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SBC's Top 50 Best Episodes Ever 2016 Edition!


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This time I'm happier, trust me.

 

#24. "How dare you! You toyed with our emotions!"

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"Plankton's Pet"

(w/ 81 points on 8 lists, highest #6 @4EverGreen)

"After yet another failed attempt to steal the formula, Plankton gets a pet."

Trophy: Yup, the inevitable cuteness overload has finally made it on here like literally everyone expected it to. What's not to like about it, it has cuteness, an emotional development between Plankton and someone else, and some humor in there too, maybe I laughed too much at the women beating Krabs for what they presumed to be him committing child abuse, I'm messed up like that. Also in news if you didn't know, guess who's back soon. ;)

Mr. Tortellini:  There are reasons why I really like this episode and many people talk about it a lot. The plot is charming and heartwarming, and Spot is a really nice pet character. It's also a episode that doesn't focus on Plankton stealing the formula (only one attempt in the beginning) so that's very refreshing. There is also a handful of moments I laughed at, which doesn't happen very often nowadays. And it doesn't feel like a lot of the time in this episode is wasted, as episodes in the newer seasons (to not say "modern", something I don't consider 5 years old seasons to be) are filled to the bone with pointless moments. I can't really recall a moment I'd personally classify as pure filler. My only complain is that they haven't brought Spot back yet, making him a one-time character. Although, in a show like SpongeBob, I'd see that happen. A really good episode and if I were to make a top 25 list (which I didn't because it would've taken me a really painful time to figure it out), I think I'd include it somewhere. One of my favorites of season 9.

#23. "I've finally got you all alone."

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"SpongeBob Meets the Strangler"

(w/ 87 points on 6 lists, highest #2 @Brady Corduroy)

Trophy: Oh hey, it's the sister episode of the one that I dread so much. Neat seeing it in the next update since I actually agree on it. Pains me to say this was the honorable mention of them all for me. The humor was great such as the wig, the cleats in the corneas, and the story was good about SpongeBob living in fear of a psychopathic strangler who's sorta like Flatts except he strangles you so spongy material won't save him...somehow? Well, he still hired him as the bodyguard, and hijinks ensued such as shopping for pants and deodorant spray. Great funny episode that I'm glad to see on here.

Brady:  For me, this is the peak of comedic SB. It's got everything you'd want in an episode: A strong, but not overly complicated, story line. Perfect pacing that isn't too fast or too slow. Macabre humor played off in a slapstick style that's almost reminiscent of Looney Tunes, but still manages to come off as distinctly SpongeBob. And above else, it's, for me anyways, it's the most laugh out loud episode of the series. I mean, what's not to like? :P

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"Plankton's Pet" definitely deserves to be on this list (although i am HONESTLY surprised that "Spongebob Meets the Strangler" has been rated HIGHER than it's partner segment, "Pranks a Lot." Of course, "Spongebob Meets the Strangler" deserves to be on this list in any case, I'm not complaining).

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#22. "Coin operated self destruct? Not one of my better ideas."

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"Imitation Krabs"

(w/ 88 points on 5 lists, highest #2 @Invader Zimmer)

"Plankton disguises himself as Mr. Krabs to steal the formula."

Trophy: I already listed on how I pretty much saw every joke as hilarious last year. Sorry, gotta give the commentary to someone else here. :P

Jjsthekid: Imitation Krabs is one of the funniest episodes in SpongeBob history, and one of the most creative. Even though its concept would be re-used for some less than stellar Season 7 episodes, it still worked well in this episode. The gags made it so fun to watch (like the Bikini Bottom National Anthem), and all the antics involving SpongeBob and Plankton were generally funny. This is definitely one with a lot of rewatch value for me.

#21. "Oh I remember the laughs we used to share"        

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"Krab Borg"

(w/ 89 points on 6 lists, highest #5 @Katniss)

"After watching a scary movie, SpongeBob is convinced Mr. Krabs is one of them."

