Those wetheads wouldn't last a minute on our turf. Dry land.
Pressure
Original air date: 5/12/2001 (produced in 2000)
SpongeBob and Sandy get into a competition over who is better, sea creatures or land creatures.
"Pressure" contains examples of:
- An Aesop: Stated by SpongeBob and Sandy: "Everyone's good at something, but nobody's good at everything."
- Art Shift: On land, the characters turn into generic live-action puppets. SpongeBob is a kitchen sponge on a stick, Patrick is a dried starfish painted pink (he even lampshades his lack of pants), Krabs is a toy crab, Squidward a toy octopus (yet he still retains his eyes and nose as a joke) and Sandy is a hand puppet with an air helmet.
- Batman Can Breathe in Space: SpongeBob and the others follow through with Sandy's dare to go to the surface. Unlike previous episodes where they dry out and suffocate, they are just fine in this episode. The worst they had to deal with are seagulls. Granted, Mr. Krabs can live both on land and sea.
- Carnivore Confusion: One of the things Sandy mentions land creatures being better at than sea creatures is fishing, which causes SpongeBob and the others to gasp in horror.
- Competition Freak: Both Sandy and SpongeBob get into a game of oneupsmanship. This eventually gets the other underwater characters involved, with things escalating a little into Fantastic Racism and near death experiences.
- Department of Redundancy Department:Sandy: I don't want to miss out on a second of this beautiful beauty.
- Didn't Think This Through: Sandy argues with Patrick, Squidward, SpongeBob, and Mr. Krabs about "land critters" being better than "sea critters." At one point, the four brag about being able to breathe underwater, and the fact that she (unlike them) needs her suit to survive in the ocean. As they laugh at her attempts to retort, she removes her suit and helmet in a fit of prideful rage, attempting to prove them wrong. Then she realizes that she can no longer breathe.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Sea Creature Supremacy? Land Critters Supremacy?
- There's also a bit of 'Battle of the Sexes' at play since it's Sandy vs. her friends, all of whom are guys.
- Epic Fail: Bites everyone in a big way when Sandy tries (and fails) to stay underwater without a suit, and when her friends go to dry land only to be ambushed by seagulls.
- Fantastic Racism: This involves the conflict between land critters and sea critters. Luckily, it's not out of prejudice, but comparing abilities.
- Furry Reminder: SpongeBob proves he is able to reproduce by budding. The surface scenes with the characters as crude puppets, as well. Mr. Krabs also mentions how his family can retract their eyes, which doubles as one for Pearl, who isn’t even in this episode.
- Graceful Loser: When SpongeBob and friends don't come back into the water after a minute, Sandy's a good sport about it and even somewhat impressed, and she decides to go up on the island to congratulate them.
- High-Five Left Hanging: When Sandy is going on about the things land creatures can do better than sea creatures. Squidward makes a snarky comment about them being better at drowning, and SpongeBob offers a high-five. Squidward just stands there and says "Not on your life, sport."
- Honor Before Reason: Sandy takes off her helmet while underwater in an attempt to shut everyone else up, then holds her breath for as long as she can before having to use a pickle jar as a helmet.
- Hypocritical Humor: While SpongeBob and the others were laughing at Sandy's failed attempt to breathe underwater:Mr. Krabs: I knew it! There was no way some "airhead" was gonna win anything against a water breather!
Patrick: Airhead... (laughs; top of his head deflates like a balloon) Huh? (puts thumb in mouth and blows; head becomes round at the top) - I Resemble That Remark!: While Sandy is telling the other four to go on dry land already:Sandy: Well? So, are you going or not?
SpongeBob: Actually, you know, but...
Squidward: W-We can't, because, uh...
Mr. Krabs: We're late for, um...
Patrick: Our fitting!
Sandy: Oh, you mean for your chicken costumes?
Patrick: (holding and eating popcorn) Hey, we are not chicken! (drops popcorn; gasps) My popcorn! (begins pecking at it like a chicken) - Ironic Echo: "I'd say I'm already halfway there!"
- I Want My Mommy!: When one of the seagulls tried to gorge himself with Patrick as his meal, while the others are screaming their heads off. If you can listen clearly on Patrick's screams, he can be heard (hilariously) shouting mommy!
- Jerkass Ball: SpongeBob and his friends laughing at Sandy while she's basically drowning. Sandy herself is much more competitive and boastful in this episode, though she doesn't hesitate to rescue her friends when they end up in real danger.
- Kubrick Stare: Before attempting to murder the sea creatures, the first seagull gives one directly to the camera.
- Lame Comeback: When Sandy calls SpongeBob "Chum Chewer" all he can get out is, "Not wet person".
- Laser-Guided Karma: While SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs are above the sea, they get attacked by seagulls, which can be considered karma for making fun of Sandy earlier, even if they were quickly saved by Sandy. In case someone thought the seagulls were taking it too far, Sandy brutally beat them up.
