The Gift of Gum (SpongeBob SquarePants)
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a mediocre way to end of Season 4 in production/packing order.
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The Gift of Gum is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 4. In this episode, Patrick gives SpongeBob a glob of gum for Best Friends Day, but SpongeBob wants to get rid of it.
Plot
It's 'Best Friends Day' in Bikini Bottom, and Patrick and SpongeBob exchange gifts. While SpongeBob gives Patrick a small robot with multiple functions, Patrick gifts SpongeBob a giant ball of used gum named "Gummy." Initially, SpongeBob is very thankful and happily accepts Gummy, but when he takes it inside, he discovers the true nature of the gumball. The giant ball of gum is much bigger than SpongeBob, with various unpleasant items attached to its surface, such as an old toothbrush, moldy pizza, flies, a smelly sock, and more. Even a piece of used underwear crawls toward SpongeBob, scaring him. SpongeBob decides he must get rid of Gummy.
SpongeBob's first plan is to throw Gummy away. He heaves the heavy blob onto a trashcan, but moments later, Patrick appears and asks what he’s doing. SpongeBob lies, claiming he wanted to dress Gummy. His second attempt involves digging a large hole to bury Gummy, but Patrick intervenes again. SpongeBob improvises and tells Patrick he wants to admire Gummy from below. Patrick, impressed by the idea, tries it himself and becomes enamored. Inspired, Patrick takes Gummy and sticks it above SpongeBob's doorway, claiming it makes SpongeBob's house look "a million times better." SpongeBob, frustrated, devises a new plan to get rid of Gummy.
He dresses like a burglar and waits until nightfall to "steal" Gummy from himself. Under the cover of darkness, SpongeBob climbs onto his house and drops onto Gummy, attempting to push it off. Instead, he falls into a room inside Gummy, where he finds several trapped fish. The fish escape through the opening SpongeBob created. Following them outside, SpongeBob tries to remove Gummy by pulling a piece of gum. The gum stretches immensely, and SpongeBob drags the overstretched gum across the street before losing his grip. The gum snaps back, launching SpongeBob toward Gummy at high speed. He screams as he crashes into the gumball, causing it to explode. Gum splatters everywhere in the surrounding area. Since SpongeBob is at the center of the explosion, he becomes completely stuck to the masses of gum. His arms and legs are covered in sticky gum strands, leaving him trapped as Gummy’s “centerpiece” for the entire night.
The next morning, Sandy arrives to find SpongeBob’s house covered in sticky gum. Spotting SpongeBob hanging helplessly above his doorway, she tries to free him by lassoing a piece of Gummy to a passing truck. However, the plan backfires. The truck tears apart and the other half is pulled back toward Gummy, taking Sandy with it. This causes another explosion, spreading gum even further. Meanwhile, Squidward looks out his window and, seeing the chaos, decides not to get involved. However, the shaking caused by the gum forces him out of his window and into a large strand of gum.
Patrick then visits SpongeBob and is thrilled to see gum everywhere. As SpongeBob, still stuck, tries to explain the situation, he notices how much Patrick misses Gummy. SpongeBob comes up with a plan: he offers to give Gummy back to Patrick if Patrick helps clean up the mess. Patrick eagerly agrees and starts eating the gum, eventually becoming morbidly obese. However, Patrick hiccups, releasing a massive bubble of gum. When the bubble pops, it covers all of Bikini Bottom in gum. Patrick, delighted, declares it the best 'Best Friends Day' ever.
Sticky Qualities
- Patrick comes across as more unlikable and idiotic in this episode due to his enthusiasm and protectiveness toward Gummy.
- Gummy is portrayed as very gross and disturbing, with trapped people inside, numerous unpleasant items embedded in its surface, a visually striking odor, and the ability to completely ensnare characters like SpongeBob.
- Watching SpongeBob become utterly disgusted, fail repeatedly to get rid of Gummy, and ultimately become trapped in the gross gum can be frustrating and even torturous for some viewers.
- The episode features an unusual ending, where the entire town is covered in gum, and there is no immediate resolution.
- While the episode contains some errors and inconsistencies, the fact that it is no longer 'Best Friends Day' when SpongeBob gives Gummy back at the end is particularly off-putting for viewers.
- The Gift of Gum marked the end of Zeus Cervas and Erik Wiese's collaboration in production in mediocre way.
Not-So-Sticky Qualities
- The theme of how to handle gifts you don’t like is thoughtful and relatable.
- The animation of the gum is visually striking and well-executed.
- The sound effects are highly appropriate and enhance the viewing experience.
- The scene where the gum explodes and ensnares SpongeBob serves as a surprising turning point in the story for some viewers.
- After the gum traps SpongeBob and explodes, it loses much of its visual grossness. No more hair or items are stuck to it, aside from the characters.
Reception
While the first segment of episode 80, Best Day Ever was positive reviews, this second segment was mixed to negative reviews due to SpongeBob torture, Patrick being idiotic, and the gummy is absolutely gross when they close-up.