ROBOT, OH MY GOSH!
Krab Borg
Original air date: 3/29/2002 (produced in 2001)
After watching a scary movie about a robot invasion, SpongeBob starts to believe that Mr. Krabs is a robot, and once convincing evidence starts piling up, so does Squidward.
"Krab Borg" contains examples of:
- An Aesop:
- Don't make assumptions about someone solely based on a set of coincidences.
- Movies are works of fiction, and you shouldn't think it is real.
- On that note, if you know a movie's scary or is bound to give you anxiety, you probably shouldn't watch it so late at night that it'll give you nightmares and make you paranoid the next day.
- If you act as someone's accomplice to mischief, be prepared to face consequences for it.
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot: SpongeBob is scared to the core after watching a sci-fi movie about this trope. He then confuses the entirely fictional movie to be telling the truth, and after some time he is able to convince Squidward that robots have taken over the world. (beat) OUR WORLD!
- Apophenia Plot: SpongeBob and Squidward are convinced Mr. Krabs is a robot; he has batteries in his pocket after replacing the batteries in his radio, is holding tongs, and has red eyes from getting salt in them while boiling an egg. SpongeBob claims that robots can't show love, laugh or cry, so they tie up Mr. Krabs and begin smashing his "robot friends" (various appliances). When Mr. Krabs starts crying over losing all the expensive appliances, they realize he isn't a robot after all.
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking:
- Among the items SpongeBob and Squidward collect for Mr. Krabs' interrogation are a book that instructs how to torture, a rope, a hammer and saw... and then a stack of comedy albums and a record player.
- "Why did you lock the door? Why do you have that rope?! WHO'S WATCHING THE CASH REGISTER?!"
- Artistic License – Biology: After getting salt in his eyes, Mr. Krabs goes to the bathroom to rinse his eyes, but he is saltwater tolerant.
- Behind the Black: After Squidward threw SpongeBob through the kitchen window, he somehow appeared back in Squidward's booth. This causes Squidward to do several Double Takes as he tried to figure out how SpongeBob did that.
- Big "NO!": Mr. Krabs when Squidward smashes the blender, then the toaster, and lastly, the coffee machine, before going after the cash register, prompting Krabs to burst into tears.
- Big "WHAT?!": Mr. Krabs again after SpongeBob calls him a robot.Mr. Krabs: WHAT?! YOU THINK I'M A ROBOT?!
- Bottle Episode: Most of the episode is set at the Krusty Krab, save for a brief scene in SpongeBob's house at the beginning.
- Cassandra Truth: No matter how many times Mr. Krabs says that he's the real guy, SpongeBob and Squidward are not convinced in the slightest.
- Coincidental Accidental Disguise: SpongeBob tells Squidward that robots have piercing red eyes, metal pincer hands, and batteries. Squidward sarcastically asks if Mr. Krabs looks anything like that... only for Krabs to burst out of his office, his eyes bloodshot from spilling salt in them, metal tongs placed firmly in his claws, and batteries in his back pocket. This convinces Squidward that Krabs is a robot.
- Crocodile Tears: SpongeBob uses this when he claims that Squidward was never hugged by his father to see if Mr. Krabs will cry at it, proving that he's not a robot.
- Distant Reaction Shot: After SpongeBob leaves Squidward to endure the furious Mr. Krabs in the end, the camera cuts to outside the Krusty Krab as we hear Mr. Krabs scream Squidward's name.
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: Series writer/executive producer Paul Tibbitt wrote the "Electric Zoo" song Mr. Krabs listens to.
- Don't Explain the Joke: Squidward when he tells Mr. Krabs a joke where an 11-year-old couldn't go to an "Arr!"-rated pirate movie.Squidward: Because it's... about... pirates.
