You'll get your very own spotlight tonight
'Cause it's all about you!
Yeah, it's all about Pearl
'Cause you're the birthday girl
'Cause it's all about you!
Yeah, it's all about Pearl
'Cause you're the birthday girl
Whale of a Birthday
Original air date: 5/12/2006 (produced in 2005)
Mr. Krabs sends SpongeBob on a shopping spree to buy Pearl presents for her 16th birthday.
"Whale of a Birthday" contains examples of:
- An Aesop: The things you buy really can make a difference for a birthday. Be willing to spend a little for those you care about.
- Big Damn Heroes: SpongeBob arriving with the presents he bought for Pearl.
- Birthday Episode: The episode takes place on Pearl's 16th birthday.
- Birthday Party Goes Wrong: Predictably, Krabs cheaps out on the party, which makes Pearl miserable. Narrowly averted at the very end when SpongeBob arrives with all the presents she wanted, paid for with Krabs' credit card.
- Break the Cutie: Happens to Pearl after realizing her father didn't even make a decent party for her.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Pearl has to remind Mr. Krabs that it's her birthday.Pearl: You have no idea what day tomorrow is, do you?
Mr. Krabs: None at all.
Pearl: IT'S MY 16TH BIRTHDAY!
Mr. Krabs: I knew that! How could you think I wouldn't know that?! So, how old are you gonna be, 12? - Continuity Nod: Thanks to Mr. Krabs' cheapness, Pearl has had a lame birthday party before.
- Credit Card Plot: Mr. Krabs entrusts SpongeBob with his credit card to buy Pearl a birthday present, with the explicit order to follow Pearl around to find out what she'd like. However, when Pearl expresses interest in everything she sees at the mall, SpongeBob uses the credit card to buy it all, leaving Mr. Krabs with a gigantic bill. It somewhat worked out for the best since SpongeBob showing up with all the presents is what saves Pearl's birthday. Considering how unbelievably cheap Mr. Krabs was being, even when Pearl pleaded with him to make more of an effort for her sweet sixteen, it's a likewise Laser-Guided Karma, even if it's an extremely light one.
- Dangerous 16th Birthday: Given that Mr. Krabs is a cheapskate, Pearl's birthdays end up lame, but since this is her Sweet 16, expect things to go totally downhill unless SpongeBob's involved.
- Didn't Think This Through: Mr. Krabs realized too late that trusting SpongeBob of all people with credit card was going to backfire in one way or another.
- Disguised in Drag: SpongeBob does this at one point while following Pearl at the mall.
- Deus ex Machina: Mr. Krabs offering SpongeBob his credit card to buy Pearl's presents is what saves her party in the end.
- It Tastes Like Feet: When Pearl's friends drink from the punch bowl...Pearl's Friend: It tastes like dishwater!
Squidward: It is dishwater. - Jerkass Has a Point: Pearl orders Mr. Krabs to stop being cheap and give her a more lavish birthday party. While she still may be a Bratty Teenage Daughter, this is not an unreasonable demand, since Mr. Krabs has ruined all her birthdays and doesn't even make an attempt to improve himself.
- Periphery Demographic: An In-Universe example. The boy band, Boys Who Cry, appear to have a fanbase exclusively of teenage girls. Squidward reveals himself to be a fan of their music, which gives Mr. Krabs the idea to have him perform their songs at Pearl's birthday rather than hire the band.
- Produce Pelting: Pearl's friends do this when Squidward performs on stage rather than Boys Who Cry, including throwing the head of the Pearl statue made out of Krabby Patty meat.
- Shaking the Rump: Squidward does this while performing for Pearl's party.
- Shockingly Expensive Bill: The receipt Mr. Krabs receives from all the gifts SpongeBob bought for Pearl.
- Shoddy Shindig: Thanks to Mr. Krabs being cheap, all of Pearl's birthday parties are like this. When Pearl was little, he made her and all the party guests share one balloon, and the pony ride was a cheap stick pony that easily fell apart. Despite promising Pearl he wouldn't be cheap for her 16th birthday, he throws her a party that cuts every corner; the banner is recycled from Pearl's baby shower and says "It's a Boy" (with the last word crossed out and "Girl" written above it — Mr. Krabs bought it because it was on sale), refreshments include a cake made out of cardboard and frosting, stale popcorn, and dishwater to drink, a statue of Pearl made of raw Krabby Patty meat instead of ice, and Squidward substitutes for Pearl's favorite band, Boys Who Cry. Fortunately, it gets better when SpongeBob buys all the gifts Pearl wanted with Mr. Krabs' credit card, even hiring the real Boys Who Cry.
- Shopping Montage: Of SpongeBob buying birthday presents for Pearl.
- Surprisingly Happy Ending: Pearl's birthday ends up lame as usual thanks to Mr. Krabs' cheapness, but SpongeBob uses his credit card to buy all her presents, even hiring Boys Who Cry to perform, which cheers her up. And while Krabs is mad at SpongeBob for spending so much money, he lets it slide after seeing how happy it made his daughter.
- Unintentionally Karmic: Due to SpongeBob's naivety, Mr. Krabs' receives a huge bill for all the stuff he bought. Considering the latter was being nothing but a remorseless jerk towards his own daughter, it's highly deserved, even though it's a very light dose of karma.
"Let the coronation begin!"note
Karate Island
Original air date: 5/12/2006 (produced in 2005)
SpongeBob is invited to take part in a special karate event at "Karate Island", but little does he know the island harbors a dark secret for those who come there.