Trophy: This is the epitome of wacky shenanigans SpongeBob, and I love it! The fact that they're convinced over robots even though SpongeBob saw the ending and was still scared the entire episode is hilarious for the "scaredy pants" part of his persona, and it's hilarious to see Squidward convinced by it for once, and it at least makes sense, maybe that's why he wanted money, he was made to collect and steal money? Who knows, certainly not the Navy! Where Krabs used to be as well...huh, weird how that wasn't brought up.... Well it's still one of the funniest episodes of all time, and that's enough for it to make my list. Also a coincidence here, as noted by a few peopel this is like an inverted IK...which was in the same update. Coincidence? Yes! What, did you think it was rigged? :P

Katniss:  What I love best about this episode is that Squidward gets involved in SpongeBob’s shenanigans. That interrogation scene is one of my favorites in the whole show. Krab Borg has a fun plot and plenty of good jokes. It’s like an inverted Imitation Krabs, but I don’t mind the similar plot in this case :P

                                                                 

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#20. "Your drawing is coming to life!"

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"Frankendoodle"

(w/ 93 points on 7 lists, highest #6 @Hayden)

"SpongeBob and Patrick mess around with a magic pencil."

Trophy: Ah yes, Frankendoodle. It's an interesting concept that the pencil suddenly becomes magic while underwater, simply for being underwater, and the effects that it's used in are quite well thought out. It's nice to see Doodlebob look happy in the last frame, but it is still a question of his behavior. I'm guessing he just wasn't drawn out to his fullest potential or something, just look at his fingers above. :P

WhoBob:  it's definitely one of the funniest episodes out there imo. I pretty much love all jokes in this ep, even that random "FINLAND" line was quite amusing but what made this episode was DoodleBob. I loved how much of a psychopath he was in this episode. Just an insane opposite of SpongeBob and he cracked me up so much. I liked how threatening he was with the magic pencil and he was almost gonna erase our favorite character but thankfully SponheBob was badass enough to stop him. Another great thing is that how original and creative the concept was. I apperivciate this show for using simple ideas into funny stuff but episodes like this can show the crew can come up with really unquie and cool premises and go nuts with it. It's an episode that I can't stop loving and I miss more episodes like this these days. <3 

#19. "The only thing worse than insulting a man's ship, is insulting his mother."

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"Shanghaied"

(w/ 97 points on 6 lists, highest #4 @The Guy With the Computer & @Clappy)

"SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward become part of the Dutchman's crew.

Trophy: Fun fact, this used to be my #1 until 2014, when it completely disappeared off of my list for no reason I can come up with whatsoever. :P It's still a great episode nonetheless, and it's impossible to look over the humor and plotline this has in there, such as the perfume department, "welcome back", etc. etc., and it's definitely a recommended episode to any newcomer.

Other commentary to be added later, sorry for the inconvenience as if you still read these after I took over ruining them for everyone

 

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So... Trophy. Got anything? No? Well... I guess it's up to me to binge-list all the remaining episodes. Sorry, no actual commentary or surprises. It's all me. 

#18. "That may be fine for you, but I was one of the beautiful people. Now look at me! I’m almost as ugly as you!"

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"Something Smells"

(w/ 99 points on 6 lists) Highest Ranking: #5 @Steel Sponge

"SpongeBob makes a sundae that gives him bad breath"

More: Something really smells in here... am I ugly?

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LOOK AT THE FACE OF THE UGLY!!! LOOK AT IT!!!

So... let's talk about the episode. It's good. I really like the strange sundae substitutions of onions and moldy peanuts to establish his bad breath and how Patrick counsels him to this it's about his appearance. I love how far Patrick took it by giving him bad motivational lessons, to forcing his breath in front of a giant theater crowd to unintentionally poison them. It's fun... alright these next episodes are predictable as what day it's gonna be tomorrow. Prepare for loads of redundancy.

#17. "The Krusty Krab Pizza... is the pizza... for you and me!"