- Ear Worm: "Electric Zoo" is advertised as the number one song in Bikini Bottom. Mr. Krabs has its beat memorized, but he forgets the title when he calls the radio station to request it.Mr. Krabs: Hey, that's pretty catchy. Bee-bee-boo-bop, bee-bee-boo-beep. Yeah, that's not bad! I love this young people's music.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: After getting confirmation that Mr. Krabs isn't a robot, Squidward asks SpongeBob how the movie he watched ended. SpongeBob recalls that the ending was great; the robot invasion was just in the characters' imagination and that there were no robots after all. In mid-sentence, SpongeBob realizes he made the exact same mistake and flees.SpongeBob: The movie? Oh, yeah! The ending was great! Turns out there weren't any robots after all. It was just their... imagination. (laughs nervously before checking his watch) Hey, it's time to feed Gary!
(runs off, leaving Squidward to take the heat) - Eye Scream: Mr. Krabs is cooking a hard-boiled egg for lunch in his office when SpongeBob calls for him again, which startles him and ends up getting a whole salt shaker poured into his eyes by accident, leaving his eyes bloodshot red and him screaming in pain. This, along with the metal pincers he was holding the egg with and the dead batteries in his pocket, makes Squidward believe SpongeBob that Krabs is a robot.
- Failed a Spot Check: After removing the salt from his eyes, Mr. Krabs is so relieved that his eyes don't hurt anymore, that he doesn't seem to notice that the Krusty Krab is now empty.
- For Inconvenience, Press "1": When SpongeBob tries to call the Navy, he gets the Navy's automated phone service.SpongeBob: Squidward, the robots are running the navy!
Squidward: NOT THE NAVY! - Gilligan Cut: When SpongeBob watches the scary robot movie:Gary: Meow.
SpongeBob: What do you mean I shouldn't watch this? Scary movies don't always freak me out!
(cut to SpongeBob in bed, too scared to sleep) - Hypocritical Humor: SpongeBob calls out Mr. Krabs for not laughing at Squidward's pirate joke, even though he didn't laugh either.
- I Can't Believe I'm Saying This:Squidward: I never thought I'd say this, but SpongeBob... let's get that poop!
- I Need to Go Iron My Dog: After realizing that Mr. Krabs isn't a robot after all and they just tied him up and destroyed his property for nothing, SpongeBob says he needs to feed Gary (in the middle of the workday) and wisely makes a run for it.
- Idiot Houdini: SpongeBob says he has to feed Gary and runs home, avoiding the punishments Squidward likely received instead.
- Interrogation by Vandalism: SpongeBob and Squidward break Mr. Krabs' belongings to try and make him confess he's a robot. It doesn't work because Mr. Krabs isn't a robot, and the interrogation ends up proving this when he breaks down crying after they threaten to destroy his beloved cash register (because robots don't cry according to SpongeBob).
- Job-Stealing Robot: SpongeBob believes this is the case when he tries to call the Navy and gets their automated phone service instead.
- Lame Pun Reaction: "I'm not paying you to do stand-up, Mr. Squidward!"
- Medium Blending: The robot movie, as well as SpongeBob's nightmare.
- Mistaken for an Imposter: SpongeBob and Squidward mistakenly think Mr. Krabs has been replaced by a robot impostor.
- The New Rock & Roll: Inverted and played with. As it turns out, Mr. Krabs loves music made for the younger generation, but in an ironic twist of fate, said music is what corrupts SpongeBob and Squidward into believing that Mr. Krabs is a robot through unfortunate happenstance.Mr. Krabs: Yeah, that's not bad! I love this young people's music.
- Nightmare Face: Mr. Krabs' bloodshot eyes, a result of him getting a salt shaker poured on them.
- Offscreen Teleportation: Happens while SpongeBob is trying to convince Squidward that Mr. Krabs is a robot.Squidward: That's great, SpongeBob. Why don't you work on this problem... back in the kitchen?! (chucks SpongeBob through the service window and laughs smugly)
SpongeBob: (appears back in Squidward's booth, to the latter's bewilderment as he looks around where SpongeBob came from) I'm serious, Squidward! Mr. Krabs is a robot! And I can prove it, too!