- Magic Countdown: The gang has to stay above water for over a minute according to Sandy, but Patrick, Squidward and Mr. Krabs stayed above for less than that. Only SpongeBob was over water for a minute or more.
- Malicious Misnaming: SpongeBob and Sandy have an insult contest in disagreement over their second race, which Sandy declares victory when SpongeBob can't think of a better name to top "chum-chewer". Later, SpongeBob mockingly calls Sandy "Landy" when the latter dares the others to go up on land.
- Me's a Crowd: SpongeBob shows off his ability to reproduce by budding.
- Never My Fault: Sandy tries calling SpongeBob out for cheating with his head start, but SpongeBob points out that he did the same thing as she did, only for Sandy to rebut that she was just playing with him the last time, and that he and other sea creatures don't play fair.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Sandy delivers one to the two seagulls that try to eat her friends.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Squidward at first when Sandy takes off her suit and helmet.Squidward: How long can she stay like that!?
- Parasol Parachute: SpongeBob uses one to float to the top of the cliff.
- Recorded Audio Alibi: Used for a brief gag, where SpongeBob readies a record-player in the second Sandy takes her eyes off him to give himself a head-start in their impromptu race ("I'm already halfway there... Halfway there... Halfway there...!")
- Repetitive Audio Glitch: When SpongeBob and Sandy are racing each other to the top of a cliff, at one point Sandy thinks she's ahead, only to hear SpongeBob say "I'd say I'm already halfway there *scratch* halfway there *scratch* halfway there..." and discovers a record player he left on the ledge.
- Samus Is a Girl: Sandy takes her suit off, and it leaves her wearing nothing except for her bikini and her thin skirt. Patrick is shocked ("Sandy's a girl?!"), despite seeing her outside of her suit before, and referring to Sandy as "She" just minutes prior.
- Shown Their Work: Sea sponges really do reproduce by budding.
- That Cloud Looks Like...: SpongeBob and Sandy are looking up at clouds and SpongeBob says one of them looks like a flower. Sandy then points out that all the clouds look like flowers, Lampshading the Alien Sky of the show's underwater world.
- Word, Schmord!: Sandy claims that she's a natural-born climber because she's a land creature. SpongeBob's response: "Land, schmand."
- X-Ray of Pain: Sandy tries to hold her breath underwater, and her lungs are shown collapsing and breaking off.
The bag that would unknowingly cause severe emotional distress.
The Smoking Peanut
Original air date: 5/12/2001 (produced in 2000)
At the zoo, SpongeBob and Patrick go to see Clamu the performing giant clam, but find her sleeping. SpongeBob tosses a peanut to wake her up, but when Clamu starts crying, a guilt-ridden SpongeBob considers whether to confess to the crime.
"The Smoking Peanut" contains examples of:
- An Aesop:
- Follow instructions on signs and other given information about how to treat animals in captivity and wildlife. It can be dangerous if you fail to follow these rules, and can result in you receiving a legal penalty.
- Don't hide from your mistakes, especially if they're honest mistakes. Confess and explain yourself.
- Don't put down people when they own up to their honest mistakes, not even if you think they are also taking responsibility for someone else's.
- Don't let other people take the blame for what you've done.
- Sometimes, what happened isn't your fault. You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Just because it's Free Day, doesn't mean everything's free.
- Artistic License – Biology: Clamu's baby is hatched with a fully-formed shell, looking like a miniature of its mother. Juvenile bivalves actually hatch as soft-bodied, free-swimming larvae. Their eggs also don't look like pearls, though this can be chalked up to being for the sake of the twist.
- Art Shift: Various shots of the world reacting to Clamu's traumatized cries show still images of live-action humans wincing in agony in various locations on the surface world.
- Bait-and-Switch:
- During the climax of the episode, SpongeBob finally comes clean and confesses to crowds that he was the one who threw the peanut. He then openly apologizes to Clamu, Patrick and everyone for the chaos that unfolded because of his deeds hoping that this will quell their fury. And how does the crowd respond? By assuming he just confessed to being an accessory to Patrick.Sandals: Hey, let's throw peanuts at both of them! (crowd roars in agreement)
Zookeeper: (suddenly shows up) WAIT! Here's the real criminal! (presents the real culprit Mr. Krabs) - When Patrick says, "I can almost taste it," it looks like he is licking SpongeBob's ear, but it is quickly revealed he was licking a yellow sponge-shaped popsicle.
- During the climax of the episode, SpongeBob finally comes clean and confesses to crowds that he was the one who threw the peanut. He then openly apologizes to Clamu, Patrick and everyone for the chaos that unfolded because of his deeds hoping that this will quell their fury. And how does the crowd respond? By assuming he just confessed to being an accessory to Patrick.