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"Pizza Delivery"

(w/ 101 points on 6 lists) Highest Ranking: #1 @jjsthekid

"SpongeBob and Squidward deliver a Pizza"

More: Ah, Pizza Delivery. After doing well to establish the characters prior to this, we get our first real glimpse of what SpongeBob has to offer. This is where it all began. It's basically loved universally for being the first time we've seen Squidward and SpongeBob have such great chemistry. And yet, even after all the arguing about the moral values of the customer's pizza with their own safety after going through literal tornadoes, Squidward lets out his inner heart of gold by showing the mean customer a lesson, and helps SpongeBob regain his happiness. It's so heartwarming that I almost want to ship these two.

Hayden: I can see why Jjs has this as his favorite of all time. It's a Season 1 classic that shows the Spongebob/Squidward duo in its first serious outing. Hitchhiking, excessive singing, driving a rock, and small visual gags like Mr. Krabs turning a Krabby Patty into a pizza (Essentially the same ingredients?), make it a silly episode even with the emotional "punch" it builds towards.The climax feels rightfully earned. After seeing Spongebob's devotion to pleasing a total stranger even if it kills them, Squidward witnesses that stranger degrade Spongebob in the face of all his effort. Spongebob's tears are in character and make him sympathetic in spite of all his antics, as even though Squidward's hardened cynicism helps him come to expect such assholes, Spongebob is young and optimistic enough to believe his intentions will be received with the same level of kindness. What Squidward does next perfectly establishes his core character, showing that even if he's bitter to the world around him, he doesn't want Spongebob to be brought down to that same misery if he can help it. Employee Brotherhood. Let's hope the customer died of thirst.

More: Hayden? What the heck are you doing here, I never typed you in. :huh:

#16. "Heh, heh! Good one, SpongeBob! But really, why don’t you go ahead and make us a patty?"

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"Welcome to the Chum Bucket"

(w/ 102 points on 5 lists) Highest Ranking: #1 @Invader Zimmer

"SpongeBob is forced to work at the Chum Bucket"

More: Hm... where is that Trophy that would most want to volunteer to commentate on this episode? Hm...

 

#15. "Who wants to save the world!?"

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"Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V"

(w/ 107 points on 7 lists) Highest Ranking: #5 @JCM

"Barnacle Boy joins the dark side"

More: With how much buzz superhero movies are getting nowadays this may be more relevant than ever. Hang on, did I just imply comparing this to the awful movie Suicide Squad? Or is this just another good episode? Closer to the latter. It's great that Barnacle Boy can get a great character arc. It's established early that Mermaid Man's treating him as a kid and, while going to the dark side was an extreme, and makes sense as a gut reaction. We get to see a really fun Avengers battle parody when the team's powers backfire on themselves, which helps lighten the mood for Barnacle Boy to regain his trust with Mermaid Man. It's both wacky, action-packed and surprisingly serious. If only I could go deeper into a show like SpongeBob...

#14. "The dark deed you requested is done, sir."

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"Nasty Patty"

(w/ 110 points on 10 lists) Highest Ranking: #10 @Invader Zimmer

"SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs create a tainted Krabby Patty"

More: This is possibly the darkest and most serious subject matter SpongeBob has tackled behind the infamous "One Coarse Meal." And yet, because it's SpongeBob, it'll use absurdity to balance it out. For an episode involving finding a fraud health inspector, to killing the real one in confusion, to burying his thought-to-be-dead-body, to painstakingly trying to avoid the police and live with the extreme guilt and nervousness, it lightens itself up by exaggerating it. Like when SpongeBob says he'll never survive in prison because they'll mop the floor with him. Or when Mr. Krabs tries to be subtle about the "shovel" until SpongeBob asks about the bo--TTLES OF SODA. And there's more gags than than. Obviously you've seen all of these episodes as this is a "fansite" so I might not be adding much. It's just comedy gold as always.

