"Gary, please come home." [sniffles]
— SpongeBob's Despair Event Horizon from "Have You Seen This Snail?"
SpongeBob SquarePants, despite being on air for years, can still bring lots of tragedies to the screen.
Other examples can be found here:
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
- The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
- Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
- Plankton: The Movie
Main series:
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Season 5
1 - Friend or Foe
- This episode can certainly hit home for anyone who has lost a childhood friend to a petty disagreement. The whole plot reveal is a shocking tearjerker on its own:SpongeBob Why, Mr. Krabs? Why does he hate us so?!
Mr Krabs: Well, you might as well blame me, SpongeBob. There was a time when Plankton and I...were...best friends. - Mr. Krabs and Plankton hugging over their fallen childhood friendship - until Plankton takes the formula by surprise.
- Fridge Sadness but this scene could imply that Mr. Krabs and Plankton really do miss their childhood friendship and wish to set things straight, but they can’t. They are now too busy running their own establishments and that's unfortunately the way it's going to be from now on. Plenty of episodes show them working together without much bickering, although that falls under Depending on the Writer due to the show’s Negative Continuity.
- This episode would be considered Harsher in Hindsight for anyone who’s seen The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, as Plankton was willing to go as far as to kill his childhood best friend just to continue taking over Bikini Bottom.
2a - The Original Fry Cook
- When Jim comes to visit, it becomes clear that Mr. Krabs and Squidward prefer his work ethics entirely over SpongeBob. While it’s normal for Squidward’s case to ignore him, it’s very unlike Mr. Krabs to completely ignore SpongeBob and his recognition as a whole. SpongeBob even tries to improve his cooking skills to impress Jim, but to no avail. And just to make matters worse, we get this scene:Mr Krabs: Three cheers for the world's greatest fry cook... SpongeBob!
SpongeBob: (gasps) Me?
Mr Krabs: Come here. Help us cheer for Jim. - The scene where all of SpongeBob's employee of the month awards are knocked off the wall to reveal the gigantic "best employee ever" award for Jim, which rubs in the factor that they like Jim more than him. This is a huge slap in the face towards SpongeBob's career as a fry cook, and can be relatable to employees who's hard work goes unnoticed.
- Even worse, Mr. Krabs orders SpongeBob to sweep up all of his now broken and meaningless awards, without any sympathy.
- Mr. Krabs reading SpongeBob's resignation letter, making him finally realize the sponge thinks Jim is taking his job. Although the two explain he's not, it's a relatively sad moment for SpongeBob as he lays his hat on the floor.
3c - Fungus Among Us
- When Squidward goes in the Krusty Krab's kitchen, he sees SpongeBob covered in ick, leading to the former to immediately call the SWAT team, who takes SpongeBob away in a cage attached to a helicopter. SpongeBob screams as the helicopter flies away.
- SpongeBob and Gary look very sad and uncomfortable when they are quarantined inside their house, as they are trapped inside bubbles connected to pipes.
- Soon after the ick-covered SpongeBob returns to the Krusty Krab in a mobile bubble, he gets physically attacked by the customers in the Krusty Krab and cries while it happens.
6b - Bucket Sweet Bucket
- All Plankton wanted was to have SpongeBob and Patrick polish up the Chum Bucket, but their idiotic antics only make it worse for him to the point where the whole restaurant ends up being gone by the end of the episode, and Squidward practically robbed him of all his stuff to decorate the Krusty Krab. Sure Plankton tried to steal the formula once again, but this is one of the worst outcomes for him.
- The fate of Karen at the end of the episode, where she is reconstructed into a PC that SpongeBob plays solitaire off.
7b - Breath of Fresh Squidward
- After catching New Squidward pogo-dancing with Patrick, SpongeBob snaps and yells at Squidward to get out. The idea is to have the viewers sympathize with SpongeBob, but New Squidward only ever wanted to be SpongeBob's friend, and his saddened reaction is utterly heartbreaking.
18 - What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?
- This applies as one of the very few times SpongeBob can actually take a hint he's not wanted, and it's devastating to watch. After every single one of his friends and even his pet chew him out for making an ass of things, he decides they're better off without him and leaves Bikini Bottom, heartbroken.
- SpongeBob's "Dear John" Letter:To whom it may concern —
If you've found this letter, that means Gary's food bowl is empty, and that it needs to be refilled. It also means it's been approximately one year since I've split town and no one's noticed 'til now.
No one needs to worry, I won't bother anyone again.
Sincerely, SpongeBob. A.K.A. Idiot Boy. - Even more so is Sandy and Patrick's Tears of Remorse after they discover his farewell letter, with Squidward's Ungrateful Bastard attitude making it worse, especially when he intentionally sabotages the search for SpongeBob because he hated him that much, and even nearly quitting his job after Mr. Krabs threatened to fire him. Ultimately, Krabs has to bribe Squidward.
- While Mr. Krabs does not cry over realizing what he did to SpongeBob, his screams of panic of what he is going to do without him sum up the unfortunate fate of the Krusty Krab, as future episodes reveal the restaurant will fall apart without the only one who knows how to make the patties properly and keep the restaurant in business:Mr. Krabs: What am I gonna do without me fry cook?!
