Top 10 Best SpongeBob SquarePants Specials
#10: “Atlantis SquarePantis”
Season 5, Episode 12 In their search to find the oldest bubble, SpongeBob and friends find themselves journeying to the lost city of Atlantis. There, the cast gets to experience and learn about the many technological achievements the Atlanteans made before choosing to isolate themselves from the world and live their own lives. In all honesty, “Atlantis SquarePantis” isn’t particularly strong as a musical, but considering its exploration into different art styles and how it gives each character their own number, it’s worth a watch. And for every joke that does miss, another hits pretty well!
#9: “The Great Patty Caper”
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Season 7, Episode 17 If you’ve been itching for a “SpongeBob” episode or special that taps into the mystery genre (and possibly involves a criminal investigation on a train), then you’ll love “The Great Patty Caper”. In an effort to keep Plankton as far away from the secret formula as possible, Mr. Krabs locks it away in a safety deposit box only to end up losing it. SpongeBob and Patrick will have to race Plankton to the key in order to keep the formula secured. While the mystery aspect doesn’t take center stage for long, it’s an adventurous episode with plenty of clever visual gags.
#8: “Friend or Foe”
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Season 5, Episode 1 With the intense rivalry between Plankton and Mr. Krabs, one has to wonder what got the two into such a heated conflict. “Friend or Foe” explores that idea and reveals the two actually used to be best friends, outcasts in a town where both were picked on for their shortcomings. The episode features its own helping of great jokes, but what makes it special is its tragic tale of a once beautiful friendship destroyed by differing goals and ideals, which is all too common today. Sure, it doesn’t make much sense with some of the show’s lore, but “Friend or Foe” is still worth a viewing.
#7: “The SpongeBob SquarePants Lost Episode”
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Season 3, Episode 19 This was like getting two really great shows in one episode! On one end, you have a highly entertaining adventure for Patchy the Pirate as he tries to find the lost “SpongeBob” episode, filled with hilarious gags and dialogue. On the other, you have “The Sponge Who Could Fly”, an equally amusing story with a couple of incredible musical numbers. It’s really hard to find anything wrong with this special, and Tom Kenny’s exceptional performance as Patchy and SpongeBob is something to behold. Besides, how could you not laugh at the cheap walk cycles?
#6: “Goodbye, Krabby Patty?”
Season 9, Episode 26 Ever wondered what a Krabby Patty would taste like as a frozen meal? Well, that’s an idea explored in this special, and spoiler alert - it doesn’t go over so well. Mr. Krabs becomes so rich off the product that he ends up turning the Krusty Krab into a museum while the executives continue to milk the frozen Krabby Patties. Well-written and full of commentary on health and consumerism, one has to wonder if this episode lifts the curtain a bit to explain why the show had such a tumultuous period of lackluster seasons. Even if that isn’t the case, “Goodbye, Krabby Patty?” is an excellent episode that shows how the newer seasons have revitalized the franchise.
#5: “SpongeBob B.C. (Ugh)”
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Season 3, Episode 14 “SB-129” may have given us a glimpse of a prehistoric Bikini Bottom, but “SpongeBob B.C.” would fully explore this concept and tell us a uniquely entertaining story. The visual gags and slapstick humor make the episode a riot, and the simple plot of SpongeGar, Patar, and Squag discovering fire leads to many hilarious beats. On top of that, the Patchy segments are on fire, showing an argument over whether the past or future is better which goes horribly, horribly wrong. Cap it off with a catchy song like “When Worlds Collide”, and you have a major highlight of Season 3.
#4: “Have You Seen This Snail?”
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Season 4, Episode 3 Honestly, this one almost brought a tear to our eye. After being neglected by SpongeBob over a paddle ball, Gary believes his owner no longer cares for him and decides to run away. Over a week later, SpongeBob finally realizes his best friend is missing and runs all over town to find him. Between the melancholic tone and the heartbreaking “Gary Come Home” number, this special serves as a reminder to cherish those in your life, whether they be human, furry, fuzzy, scaly, or in this case, slimy. We certainly hugged our pets after watching this.
#3: “Dunces and Dragons”
Season 4, Episode 6 If Bikini Bottom had gone through a prehistoric period like mankind once did, then it surely must have had its own version of medieval times, right? This was another creative concept the show would explore with this special. SpongeBob and Patrick find themselves in medieval Bikini Bottom and are sent forth to vanquish the Jellyfish Dragon and the evil Planktonomor. “Dunces and Dragons” takes several tropes from the fantasy genre and manages to create a story befitting of “SpongeBob” with the added excitement of knights, dragons, and wizards. Perhaps they should have made a whole video game out of this!
#2: “Patchy the Pirate Presents the SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas Special”
Season 2, Episode 8 While the stop-motion animated special “It’s a SpongeBob Christmas!” is certainly deserving of recognition, the first SpongeBob Christmas special is noteworthy on another level. Upon learning about Christmas from Sandy, SpongeBob attempts to get everyone else in town into the holiday spirit...even if some details get left out. What follows is a story filled with cheer, music, and festivities, which is more than enough to call it one of the must-watch Christmas specials to see on television and streaming services. Plus, Patchy once again shines in this episode.
#1: “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout”
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Season 12 Many fans may claim the newer episodes aren’t as good as the show was in its earlier days, but those who gave “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout” a chance found the amazing Mr. Absorbency has been reborn. This special commemorates the show’s twentieth anniversary and follows multiple plot lines involving how everyone is preparing for SpongeBob’s birthday. Almost everyone who has played a part in SpongeBob’s story makes an appearance, including Patchy and Potty, antagonists Plankton, Bubble Bass, and Mrs. Puff, and even David Hasselhoff! Couple the exciting narrative with stellar animation, humor, and production value, and you have what is undoubtedly the best “SpongeBob SquarePants” special ever! It’s official, guys - SpongeBob has found his groove again!!
