The Clash of Triton is a low HYPER-infamous episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. In this episode, King Neptune's attitude clashes with his son's.
Why It Should Be Locked in a Cage And Called The Clash Of ScumBob[]
Does this image here not prove how bad Season 6's animation is in terms of visuals?
- Misleading title: The whole episode gives off the impression that it is gonna be about Triton clashing despite there being no major battles in the episode!
- Much like "Dog Hand" from Teen Titans Go!, The episode's working title, "Neptune's Party", was much more fitting than the final title. Why did they ignore the more accurate episode title for a title that barely focuses on Triton that much until the last 10-11 minutes? The working title was also used in only a few countries while the rest of the countries title this one, "The Clash of Triton", including the United States.
- False advertising: The promos for the episode claim that this episode has an epic battle that will take place, yet Nickelodeon promoted this just to say f**k you to their audience by presenting us an episode that barely has any action or "battles" at all.
- Neptune is really hard to bother sympathizing with and is completely unlikable. He locks Triton up for being kind to mortal people and trying to make life better for them. Why would you lock someone up because of this?
- Later, Triton destroys Bikini Bottom even though the Bikini Bottom citizens did nothing wrong! Even though that is what King Neptune wanted, it only makes King Neptune seem more unlikable. Why does Neptune enjoy seeing the destruction of Bikini Bottom, and why did he like when Triton did it?
- Neither Neptune nor Triton gets any repercussions. Instead, it's SpongeBob and Patrick who take the heat for everything because Neptune told the town that it was their fault.
- Triton is just a very boring character, and Mindy (Neptune's daughter from the first movie) isn't even here! Probably due to Neptune in the movie looking and sounding different compared to his show counterpart.
- Speaking of Neptune being an unlikable tyrant who unreasonably wants to hurt the people in Bikini Bottom, his mourning over Triton not attending his birthday still does not make anyone else want to sympathize with him. Instead he is pulling out the victim card on him and guilt tripping him so he can be a "better God". What are Seasons 6 and 7's beefs with everyone or even a few characters doing good deeds or decisions, only for the character(s) to get crap for it by either getting talked down to and/or unfairly punished for it, or have their anger taken out on the said characters like they are the bad guys? Those two seasons have a clear habit of this.
- Triton destroying Bikini Bottom in your favor is what happens if you discipline kids over reasons you have no reason to punish them or be absolutely harsh about. This is also what happens when you force someone to be as destructive as you as well!
- The sky from when Triton tries to destroy Bikini Bottom does not change to a fiery red or fiery orange color for that matter, and it shows that Season 6 was clearly on a budget when this episode was in the making.
- This may probably be because Bikini Bottom is under the sea.
- So much of the episode is wasted on unnecessary padding and boring filler that just goes nowhere. We don't even see Triton get freed until the second half where the episode finally gets to the point.
- Most of the padding has resulted in a lot of scenes taking too long to go through in the first act.
- Neptune's party guests are just there with no introduction or story. They are just sitting in the background the whole time doing nothing. They are nothing characters. They are basically NPCs.
- Mr. Krabs comes off as one-dimensional rather than unlikable. His plan to exploit Neptune's birthday is really predictable because you can guess what he is doing that for and we're not going to say it. His own subplot of trying to cheer Neptune up goes completely nowhere until the last 10 seconds with Triton and his car crashing into the front door of the Krusty Krab with everyone happy with what they were presented at last.
- The Bikini Bottom citizens are unlikable and completely stupid at the end of the episode for having a riot against SpongeBob and Patrick for getting the blame for what Triton had done, despite SpongeBob and Patrick saving all of them!
- But it would be justified because SpongeBob, being the doofus he is, released Triton.
- The close up shot of SpongeBob gassing out bad breath on Triton's face with a creepy look on his face does not prove to be a really disgusting gross out joke, but it really shows how ugly and awful the animation in Season 6 is visually.
- Wasted potential: The idea of King Neptune's son invading Bikini Bottom was an interesting idea of an episode, and could have made some creative gags and even some pretty epic moments, but sadly that was not the case. Knowing this took five writers to write the episode, and it feels no one had that much ideas to get this one right.
- This episode ended season 6 on a really sour, but negative note.
- Not only that, but it also ended the Icelandic dub on a really sour, but negative note as well, since the show stopped being dubbed in Icelandic after Season 6, aumingja krakkar (poor guys).
Redeeming Qualities[]
- Guest star Victoria Beckham did a good job voicing Queen Amphitrite.
- Despite having a bad breath and their clumsiness, SpongeBob and Patrick are actually likable as they try to save the Bikini Bottom.
- There are a few funny moments, such as the scene were SpongeBob tells Patrick to stay quiet when they arrive at the Krusty Krab, only for Patrick to throw the lid and cause a huge noise, which causes SpongeBob to glare at Patrick, as Patrick looks at SpongeBob and says "What?". There is also Triton honking his horn just as Squidward is about to play his clarinet, and King Neptune saying, "Flying through the roof?"
- Neptune actually missed his son for once.
- The scene where King Neptune congratulates Triton for using his powers is nicely done, not to mention the scene where Neptune and Triton hug as Triton says he loves him is a very heartwarming moment.
- Despite the awful close ups, the animation is still good, along with the voice acting.
Reception[]
- The Clash of Triton was given mixed to negative reception by viewers and critics.
- This episode is rated 5.2/10 on IMDB.
- Anim8ball has called this the worst episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, whereas originally he said it was the 6th worst as MoBrosStudios.
Trivia[]
- This episode was originally called "Neptune's Party".
- Sebastian Bach, the former lead singer of the American heavy metal band Skid Row voiced Triton in this episode.
- This is the only episode from Season 6 to premiere in 2010, and the only one that premiered in the 2010's in general.
- Nathaniel Bandy put this as the 4th best episode in his season 6 list.