- Sandy's reaction to SpongeBob not recognizing her (due to amnesia), which in her eyes looks like he's snubbing her for what she did. Although this doesn't last long and she realizes what's really going on with him.
Season 6
4b - Gone
- After spending weeks coping with the disappearance of everyone else in town, fearing he may never see them again, SpongeBob learns that they were all celebrating a day dedicated specifically to getting away from him. Even Patrick, his best friend in the whole world, was all too eager to join in on the festivities (the least of which included burning an effigy of him and dancing on its ashes). It’s meant to be played for laughs, but SpongeBob is shown to be genuinely hurt when he finds out.
7a - Giant Squidward
- The bit where he goes to sleep on a mountain, finds the troublesome duo, SpongeBob and Patrick, in his belly button, angrily throws him out and has a breakdown.Squidward: You two have ruined my life! (cries hysterically)
7b - No Nose Knows
- After having his nose destroyed by the giant stinkball, Patrick laments that he just wanted to smell like his friends and runs away crying. We then cut to a funeral for his nose, with SpongeBob sadly stating that [him and his friends] punished Patrick for just wanting to be like them. Squidward, though, shows no sympathy, but then finds out Patrick has gotten ears and heard his insult.
8b - Plankton's Regular
- The episode as a whole. Just to give Plankton one tiny victory and then have Mr. Krabs smash it in his face...it's just sad.
- Also, the fact that Plankton can't even have so much as one customer without Krabs trying to ruin him. ONE. Either Krabs is that petty, hellbent on maintaining what is practically a monopoly on Bikini Bottom's fast-food industry, hates Plankton that much, or all three.
- Then there's the ending where it's revealed that Nat was only buying Plankton's chum because of a deal Nat made with Karen so Plankton can stop complaining.
9b - The Krabby Kronicle
- It's quite sad to see the characters losing their reputations because of SpongeBob being forced to write lies about them in the titular newspaper, especially Larry's, Mrs. Puff's, and even Plankton's reactions to the news.
- Plankton getting The Chum Bucket closed down by a health inspector because of Mr. Krabs' slander is especially heartbreaking:Plankton: Who's to blame for this? Who?!
(SpongeBob watches from a distance, clearly saddened by what's happened.)
- Plankton getting The Chum Bucket closed down by a health inspector because of Mr. Krabs' slander is especially heartbreaking:
16a - Squid's Visit
- When Squidward goes catatonic for having to stay at SpongeBob's while his house is being fixed, SpongeBob is actually worried for Squid when he does not respond, and you can hear the sheer concern in his voice in return.SpongeBob: Squidward? You okay? Squidward!? (Squidward faints) SQUIIIIIIIIIDWAAAAAAAAAAARD!!!!!!!
21b - Shell Shocked
- SpongeBob and Gary crying because they can't find any more replacement shells for Gary. Considering all the trouble SpongeBob had to go through with Angry Jack, it’s a heartbreaking scene.SpongeBob: I know, Gary! I ruined your life! Do you have to rub it in?!?
Truth or Square
- Plankton lamenting on how he failed to steal the Krabby Patty formula 1,003 times during his "celebration" on 50 years of failure. While this may sound unsympathetic at first, since he is the main antagonist, keep in mind that he and Mr. Krabs used to be best friends. In an earlier episode F.U.N., he even rejected the Krabby Patty and was saddened by the unsuccess of his restaurant, only wanting customers just like his business rival.
25b - Chum Caverns
- Mr. Krabs and Plankton crying their eyes out over being trapped underground. It even causes the French Narrator to get all choked up.
26 - The Clash of Triton
- Triton’s childhood. All he ever wanted to do was spend some loving father and son time by playing baseball or even studying chemistry. Unfortunately poor Neptune disowns Triton’s wishes and locks him in a cage on a floating island, leading Triton to shout “I hate you!” Not helping is that this turned him into his father, he Used to Be a Sweet Kid turned towards a Jerkass and that’s only how his father accepts him.
- Even if King Neptune was a horrible father, at least he realized that imprisoning his son for 10,000 years is a punishment too harsh as he ends up missing him dearly.
Season 10
3a - Mimic Madness
- After doing one too many impressions, SpongeBob begins to lose sight of who he really is and expresses this through song
.
4b - Krusty Katering
- After Mr Krabs disarms a kid of his fireworks and informing them that they are dangerous, the kid's eyes water, claiming that nobody bothered to tell him that his whole life and says he is like a real father to him, before asking for a hug. Mr Krabs lets him, and even looks like he might return it, before he is startled and forced to send him away down the laundry chute. The betrayal in the kid's voice really sells it.Kid: Why, Father!? WHYYYYYYY!?
Season 11
9b - Scavenger Pants
- Even though it was a prank, Squidward mourning over his "long-lost brother". SpongeBob and Patrick felt so bad that they spent as long as six long months finding "him".
