Ah, “Shopping List”, another simply fun and enjoyable episode from season 11. This season’s got some ups and downs, but it’s definitely been delivering on the front of providing quality entertainment.
“Shopping List” is a very simple episode. Mr. Krabs sends SpongeBob on a crazy quest to get the ingredients to make Krabby Patties. And, as you might predict, he runs into some interference in the form of Plankton. With this bare bones of the plot in mind, this episode reminds me of two things actually. The first is the game Truth or Square. Specifically the DS version. I don’t know if other versions ended like this, but in the DS version the whole plot is that SpongeBob thinks he lost the secret formula, but in the end it turns out Mr. Krabs actually gave him his shopping list, instead of the formula. So this episode reminds me of that. It also reminds me of “20,000 Patties Under The Sea”. But this episode’s very different from that one.
The biggest difference between the two episodes is the fact that Sandy’s a part of this one. A big part. And as we all know, that’s an instant win. When SpongeBob sees that the shopping list is full of exotic items, he conveniently runs into Sandy, who’s working on her submarine, Matilda. And so the two of them go off in search of these secret ingredients together. It’s kinda funny how Sandy is basically handed the “formula” in this episode. She deserves it, especially after another episode that involves Sandy and the creation of Krabby Patties (whatever could I be talking about?).
As SpongeBob and Sandy go on their adventure, we see them succeed while Plankton fails. It’s a little repetitive, but the sequences are entertaining enough. And we even get an appearance from the Flying Dutchman, so that’s another instant win. Eventually, Sandy and SpongeBob finish the list, but they’re intercepted by Plankton, who steals all of the ingredients because he’s a sore loser and a cheater LMAO. And with their utter failure, they’re forced to go back to the Krusty Krab. Of course, SpongeBob has more dog in this fight, so he comes back crying and sobbing while Mr. Krabs takes a money bath.
Then we get the reveal that this was a “Spy Buddies” level of planning ahead by Mr. Krabs, as the list he gave SpongeBob was actually a fake meant to get Plankton off his tail while he gets the real ingredients. And this is probably my favorite part of the episode, because while SpongeBob accepts this explanation for putting him in extreme danger, Sandy does not. And so she retaliates. Frankly, this episode deserves Amazing tier for Sandy kicking Mr. Krabs’ butt alone. And she doesn’t just do so for the sake of her lost submarine, but for her little buddy’s too. It’s wholesome and hilarious, a mix I’ll always love. And the way Plankton also gets exploded up into the air, meeting Mr. Krabs up there, just a really funny way to end of the episode.
One great thing about this episode? It’s funny. Not every joke sticks the landing, and there are some moments of slowness, but there’s also a lot of good jokes here too. Like the one with the risqué drawing, that also made a surprising second appearance, that was funny. There’s also quite a bit of slapstick in this one, particularly where Plankton is involved. It doesn’t all work, but I did like some of it, like when Plankton’s inside the toolbox, that was pretty good.
Episode Tier: Amazing
Episode Score: 9.2/10