 

#13. "The customer, who cares about the customer? I'll BOIL the customer in hot oil!!! I'--"

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"The Algae's Always Greener"

(w/ 111 points on 7 lists) Highest Ranking: #1 @4EverGreen

"Plankton and Mr. Krabs switch lives"

More: Deeper it is! While offering just as many great gags as any other good episode ever, this one takes the extra mile with its very close look into our secret desire of stealing someone's life. It'd be so easy and be as sweet as peaches and cream for Plankton with his newfound success, right? Wrong. The foolish shenangigans that happen all the time at the Krusty Krab only enforce that going into a new life without any knowledge on how to run it would be extremely confusing and torturous, and cause more problems if done poorly. While other movies with similar scenarios, like Freaky Friday, were more about bonding by understanding the other person's struggles better, having this be entirely in Planktons's perspective makes it more personal and more crazy. Who would expect that you'd need to fire clothes out of a cannon at the enemy on a daily basis just to keep the restaurant alive? Certainly not Plankton. It does extremely well to show that you can your own life better without envying someone else without knowing squat, and helps to develop Plankton by allowing him to be happy with his life and improve it. I don't know why this was off my list, this is fantastic.

#12. "If I'm going to find Gary, I'm going to need to work harder at it."

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"Have You Seen this Snail?"

(w/ 114 points on 7 lists) Highest Ranking: #1 @Brady Corduroy

"Gary runs away"

More: For this one, I had a review recently featured in PieGuyRulz's Spongey Bits of this episode. I'd definitely check it out as he offers an interesting, new perspective on the episode. If you're just looking for commentary skip to 9:59.

 

 

#11. "Sometimes I just need to get away from it all. Wow, this hotel has everything!"

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"Krusty Towers"

(w/ 123 points on 9 lists) Highest Ranking: #3 @Clappy

"Mr. Krabs turns the Krusty Krab into a hotel"

More: Obviously, as everyone expected, this is the last post-movie episode on the list. I really don't have too much to say as its status as a classic has spoken for it. The Patrick-Squidward dynamic is at its very best. Patrick's cartoony demands of ordering a room of cheese and a bubble bath despite not knowing it was a hotel really helped Squidward's agitation be as funny as possible. It's also great that Mr. Krabs gets a good taste of his own medicine when Squidward quits and makes the same stupid, over-the-top demands that Krabs actually does. It's extra dose of shenanigans karma helps this to become the classic it is.

 

#10. "See, see! Right here, I am perfectly--"

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"Snowball Effect"

(w/ 125 points on 8 lists) Highest Ranking: #2 @Cha

"SpongeBob and Patrick have a snowball fight and try to get Squidward in as well"

More: It's still pretty marvelous that a show like this can take the simplest premises and pack it filled with jokes with the silliness of the characters. While starting out with the typical humor of a fun snowball fight between Patrick and SpongeBob,with Patrick even knowing how to make a DNA statue more than a snowball, or getting shot in the mouth to have a huge bathroom conversation with Squidward. It immediately changes dynamic when Squidward gets into the fun and goes so overboard as to build an enourmous fort and throw balls despite noone being there. It's a great role-reversal, that while typical, is enjoyable once again with its fun, innocent premise of snow.

#9. "All right, what was it? There was... the lights...and the phone. And the walls will ooze green slime! Oh, wait. They always do that."

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"Graveyard Shift"

(w/ 154 points on 10 lists) Highest Ranking: #3 @Honest Slug & @crushingmayhem

"SpongeBob and Squidward work the night shift"

More: Look at me! I'm typing this review! At Night! Look at me! I'm making up for Trophy's irresponsibility! At Night! OOOOOWWWW! I GOT CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME!... at night. ;) Obviously I'm joking. This is once again a really funny, tension-filled look into Squidward's psyche. I'm not entirely sure why this gets more attention than Snowball Effect or Idiot Box, which does this concept better by internalizing Squidward's insanity, but nonetheless this does it well, from Squidward's classic ghost story, to the twist that the ghost story unfolded to come true. First the lights, then the phone, then the walls... everything. If I only watched it once, it would have been very horrific. The irony of the ending kinda harms the rewatch value of this unfolding horror, but it still offers great gags that anyone can enjoy. AT NIGHT!