- After learning from Mrs. Tentacles that Squidward is an only child and she didn't give birth to another octopus because "one of him was enough," rather than realize that Squidward tricked him and his brother never existed, they are upset about Squidward never having the brother he imagined of and arrange for Mrs. Tentacles to adopt them to fulfill their final request. Their conversation sums it up perfectly:SpongeBob: Aw, that's so sad! Squidward wanted a baby brother so badly, he imagined one!
Patrick: Oh, man, now it'll take even longer to find him!
11a - Chatterbox Gary
- SpongeBob crying profusely after his house has disappeared, meaning he has nowhere to live now.
11b - Don't Feed the Clowns
- Outside the show, one of the members, a small clown, was constantly neglected by the others. When all the clowns block him from getting any food, SpongeBob feels immediate remorse and attempts to feed him only for the ringmaster to catch him in the act. Later on, the Circus leaves the small clown behind.
19b - ChefBob
- In an attempt to entertain guests at the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob puts on a paper bag over his hand and does a ventriloquist's act by drawing his own face on it. Unfortunately, the bag puppet starts heckling SpongeBob and his friends. Though what makes this a Tear Jerker moment is the insult directed towards SpongeBob himself. The look on Spongebob's face just shows how hurt he is.Puppet: He must've been born on a highway, because that's where most accidents happen!
Season 12
1a - FarmerBob
- It's very brief, but Patrick kicks a baby sea hog away from the food supply.
5b - Stormy Weather
- The beginning with Drizzle crying after his parents accidentally abandon him. Made even worse by the fact that he is portrayed as a baby.
12a - Jolly Lodgers
- You can't help but feel sorry for Squidward when SpongeBob and Patrick deliberately refuse to leave him alone, to the point they corner him in the halls until he's reduced to a crying mess until they actively force him to enter Jelly-Con.
- SpongeBob showing genuine concern for Squidward when everyone is evicted by pest control.
26a - Krusty Koncessionaires
- When Squidward is distracting SpongeBob by confining him into serving only one side of the crowd while he sneaks backstage without him interfering, SpongeBob sounds understandably sad, as he was looking forward to spending the whole day with him. He's even close to tears by appearance, and you can hear the near-sobbing in his voice. It contrasts with the faux-sadness Squidward gives when distracting him.
- And when the sponge finishes feeding his entire section, he sees the entire second half of the arena starving, and vows to serve them for their sake.
SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout
- Try not to tear up when Patchy finally meets his idol after 17 years of failure.
- The very end of the episode features a thank you message to Stephen Hillenburg, who sadly did not live to celebrate his creation turning 20 years old.
Season 13
23b - Gary's Playhouse
- The callback to the pilot where Gary and his friends roleplay the anchovies swarming the Krusty Krab can hit a feeling of nostalgia for older fans of the series.
Season 14
2b - Sponge Chovy
- After all of his work on trying to get the faux-chovies back to normal, Squidward sadly ends up becoming the only faux-chovy. SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs notices where could Squidward be all this time so he can join in with the paper plates. We can see his sad emotion before the episode closes.
11a - The Dirty Bubble Bass
- When Bubble Bass and the Dirty Bubble are attacking the Krusty Krab, the Krusty Krew and Patrick beat a retreat into Mr. Krabs's office. SpongeBob and Patrick sadly say that they need Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy if they're to have any chance of defeating the bad guys. Thanks to the deaths of the two heroes' voice actors, the characters have been retired from the show, meaning they'll never come to save the day again. And even worse, the Krew is completely ineffective at fighting the Dirty Bubble Bass, vindicating their belief that they can't do it themselves.
Season 17
334a - Kiss of the Nematode
- SpongeBob just kissed Guy Fishman who was once a nematode thanks to the witch's spell. However, he tells him that since he was back to normal, he would miss every nematode he met, especially his Love Interest. Thankfully, he is back into his nematode form and gets married in the end.
Others
- Award Winners A. The description of the video is almost exclusively of people commemorating lost series, which can give it some emotional heft in spite of its victorious sound.
- Stack of Leis, which played in iconic scenes in early seasons such as SpongeBob in “Pizza Delivery” crying after the angry customer rejected his pizza because he had no drink. It's like the musical representation of sitting alone on a beach shore at sunset, watching the water scale up and reminiscing childhood memories that are now long gone as you've grown up far too fast, and realizing that you want nothing more than to be a kid again.
- Pua Paoakalani B, which plays in very emotional scenes such as SpongeBob sadly remarking "I'm ready... depression" and Gary running away from home. It's one of the series' most strongly emotional pieces ever used, and the moments it plays over certainly adds to it.
- Nostalgic Romance is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed for the show. The fact that it only plays in a handful of episodes doesn't help.
- The 2005 educational short "The Endless Summer", due to the ending. Mr Krabs just gives up when he realizes it's too late.Mr Krabs: Where's everybody going?
Patrick: (following the other citizens of Bikini Bottom) We're all moving north. We can't live here anymore! It's too hot!
Mr Krabs: (sadly returns to the pool) All me customers have moved to cooler climates... - Beautiful Moonlight Night. It's already sad enough from what's heard on the show, but then the lyrics come in for a real gut-puncher.