While this episode was not the quantum leap forward all other episodes were judged, it showed us what this cartoon was capable of in its best days. Even though we had a feeling there would be a big payoff coming in the final frames, we were still left completely awestruck. What makes “Band Geeks” the signature episode of SpongeBob SquarePants is it took us to a place we didn’t know the cartoon could go. This is their “Final Countdown.” Who needs Europe? Frankly, if you try to tell 20-somethings otherwise, they’d argue with you to the death. Who knew pairing SpongeBob SquarePants with a David Glen Eisley song would give us the greatest moment for both parties? It was such a triumphant success for all involved that people thought this song was written exclusively for SpongeBob. As Squilliam fainted, Squidward celebrated in “Sweet, Sweet Victory, yeah!” Patrick never accomplished more in his life than on his methodical drum fills on the electric set. Plankton’s precision on the keyboard laid the foundation for SpongeBob to shine through on vocals. It was “Sweet Victory” for Squidward, SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom with an epic ’80s arena rock anthem oozing out all the cheese. Or so he thought…Īs the hastily assembled Bikini Bottom Super Band ascends to the heavens, or to what looks like the Liberty Bowl to perform at halftime of a Memphis Showboats game, Squidward and Squilliam are blown away with 90 seconds of musical glory. Over-stricken with insurmountable shame, Squidward tells Squilliam all of his band members died in a marching accident. The amount of pleasure he’d take in watching this certain fiery car crash of epic proportions could not be denied. On the day of the Bubble Bowl, the previously preoccupied Squilliam shows up to watch his rival fail. Patrick even has the audacity to ask if mayonnaise is an instrument. Plankton is too small to play his harmonica solo, always running out of breath between notes. As expected, marching band practice goes horribly. Puff, and Plankton display no musical talent whatsoever. Of course, characters such as SpongeBob, Patrick Star, Sandy Cheeks, Mrs. Squidward the proceeds to form his own marching band with various characters from the show in a witless attempt to best his rival. He wants to make his high school nemesis look like a fool in a major setting. Squilliam, being incredibly petty, knows this. Squidward accepts Squilliam’s offer to have his band ready to play at the Bubble Bowl, even though he doesn’t have a band. He tells Squidward his marching band can no longer perform at the Bubble Bowl due to a prior engagement and would like to extend an invitation for Squidward’s band to play instead. Squilliam achieved everything Squidward could have ever wanted and then some. “Band Geeks” begins with Squidward receiving a phone call from his high school rival, Squilliam Fancyson. We owe a lot of the episode’s smashing success to Squidward Tentacles’ ongoing failure in denial conundrum. 7, 2001, was the day the cartoon proved to us it could be iconic, it could have staying power and its episodes could be timeless. Sure, it was going to hit at some point, but Sept. SpongeBob was in the next wave of Nicktoons targeting younger millennials and the earliest of Gen Z. It was a just another funny Nickelodeon cartoon, but hadn’t hit that sweet spot like Doug, Rugrats or Hey Arnold! did in the 1990s. The cartoon centered around anthropomorphic sea creatures who lived underwater in fictitious Bikini Bottom had an interesting premise but hadn’t really cut through prior to episode No. SpongeBob SquarePants achieved “Sweet Victory” early in its run and never looked back. With “Band Geeks” the cartoon tasted, “Sweet Victory”, yeah! It didn’t take long, but SpongeBob SquarePants gave us its greatest episode in Season 2.
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