- Bait-and-Switch Accusation: The police finally come to SpongeBob's house and interrogate him, drilling him with multiple pieces of incriminating evidence. The police say that they've got all they need, and to book him. So they put handcuffs...on Patrick.
- Big Bad: Mr. Krabs is the real culprit behind Clamu's rampage, as he stole her egg thinking it was her pearl.
- Big Damn Heroes: Right as the crowd prepares to pelt SpongeBob and Patrick for their supposed crime, the zookeeper arrives at the riot at Oyster Stadium to reveal the real reason why Clamu cried (her egg was stolen by Mr. Krabs).
- Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick:French Narrator: Free balloons, free drinks...free lightbulbs?
- Brick Joke: Mr. Krabs is seen abusing the concept of Free Day, taking everything he can. At the end of the episode, it's revealed that the oyster got upset because her egg was stolen... by Mr. Krabs.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Mr. Krabs abusing Free Day at the beginning. He turns out to be the real culprit behind Clamu's bawling.
- Clear Their Name:
- When Patrick is arrested for the peanut incident, a guilt-ridden SpongeBob is forced to confess to having thrown the peanut.
- Ironically enough, it's then revealed that SpongeBob himself qualifies. He threw the peanut at Clamu, but that's not what made her cry. She was crying because her egg was stolen by Mr. Krabs, who mistook it for her pearl.
- Department of Redundancy Department: SpongeBob, when he arrives to exonerate Patrick of the "peanut-throwing" accusations, filibusters with a redundant speech that makes the crowd impatient.SpongeBob: Wait! Hold your peanuts! Patrick Star is innocent! I have come here to reveal the truth! They say that truth and honesty will be rewarded with trust and forgiveness! I'm here to lay my cards on the table, to trim the branches of deception from the tree of life, to shave away the unkempt sideburns from the face of truth! I...
Sandals: Hey! Just get on with it! - Deus ex Machina: The zookeeper showing up at Oyster Stadium at just the right time to prove both Patrick and SpongeBob are innocent and Mr. Krabs is the true culprit behind Clamu's bawling.
- Everybody Cries: According to the anchorfish, Clamu's cries are strong enough to not only be heard all over the world, but also make anyone who hears them be reduced to tears.
- Fall Guy: Initially, the police accuse Patrick of being the one responsible for throwing the peanut at Clamu. Patrick getting taken away is what finally convinces SpongeBob to come clean, albeit he was about to do so before they book Patrick when it seemed like he was found out.
- Felony Misdemeanor: Hitting a giant clam with a peanut and making it cry is presented as an unforgivable crime. SpongeBob worries that everyone will hate him if they find out he did it, Sandy threatens to tear the culprit in half, and even the police are investigating the case.
- Foreshadowing:
- Clamu doesn't cry instantly after the peanut has been thrown at her. She frantically starts searching around her enclosure before bawling. This gives a hint that the peanut isn't what's making her cry - she was looking for her egg, noticed it was missing, and went on her rampage trying to find it.
- At the beginning of the episode, Mr. Krabs is seen stealing various objects, because it's Free Day. Guess what he also steals?
- Gentle Giant: Clamu is said to be usually very gentle. The news anchor even states this.
- Gone Horribly Right: SpongeBob wanted Clamu to wake up so she can perform for the audience, so he throws a peanut to wake her up. She does... and starts rampaging around the stadium, resulting in the police trying to catch the one who made her go crazy. Subverted as Mr. Krabs was the real culprit who stole her egg, which was actually what made her go crazy.
- Guilty Until Someone Else Is Guilty: SpongeBob throws a peanut at Clamu to wake her up. When Clamu awakens, she goes on a crying rampage, and SpongeBob believes throwing his peanut is what made her upset. After SpongeBob is interrogated by the police, they end up arresting Patrick instead of him, resulting in SpongeBob confessing about the thrown peanut. Nobody gets convinced of his or Patrick's innocence until a zookeeper shows up and announces that Mr. Krabs upset Clamu by stealing her pearl, which is revealed to actually be an egg because it hatched immediately after it was returned.
- Hired to Hunt Yourself: Played with when Patrick takes it upon himself to track down the culprit, but when he's wrongfully arrested for it, he thinks he really was the culprit all along.
- I Have This Friend: When a guilty SpongeBob tries to get advice from Squidward, leading to this exchange.SpongeBob: This is getting a little out of hand. All I did was throw a peanut. I didn't mean to make the oyster cry. I just wanted to see it perform spectacular stunts! Aw, everyone's gonna hate me! I-I need some advice! Now let's see now, who could never hate me no matter what I do? [Cut to SpongeBob knocking on Squidward's door] Squidward? Squidward! Oh, Squidward!
