Good Neighbors (SpongeBob SquarePants)

Good Neighbors
The SpongeBob episode that started the infamous trend of Squidward becoming the show's punching bag for no apparent reason.
Series: SpongeBob SquarePants Part of Season: 4 Episode Number: 4b Air Date: May 20, 2005 Writer: Mike Bell Director: Vincent Waller Previous episode: Skill Crane Next episode: Selling Out

Good Neighbors is an episode from season 4 of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Plot

Squidward tries to enjoy a relaxable good Sunday, but it soon gets ruined due to SpongeBob and Patrick's "Good Neighbor Lodge".

Why It's a Bad Neighbor

1. To start things off, it's an 11-minute Squidward torture episode and this is the episode that, as stated by many, kickstarts the infamous "Squidward Torture" trend. For any newcomers to this wiki, this is where Squidward is tortured, usually for no reason at all, often leaving viewers feeling bad for him.
   • The first thing that they did is they storm straight into Squidward's house and then call him the president of the Secret Royal Order of the Good Neighbors Lodge.
   • SpongeBob and Patrick hijack the massage appointment because they thought he was an "assassin"! They also get off scot-free for their actions!
2. The unnecessary sequence of Squidward's house having robotic arms and legs, launching an attack on the city when the security machine zaps Squidward, causing SpongeBob to accidentally throw the cake at that machine.
3. Misleading title: Despite the episode being named "Good Neighbors", it is actually more like "Bad Neighbors" instead of "Good Neighbors" because SpongeBob and Patrick both act like bad neighbors to Squidward instead of being good neighbors to Squidward.
4. Although Squidward is easy to sympathize with this episode, he doesn't return the offer nor accept his apology to SpongeBob and Patrick when they give him an apology cake.
   • It should be noted that this is the only unlikable bit from Squidward we get.
   • Even though this was Squidward's unlikeable moment bit, it is valid in which Spongebob and Patrick are the fault for their worst antagonistic role in this episode as they caused Squidward to bang on the system which got him zapped and later on Spongebob idiotically got the cake to jump onto the system, causing it to go haywire and on a rampage.
5. The part where Squidward's house is destroying Bikini Bottom is extremely unsettling because Spongebob and Patrick caused the house to spread destruction and terrorism all over and don't care at all.
6. Plot Hole: Why doesn't the company that makes the security system get sued for turning Squidward's house into a robot?
   • Another plot hole is the formation of the Secret Royal Order of the Good Neighbors Lodge club. This was formed out of nowhere after SpongeBob and Patrick got scared of a "newspaper monster".
7. Horrendous ending: Squidward is forced to do cleaning every Sunday for the rest of his life by Bikini Bottom civilians, as his punishment for his house destroying the whole city of Bikini Bottom, and not to mention the fact that both SpongeBob and Patrick also got their punishment as well and are forced to join Squidward every Sunday to rebuild the whole city and don't even apologize to him at the end of the episode after everything Squidward goes through. So basically, not only does SpongeBob and Patrick get no repercussions for their vile actions toward Squidward, but now Squidward gets punished for something he didn't even do.
8. The infamous scene where Squidward has paint covering his face. We kid you not. However, that exact same scene where Squidward screams "MY EYES!!!" is kind of funny, but not completely funny. Add to this the couple who thought Squidward was sick and took him to the hospital, not listening to his protests. This is kidnapping.
9. Although this episode didn't start the series’ downfall, this was the first episode where the decline in quality for the show was noticeable, then the downfall would later start with The Splinter.
10. The infamous scene where Squidward's face looks weird and disgusting when he shouting and angry at SpongeBob and Patrick.
11. This episode was boring. It may not stand out in terms of being terrible at anything, but it’s one of the least interesting episodes of the show for that reason.
12. Spongebob and Patrick throw a bucket at a poor elderly man's head.

Redeeming Qualities

1. Some funny moments like Squidward acting like Elmer Fudd with these lines:
   • "YES, I WAS!!!"
   • "MY EYES!!!"
   • "YOU CALL YOURSELVES GOOD NEIGHBORS!?!?!? YOU'RE THE WORST NEIGHBORS EVER!!! YOU DON'T EVEN DESERVE TO WEAR THOSE FEZZES!!!"
   • "NO, YOU AREN'T!!! YOU'RE HORRIBLE NEIGHBORS, AND STOP CALLING ME PRESIDENT!!!"
   • "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!"
2. Despite coming off as going ballistic, Squidward is the most likable character.
3. SpongeBob and Patrick at least finally realize how bad neighbors they are and were to Squidward, and they do try to apologize to Squidward and they did get punished for their actions, though that isn't saying much.
4. Squidward's "evil" smile is kind of funny.

Reception

• According to Mr. Enter, this was the episode that he believed was the start of the show's downfall. The episode was ranked number 8 on his worst Squidward Torture Episode list.
• The episode (along with its sister episode Skill Crane) sits with a 7.6 on IMDb.

Trivia

• This was the only episode written by one writer until the airing of “Lost in Bikini Bottom,” which aired a decade after in 2015.

Comments

Loading comments...