Squidward: (utterly confused) How did you...? - "Oh, Crap!" Smile: Squidward gives one upon learning Mr. Krabs was not a robot at all and he is left to endure his incoming wrath after SpongeBob runs off.
- Out-of-Context Eavesdropping: At one point, SpongeBob overhears Mr. Krabs making beeping sounds while talking on the phone. What he doesn't know is that his boss is trying to describe a song to a radio DJ.
- Rage Breaking Point: When SpongeBob flees, Squidward is left to deal with Mr. Krabs, with Mr. Krabs angrily screaming Squidward’s name.
- A Rare Sentence:
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: The evil robots from the movie are described as having piercing red eyes.
- Running Gag: SpongeBob realizing that the things Mr. Krabs does seems suspicious causing the sponge to assume that he's A ROBOT... Nah!
- Say My Name: "SQUIDWAAAAAAAAAAAAARD!!!"
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After SpongeBob and Squidward destroy Mr. Krabs’ possessions, SpongeBob says the robots he saw in the movie were just someone’s imagination, then says it’s time to feed Gary and runs out of Mr. Krabs’ office, leaving Squidward to deal with Mr. Krabs, who didn’t seem like he was going to let Squidward get away with it.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: When Squidward asks SpongeBob how the robot movie he saw had ended, it turns out that, in the movie, the robots weren't Real After All and that it was just someone's imagin...ation. Hey, it's time to feed Gary!
- Special Guest: LA-based DJ Rodney Bingenheimer (of KROQ fame) as the DJ.
- Unusual Euphemism: According to the movie, "poop" is a codeword for information gained through interrogation.note Squidward doesn't immediately get it, as expected.Squidward: They... poop... on the robot?
- WPUN: The name of the radio station which Mr. Krabs calls to replay "Electric Zoo" is called "KRUM 50 FM" if the background is anything to go by.
Parents of the millennium.
Rock-A-Bye Bivalve
Original air date: 3/29/2002 (produced in 2001)
When SpongeBob and Patrick find a baby scallop, they decide to take care of it until it learns to fly. But tension boils when Patrick does not do his share when it comes to caring for the scallop.
"Rock-A-Bye Bivalve" contains examples of:
- An Aesop:
- Both parents have responsibilities when it comes to raising a baby.
- Be ready to investigate sudden changes in a person's employment status. Patrick was previously unemployed, yet SpongeBob never questioned what Patrick's new "job" was, until the very end.
- Amusing Injuries: Patrick gets hit in the head by a coconut by Junior.
- Bait-and-Switch: At first, it appears that SpongeBob and Patrick are sleeping in the same bed together. It zooms out to reveal that they're sleeping on different layers of mattress.
- Bottle Episode: This episode takes place entirely at Conch Street.
- Bumbling Dad: Patrick becomes one. He watches TV as his “job” and then more TV back at home and is apathetic to Junior and all his needs.
- Coconut Meets Cranium: Patrick keeps watching a show where someone gets hit on the head with a coconut — and at least once, two coconuts. In the end, it's Patrick himself who gets hit with one. Currently provides the page quote.
- Comfort Food: Turns out this is what Patrick's briefcase was filled with.SpongeBob: By the way, you forgot your... BRIEFCASE! (opens up Patrick's briefcase filled with assorted donuts, an ice cream fudge banana split and a milkshake topped with whipped cream, then spitefully dumps the entire contents on Patrick)
- Comically Missing the Point:SpongeBob: Do you remember what you said to me this morning?
Patrick: Something about root beer, right? - Cue the Sun: The sun comes up when Junior grows up and flies away and SpongeBob and Patrick watch him go.
