What are the worst pre-movie SpongeBob episodes?

[-Apples-]

While it’s a general acceptation that SpongeBob was at its worst from seasons 4 to 9, not every SpongeBob episode prior to season 4 were good. I know for a fact that before people started complaining about how the show went downhill, there were a few episodes that people didn’t like. And because it’s been so long since season 4 premiered (combined with the fact that opinions tend to change over time), some episodes that may not been hated as much at the time are more hated today.

In your opinion, what episodes from the first three seasons of SpongeBob did you find to be the worst? You may list as many as you can, but try not to list all 117 of them. Keep it down to like 10 or less, or just simply one.

 

[Xeleron]

It's been a minute... a long minute since I watched SpongeBob so I can really remember if I had an episode I think is the 'worst', I remember really disliking the hyperrealistic closeups they would do from time to time (I kinda don't mind them anymore), they were really gross lol I'm also not a fan of that one episode where Mr.Krabs exploits the jellyfish or the one that involved a car chase, I remember Mrs. Puff being in that ep. or the one where SpongeBob's grandma 'favored' Patrick, it broke my heart as a kid .-.

 

[DeltaLoraine]

There were definitely some gross or uncomfortable episodes in the original first few seasons. The first one that came to mind was the one where squidward got his toe nail ripped off XD (Can't remember what season it was, but I think we all remember that one)...it still gives me chills just thinking about it.

 

[Dwayne Johnson]

you know thats really hard since S1-3 was full of great moments...

maybe the one where squidward basically tries to kill spongebob with his april fools "joke"?

edit: the episode is "fools in april"

 

[DeltaLoraine]

It's been a minute... a long minute since I watched SpongeBob so I can really remember if I had an episode I think is the 'worst' I remember really disliking the hyperrealistic closeups they would do (I kinda don mind them anymore) from time to time, they were really gross lol I'm also not a fan of that one episode where Mr.Krabs exploits the jellyfish or the one that involved a car chase, I remember Mrs. Puff being in that ep. or the one where SpongeBob's grandma 'favored' Patrick, it broke my heart as a kid .-.

I also felt uncomfortable during that Grandma episode...It just made me feel terrible as a kid. I loved my grandma so much, so the thought of her not caring about me made me want to cry

 

[Xeleron]

I also felt uncomfortable during that Grandma episode...It just made me feel terrible as a kid. I loved my grandma so much, so the thought of her not caring about me made me want to cry

RIGHT?!! As an adult I don't think it's that bad (they do push it a bit), but as a kid the 'selfishness' is totally relatable omg

 

[DinosaurDumpster]

I personally don't like the episodes Reef Blower, I'm With Stupid, and The Sponge Who Could Fly.
Reef Blower wasn't really anything special in my opinion and nobody talked in that episode either (due to audio glitches or something).
I didn't really like I'm With Stupid in general.
Out of all of these episodes I like The Sponge Who Could Fly the most because I do agree there are moments in that episode that are great, and it did have Patchy the Pirate in it, but it's not his best episode and seeing him rip out spongebob stuff in his house just made me want to scream. I also didn't like the episode's concept too much.

 

[Crash]

i refuse to label any classic spongebob episodes as "bad" in any way and no one can convince me otherwise. although the one with mr krabs essentially creating a jellyfish factory makes me a bit sad because i am very pro animal rights and always have been

 

[Corrie]

It's been a minute... a long minute since I watched SpongeBob so I can really remember if I had an episode I think is the 'worst', I remember really disliking the hyperrealistic closeups they would do from time to time (I kinda don't mind them anymore), they were really gross lol I'm also not a fan of that one episode where Mr.Krabs exploits the jellyfish or the one that involved a car chase, I remember Mrs. Puff being in that ep. or the one where SpongeBob's grandma 'favored' Patrick, it broke my heart as a kid .-.

Okay YES!! I hated the jellyfish jelly ep. Like seeing that machine squeeze them and throw them to the side literally hurt my heart. Hard to watch for me.

 

[Xeleron]

Okay YES!! I hated the jellyfish jelly ep. Like seeing that machine squeeze them and throw them to the side literally hurt my heart. Hard to watch for me.

Don't remind me I remember being freaked out when watching it...

 

[-Apples-]

Part of the reason why SpongeBob still holds up to today rather than the other kids’ cartoons is because of what the episodes were about, as many episodes were rather interesting. However, there are some that I found rather boring.

It’s by no surprise that I’m with the Stupid is at the bottom for all pre-movie SpongeBob episodes (which was the the least popular of the pre-movie SpongeBob episodes according to many). Not because of how bad Patrick was, but because it’s just not that enjoyable. Others in that category include Procrastination, Dumped, Rock-a-bye Bivalve, Squirrel Jokes, Grandma’s Kisses, and Naughty Nautical Neighbors. As for episodes that outraged me, I would say The Sponge Who Can Fly on this one. Same for Krabby Land and New Student Starfish.

Fun Fact: None of the episodes listed were among the first ten SpongeBob episodes I’ve seen. Back when I first watched it, I didn’t have cable, so I was strictly stuck to DVDs (themed DVDs like Sea Stories and SpongeBob Halloween (the same DVD that had Band Geeks)) when I was a kid.

 

[Bcat]

Nothing before the movie is bad. They're all perfect classics and thems the facts.

 

[Nosfurratu]

Ditto^
also the first movie is fantastic and I will always love it.

 

[Belle T]

I struggle to think of any pre-movie episodes of the show that are outright terrible. Even episodes that were less than stellar still maintained a level of consistent quality, and even those I didn't like at the time I like more in retrospect, probably BECAUSE the later episodes are so bad.

But there were some that I think were comparatively weaker to some of the greater ones. I'm With Stupid does come to mind as one of the weaker ones. Jellyfishing is one that I also thought was kind of torturous to watch, because it was sort of the start of the show's obsession with sadistically torturing Squidward even when he really didn't deserve it. The Sponge Who Could Fly is a bit... uh... weird, in retrospect, even for the show's standards. I also have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Bubble Buddy where on the one hand, SpongeBob acts relentlessly annoying in it, but there are so many quotable moments in it that I can't really call it a bad episode.

That pretty much goes for all of the pre-movie episodes. Even the bad ones are incredibly iconic and memorable to the point where I can't really call them "bad" so much as just not AS good as some of the other ones.

 

[Jhine7]

I can't think of a bad episode honestly.

 

[biibii]

the butterfly one traumatized me as a kid and now im scared of butterflies but it was still a good episode

 

[brockbrock]

Any episode with Patchy the Pirate. Just no. He wasn't fun as a kid and he's certainly no more fun as an adult.

On the flip side, any episode with as much Patrick and Squidward as possible is a winning combo for me.