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Discuss the episode here!
292a. SquidBird
- Thread starter PinkPugPrincess
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Discuss the episode here!
TiredandFeathered
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midbird. 6/10
Original Raw and Uncut
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Why is the title card music so unfitting?
Yummylesecond
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its very strange
SpongeVol93
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It's called Surf'n Sponge, it's a parody of "Surfin' Bird," a song from the 60s. So I guess that connection is why it was used for the title card music. I think the track was originally made for SpongeBob vs. The Big One, I think it plays during the surfing montage with the surfer narrator.
The episode itself was one of the worst of season 13 IMO. It doesn't help that it's reusing a similar concept from the beginning of Naughty Nautical Neighbors which just reminds me of a much better episode. It's rare that we see an episode that takes place completely on Conch Street, especially with later episodes. This episode just reminded me of other episodes like that like Bubblestand, NNN, and Opposite Day and how those had a charm that this just doesn't have. Really disappointing episode to end the premiere weeks we've had for the past month or so. 4/10
Roland D. Plankton
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When I first watched it I thought it was atrocious.
On my second watch, I've noticed that many of the torture Squidward got was justified.
-When he was spat hot chowder on, it was deserved because he sent the clams there
-When Squidward cut Patrick off the ropes that held him, the clams attacking Squidward was deserved
-Almost everything after he orders the giant clam was justified
-The ending was justified because he refused to jump out.
The beginning, and the two times the clams locked Squidward out of his house naked were NOT justified however.
And also just all in itself this episode was... weird. I don't really like it, but I don't hate it anymore either. It's just mediocre.
On my second watch, I've noticed that many of the torture Squidward got was justified.
-When he was spat hot chowder on, it was deserved because he sent the clams there
-When Squidward cut Patrick off the ropes that held him, the clams attacking Squidward was deserved
-Almost everything after he orders the giant clam was justified
-The ending was justified because he refused to jump out.
The beginning, and the two times the clams locked Squidward out of his house naked were NOT justified however.
And also just all in itself this episode was... weird. I don't really like it, but I don't hate it anymore either. It's just mediocre.
SlipperytheTotodile
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Pugs4Thugs
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I’m…very curious about what this episode is going to be about. Because “SquidBird” is giving me the image of Squidward’s face on a chicken or dodo, basically. And frankly I’m already not interested in that idea. But I’m not going to get preemptively upset about an idea I’ve entirely made up right now, so let me just hit ‘play’ on this episode so I can see for myself.
The title card track, Surf’N Sponge New Fast Mix, puts me right into a summer mood. And makes me think of “SpongeBob Vs. The Big One”. That makes me even more curious about what exactly this episode is going to be about, because “SquidBird” is not a very…summer-y title. I haven’t talked about this kind of thing in a while, but I have always adored the environment of this show, and by this I mean all the small little environmental details, not just vibes like I frequently point out. Like, clams being birds is just inherently funny to me because of how it builds up this underwater world, and because clams being birds is funny. So I’m already in a good mood as this episode begins as I’m reminded of this careful worldbuilding.
The beginning of the episode sees Squidward making a sculpture of himself, as per usual, and then destroying it trying to chase out a clam. And of course he blames the clam…who turns out to be carrying a message for Patrick from SpongeBob. Huh, messenger clams…that’s definitely not where I was expecting this episode to go, but I like it! And just from this first minute, I’m already getting “Under The Small Top” vibes. Well, that mixed with “Naughty Nautical Neighbors”. Quite an interesting combination. I like how when Patrick sends SpongeBob a drawing, I can tell what’s on the page much better than SpongeBob can. Like come on, that’s obviously you and Patrick, man!