"Karate Island" contains examples of:
- Acquired Situational Narcissism: SpongeBob acts really arrogant towards Sandy after he is crowned King of Karate.
- Actor Allusion: Master Udon is voiced by Pat Morita, best known for his role in The Karate Kid.
- Added Alliterative Appeal: The Four Floors of Fear.
- An Aesop: Be careful what you believe; sometimes things can be deceiving.
- Artistic License – Economics: There's the possibility that it's all part of the scam, but Udon states that if SpongeBob invests in a condominium timeshare, his equity of it increases tenfold. In actuality, buyers of timeshares own no equity over the property they temporarily purchase, with this description being more applicable to vacation homes.
- Bad "Bad Acting": The "opponents" SpongeBob has to face to take the throne as "King of Karate". They all play dead when SpongeBob throws a punch, and he didn't even touch them.
- Big "NO!": SpongeBob screams this as Sandy is leaving, before she eventually decides to help him.
- Bigger on the Inside: Gary's shell is shown to be much bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
- Bond One-Liner: Sandy delivers some witty puns after she defeats Udon and his Quirky Miniboss Squad:
- After throwing jelly-filled donuts into The Tickler's face: "Sticky around! I'll be back with the glazed!"
- After drying out Lipp Cervas' lips: "That's enough lip outta you!"
- And finally, after she defeats Master Udon and throws him into the drink: "You're in the soup now, Udon!"note
- Faux Horrific: Master Udon's true goal was to force SpongeBob to buy into a timeshare, complete with a sales pitch. Downplayed as timeshares are a legitimate scam, though most timeshare salesmen rely on smooth-talking to convince the customer that it's a good idea instead of using force. When Udon presents his sales pitch, SpongeBob reacts in horror.
- Growing Muscles Sequence: Sandy and Udon have this, including Udon growing muscles in his eyebrows while Sandy grows muscles in her tail.
- Hello, [Insert Name Here]: The fish announcer near the end of the video says "Now it's your turn...", followed by an automated voice saying "...SpongeBob SquarePants."
- Here We Go Again!: After SpongeBob and Sandy leave Karate Island, Squidward arrives on another boat after having been claimed King of Clarinets where Master Udon is waiting.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Filthy Phil, the last member of Udon's Quirky Miniboss Squad, attacks Sandy by releasing his body odor, which Sandy is immune to thanks to her helmet, the odor bounces back at him and knocks him out.
- Hong Kong Dub: Parodied with the Tickler whose mouth movements fail to match up with his dialogue.
- Instant Costume Change: Lampshaded by Master Udon: "You are one impressive squirrel. You even made a costume change!"
- Lip Losses: Sandy defeats Lipp Cervas by using a blowdryer to chap her lips to the point where they crumble and fall right off her face (!).
- Metronomic Man Mashing: Sandy does this to Master Udon during their final battle.
- Negative Continuity: SpongeBob is portrayed as a karate novice when earlier episodes established he and Sandy were equally matched. Though other episodes established Sandy as being Always Someone Better.
- No-Sell: When Filthy Phil tries to attack Sandy with his body odor, Sandy's unaffected because she's wearing an air helmet.
- Oh, Crap!: SpongeBob begins to realize something's not what he expected when he is handcuffed to his throne and Udon takes out a pen from his robe.
- Refuse to Rescue the Disliked: Sandy walks out on SpongeBob just before Master Udon's true motives are revealed. She hears SpongeBob screaming for help, and bitterly comments that the King of Karate can save himself. Despite this, upon hearing SpongeBob's pleas for her to save him, Sandy immediately turns back, dropping her grudge in a heartbeat.
- Shout-Out:
- The yellow track suit Sandy wears and the progression through several floors to get to the final boss is a reference to Game of Death. The trip to the island for a martial arts competition as a framing device mirrors another Bruce Lee movie, Enter the Dragon.
- Sandy also uses a series of hand signs to break out of a cage. And the last hand seal is an Aura Hand.
- Sandy's and Udon's muscle growth seems to be based on Toguro's 100% muscle growth.
- Special Guest: Pat Morita as Master Udon.
- Stab the Salad: SpongeBob is noticeably alarmed when Master Udon reaches into his robe for something that makes a clicking sound. It turns out to be a pen.
- "Take That!" Kiss: Lipp Cervas' entire fighting style is attacking with her giant Gag Lips.Lipp Cervas: Dance, squirrel, dance. (her giant lips kiss Sandy, sending her flying backwards)
- Teeth Flying: When Sandy beats up Master Udon, she knocks two of his teeth out.
- Tickle Torture: Done with the first opponent Sandy faces, The Tickler.
- Underestimating Badassery: The Tickler, Lipp Cervas, and Filthy Phil all make this mistake towards Sandy, and then pay very dearly.
- Unexplained Recovery: Despite getting beaten to a pulp by Sandy, Master Udon is perfectly fine when Squidward arrives on "Clarinet Island" shortly after.
- Villain Respect: When Udon has seen that Sandy has gotten past the first three Floor Masters, he's genuinely impressed by her karate skills.Udon: You are one impressive squirrel. You've even made a costume change!
- Writers Cannot Do Math: Sandy has to pass the "Four Floors of Fear" in order to get to SpongeBob; however, she only passes three before reaching him. There is, however, a possibility that the fourth floor Sandy must pass through is in fact the floor that Master Udon is on, though this doesn't square with Udon implying that she would have to pass through the Four Floors to reach SpongeBob.
- You're Just Jealous: SpongeBob assumes Sandy is this when he’s being crowned King of Karate. Sandy rightfully suspects foul play from the getgo.
