History YMMV / SpongeBobSquarePantsS5E12AtlantisSquarePantis

* SoOkayItsAverage: General opinions started shifting towards this. The plot is repetitive and paper thin, the songs are pretty lackluster and suffer from forced rhymes, Atlantis itself isn't very interesting, and Plankton's subplot is ultimately just {{Padding}} that results in a lame AntiClimax. But at the same time, all the main characters remain in character (especially in a season that's [[BrokenBase often argued about]] whether or not it's the first one where the characters went through {{Flanderization}}), [[ArtShift the various alternative art forms used keep it visually interesting]], it has some funny jokes sprinkled throughout, and it's ultimately pretty inoffensive.

* SoOkayItsAverage: General opinions started shifting towards this. The plot is repetitive and paper thin, the songs are pretty lackluster and suffer from forced rhymes, Atlantis itself isn't very interesting, and Plankton's subplot is ultimately just {{Padding}} that results in a lame AntiClimax. But at the same time, all the main characters remain in character (especially in a season ([[BrokenBase depending on who you ask]]) criticized for gratuitous {{Flanderization}}), [[ArtShift the various alternative art forms used keep it visually interesting]], it has some funny jokes sprinkled throughout, and it's ultimately pretty inoffensive.

* SoOkayItsAverage: General opinions started shifting towards this. The plot is repetitive and paper thin, the songs are pretty lackluster and suffer from forced rhymes, Atlantis itself isn't very interesting, and Plankton's subplot is ultimately just {{Padding}} that results in a lame AntiClimax. But at the same time, all the main characters remain in character (especially in a season often criticized for gratuitous {{Flanderization}}), [[ArtShift the various alternative art forms used keep it visually interesting]], it has some funny jokes sprinkled throughout, and it's ultimately pretty inoffensive.

* SoOkayItsAverage: General opinions started shifting towards this. The plot is repetitive and paper thin, the songs are pretty lackluster and suffer from forced rhymes, Atlantis itself isn't very interesting, and Plankton's subplot is ultimately just {{Padding}} that results in a lame AntiClimax. But at the same time, all the main characters remain in character (especially in a season ([[BrokenBase depending on who you ask]]) criticized for gratuitous {{Flanderization}}), [[ArtShift the various alternative art forms used keep it visually interesting]], it has some funny jokes sprinkled throughout, and it's ultimately pretty inoffensive.

* SoOkayItsAverage: General opinions started shifting towards this. The plot is repetitive and paper thin, the songs are pretty lackluster and suffer from forced rhymes, Atlantis itself isn't very interesting, and Plankton's subplot is ultimately just {{Padding}} that results in a lame AntiClimax. But at the same time, all the main characters remain in character (especially in a season criticized for gratuitous {{Flanderization}}), [[ArtShift the various alternative art forms used keep it visually interesting]], it has some funny jokes sprinkled throughout, and it's ultimately pretty inoffensive.

* CriticalBacklash: This special has often been called one of the worst if not ''the worst'' [=SpongeBob=] episode, especially in the early days of the fandom. But while few fans will defend this special as being an underappreciated gem, more and more viewers are starting to admit that they don't find it anywhere near as bad as some people made it out to be, and just find it [[SoOkayItsAverage mediocre and uninspired with some good bits]]. The same is true for the songs themselves, which were subjected to a lot of harsh criticisms, but many think that while the songs have lackluster lyrics and aren’t sung all that well, they are not the out-and-out ear-rape some hyperbolic critics made them out to be.

* SoOkayItsAverage: General opinions started shifting towards this. The plot is repetitive and paper thin, the songs are pretty lackluster and suffer from forced rhymes, Atlantis itself isn’t very interesting, and Plankton’s subplot is ultimately just {{Padding}} that results in a lame AntiClimax. But at the same time, all the main characters remain in character (especially in a season criticized for gratuitous {{Flanderization}}), [[ArtShift the various alternative art forms used keep it visually interesting]], it has some funny jokes sprinkled throughout, and it’s ultimately pretty inoffensive.

