Glove World R.I.P. is the thirty-first episode from the eighth season of SpongeBob SquarePants.
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 "Close Glove World? Has the world gone mad!?" Couldn't agree more.
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Plot
SpongeBob and Patrick spend one final day at Glove World before it closes down forever.
Why It Needs to Be Closed Down
- As typical as it is, it's another one of those episodes that starts decently until all Davy Jones' locker breaks loose enough to make the episode go bad very quickly after two or three minutes.
- Aside from the latter, this episode is not only an episode that exists just to waste your time and everyone else's, but it's also the SpongeBob equivalent of "Life of Brian", but with a few exceptions:
- "Glove World R.I.P." was released and produced in 2012 and only came out in 2013 (the same year as "Life of Brian") in some countries.
- This episode does not lead to an unnecessarily pointless three-part story arc. At the very least it doesn't.
- Even The Fairly OddParents' episode Homewrecker (and Courage the Cowardly Dog's The Nutcracker to the lesser extent) feature a main character destroying a location or a object just because they are frustrated over destroying anyone's property, but the execution did handle well.
- Unlike Timmy Turner and Courage (to a lesser extent) from these respective episodes mentioned before, both SpongeBob and Patrick are a bit unlikable to the point that they want to destroy or demolish the rides from Glove World just to believe that it is going to close down and there is a new amusement park, Glove Universe, being built, thus, like Shuffleboarding, the writers make them villains. This entire episode want to feel sorry to SpongeBob and Patrick for their destructive nature and it feels like a missed opportunity to the other episode, "Squid on Strike"; in that episode SpongeBob and Squidward made signs to lure people just to think Krusty Krab is Unfair and it succeeded as SpongeBob made the sign "Funfair" to lure people, so the whole plot could have been avoided if he and Patrick would make striking signs to signify the closure of Glove World.
- Timmy Turner in Homewrecker done this, but his villainous actions are more justified, compared to SpongeBob and Patrick, and he gets embarrassed and shocked of his actions after he notices Vicky attempting to kill him for the mess he made, so his fairies revert back the mess by wishing her house to look tidier so that his parents would reprimand Vicky's rewards. This is what the premise should look like since he deserve Vicky to give some karma.
- Speaking of being an emotionally manipulative rating trap of an 11-minute long run episode, this episode is just a poor attempt at making audiences pity the amusement park and is more likely an episode that is completely mocking and insulting them. Not even Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" was that insulting.
- Granted, Glove World had little attention from the writers since that amusement park was present in a few episodes before Season 8 such as "Rock Bottom", "Roller Cowards", "The Abrasive Side", and "Tunnel of Glove", but Glove World had so much depth that it would deserve to have more episodes of their own. Here it feels they wanted to throw Glove World away from the show but decide not to know that "Don't Wake Patrick" came out five years later.
- Just like "Life of Brian" (Family Guy), "A Grave Mistake" (The Loud House), and "Homer Simpson in: "Kidney Trouble"" (The Simpsons), it can't decide if it wants to be emotional or funny. It tries both ways in this episode, but it just doesn't work at all since most of the jokes mentioned below ended up being unfunny and depressing.
- This episode also feels contrived, with plot holes and continuity errors existing just to run at 11 minutes:
- The lack of common sense is really at its stupidest and lowest in the show, not only was it completely at its worst. If Glove World is closing down for the sake of Glove Universe. How come no one even said the park was in a terrible condition?
- How did Glove World even go from at least a serviceable and functioning amusement park to now an amusement park that became downright decrepit in a few days?
- What doesn't help is the fact that Glove World (for some reason) has become a death trap without anyone working at the park noticing it.
- Aside from being a death trap of its former self and also a broken down and decrepit amusement park of also its former self, the Bikini Bottomites that were on the rides would have either been injured badly or died from the unsafe rides.
- The scene where SpongeBob and Patrick say "glove" over and over again has gotten annoying and has overstayed its welcome since the episode couldn't have the both of them laugh about it or crack in some other glove jokes that would follow and set up a good punchline. It's just there to drag on a joke for way too long, making the scene happen for unnecessary filler's sake.
- Aside from the one annoying glove pun scene, almost none of the jokes or attempts at humor even work. Either some of the jokes are just not that funny in general, or they are just depressed or terrible to the point the episode isn't trying to make you laugh.
- To be fair, the episode isn't trying to make people laugh at everything. But that still doesn't help the fact the episode's overly depressing tone makes the episode just sad to watch, but not that good type of sad.
- One of the lines from this episode is kind of cheesy: "But you know I'm allergic to jumping! You know that!"
- Bad ending: Glove World is still in disrepair thanks to Patrick's stupidity and multiple failed attempts. SpongeBob and Patrick lock themselves by defending Glove World like gatekeepers, the Owner arrives and tells them Glove World is closed down to Glove Universe. Then SpongeBob and Patrick want to go, but Patrick reveals he threw away the key at Glove Lake stating that "nobody will ever find it". You can't get any dumber than that, Patrick.
- Ever since Glove World came back to the series in the Season 10 finale, "Don't Wake Patrick!", and due to the show's inconsistent continuity, this episode no longer has any impact on the SpongeBob SquarePants series since none of the events or Glove Universe were mentioned again after Season 8.
Redeeming Qualities
- The concept of repairing Glove World is a great idea. Though it's too bad the concept was executed poorly.
- SpongeBob and Patrick got reserved seats on their favorite Ferris Wheel.
- SpongeBob and Patrick were dismayed about Glove World's closure and terrible statement, so he and Patrick both knew what was best for the amusement park.
- There are some funny and heartwarming moments.
- At least this episode isn't a major "wham episode", unlike "Life of Brian" from Family Guy thanks to the inconsistent continuity SpongeBob SquarePants had.
- The animation, while dull and bland as usual for Season 6-8, is still good for 2010’s standards.
- Despite the title, Glove Universe is basically Glove World rebranded rather than the latter closing down.
- Despite not being canon, the Glove Universe looks fantastic.
Reception
anim8ball, back when he was more active on his MoBrosStudios YouTube channel, called "Glove World R.I.P." as one of the worst episodes of SpongeBob on his original Top 20 Worst SpongeBob Episodes by criticizing the episode for "following up with some cheap jokes and a cheap plot". However, he later changed his mind despite the criticisms and pointers he made about the episode from positive to negative on his worst SpongeBob episodes re-review and put the episode off the list.
Other people's reactions and thoughts on "Glove World R.I.P." were mostly negative for other reasons, and even other fans opposed the episode for seeing Glove World becoming a death trap of its former identity, or simply, no one wanted this episode to come out.
Videos
Trivia
- This is the second episode where SpongeBob and Patrick ride the Fiery Fist O' Pain. The first was "Roller Cowards."
- Glove Universe has the same music as the title card for "Krabby Land".
- This is one of those rare times where SpongeBob is annoyed by Patrick's idiocy.
- This episode is rated PG in Canada.
- Glove World makes a return in "Don't Wake Patrick!" five years later after the episode's premiere due to the show's inconsistent continuity.
- This is the only appearance of Glove Universe in the series to date, but it has been seen in various games.
- The former mascot of Glove World! looks extremely similar to one of the members of The Bubble Poppin' Boys due to his hairstyle.
- One of the fish says, "My leg can't feel me," which is a reference to the "My leg!" gag.
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