake, apologizing to the latter for almost having him eaten by Hans.
152	* NearVillainVictory: If Plankton weren't so busy laughing himself silly when [=SpongeBob=] activated the self-destruct coin slot, odds are he would've finally stolen the secret formula. Alternatively, he would have succeeded if he hadn't installed a coin-operated SelfDestructMechanism in the first place.
153	* NoodleIncident: "If we're discussing the secret formula on the third Wednesday in January and it's not raining outside, after we gargle with vanilla pudding, what do we do?"
154	* OhCrap:
155	** Both Mr. Krabs and Robot Krabs when [=SpongeBob=] threatens them with tartar sauce.
156	** Plankton when [=SpongeBob=] unwittingly inserts a penny into the self-destruct coin slot.
157	** [=SpongeBob=] when he witnesses Robot Krabs run into the Chum Bucket and explode, after kicking out the real Mr. Krabs.
158	--->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' If that was ''Plankton''... Uh-oh.
159	* OnlySaneMan: Played with--Squidward immediately figures out that Plankton's robot isn't Mr. Krabs. However, he goes along with it when Plankton gives him the rest of the day off.
160	* PaperThinDisguise: [=SpongeBob=] falls completely for Plankton's robot, despite being obviously made of metal and talking in RoboSpeak in ''Plankton's own voice''. Squidward doesn't fall for it, but plays along anyway when "Mr. Krabs" gives him the day off.
161	* PinocchioNose: A variant, every time Plankton/Robot Krabs says that he's Mr. Krabs, smoke puffs out from the robot's exhaust pipe.
162	* PunBasedTitle: The episode title comes from "imitation crab", another word for [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_stick crab sticks]], an inexpensive Japanese crab meat substitute made from whitefish and flour.
163	* RageBreakingPoint:
164	** Plankton reaches his after at least six and a half hours of inane activities with [=SpongeBob=], who ''still'' won't tell "Mr. Krabs" what the secret formula is:
165	-->'''Plankton:''' ''(after a spaghetti and meatball dish with [=SpongeBob=] as an Italian chef, through Robot Krabs)'' Okay, now let's hear that formula.\
166	'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Sorry, ''(takes off his chef mustache)'' no can do, Mr. Krabs.\
167	'''Plankton:''' ''(through Robot Krabs, whose eyes catch fire out of rage)'' '''WHAAAAAAATTTTT?!''' ''(we cut to him inside, mid-VillainousBreakdown)'' But we did ''EVERYTHING YOU SAID'', I followed ''ALL THE RULES''! I even ate a hundred and five black licorice jellybeans through a ''(holds up a straw)'' '''''STRAW'''''! ''(through Robot Krabs)'' Now why can't you tell me the formula?!
168	** Then shortly after Mr. Krabs busts in and [[ConfrontingYourImpostor confronts his robot double]], [=SpongeBob=] snaps out of paranoia and rage and with a BigShutUp, takes matters into his own hands.
169	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': ''(holding both Krabses hostage with a vat of tartar sauce)'' '''''QUIEEEEEET!''''' Until I know who the ''real'' Mr. Krabs is, nobody moves, ''nobody gets hurt''!
170	* RealTime: When [=SpongeBob=] somehow activates Robot Krabs’ coin-operated self destruct, it states the robot will self-destruct in ten seconds. Indeed, exactly ten seconds elapse between that announcement and the time Robot Krabs explodes.
171	* RobotMe: Plankton creates a robot double of Mr. Krabs to get the Krabby Patty formula.
172	* RockyRollCall:
173	-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' Plankton!\
174	'''Plankton:''' Krabs!\
175	'''Mr. Krabs:''' Plankton!\
176	'''Plankton:''' Krabs!\
177	'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' [=SpongeBob=]!
178	* RuleOfFunny: Why else would Plankton do something as stupid as put a coin-op self-destruct function on Robot Krabs?
179	* SayingSoundEffectsOutLoud: After eating spaghetti, Robot Krabs says "Belch" rather than actually belching. Also, his DramaticGasp when Mr. Krabs appears is him just saying "Gasp".
180	* SecretHandshake: [=SpongeBob=] has a long, elaborate one with Mr. Krabs. It takes over ''6½ hours'' to do. He ends up leading the Robot Krabs through it step-by-step, [[IdiotBall defeating the entire purpose of a secret handshake]].
181	* SkywardScream: When [=SpongeBob=] informs Mr. Krabs, who is wondering where Squidward is, that he gave Squidward the day off, Mr. Krabs' irises narrow to pinpricks, as he says, "Day..." and screams, "'''OOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFF?!?!?'''"
182	* SpotTheImposter: [=SpongeBob=] gives the two Krabs a series of questions he thinks only the real Mr. Krabs would know. The first two are generic questions that anyone who's been to the Krusty Krab can answer and Robot Krabs answers them both. The third question is one that is so complicated even the real Krabs can't answer it.
183	* ThrowingTheDistraction: To get rid of Krabs, Plankton throws a penny and Krabs follows it as it rolls out the door. It later rolls back inside, leading Krabs to Plankton just as he's about to get the formula.
184	* TitleDrop: "So long, Imitation Krabs! Bye-bye!"
185	* TooDumbToLive:
186	** [=SpongeBob=] as usual. He completely falls for Plankton's [[PaperThinDisguise robot Krabs "disguise"]] every step of the way. Even worse during the SpotTheImposter part, where he's ''blatantly'' favouring the imitation Krabs to be the real one: When the real Krabs answers the second question correctly, [=SpongeBob=] asks another related question as if expecting the other Krabs (the imitation one) to answer it. Then he gives a confusing third question possibly to stump the real Krabs, as when he failed to answer it, [=SpongeBob=] immediately kicks him out even though imitation Krabs ''hadn't even given an answer yet''. To top it off, after he kicked out the real Krabs, he told the imitation Krabs that he "knew it all along" that he (the imitation) is the real Krabs. Fortunately, he realizes the truth when Robot Krabs rushes to the Chum Bucket with the formula before exploding. You really have to wonder why Mr. Krabs didn't fire him by the end of the episode, though it could be a case of EasilyForgiven and decided a suitable punishment was taking something out of [=SpongeBob=]'s paycheck for the penny he lost. Unlike other examples of [=SpongeBob=] brushing this off, he sounds notably nervous when Krab's statement sinks in.
187	** Plankton also counts. He rushed all the way back to the Chum Bucket as the self-destruct sequence nears its end, ''blowing up his own restaurant''. Even before that, putting an externally mounted, coin-operated SelfDestructMechanism on his robot, which he admits that was [[InventionalWisdom a stupid idea]].
188	* TransformingMecha: Plankton hits a button to transform Robot Krabs into a toaster before Mr. Krabs returns.
189	* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: [=SpongeBob=] only seems to find it mildly strange that "Mr. Krabs" suddenly is wearing a metal suit, can fire beams out of his eyes, and has a microphone extend from his clothes. Of course, this is [[IdiotHero SpongeBob]] we're talking about.

Context Recap / SpongebobSquarepantsS2E4DyingforPieImitationKrabs