Boating Buddies

Boating Buddies
This is it, the episode where it kicks up SpongeBob's flanderization, or should I say, the temporary loss of character as a whole.
Season	6
Episode No.	109a
Main Reason for being ScumBob	The beginning of SpongeBob's flanderization. Squidward torture. Annoying. The whole world seems to be lopsided against Squidward. SpongeBob is a creep here. Some filler scenes.

Boating Buddies is a SCUMBOB!-infamous episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. In this episode, Squidward must attend Boating School with SpongeBob after getting a ticket.

Why This Episode Isn't a Boating Buddy

1. To get the elephant out of the room, this episode marks the beginning of SpongeBob's flanderization to an annoying obsessive crybaby who constantly watches Squidward by stalking him. When in reality it is against the law to be stalking somebody by watching and or spying on people.
   • Though some think that "Funny Pants" or "To Love a Patty" started SpongeBob's flanderization, compared to those episodes, it was actually this episode that started his flanderization, as he literally obsesses over Squidward way too much such as putting his fingers on him in a very unsettling way. Granted he did obsess over Squidward multiple times, but it was never taken this far, and overall, it gives the episode an uncomfortable, even claustrophobic vibe and it wouldn't be until Season 8 where SpongeBob finally got his original personality back and redeem himself.
2. Just like most other episodes in seasons six through eight, Squidward is poorly treated for no discernible reason other than cruel attempts at humor. In this case, he is forced to go to the same boating school SpongeBob is in, gets beaten up by a bully, and fails the exam after all the torture he's gone through.
3. The infamous face SpongeBob makes when looking at the camera where he breathes to Squidward in the most horrifying way imaginable. It doesn't have anything to do with the plot, except for making the episode even more unsettling. Not only that, BUT THIS SCENE ALSO HAPPENS THREE TIMES IN THIS EPISODE FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON AT ALL.
   • This scene even has an animation mistake as well. Why are SpongeBob's eyelashes still visible when he blinks? This is very triggering towards people who take animation seriously!
4. Mrs. Puff barely does anything and only serves as a plot device for this episode.
   • Speaking of which, she and Squidward could have been potential allies since they share a common dislike of SpongeBob. This was only thrown out as Mrs. Puff only answers "Yours too?" when Squidward openly describes SpongeBob as "a bane of my existence".
5. The infamous running gag where Squidward keeps getting beaten up by the person SpongeBob hired in "Krabby Land", which makes you feel even more awful for him instead of anything that makes you laugh.
6. There is a pointless scene where SpongeBob, Squidward, and Mrs. Puff get shrunken and then almost eaten, which comes out of nowhere and is never mentioned again. A sole example of a Big Lipped Alligator Moment.
7. Plot Hole: Mrs. Puff Gives the class 5 minutes to complete the test but the test didn't even take a minute.
8. Horrible Ending: Squidward fails the exam and has to go to the same boating school the next week, meaning he'll have to go through the same torment again.
9. Incidental 105 is NOT HELPING.
10. There's pointless sandbagging scenes such as Squidward and SpongeBob constantly running, drawing on the chalkboard, or just arguing.
11. At one point during the episode, SpongeBob replies that he heard Squidward breathing. WHAT.

Redeeming Qualities That Are Buddies

1. This is the first episode that the original track "Salty Squid Jig" is introduced in this series.
2. This is one of the few times where Squidward communicates with Mrs. Puff.
3. The lab scene is very interesting.
   • The line: "JOHNSON!!!!!"
4. Squidward is never seen in Boating School again in future episodes, implying that he eventually passed.
5. The "Coffee Rain!" joke can be considered funny.
6. The music that plays while Spongebob's writing on the chalkboard is great.
7. There is a MUCH BETTER version of this episode.

How to make them Boating Buddies:

1. Have Squidward pass the test in the end, so his torture can end
2. Remove the creepy breathing scenes

Gallery

POV: You are Squidward.

I can feel your pain, Squidward.

SPONGEBOB YOU IDIOT! CAN YOU STOP TORTURING SQUIDWARD FOR ONCE?!?!

Reception

1. MoBrosStudios ranked this as the 2nd worst SpongeBob episode, and even after re-analyzing his list he still agreed.
2. Mr. Enter ranked this 3rd on his "Top 10 Worst Squidward Torture Episodes". He initially said this episode was going to be ranked #7 on his 'Top 10 WORST Episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants list', but Choir Boys was included instead.
3. Luke Vaughn ranks the episode as his 7th favorite in Season 6 due to the episode's strong comedy.