Different Characterization in Season 1

BabySmitty

BabySmitty

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I've made a lot of posts in the past singing the praises of season 1, but I don't know if I've done a post specifically about characterization in season 1.

So, I thought I'd do an appreciation post for what I like about the characters in season 1, things that may have changed over the course of the first three seasons.

Spongebob
Spongebob, in season 1, was a lot more mellow, even meek. Despite his cheerful outgoing personality there was something kind of soft-spoken about him here. It was kind of sweet. He seemed to be a lot more mild-mannered and "delicate" in season one.

Patrick
In season 1, it seemed like Patrick often TRIED to be a sort of "big brother" mentor to Spongebob, but failed, due to Patrick being... rather dim. He wasn't AS stupid as he became in the show later on, he was just kind of dumb and slow. But he was also sweet, too. He was sensitive, and cried when he felt hurt and he even felt genuine remorse at times. But his hidden "insane" side was absolutely hysterical, too (ie, going berserk in Valentine's Day,) because the sharp contrast was unexpected. There's something I really enjoy about season 1 Patrick.

Squidward
Honestly... I don't have much to say about him. I love his character, and he doesn't seem to have changed much at all over the course of the series. I guess something I could say that I like about him in season 1 is that he has more one-on-one "quieter" moments with Spongebob, though that's due more to the atmosphere set by the writers than Squidward's character.

Mister Krabs
Krabs was... a lot better of a character in season one! He wasn't exactly "nice," and he was obviously pretty corrupt, but he did have a heart under his gruff exterior. In season 1 he actually seemed to care about Spongebob, even acting like a father figure to him at times. I'm still amazed that the Krabs in "Suds" is the same Krabs in "Krabby Land." Krabs in season 1 wasn't quite as exaggerated and hammy/villainous as he would later become, but he had more of a heart. I like this characterization better.

Plankton
In season 1, I feel like Plankton's episodes had a more long, drawn-out, suspenseful atmosphere, setting the tone of him as a quietly scheming villain. He could be diabolical and at times even threatening, but was still funny, due to his small size and his almost childish forgetfulness. Later seasons turned him into a straight-up ham without as many of the quieter scheming moments in between.

Bubble Bass
WE. NEED. MORE. BUBBLE. BASS! C'MON, BRING HIM BACK!
 
Yeah, seems pretty accurate. Never really thought of Pat acting like some sort of big brother figure until you brought it up though, nice catch.
 
illiniguy34 said:
Yeah, seems pretty accurate. Never really thought of Pat acting like some sort of big brother figure until you brought it up though, nice catch.
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He was basically acting like Spongebob's wingman in "Tea at the Treedome," too. Even if he didn't do the best job.
 
BabySmitty said:
Even if he didn't do the best job.
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Nah, he did brilliantly. "When in doubt, pinky out" is Barney Stinson levels of wingmanship.

Basically, in season 1, characters were a lot mellower and had a lot more realism in them because the show was yet to put massive focus on comedy. It was top priority, but the writers haven't really unlocked the comedic powers of each characters, so they had to tip toe with their characterizations.
 
SpongeRoadie UK said:
Nah, he did brilliantly. "When in doubt, pinky out" is Barney Stinson levels of wingmanship.

Basically, in season 1, characters were a lot mellower and had a lot more realism in them because the show was yet to put massive focus on comedy. It was top priority, but the writers haven't really unlocked the comedic powers of each characters, so they had to tip toe with their characterizations.
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Season 1 is so quiet and atmospheric compared to later seasons and I love it for that reason. As PieGuyRulz said, "a little less laughs but a little more charm."
 
I liked that "big brother" side of Patrick. In the later seasons, he's just kind of a jerk. And even in season 3 and 4 episodes, there are moments where you question why Spongebob is even friends with him at all.
 
PinkPearl said:
I liked that "big brother" side of Patrick. In the later seasons, he's just kind of a jerk. And even in season 3 and 4 episodes, there are moments where you question why Spongebob is even friends with him at all.
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One of my favorite Patrick moments is in Hall Monitor when he drops his ice cream and Spongebob "arrests" him, and Patrick breaks down sobbing and cries "I'M A BAD PERSON!!" I wish we had more moments like that with him.

I've been told that What's Eating Patrick is a great episode but I can't ::dolphin noise:: find it anywhere. Send me a transcript or something?
 
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