- The Diaper Change: First started by Patrick when Junior starts crying, which Patrick interprets that he needs this, and promptly puts Junior in a diaper. How'd he know? Because he wears diapers himself. For the rest of the episode though, it's SpongeBob who changes Junior. Trope also leads right into the
Memetic Mutation quote by Patrick:Patrick: He's only this big! How many diapers could he possibly use? - Does This Remind You of Anything?: SpongeBob and Patrick act like a married couple in this episode, complete with them having spats and hardships taking care of a child. Then there's the final line...Patrick: Let's have another. (SpongeBob looks shocked)
- The Dog Bites Back:
- Junior drops a coconut on Patrick's head as payback for the latter's constant negligence.
- Similarly, SpongeBob throws a bunch of donuts and ice cream on Patrick upon realizing what his "work" really is.SpongeBob: By the way, you forgot your briefcase! (dumps the junk food in the briefcase on Patrick's head)
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: When Junior suddenly interrupts SpongeBob and Patrick's argument we get this dialogue.Patrick: There's that stupid noise again!
SpongeBob: Oh, that's not a stupid noise. That's just Junior about to jump out of that two-story window.
(SpongeBob and Patrick see Junior teetering on the edge of the window of SpongeBob's house, ready to fly.)
Patrick: Oh...
Both: (their eyes bulge in horror) JUNIOR!!! - Foreshadowing: There are some hints that Patrick didn’t have a real job.
- The day after Patrick becomes the "dad," he mentions he suddenly has a job, which SpongeBob wasn't aware about.
- Patrick never mentioned anything about what his job is like, including the location, name, or atmosphere of the job. Patrick also never came home with any paychecks.
- Whenever Patrick arrived at SpongeBob's house after "work," he went straight to the television.
- It’s also safe to assume that Patrick wouldn’t be able to survive a full work shift because of how lazy he is. After all, he couldn't even take care of Junior, so how could he be able to handle a job?
- Goo Goo Getup: Downplayed, but Patrick states that he learned how to change diapers by wearing diapers himself. He reveals this by dropping his pants to show the diaper he's wearing underneath.
- Here We Go Again!: In the end after Junior leaves, Patrick says, "Let's have another," which SpongeBob doesn't seem to take well.
- Hypocritical Humor: Patrick chides SpongeBob for offering Junior a whole Krabby Patty to eat claiming that's not proper baby food. Then Patrick offers Junior a donut (twice), much to Junior's disgust.
- Idiot Ball: SpongeBob didn't think it through when Patrick says he has to go to work (SpongeBob knows well that Patrick doesn't have a job), and never once did he even ask Patrick what type of work he does or what's in the briefcase.
- I'll Kill You!: As he's being fed to Junior, the worm pathetically tries to struggle out of SpongeBob's grasp and threatens, "WE WILL BURY YOU!!"
- Jerkass Ball: Patrick holds it bigtime. His laziness and stupidity here cross over into extreme neglect of both SpongeBob and the baby scallop. The entire situation comes uncomfortably close to making Patrick look like a Domestic Abuser as his deadbeat ways leave his "family" to fend for themselves, creating enormous friction in the house.
- Jerkass Realization: Subverted. Patrick, after seeing how much work Junior requires, apologizes for not doing his part and promises to come early from work the next day at 6 PM. to help SpongeBob, but ends up coming back at midnight apparently from a wild party, much to SpongeBob's fury.
- Lame Pun Reaction: After SpongeBob uses his pants as a bed for the scallop, he jokes that it's "the best seat in the house." This is followed by Gary playing a Rimshot on the drums.
- Lampshade Wearing: Patrick comes home late with a lampshade on his head.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Patrick slacks off looking after Junior by just watching a show about coconuts dropping on people's heads. Junior drops a coconut on his head as payback for negligent parenting along with a (insincere) kiss.
- Laziness Callout: SpongeBob spends a good chunk of the episode calling out Patrick for not helping take care of Junior. Later, when SpongeBob learns about Patrick's "job," he's naturally not pleased to learn that Patrick has been goofing off all day while he's been taking care of the baby.
