Are You Happy Now? (SpongeBob SquarePants)

"Are You Happy Now? (SpongeBob SquarePants)"
Nope. We are definitely not happy after learning what kind of atrocities Squidward commited during his "best day ever".
Series: SpongeBob SquarePants Part of Season: 8 Episode Number: 17a (169a) Air Date: (United States) March 31, 2012 (Canada) June 8, 2012 (United Kingdom / Ireland) May 10, 2013 Writer: Luke Brookshier Marc Ceccarelli Dani Michaeli Director: Luke Brookshier Marc Ceccarelli Previous episode: Fiasco! Next episode: Planet of the Jellyfish

Are You Happy Now? is the first segment of the 169th episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Plot

SpongeBob tries to help Squidward create a happy memory.

Why We Are Not Happy Now

1. The episode's plot doesn't really make sense considering the fact that Squidward has had various happy memories before this episode, especially in "Band Geeks" and "Suction Cup Symphony".
   • Speaking of which, this episode is written much like a Squidward torture episode with Squidward being constantly pushed away from a happy memory.
2. Squidward was incredibly disturbed by SpongeBob reading his happy memories at the start of the episode. In fact, the scene where he got disturbed by his happy book does not make sense nor does it work as a joke because Squidward doesn't have a logical reason to be that disturbed.
3. Two poorly executed suicidal innuendos in a kids show which come off as rather disturbing and depressing than funny to the point they went too far:
   • Even though he was simply making brownies and they end up burnt, the first scene made it look like Squidward is trying to burn himself.
   • Even though he was simply hanging his pet scallop in a cage, the second scene made it look like Squidward is going to hang himself.
   • The presence of suicide jokes in this episode showed that the writers of the show either didn’t listen to the criticism from the prior episode “One Coarse Meal” or that they did listen and did not care, which was criticized for making an unfunny and insensitive suicide joke with Plankton. It also shows that either the writers or Nickelodeon themselves refused to listen to the criticism directed towards the show for constantly resorting to disturbing and/or gross out imagery in the episodes.
4. Contradictions to the show's continuity are rampant here, all for the sake of running the plot.
   • Unnecessarily enough, SpongeBob claims he always cries with joy even though that's false since there's a couple of times where SpongeBob cried but not in a happy way like in "A Day Without Tears".
   • At the near end, SpongeBob claims he is the favorite person of Squidward, which is possibly false because Squidward doesn't like him, and SpongeBob had occasional conflicts with Squidward in the past seasons, and Patrick is his best friend. Also, in the past, SpongeBob occasionally is somehow aware that Squidward hates him but ironically likes him the way he is.
   • The whole "I don't have a happy memory" scene is ridiculous since we saw Squidward having them before, notable examples include "Band Geeks", "House Fancy", "Suction Cup Symphony", and even "Truth or Square".
5. Bad ending: Squidward goes insane and takes down all the SpongeBob statues and called that his happiest memory. To add insult to injury, Squidward here is portrayed in a maniacal, psychotic manner, while SpongeBob simply watches on jovially at the display.
6. Continuity error: Squidward claims he doesn't have a happy memory, which is false since he had happy memories in "Band Geeks", "Suction Cup Symphony", and the ending in "House Fancy" as stated earlier.

Happy Qualities

1. SpongeBob is likable and caring towards Squidward as he tries to give him a happy memory and actually worries over him depressed.
2. SpongeBob resembling SpongeTron, a character in the episode “SB-129” from season one is an admittedly good moment.
3. The scene where Squidward burns SpongeBob's book and claims it was an accident is funny.
4. Despite this episode's really grim, disturbing and extreme nature, this episode does do a good job on tackling depression, and at least it tackles on a serious subject matter in a better manner instead of taking it as a joke just for the sake of off-color humor, unlike some episodes. If anything, this episode is not meant to be funny, and some people may find this episode relatable because of its theme having to do with the topic of depression.
5. Some people might think the depression is well portrayed.
6. Good title card, and the music in it is decent.

Trivia

• It's unsure that the suicide jokes were meant to reference the "Squidward's Suicide" creepypasta or it's inspired by it. However, they did reference Squidward's Suicide in the episode "SpongeBob in Randomland" until November 2019, where they replaced Red Mist Squidward with Baby Squidward.
• This episode has been pulled by Nickelodeon since August 15, 2019, and stopped airing on Nicktoons since February 16, 2022, but is still available on Paramount+ as well as on DVD.
• Although some people don't like the ending, PhantomStrider said he liked it because it showed Squidward actually feeling something other than nothing.

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