This episode makes a lot more sense when you consider that Mr. Krabs and Plankton developed the Krabby Patty together, and Plankton angrily walked out on Mr. Krabs right before the final recipe was completed (which was invented by accident, as Plankton slammed the door on the way out, breaking a shelf that conveniently held some ingredients that slid into the vat of patty meat), so this episode presents an alternate universe that shows what would've happened if Mr. Krabs walked out on Plankton instead of it being the other way around.
Why didn't Plankton use being in an alternate reality to finally learn the formula, and instead spends his time hanging around Krabby Patties? Because as established in "Plankton!", he's implied to also have an infatuation with the Krabby Patty as a food item. Here, it comes back to bite him, as he's so concerned with being around Krabby Patties that he forgets to steal the formula.
Genius Bonus: Considering the fact that real-life plankton get nutrition through photosynthesis, it's no wonder that holographic meatloaf is Plankton's favorite food when it's literally constructed of light.
SpongeBob's face when Plankton tells him he's using too much sauce, because of how hilarious it is.
OH MY GOODNESS! SQUIDWARD!ExplanationPlankton yells this quote upon seeing Squidward's gross Krabby Patty, which is sometimes replaced with another gross or disturbing image.
SOILED IT! SOILED IT! SOILED IT! SOILED IT!ExplanationSpongeBob's Madness Mantra after Plankton puts him in charge of the register and he makes a mistake, used whenever a company or person makes a massive blunder.
"GOOD GRIEF, HE'S NAKED!"ExplanationPlankton's reaction to Krabs' lack of clothes has gotten a lot of mileage on social media whenever a character or personality appears naked.
VICTORY SCREECH!ExplanationSpongeBob's (later, the entire's restaurant) reaction upon Krabs' defeat. Used in triumphant moments through social media.
"Goodbye everyone, I'll remember you all in therapy."ExplanationPlankton's final words to the denizens of the alternate reality as he assures them they all contributed to his upcoming trauma. Next to "Can I be excused for the rest of my life?", the quote has been popular with students graduating college.
Nausea Fuel: The "Krabby Patty" that Squidward makes. It's full of mold and flies, and it contains things like nails, wood, an old sock, and even an eyeball. "OH MY GOODNESS!", indeed.
Yes, there are actually underwater lagoons that fish can and do drown in due to the increased density of salt concentrate. Granted the water SpongeBob and Patrick were in was only a foot deep and thus they were in no danger, but since the Bikini Bottom citizens treat Goo Lagoon like a regular beach, this still applies. It is even mentioned in Bikini Bottom mysteries.
One of the methods that SpongeBob used to attempt to rescue Patrick is actually the first thing you should do when you attempt to rescue someone from drowning. You don't jump in right away. You should throw a life preserver. Larry was a trained professional, so he was able to rescue the guy who was drowning right away. It's also worth noting that Patrick made it tougher for SpongeBob by grabbing on to him. People who are drowning might do this to rescuers because they are panicking and trying to find something to grab on to.
"Dude [Patrick], put that thing [his belly] away! There are, like, children here!" due to being Accidental Innuendo.
The close-up of SpongeBob used when he says he's cool has been used in a bizarre, ironic meme as the face of "SpongeBees" annoying Squidward for "nectar" that exploded in mid-2022.
The part where Annette kicks sand at SpongeBob has been used as reaction meme used for opinions and users that are universally hated.
, indeed.