 

 

#8. "Well, I guess we should open these cans of... permanent paint now"

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"Wet Painters"

(w/ 156 points on 11 lists) Highest Ranking: #3 @The Guy With the Computer

"SpongeBob and Patrick paint the inside of Mr Krabs' house"

More: I feel like a broken record at this point. What else can I reasonably say about these episodes without going too deep or being accused of plagiarism? But I have to go on. This ticks all the right boxes. The characters bounce off each other almost perfectly and the jokes are extremely memorable. I absolutely adored the scene where Patrick's giant paint bubble managed to perfectly cover the house when it popped. Heck, look at all the great tension this episode set up. From SpongeBob going so crazy over details that he cartoonishly harms the dollar bill, only to be contrasted by Patrick's distractions and his reflection telling him otherwise. It's also pretty ironic that the paint was never permanent to begin with and all this conflict was for nothing but pure joke material.

 

#7. "Squidward, don't you see? Waiting and watching? That's not what the box is all about! It's all about... ...IMAGINAAAATION!"

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"Idiot Box"

(w/ 158 points on 9 lists) Highest Ranking: #1 @Cha

"SpongeBob and Patrick play with a box"

More: Okay, can't I just ditto my comments for Graveyard Shift and Snowball Effect for this? No? Um... I'll think of an IMAGINAAAAAAATIVE excuse for a review. Um... it's packed with highly memorable jokes? No, too lazy. Or maybe you can guess what I'm saying right now... box, box, boxes, boxing, box boxity box, box, boxes, box, red fox, bagel with lox, actual locks, robots, pirates, boxes... listen Trophy, if I ever meet you I'm gonna strangle you until you--

 

#6. "...Sunset?"

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"Dying for Pie"

(w/ 183 points on 8 lists) Highest Ranking: #1 @Wumbo & @Katniss

"Squidward gives SpongeBob a pie that later turns out to be an explosive"

More: So... tired... I'm gonna resort to quoting last year's commentators. Sorry. I'll try to get the Top 5 out later this week to finish this off.

Katniss: Yup, this is my favorite episode of SpongeBob. Like Pizza Delivery, this episode also does a good job of exploring the SpongeBob and Squidward dynamic. It warms my heart that Squidward actually wants to make up for SpongeBob eating the pie bomb and give him a good last day of living. 
 
"You know, if I were to die right now in some sort of fiery explosion due to the carelessness of a friend, well, that would just be okay." This is probably one of my favorite quotes in the series. It's so funny yet also sweet in a way. And that's another thing this episode does well, balancing humor and heart. I think Dying For Pie does the job more successfully than Have You Seen This Snail? to be honest, because the jokes here really land. 
 
And it's an episode that deals with pie. How could I not love it? :P
 
Nuggets: All Throughout this list, I've commentated on episodes that either took a certain aspect of the show and ran all the way home with it, established key cornerstone elements of the show from its onset, or pushed the show into new and better directions. 
 
Although Dying For Pie comes a little short on that last front, it's still arguably a perfect episode. 
 
Episodes like this are very hard to actually talk about, because there's so little that the episode does not already do for you. Every i is dotted, every t is crossed, every joke and point that needs to be made is made. It is, in essence, a perfect specimen of the 11 minute animated cartoon. It's dark, but richly so, and hilarious while treading a tasteful line. I mean even the title itself is a dark-ass pun. It's funny, with jokes like "we already played babble like an idiot!" and "GARY YOU ARE GONNA EAT THIS DESSERT AND YOU ARE GONNA LIKE IT" providing for absolute gut-busting, tear-bringing comedy.
 
Bringing emotions to the forefront in the "Squidward feels guilt" plot allowed for a deeply sweet moment that showed us that Squidward does indeed care about SpongeBob. The building tension as the pie drops into SpongeBob's lower intestine while the sun sets is this crazy kinda effortless combination of tension, comedy, dark comedy, sweetness- it's this moment of loaded emotion that SpongeBob has never really had before or since, but it's this strange emotion that I feel is kinda representative of what makes this episode so perfect. It's a crazy blend of the highest form of comedy and emotions into one crazy state with a crazy no continuity ending, and that just exemplifies how good this episode is. It had the perfect amount of regard for what mattered and what didn't, and then gave everyone a giant "f you" at the end that just adds to the episode's humor value.
 
