Fungus Among Us

SPONGEBOB TORTURE! This contains torture to SpongeBob SquarePants, so if you're a fan of him, look away NOW.

Fungus Among Us
Did they mix up one of Ren And Stimpy orders for an episode?
Season	5
Episode No.	83c
Main Reason for being ScumBob	Overreliance on Gross-Out Humor and Body Horror Two scenes where SpongeBob's quarantine bubble pops SpongeBob forces Gary to not eat the ick despite knowing Gary is a bottom feeder SpongeBob torture Gary Torture Unfunny and Boring Bikini Bottomites being idiots Squidward flat-out calls the SWAT team on SpongeBob instead of HAZMAT or the hospital All characters get tortured

Fungus Among Us is an ULTRA-infamous episode from Season 5 of SpongeBob SquarePants. In this episode, SpongeBob spreads an itchy fungus around Bikini Bottom.

Why This Episode Should Get the Ick

1. This episode feels like it belongs to a Ren & Stimpy revival rather than SpongeBob SquarePants.
   • Both this and Waiting are generally considered the worst of The 83 Trilogy; while Rise and Shine is considered meh, this episode might be just as disgusting as The Splinter, if not more.
2. There are almost no likable characters except for SpongeBob.
   • None of the Bikini Bottomites realize they're eating and drinking the ick in their food, which is both revolting and a clear showcase of the Bottomites' stupidity.
     • Their stupidity is also seen when they discover that SpongeBob infected everyone in the Krusty Krab, since they attack SpongeBob rather than seek a way to remove the ick as soon as possible.
   • Squidward notices fungus on SpongeBob's nose, but doesn't acknowledge it when it's all over his body and everywhere in the Krusty Krab.
     • He calls the SWAT Team on SpongeBob instead of the hospital.
     • Neither does Squidward notice he is spreading ick all over the place when serving food.
   • SpongeBob is unlikable:
     • Knowing Gary is a bottom feeder, stops him from eating the ick.
     • When Patrick offered to play pirate wrestling, he was dumb enough to give in and play it, which happened to destroy his bubble.
     • After Patrick blew a new bubble, SpongeBob headed back to work although he wasn't supposed to. He spread the ick and made it worse.
   • The SWAT and HAZMAT team are jerks to SpongeBob.
     • They scare him into a cage, almost as if he was a wild animal.
     • They also put Gary in a bubble too, yet he's a bottom feeder. It's like they punished him although he did nothing wrong.
   • Patrick is dumb:
     • When he discovers ick on SpongeBob's head, he advises him to scratch it like there's no tomorrow.
     • He comes into SpongeBob's house during quarantine (which he isn't supposed to)
     • He tries to pop SpongeBob's bubble in many ways
       • They later agree to play pirate wrestling, which pops SpongeBob's bubble.
   • Mr. Krabs isn't much smarter:
     • He is oblivious to the health inspector's advice to close the restaurant, as he claims it is clean.
     • That makes no sense as there's ick all over the restaurant and himself.
3. This episode is mean spirited:
   • SpongeBob forces Gary to stop eating the ick, which could have prevented the actions in the episode from happening.
   • SpongeBob Torture:
     • Squidward scolds SpongeBob and deliberately calls the SWAT on him instead of calling the hospital.
       • The SWAT Team treat SpongeBob like a walking biohazard.
     • Patrick causes SpongeBob's quarantine bubble to pop due to his stupidity.
     • The stupid Bikini Bottomites in the Krusty Krab revolt because SpongeBob spread the ick, and cause SpongeBob's bubble to pop, only making the situation worse.
4. Many of the scenes in this episode are disgusting.
   • Spongebob inhaling Fungus when on a respirator.
   • Two Bubble Pop Scenes:
     • First Bubble pop scene:
     • The Second Bubble Pop Scene:
       • The disgusting face and Fungus spewing out of SpongeBob's holes.
       • The Bikini Bottomites destroying the bubble and it spewing the fungus all over the restaurant
5. *This episode in general is uncomfortable to watch.

Redeeming Qualities That Should Stay Healthy

1. Some Likable Characters:
   1. SpongeBob is still somewhat likeable.
      1. It's not like SpongeBob was oblivious to the spread of the Ick growing on him unlike the other characters.
      2. He tried his best to remove and stop spreading it in the beginning of the episode.
      3. SpongeBob eventually did admit he needed help.
      4. When Patrick came to SpongeBob's house during quarantine, he was serious about Patrick popping his bubble (except when Pirate Wrestling).
   2. Gary is the only true likable character.
      1. The ending isn't bad because Gary saved the day by de-icking the customers.
   3. Squidward was right about calling the SWAT team.
   4. The SWAT and HAZMAT team actually did help SpongeBob (until Patrick ruined it).
   5. Patrick was slightly likable (not by much tho):
      1. When Patrick came to SpongeBob's house, he spotted the ick on his head.
      2. Even though Patrick burst SpongeBob's bubble, he blew SpongeBob a new bubble so he can still go to work.
   6. Mr. Krabs at the end realized Gary was helping clean the ick from the Krusty Krab. Therefore he acknowledged Gary doing his job.
2. It does have some good humor (like the pirate joke).
3. The beginning of the episode isn't that bad.
4. "I supersede all of you! For I have an exotic accent."

Reception

• PhantomStrider said that he liked this episode for handling its topic of quarantine seriously.

Trivia

• This episode name can be found in other shows such as Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends and Milo Murphy's Law.
• There is a future episode with a similar plot called Kwarantined Krab, which had its premiere delayed due to its premise coincidentally resembling the coronavirus pandemic.

Gallery

Braindead fish can't see or taste the fungus, jesus.

Our Health Inspector senses are tingling.

These customers are tongue-blind for they can't even taste the fungus

The stupid townspeople attempting to pop the bubble... morons!

PATRICK NOOOOOO

"Oh, I'll help you alright!" No Squidward, you will just make things worse!