I like this scene of Squidward complaining to SpongeBob, particularly because of the joke of Patrick randomly appearing behind Squidward. Also, something about this art style is giving season 9 to me. Anyone else? The conflict in this episode, at least the conflict we’re being presented with right now, with clams flying into Squidward’s house, has a lot of different easy solutions, but it’s in-character for our characters to go through with none of them. Now that’s the kind of tight writing I like to see! Like, Squidward could easily close his windows, but he’d never give in in such a way, especially if it inconveniences himself. SpongeBob and Patrick wouldn’t get harsh with their clams to make them stop either. I suppose the episode could’ve had another typical set up with SpongeBob getting all nervous about breaking Squidward’s rule here, like in “Restraining SpongeBob”, but I’m also glad that the episode didn’t go that way.
Two clams end up tricking Squidward out of his house while he’s bathing. Those cheeky things. And so this causes Squidward to basically declare war on the clams. Well now I’m being reminded of “Bunny Hunt”, but so far this is much better. Squidward’s first attempt at getting at the clams is hilariously dark, like when he’s like “have fun at the chowder factory” my jaw was open and I had to hold in my laugh because I’m at work writing this review right now. This episode is very emphatic on the fact that Squidward is a jerk. If the way he blamed the clam for his folly at the beginning wasn’t enough, the way he sends SpongeBob’s clams to die and eats Patrick’s lunch should be enough to cement that Squidward is entirely in the wrong on this one. So now I’m anticipating quite the doling out of universal justice. Which Squidward gets immediately for the chowder incident by getting rolled over by a giant can of chowder, and then attacked by the clams. Ha, deserved.
So now Squidward decides he’s just going to ignore the clams. But he can’t do that for long when they’re literally causing Patrick to crash into Squidward’s house. And of course Squidward trying to stop this backfires as well. Considering that this is basically attempted murder, the universal justice doled out here is also 100% deserved lol. Patrick’s lines here are really funny to me.
Finally, SpongeBob comes up with the idea of training the clams to avoid Squidward. Perhaps this is the first good idea we’ve seen all episode. And I don’t mean that in a bad way at all, but let’s be real, Squidward is a vindictive jack*** in this episode, and his plans fail accordingly. And Patrick makes no plans. The ensuing montage of SpongeBob and Patrick training the clams is decently entertaining. Montages are really a hit or miss thing, particularly in gag-heavy episodes like this one, because they usually rely on one gag that has to be funny every time or the scene will feel too long and wasted. The gag here is decent, it reminds me a lot of “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III”, especially since Patrick is the one dressed as Squidward lol.
Even though the clams do avoid maiming Squidward, they’re not above locking him outside of his house and doing a conga line of destruction. So in the end, SpongeBob and Patrick’s training amounts to nothing, at least at this moment. After enough times of sticking my foot in my mouth in these reviews, I’ll just trust the process and wait until the end to say anything. Which is what reviews are supposed to do, but we all know that I’m a little bit unconventional, and do more of a recap-review style. It’s more fun that way. Anyway, Squidward is back to declaring a war on the clams, ordering a very suspect package…a giant scallop. I don’t see how this is a smart idea at all. But it somehow works??? For a moment. And then they’re making clam + scallop formations in the sky, and Squidward decides that being aggressive to a giant scallop is a good idea. Yeah Squidward is definitely not very bright in this episode, is he?
Surprisingly, instead of this leading to simply a joke of Squidward getting maimed, it actually turns into a whole scene, and SpongeBob and Patrick help keep Squidward from being eviscerated. I love this sequence of everyone looking outside to see all the clams just…waiting. The horror aspect mixed with the world of SpongeBob SquarePants makes this inherently hilarious while still carrying a degree of being unsettling. And then they clams start taking Squidward’s house, so they all have to jump out. Though Squidward is far more hesitant. Especially once he realizes he’s leaving SpongeBob and Patrick. I guess he just forgot that the clams hate him?? I think by this point, Squidward has lost his mind LMAO. And then his house gets dropped into a volcano. Wait a minute, haven’t we seen this before?