Throw in the fact that it's timeless, and that the art comes courtesy of Aaron Springer at his wildest and a very young C.H Greenblatt and you've got a great episode that again establishes just how good this show could be with all gears spinning. There's not much to say. It's just perfect.
 
Halibut: Right behind Squid's Day Off, this is my absolute favorite episode. I think the main difference  between my complete love for Dying for Pie and Squid's Day Off is that Squid's Day Off is a bit more fueled by nostalgia and it's simply the episode I enjoy much more. With Dying for Pie is different as instead of simply being a hilarious enjoyable episode, it's also, in my opinion, the most respectable, well-written episode in the show's history. Squid's Day Off does everything perfectly right, but this episode somehow everything more than perfectly. Not a single thing is out of place that I can even remotely think of.
 
First of all, the episode knows exactly when to use humor and when not to. While the episode uses a lot of humor, every once in a while there are some bursts of emotion and the dread that Squidward feels in the episode. The humor is mostly driven by SpongeBob, as he is the one acting naive and slaphappy  while Squidward is the one who is anxious in every waking moment until SpongeBob's apparent death. The episode just pulls everything off that way so extremely well, it's kind of scary.
 
And speaking of SpongeBob and Squidward interacting with each other like this, we may as well talk about the characters themselves in full. There is no way I can express how perfect both of them (and also Mr. Krabs) are in the episode. In every single tiny joke or turn of the plot, they keep as themselves. This is most important for Squidward especially, as Squidward feels bad that SpongeBob will "die" but in some episodes, it doesn't even feel remotely forced. You legitimately believe that Squidward feels bad that he virtually killed SpongeBob and that he actually wanted SpongeBob to be alive no matter how much the little sponge annoyed him. Squidward in the episode is probably the most human performance I've ever seen in the show EVER.
 
And finally, this is a minor compliment but still important, the character designs in the episode are top-notch. This episode went WAY far out when it comes to facial expressions and the like. You could make a top 20 favorite faces from the episode because there are just so many. It's a perfect counterpoint to the overall serious, anxious feel of the whole episode. Okay, obviously I'm using 'serious' in a relative manner as dying from a bomb disguised as a pie isn't the most serious thing ever, but you get what I mean.
 
With Squid's Day Off, I can understand that it isn't a personal favorite for everybody, it's more of a personal favorite if you catch my drift, but Dying For Pie is objectively the most spotlessly perfect episode the show has EVER had and I am so happy that it ranked so high on this list. Hopefully, people may be convinced to send it to #1 once we do this again in a couple of years.
 

Wumbo: The king is back on top of my list, and as far as I'm concerned it can stay there until the end of time. A few years ago my holiday spirit got to me and I put Christmas Who? at the top instead. But man, this episode. I've loved this one ever since that fateful day when I got Season 2 on DVD for Christmas (hey, how's that for irony?) and marveled at just how... practically perfect this episode is.

"No Free Rides" was the episode that hit you constantly with comedy, action, and excitement. This episode hits you with everything. Comedy, drama, suspense, character, speed, subtlety, creativity, excitement, EVERYTHING. And it's all measured out well, it's all perfectly connected, it all fits together. Honestly, I kind of secretly hate this episode for how perfect it is, because I know no other SpongeBob episode will ever top it. These writers are at the height of their game in this one, and it shows at every turn. It is the holy grail of SpongeBob episodes. And if you don't like it, well... something just dropped into my lower intestine. It's my soul.

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"Something Smells, Pizza Delivery, Welcome to the Chum Bucket, Nasty Patty, The Algae's Always Greener, Krusty Towers, Snowball Effect, The Graveyard Shift, Idiot Box," and "Dying For Pie" definitely deserve to be on this list, although I am a little surprised at how high "Dying For Pie" ended up being ranked. I just think that the subject of dying is something that shouldn't be taken lightly, even in a cartoon like "Spongebob Squarepants," in my honest opinion.

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