* SoOkayItsAverage: General opinions started shifting towards this. The plot is repetitive and paper thin, the songs are pretty lackluster and suffer from forced rhymes, Atlantis itself isn’t very interesting, and Plankton’s subplot is ultimately just {{Padding}} that results in a lame AntiClimax. But at the same time, all the main characters remain in character (especially in a season criticized for gratuitous {{ Flanderization}}), [[ArtShift the various alternative art forms used keep it visually interesting]], it has some funny jokes sprinkled throughout, and it’s ultimately pretty inoffensive.

* {{Padding}}: The musical numbers, which bring the story to a screeching halt, bog down the episode, and serve as filler to meet the 45 minute runtime. ''All'' of the major characters (except, ironically, [[Music/DavidBowie Lord Royal Highness]]) get a musical number, even Patchy (whose segments are padding in it of itself).

* VindicatedByHistory: For the longest time, "Atlantis [=SquarePantis=]" was seen as a cheap ratings trap with very little redeeming qualities, thanks to its semi-unfocused plot progression and rather nonsensical song numbers; the revelation that ExecutiveMeddling forced it into its format only amplified this sentiment. In more recent times, however, fan opinions have lightened up on the special, with some finding the songs to be SoBadItsGood, while recognizing the positive aspects of the special for what they are, including some bits of clever humor, the [[ArtShift ambitious shifts in art style]], and of course, Music/DavidBowie's guest performance.

* AssPull: Plankton is haphazardly thrust into the story with zero foreshadowing; his first appearance is during the song on the trip to Atlantis, with no explanation as to how he got onto the bus.

* VindicatedByHistory: For the longest time, "Atlantis [=SquarePantis=]" was seen as a cheap ratings trap with very little redeeming qualities, thanks to its semi-unfocused plot progression and rather nonsensical song numbers; the revelation that ExecutiveMeddling forced it into a double-length musical only amplified this sentiment. In more recent times, however, fan opinions have lightened up on the special, with some finding the songs to be SoBadItsGood, while recognizing the positive aspects of the special for what they are, including some bits of clever humor, the [[ArtShift ambitious shifts in art style]], and of course, Music/DavidBowie's guest performance.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Though explainable by the fact that he was retired from music at the time, the fact that Lord Royal Highness, voiced by Music/DavidBowie, is [[{{Irony}} the only character who doesn't sing in this musical]] is a fact often bemoaned by both ''[=SpongeBob=]'' fans and Bowie fans alike.
* VindicatedByHistory: For the longest time, "Atlantis [=SquarePantis=]" was seen as a cheap ratings trap with very little redeeming qualities, thanks to its semi-unfocused plot progression and rather nonsensical song numbers. In more recent times, fan opinions have lightened up on the special, with some finding the songs to be SoBadItsGood, while recognizing the positive aspects of the special for what they are, including some bits of clever humor, the [[ArtShift ambitious shifts in art style]], and of course, Music/DavidBowie's guest performance.

* {{Padding}}: The musical numbers, which bring the story to a screeching halt, bog down the episode, and serve as filler to meet the 45 minute runtime. ''All'' of the major characters (except, ironically, Lord Royal Highness) get a musical number, even Patchy (whose segments are padding in it of itself).

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Lord Royal Highness, voiced by Music/DavidBowie, is [[{{Irony}} the only character who doesn't sing in this musical]].
* VindicatedByHistory: For the longest time, "Atlantis [=SquarePantis=]" was seen as a cheap ratings trap with very little redeeming qualities, thanks to its semi-unfocused plot progression and rather nonsensical song numbers. In more recent times, fan opinions have lightened up on the special, with some finding the songs to be SoBadItsGood, while recognizing the positive aspects of the special for what they are, including some bits of clever humor, the [[ArtShift ambitious shifts in art style]], and of course, Music/DavidBowie's guest performance.

* {{Padding}}: The musical numbers, which bring the story to a screeching halt, bog down the episode, and serve as filler to meet the 45 minute runtime. Even Patchy (whose segments are padding in it of itself) gets a pointless musical number.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Lord Royal Highness, voiced by Music/DavidBowie, is [[{{Irony}} the only character who doesn't sing in this musical]].

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Lord Royal Highness, voiced by Music/DavidBowie, is the only character who doesn't sing in this musical.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Lord Royal Highness, voiced by Music/DavidBowie, is the only character who doesn't sing in this musical.