One Coarse Meal:
- Accidental Aesop: Never use self-defense tactics as a way to harass others. It would have been one thing if Mr. Krabs only scared Plankton away from the Krusty Krab, but he basically stakes out the Chum Bucket and forces Plankton to become a shut-in for over 2 weeks, driving him insane. This is also true for Plankton by the end of the episode where he decided scaring Krabs back wasn't enough and tried to steal the formula again before SpongeBob used his fear against him the proper way: scaring him away from the formula.
- Alternate Character Interpretation: "One Coarse Meal" is quite complicated when it comes to interpretations. As a result of the episode, many fans have started to view Plankton as just a mere thief and business rival who receives undue torment by Mr. Krabs, and Mr. Krabs as crossing the Moral Event Horizon and taking his greed to a whole new level (even though greed had little to do with what he does in this episode).
- It's possible that Mr. Krabs didn't even realize he had driven Plankton to a suicidal depression, as SpongeBob could only tell him that Plankton was "laying on the street, forlorn", which doesn't directly imply suicide.
- Sure SpongeBob is not happy with the way he tormented Plankton and helps him get back at him, but did he willingly briefly side with Mr. Krabs on purpose to scare Plankton back to the Chum Bucket so the formula is safe, at least for now?
- Angst Aversion: A lot of fans found Plankton's suffering just too dark and depressing to watch, even by the show's standards.
- Broken Base: The quality of the episode is often contested, due to the torment Plankton received. It's considered by fans one of, if not the worst episode in the series, as many feel that his torture to the point of attempting suicide was undeserved, saying that Plankton hasn't done anything that grievous to deserve it. Some others feel that his suicide attempt was deserved, saying that Plankton would try to murder other people in his attempts to obtain the secret formula if he were left unstopped. Lampshaded In-Universe by SpongeBob when confronting Mr. Krabs over the way he treated Plankton.
- Designated Evil: When SpongeBob offers Plankton a chance of revenge towards Krabs, it is meant to be a villainous act clearly seen from the way Plankton laughs and smiles like he is a bad guy. But to fans who felt hurt that Krabs is so willing to stoop so low to drive Plankton to suicide, it is a well-deserved payback towards his rival only for it to be yanked from him when SpongeBob betrays Plankton.
- Fanon Discontinuity: As one of the most infamous episodes of the series (up there with "A Pal for Gary" and "Ink Lemonade"), it has fallen victim to this. In fact, the cast members actually agreed with the fanbase.
- Funny Moments: Even those who hate the episode consider it to have a good amount of funny moments. In particular:
- Mr. Krabs' butt being ticklish.
- A fearful Plankton accidentally going into the freezer in an attempt to escape.
- Mr. Krabs' fear of mimes, particularly at the very end of the episode.
- Genius Bonus:
- The number in the bottom right of Mr. Krabs's Wacky Bucks is actually the start of the Fibonacci sequence
. - It isn't too esoteric a fact, but Plankton's fear of whales is actually not an Absurd Phobia and is completely justified; baleen whales eat plankton.
- The number in the bottom right of Mr. Krabs's Wacky Bucks is actually the start of the Fibonacci sequence
- Harsher in Hindsight: The mere idea of Plankton wanting to get run over by a bus is particularly made more grim when he actually does get run over by a car three times in "Drive Thru" (although by accident in that case).
- He Really Can Act: Tom Kenny manages to make the normally goofy-sounding SpongeBob sound quite concerned about Plankton's fate as he confronts Mr. Krabs. It's relatively minor in comparison to other examples of this trope, but you can still hear the concern in his voice.SpongeBob: Mr. Krabs, I know you and Plankton are sworn enemies and all, but... putting on a dress to frighten him? Isn't that taking it a little too far?
- Jerkass Woobie: As villainous as Plankton is, becoming suicidally depressed as the result of largely unprovoked psychological torment makes him this by default.
- Just Here for Godzilla: The opening action scene is pretty cool. You have SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs defending the Krusty Krab from Plankton when he launches an assault on it. Given how the episode goes downhill from there, most people tune into the episode just for the opening.
- Never Live It Down: This episode cemented Mr. Krabs' reputation as an evil and corrupt boss who would torture his enemies in order to get ahead, completely ignoring his more benevolent portrayals in many other episodes.
- Nightmare Fuel:
- The nightmare Plankton has of him being devoured by Pearl.
- Even the title card of the episode is eerie to some viewers. It would have looked perfectly innocuous, if not for the mysterious, black shadow around the border of the screen. The cheerful background music certainly doesn't help.
- Realism-Induced Horror: The main reason why this episode is seen as being so dark and disturbing. Most of the Krabs vs Plankton episodes involve the latter using an invention or Hollywood Science of some kind to steal the formula, while the former fights back and always wins. This episode has their rivalry escalate into Mr. Krabs using flat-out psychological torture against Plankton (far beyond what is necessary to keep him at bay) and, depending on your interpretation of some scenesnote , his actions qualify as attempted enforced suicide. People getting rid of somebody they hate in real life by driving them insane and trying to force them to kill themselves is far more possible than by using any invention Plankton has ever devised, and it has happened.
- Signature Scene: The scene where Plankton walks to the road and lies down on it wishing for a bus to run over him is what most people remember about this episode.
- So Okay, It's Average: This opinion does pop up about the episode from time to time; to some, the episode isn't bad, but nothing in it particularly stands out as interesting.
Gary in Love:
- Heartwarming Moments: It's quite touching to see Gary fall in love with and pursue another snail, even if it doesn't last for too long.
- On that same note, he ends up befriending the snail he was competing against for her affections when they're both turned down.
