Original air date: 4/17/2009 (produced in 2008) note
Mr. Krabs attempts to sell Krabby Patties to the surfers at Goo Lagoon after he forgets to pay the electric bill for the Krusty Krab. But a rogue wave ruins that plan and washes SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward up on a remote island. The only way to get back to Bikini Bottom is for the three surf their way back with the help of the legendary surfer, Jack Kahuna Laguna (voiced by Johnny Depp and called "JKL" for short).
SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One contains examples of:
- Arc Words: JKL's "Just keep breathing."
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: “Black sky? Water spouts… of blood?? Jelly donuts falling from the sky???”
- An Aesop: Never give up.
- Big "NO!":
- Patrick shouts this when the Big One eats his surfboard.
- SpongeBob screams one when he sees JKL sacrifice himself to the Big One.
- The Cameo: Davy Jones' Locker turns out to belong to Davy Jones of The Monkees.
- Companion Cube: Mr. Krabs's cash register becomes one for him, which he calls "Cashie".
- Creative Closing Credits: The song "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees is played over the credits.
- Dance Party Ending: Everybody celebrates the gang's return by throwing a luau.
- Disney Death: JKL jumps into the Big One with Cashie, and bids goodbye but then the next day comes back to reveal he survived the wave with Cashie. He gives her back to Mr. Krabs and celebrates with the gang at the luau.
- Even the Guys Want Him: Patrick seems to be smitten with JKL.Squidward: Look, surf boy! Are you going to teach us how to surf or are we just going to stand here and stare at you all day?Patrick: I kinda like staring at him.
- Gross-Up Close-Up: After SpongeBob tells Squidward to stop judging people based on how they look, we are treated to a close up of SpongeBob looking ugly.
- Heroic Sacrifice: JKL warns the gang that The Big One always demands a sacrifice of one of the surfers. JKL himself ultimately chooses to be the sacrifice to save Mr. Krabs' cash register, though he somehow makes it out okay.Squidward: I volunteer SpongeBob.
- Large Ham: Davy Jones' cameo in the special, where he laughs his head off, corpses at the very end, and mockingly sings "Daydream Believer" at the Flying Dutchman.
- Murder Water: The titular Big One is a sentient giant wave with an evil smile who eats those who ride it.
- Roger Rabbit Effect: Inverted, as Davy Jones' cameo has him superimposed over the animated background rather than vice-versa.
- Series Continuity Error: SpongeBob starts freaking out because he doesn't know how to surf, but he's been seen surfing plenty of times in previous episodes. Though it could be interpreted that he may have forgotten how to surf due to how long since he last surfed or that this episode takes place before he surfed in those episodes.
- Also The Flying Dutchman shouting “Ahhh! It’s some guy I’ve never seen before!” at Mr. Krabs when they’ve actually encountered each other multiple times throughout the series. You’d think The Flying Dutchman would remember the crab who sold his soul to him!
- Shout-Out: Sandy building a coconut-milk-powered bamboo helicopter is a reference to Gilligan's Island.
- Dutchman's Triangle is a parody of the Bermuda Triangle.
- Mr. Krabs dressing up his cash register and talking to it is similar to the film Cast Away.
- The music that plays while SpongeBob and Patrick learn how to surf sounds similar to Surfin Bird by the Trashmen.
- Special Guest: Johnny Depp as Jack Kahuna Laguna, Davy Jones As Himself, and Bruce Brown as the narrator.
- Tempting Fate: SpongeBob's grateful that the ceiling fan in the Krusty Krab is still working on such a hot day. It only last a few more seconds before the power's cut off.
- Time-Passage Beard: Mr. Krabs sports one while stranded in the ocean.
- Tonight, Someone Dies: JKL says the Big One requires someone to be sacrificed in order to stay alive for the trip back to Bikini Bottom and states, "One of you will not return."
- Unexplained Recovery: We are not sure exactly how JKL survived the Big One, but given he may be of supernatural or angelic nature, he was bound to survive it anyway.
- Versus Title: The episode is titled "SpongeBob Vs. the Big One".
- When the Planets Align: According to JKL, every thousand years the planets align in such a way to create the perfect wave, otherwise known as the Big One.
