For my final episode of today, we've got "Penny Foolish". Rewatching this episode made me realize that in season 6, we saw Plankton before we saw Mr. Krabs, and that’s pretty interesting to me. Looks like this episode is here to rectify that though. It also makes me think about how so far, we haven’t started a single episode with SpongeBob (and that it actually takes a few minutes to even see SpongeBob in each of these episodes), so that’s also an interesting little trend. And hey, I have no complaints about that second one, because following other characters, or letting them take the lead, means more kinds of plots, which means more interesting and unique material.
After doing a very brief read-through of some of the comments above mine, I have come to realize that perhaps my opinions on this episode are about to be unpopular, so that's fun for me. Nothing crazy unpopular though. I didn't read much of the substance of my fellow forum-goers comments, but if I had to guess I’d say people would argue that this episode is evidence of Mr. Krabs’ “flanderization” (a term I don’t like because it is overused to hell and back). And to that I say bull****. Now, I am definitely making up an argument to get mad at here because again I haven’t really looked at other people’s comments, but I’m just saying that if that is a comment, it’s bull. Because the Mr. Krabs of seasons 1, 2, 3, he would absolutely act this way. We have all seen “Imitation Krabs”, right? Or even “Born Again Krabs”???
The beginning scene of this episode is pretty entertaining with some funny moments in there. I love how completely done the cashier is, because that’s a mood right there. And of course this episode gets moving quite quickly with Mr. Krabs witnessing SpongeBob do…something weird. Honestly this bit kinda dragged and the fact that we come to see it multiple times really doesn’t help. But anyway, I like how Mr. Krabs slowly grows more and more insane about this penny. It reminds me a lot of “Squeaky Boots” and it’s really enjoyable to watch. When the moon turns into a penny I just start laughing, what a lovely rule of three. Mr. Krabs being super faux-cheery with a side of creepy at the Krusty Krab is great too. I also loved Squidward’s brief appearance here in this first bit at the Krusty Krab, his utter done-ness is just a hilarious reaction to everything. But anyway, back to Mr. K, I just love how crazy he is over this penny, literally shaking down SpongeBob over it, which leads to a pretty entertaining chase scene with SpongeBob’s brain.
Moving on, Mr. Krabs’ attempts to get a penny from SpongeBob get more and more absurd and entertaining, and that’s one thing this episode does well, escalation. The theater is a pretty funny idea, especially when you think of how much money it must have taken to make the dang theater…a lot more than a penny, that’s for sure. And I think that just goes to show, in a pretty humorous way, that Mr. Krabs doesn’t even care about the money in terms of adding to his bank account, but he cares about having all the money he sees. He saw that penny but he didn’t get it, so now he’s obsessed with it. Pretty smart writing, I’d say. I love the recurring gag of Mr. Krabs sounding like a dolphin too. Mr. Krabs’ dramatic reaction after SpongeBob once again says he doesn’t have a penny is great, and I love how he just demolishes the theater.
The next attempt, the charity night, is probably my favorite because of how hilariously solemn Mr. Krabs is in recounting his “great cause”. Clancy Brown really went off here ngl (after watching John Wick 4 I’m on a Clancy Brown hype train. I mean I’ve seen him in other stuff before but like I’m back on the hype train). And I love thinking of just how he managed to rope Squidward into this thing too. Squidward is another highlight of this episode for sure. Anyway, I love how dramatic SpongeBob ends up being too, crying about not having a penny, and I love the visuals of Mr. Krabs losing his eyes and screaming after once again being foiled.
By this point, Mr. Krabs has completely lost it, surveilling SpongeBob’s house while muttering crazily, before just breaking in. Mr. Krabs going loony is super entertaining to me. And then we get a Gary appearance which of course I’m going to note because that’s my GOAT, which then leads to the final resolution of the episode with Mr. Krabs finally confessing. I love how Gary warily looks at Mr. Krabs for the rest of the scene too, that was a nice touch. But anyway, the reveal that the penny was just a simple gum wrapper was fun, and I like how it kind of touched on the real psychological phenomenon of false memories (although Mr. Krabs did initially mistake the gum wrapper for a penny, color and all, in the first place, which really just goes to show the top-down influence on perception and oh my god let me stop now LMAO). And then of course we get the final little stinger that the gum wrapper was actually $500, and that Mr. Krabs still couldn’t let go of his obsession, digging holes around SpongeBob’s house.
Well so far, season 6 is just the season of enjoyable episodes lol, because “Penny Foolish” is just another really enjoyable episode. Though, it’s definitely the best out of the 3 I’ve reviewed so far (which is definitely an unpopular opinion). This episode is just super funny, but I mean Mr. Krabs dramatics are usually a foolproof source of humor so that’s not too surprising. And everyone in this episode was really at their A-game. SpongeBob was perfectly oblivious and unwitting while also playing along nicely with the drama, Mr. Krabs I’ve already explained (he carried the episode on his back with his descent into lunacy), and Squidward provided some really great snark and deadpan humor. So just all sorts of good here. And that’s why “Penny Foolish” will be the first episode of season 6 to reach “Amazing”, congrats to this episode!
Episode Tier: Amazing
Episode Score: 9.3/10