“SquidBird” was a lot more enjoyable than I had initially expected, and went places I wasn’t expecting either. I like that. Being surprised is always fun. And this episode did a lot with a very, very simple plot, which I like too. My only complaint is that Squidward is far more stupid than usual, but I think it works for the episode and it isn’t irritating to me at all, just something I kept noticing. Also, I suppose that I can say this now (this is what I stopped myself from saying earlier in case I was wrong), but the training the clams thing felt like wasted time. Or…that’s not the right word. It was a sequence that had no real payoff. I don’t really agree with most filler arguments because of this exact logic—there’s a lot of “filler” that still has a payoff, even if it doesn’t have an evident impact on the plot. But this sequence didn’t really have a payoff at all, because the clams just didn’t attack Squidward, which is exactly what they were doing in the first place before they did start maiming. And they still broke up his house. So. But this is a very small nitpick, and the training scene was not very long at all, so it’s mostly a non-issue. I guess I could also say that the title card music is unfitting of the episode (would've fit better with "Swimming Fools"), but that's already been covered by the forum-goers above me. And on that topic, it seems I've got an unpopular opinion here, cuz I really liked this one.
Episode Tier: Great
Episode Score: 8.9/10
The title card track, Surf’N Sponge New Fast Mix, puts me right into a summer mood. And makes me think of “SpongeBob Vs. The Big One”. That makes me even more curious about what exactly this episode is going to be about, because “SquidBird” is not a very…summer-y title. I haven’t talked about this kind of thing in a while, but I have always adored the environment of this show, and by this I mean all the small little environmental details, not just vibes like I frequently point out. Like, clams being birds is just inherently funny to me because of how it builds up this underwater world, and because clams being birds is funny. So I’m already in a good mood as this episode begins as I’m reminded of this careful worldbuilding.
The beginning of the episode sees Squidward making a sculpture of himself, as per usual, and then destroying it trying to chase out a clam. And of course he blames the clam…who turns out to be carrying a message for Patrick from SpongeBob. Huh, messenger clams…that’s definitely not where I was expecting this episode to go, but I like it! And just from this first minute, I’m already getting “Under The Small Top” vibes. Well, that mixed with “Naughty Nautical Neighbors”. Quite an interesting combination. I like how when Patrick sends SpongeBob a drawing, I can tell what’s on the page much better than SpongeBob can. Like come on, that’s obviously you and Patrick, man!
I like this scene of Squidward complaining to SpongeBob, particularly because of the joke of Patrick randomly appearing behind Squidward. Also, something about this art style is giving season 9 to me. Anyone else? The conflict in this episode, at least the conflict we’re being presented with right now, with clams flying into Squidward’s house, has a lot of different easy solutions, but it’s in-character for our characters to go through with none of them. Now that’s the kind of tight writing I like to see! Like, Squidward could easily close his windows, but he’d never give in in such a way, especially if it inconveniences himself. SpongeBob and Patrick wouldn’t get harsh with their clams to make them stop either. I suppose the episode could’ve had another typical set up with SpongeBob getting all nervous about breaking Squidward’s rule here, like in “Restraining SpongeBob”, but I’m also glad that the episode didn’t go that way.
Two clams end up tricking Squidward out of his house while he’s bathing. Those cheeky things. And so this causes Squidward to basically declare war on the clams. Well now I’m being reminded of “Bunny Hunt”, but so far this is much better. Squidward’s first attempt at getting at the clams is hilariously dark, like when he’s like “have fun at the chowder factory” my jaw was open and I had to hold in my laugh because I’m at work writing this review right now. This episode is very emphatic on the fact that Squidward is a jerk. If the way he blamed the clam for his folly at the beginning wasn’t enough, the way he sends SpongeBob’s clams to die and eats Patrick’s lunch should be enough to cement that Squidward is entirely in the wrong on this one. So now I’m anticipating quite the doling out of universal justice. Which Squidward gets immediately for the chowder incident by getting rolled over by a giant can of chowder, and then attacked by the clams. Ha, deserved.
So now Squidward decides he’s just going to ignore the clams. But he can’t do that for long when they’re literally causing Patrick to crash into Squidward’s house. And of course Squidward trying to stop this backfires as well. Considering that this is basically attempted murder, the universal justice doled out here is also 100% deserved lol. Patrick’s lines here are really funny to me.