- Lazy Bum: Patrick. His idea of going to work is going into his house watching television and eating junk food.
- Lazy Husband: Patrick plays this role to a T. He leaves SpongeBob all alone to raise Junior while doing nothing but watching TV and later on it turns out his "job" is just him doing the same at his own house.
- Letting the Air out of the Band: The background music becomes progressively slower as SpongeBob becomes more exhausted.
- Minimalist Cast: SpongeBob, Patrick and Gary are the only main characters to appear, aside from a confused fish couple and the talking apple worm.
- Missing Mom: Junior has no parents, forcing SpongeBob to step in.
- Nightmare Face: "OVERTIME!?!?!?"
- Parental Neglect: Demonstrated by Patrick to Junior.
- Platonic Co-Parenting: The episode has Spongebob and Patrick raise a baby scallop (the equivalent of a baby bird) as if it were an infant. Spongebob takes the maternal role while Patrick plays a (very unhelpful) dad.
- Plot Hole:
- SpongeBob pleads Junior to "come to daddy", when he is established to be the matriarch.
- SpongeBob stays all day on his home for many days to take care of Junior while Patrick "works". Doesn't he have to work at the Krusty Krab?
- Rage Breaking Point: When SpongeBob finds out what Patrick’s “job” is, he dumps everything inside the briefcase on Patrick (which was full of junk food), and then angrily screams the word “overtime” when Patrick says that was the thanks he got for working overtime.
- Rebus Bubble: "Sponge + Starfish = Scallop?"
- Reveal Shot: When trying to stop Junior's crying, SpongeBob starts making funny faces, then the camera zooms back to reveal he's using a lifelike puppet of himself.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When SpongeBob berates Patrick for breaking his promise of coming home early to help with Junior, Patrick decides he doesn't want to help take care of Junior anymore and goes "back to work" which turns out was really just Patrick watching T.V. at his house the whole time-his briefcase being full of junk food.
- Series Continuity Error: SpongeBob points out Patrick never wears a shirt, but in "Valentine's Day" and "I'm with Stupid", he does. Although SpongeBob probably meant that Patrick usually doesn't wear a shirt.
- Shout-Out:
- "Hey, I'm missing The Coconuts!"
- The worm's last words, "We will bury you!" are a reference to ousted Soviet Union leader Khrushchev threatening the Western capitalist powers of the United States and Europe.
- Sudden Anatomy: SpongeBob grows extra arms to handle all the housework and the baby all at once.
- Ungrateful Bastard: SpongeBob isn't this, but Patrick tries to paint him as such when he's drenched in his donuts and milkshakes from SpongeBob dumping out his briefcase, despite his "work" being sitting on his ass all day watching TV while the latter looks after their "child" without any help. Needless to say, SpongeBob is livid.Patrick: Oh... So, this is the thanks I get for working overtime?!SpongeBob: OVERTIME?!
- We Are Not Going Through That Again: SpongeBob's shocked reaction when Patrick suggests having another scallop suggests he does not want to go through all the parental trouble Patrick put him through again.
- What Measure Is a Non-Human?: The poor apple worm. It's not only sentient and capable of speech, but seems to be very friendly and happy. However, it's still chosen to feed the scallop. And it receives no empathy even as it's begging for mercy while being Eaten Alive.
- What the Hell, Hero?: SpongeBob gives two of these to Patrick. One for watching TV too much and the other for breaking his promise.
- Worm in an Apple: While trying to find things for the scallop to eat, SpongeBob offers an apple. Out of the apple comes a worm saying "I bring greetings from Apple World!" The scallop starts begging and SpongeBob realizes that scallops eat worms, so he plucks out the worm and feeds it to the scallop while the worm begs for its life.
- Would Hurt a Child: Patrick tries to step on the baby scallop to stop it from making noise.
There, end of page.
Patrick: Let's have another. (SpongeBob reacts surprised)