Squidward: SpongeBob! Do you have to knock so loudly?!
SpongeBob: Sorry, neighbor.
Squidward: Oh, that overgrown clam is giving me a headache! I can't even take my afternoon beauty nap!
SpongeBob: Funny thing you should mention that old oyster, because I… uh… was kinda wondering, um… Let's say I know this guy who may have something to do with the oyster.
Squidward: (eagerly) You know the guy who did it?!
SpongeBob: [Gulps!]
Squidward: Oh, this is great! You and I can go turn him in! And then I'll get so much sleep, I'll be gorgeous!
SpongeBob: Um, actually, I-I'm just talking hypothetically.
Squidward: You mean you don't know who did it?
SpongeBob: Well, um... I... uh... no.
(Squidward slams the door in SpongeBob's face) - I Need to Go Iron My Dog: SpongeBob is about to tell Sandy that he was the one who upset Clamu, but when she threatens to tear apart whoever did it, he backs down and says that he needs to go get his hair cut.
- Jerkass:
- The Bikini Bottomite mobs. First they angrily throw peanuts at Patrick who's supposed to be the culprit that caused Clamu to wail, hardly making them much better than the accused. Then after SpongeBob confesses that it was his fault to save Patrick, the mobs then decide to throw peanuts at both of them. That being said, they too are happy to see Clamu reunited with her baby. And pelt the actual culprit when he pathetically tries to excuse himself.
- Also Mr. Krabs, the real culprit that caused Clamu to wail.
- Karma Houdini: While Mr. Krabs got peanuts thrown at him for stealing Clamu’s egg, he is not shown getting in any legal trouble.
- Loophole Abuse: It's Free Day, so naturally Mr. Krabs swipes everything he can as free. It lands him in hot water before the day is done.
- Mama Bear: Clamu as her rampage was caused by the disappearance of her egg, not the peanut. The peanut merely woke her up that made her realize (and panic) that her egg was gone.
- Minor Injury Overreaction: SpongeBob throws the peanut at Clamu, and she starts rampaging all over the stadium and crying so loud it disturbs not only everyone in Bikini Bottom, but all the humans worldwide up in the surface. Subverted, however, because she was actually crying due to someone stealing her egg.
- Misplaced Retribution: Even after SpongeBob clears up that he threw the peanut and Patrick didn't, the citizens still feel the need to pelt Patrick with peanuts alongside SpongeBob.
- Naked People Are Funny: After grabbing Mr. Krabs, the zookeeper, in an attempt to show everyone Clamu's egg that he stole, accidentally rips off his clothes, disgusting the whole stadiumnote .
- "Nations of the World" Montage: A slideshow of locations around the world, including Egypt, India, and the Netherlands, is shown in the news report.
- Paper Destruction of Anger: When SpongeBob is about to confess to Sandy about Clamu, she is so riled up about what she'll do to the culprit she tears a phone book in half, causing SpongeBob to reconsider.
- Passion Play: Patrick chained up and being pelted with peanuts by angry fish who blame him for Clamu's tantrum is similar to how Jesus Christ was tied to a cross and crucified by the Romans.
- Perplexing Pearl Production: Subverted. Clamu the giant oyster is fond of her pearl, which she can shoot into the air as part of her performance, but it turns out that the reason she went on a rampage was because Mr. Krabs stole her pearl, which turns out to be an egg.
- Police Are Useless: The cops have SpongeBob at their mercy and he has all but given a complete confession when they instead arrest Patrick for the crime, as they knew he was there with SpongeBob. This is all after SpongeBob is having a complete breakdown out of his own guilt. Averted with another separate officer that catches out the real culprit, Mr Krabs, offscreen.
- Produce Pelting: As punishment for disturbing Clamu, Patrick is pelted with peanuts by the others. Which he catches into his mouth. And then Mr. Krabs receives such when he is revealed as the true culprit.
- Rejected Apology: SpongeBob finally fesses up to what he did once Patrick is falsely convicted of throwing the peanut and is sentenced to having Bikini Bottom's entire population throw peanuts at him, and apologizes to Patrick, Clamu, and all of the citizens of Bikini Bottom. Unfortunately, instead of accepting SpongeBob's apology, the townspeople see it as a confession to him being an accomplice to his best friend's so-called "wrongdoing" and decide to continue throwing peanuts, this time at both him and Patrick. Fortunately, the zookeeper immediately arrives to reveal the truth before they can do so.
- Shout-Out: Clamu's name is a parody of SeaWorld's orca "Shamu".
- Unintentionally Notorious Crime: It's probable that Mr. Krabs, like most other people, genuinely thought Clamu's egg was her pearl, and had no intention of actually kidnapping her baby. Not that it gives himself any favour when, being glared at by the citizens, he can only pathetically note “But it’s Free Day!”
