Next up, we've got "Best Frenemies"! It looks like there's either an error here or on the SpongeBob Wiki (I guess if I had my season 4 DVD with me right now I could settle this), because on here this episode is 78a, while on the wiki it's 78b. I decided to just go ahead and review this one first anyway just to ensure I don't accidentally skip it by doing a later thread first. And I like this episode more than its sister anyway, so I'm fine with reviewing this one first.
This episode is a great great great display of the dynamic between Mr. Krabs and Plankton. A while back (or recently if we're counting my recorded reviews), I said that I like when Plankton interacts with the main cast in a non-strictly villainous manner. This episode gave me just what I needed (as did "New Leaf"). Seeing Mr. Krabs and Plankton reluctantly work together is great, and their dynamic and interactions are super entertaining and funny. I'll talk more about this as the review goes on, but I'd say that this is the episode's biggest selling point (or one of them), so I just wanted to talk about it first.
I love the expressions of Mr. Krabs in the very first part of the episode. I really like when the animators and storyboarders make his eye stalks super expressive. And this episode wastes no time in introducing us to the real plot, as Kelpshakes start appearing immediately. And they're so beloved that when Mr. Krabs is like "no outside drinks" everyone leaves. They're so beloved that even Squidward is drinking one in secret. And we know from "Just One Bite" that Squidward doesn't just choose his food willy-nilly (or maybe he does, considering how at the end of that episode he just ran free with his desires. But then he exploded. Either way, perhaps he didn't learn the lesson lol). I also love how Pearl appears in this episode, and Mr. Krabs' betrayal at Pearl drinking a Kelpshake is hilarious. Those things must really be addictive for everyone to be getting one. It reminds me of when those Panera Charged Lemonades were popular, if anyone is familiar with those. Or like when Starbucks was at its peak.
Things start really moving (not that they weren't before), once Mr. Krabs finds Plankton lounging outside of a Kelpshake store. Is this the first time we've seen Plankton simply chilling, not scheming or anything? It's nice to see other sides of his character, like how he isn't always on his stealing the secret recipe stuff, just like Mr. Krabs isn't always on his opposing Plankton stuff. And I love how upset Plankton is at these Kelpshakes now driving him out of the business of competing with Mr. Krabs. You know what this reminds me of? Plankton in this episode is exactly like Vegeta especially during the DBZ movies where he's always like "I'm the only one who can kill Kakarot". That's exactly what's going on here lol. Anyway, we even get a nice air of mystery as the Kelpshake stores start multiplying like crazy.
From here, we get to see all sorts of fun shenanigans as Mr. Krabs and Plankton work together to try and steal the Kelpshake secret formula, and I love it. I think my favorite part has to be when it's at night. Plankton getting hit by his own machine is hilarious, and I love how SpongeBob shows up out of nowhere and Mr. Krabs and Plankton have to lie horribly. And I love SpongeBob just buying it, undercutting the tension amazingly. Poor Plankton really just gets the short end of the stick in each of these schemes, and I love how he brings it up after the semi-montage of convoluted schemes. And then the back-and-forth insulting between Mr. Krabs and Plankton is great, I love the dialogue here. And I love how the one who has to set them straight about how to get their hands on a Kelpshake is SpongeBob of all people. And he's right, buying a Kelpshake would be a lot easier than whatever those two doofuses are doing. But I guess it makes sense that buying it was the last idea on their mind, considering how hard it was for Mr. Krabs to give up a dollar.
Finally, we find out what the secret formula of the Kelpshake is. And it's...kelp juice. Well, not just kelp juice, but that's the ingredient Mr. Krabs and Plankton fixate on. I think Karen did that on purpose, not announcing the other ingredient along with the rest lol. And then it's nice to see Mr. Krabs and Plankton share a Kelpshake with only minimal prodding and bickering. Whatever that other ingredient is, it must be a literal drug or something because with just half a shake those two were addicted. And whatever that other ingredient is, clearly it isn't healthy, given a green-fur covered SpongeBob runs up screaming to Mr. Krabs and Plankton, and shortly after they both get covered in the same stuff. And then I love how the episode ends with a nice emphasis that this team-up between Mr. Krabs and Plankton was temporary, and the two have fun "hating" each other as Plankton runs off with the formula.
"Best Frenemies" is a weird episode. And I love how the title belies none of this. But I mean the entire Kelpshake plot is very weird. The fact that they've just popped up out of nowhere, and suddenly everyone has one...it's weird. But it's also realistic which I think makes it funnier. I'm sure that this kind of thing happened in 2007, when this episode aired, but this kind of fad adoption is still super prevalent today. Honestly it makes me think of meme culture, because you'll be minding your business and suddenly a meme is everywhere. Especially on Twitter, which is my typical hangout when it comes to the big social media apps. It's also fun when you see a meme before it gets big. My claim to fame is that I was on top of the Ultra Instinct Shaggy meme before it came popular, being a joint DragonBall and Scooby-Doo fan. Anyway, none of that has to do with the weirdness of the episode, so let me get back to it. So we have these Kelpshakes that are suddenly popular, and they're sold at these shady looking stores. And then we come to find out that there's something in these Kelpshakes (something literally hazardous that causes the entire business to get shut down) that literally causes thick green hair/fur to grow all over people's bodies. Um...what? And we get no explanation for that. But I don't think we need one. It's just absurd and ridiculous and a great example of the random, absurd humor and plot twists of SpongeBob SquarePants.
I really enjoy "Best Frenemies", I have no problems with it whatsoever. It's funny, enjoyable, and different from other episodes with the focus on Mr. Krabs and Plankton teaming up. And it's also just got that weirdness factor and a great use of suspense and mystery to keep things real engaging. So this episode is definitely in my "Amazing" tier.
Episode Tier: Amazing
Episode Score: 9.3/10