Finally, SpongeBob comes up with the idea of training the clams to avoid Squidward. Perhaps this is the first good idea we’ve seen all episode. And I don’t mean that in a bad way at all, but let’s be real, Squidward is a vindictive jack*** in this episode, and his plans fail accordingly. And Patrick makes no plans. The ensuing montage of SpongeBob and Patrick training the clams is decently entertaining. Montages are really a hit or miss thing, particularly in gag-heavy episodes like this one, because they usually rely on one gag that has to be funny every time or the scene will feel too long and wasted. The gag here is decent, it reminds me a lot of “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III”, especially since Patrick is the one dressed as Squidward lol.
Even though the clams do avoid maiming Squidward, they’re not above locking him outside of his house and doing a conga line of destruction. So in the end, SpongeBob and Patrick’s training amounts to nothing, at least at this moment. After enough times of sticking my foot in my mouth in these reviews, I’ll just trust the process and wait until the end to say anything. Which is what reviews are supposed to do, but we all know that I’m a little bit unconventional, and do more of a recap-review style. It’s more fun that way. Anyway, Squidward is back to declaring a war on the clams, ordering a very suspect package…a giant scallop. I don’t see how this is a smart idea at all. But it somehow works??? For a moment. And then they’re making clam + scallop formations in the sky, and Squidward decides that being aggressive to a giant scallop is a good idea. Yeah Squidward is definitely not very bright in this episode, is he?
Surprisingly, instead of this leading to simply a joke of Squidward getting maimed, it actually turns into a whole scene, and SpongeBob and Patrick help keep Squidward from being eviscerated. I love this sequence of everyone looking outside to see all the clams just…waiting. The horror aspect mixed with the world of SpongeBob SquarePants makes this inherently hilarious while still carrying a degree of being unsettling. And then they clams start taking Squidward’s house, so they all have to jump out. Though Squidward is far more hesitant. Especially once he realizes he’s leaving SpongeBob and Patrick. I guess he just forgot that the clams hate him?? I think by this point, Squidward has lost his mind LMAO. And then his house gets dropped into a volcano. Wait a minute, haven’t we seen this before?
“SquidBird” was a lot more enjoyable than I had initially expected, and went places I wasn’t expecting either. I like that. Being surprised is always fun. And this episode did a lot with a very, very simple plot, which I like too. My only complaint is that Squidward is far more stupid than usual, but I think it works for the episode and it isn’t irritating to me at all, just something I kept noticing. Also, I suppose that I can say this now (this is what I stopped myself from saying earlier in case I was wrong), but the training the clams thing felt like wasted time. Or…that’s not the right word. It was a sequence that had no real payoff. I don’t really agree with most filler arguments because of this exact logic—there’s a lot of “filler” that still has a payoff, even if it doesn’t have an evident impact on the plot. But this sequence didn’t really have a payoff at all, because the clams just didn’t attack Squidward, which is exactly what they were doing in the first place before they did start maiming. And they still broke up his house. So. But this is a very small nitpick, and the training scene was not very long at all, so it’s mostly a non-issue. I guess I could also say that the title card music is unfitting of the episode (would've fit better with "Swimming Fools"), but that's already been covered by the forum-goers above me. And on that topic, it seems I've got an unpopular opinion here, cuz I really liked this one.
Episode Tier: Great
Episode Score: 8.9/10
NOTSpongeblobmaster
"Oh I wish I was frying up some Krabby patties!"
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could have been a lot better reminds me of previous clam episodes
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distinctincident5624
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This one was gross. I did not need to see the clams constantly poop everywhere, and I'm someone who's not grossed out about To Love a Patty or The Splinter anymore.
4/10
4/10
Roland D. Plankton
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Aged really poorly
I honestly like this episode a lot now. I don't care much about Squidward torture anymore, whether its justified or not (although in some cases it can bother me, like Good Neighbors sorta does but even then I think that ep is not bad either)