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  Season 8 is an enigma, considered by many to be either the best or the worst of the S6-9A era... or even the most forgettable. Next to season 10, I'd say season 8 is one that almost no one ever talks about, probably because it's been labeled the "safest" and "blandest" season the series has. I agree with that on some level, as I do think this era tried to play things safe with the exception of 6, which went to territories that this series would never go to again (grossout and antihumor). I can't tell you anything unique or interesting season 7 did, but season 8 breaks that mold.

  I was one of those people who used to cite 8 as being a safe season, with premises that are either recycled or unremarkable. It literally opens up with two episodes that have been done before, and done better, and it ends with episodes like Squiditis and Move it Or Lose It-- no one has EVER talked about these episodes, not once have I ever heard these be brought up in any discussion, and it goes for about 80% of the content here. I don't agree with the notion that this season is safe anymore, as rewatching it proved it to be wrong-- I'd even argue this is the most ambitious SpongeBob has been since season 5.

  I saw a lot of seeds that would bloom in the post-sequel era-- first of all, sometimes episodes are heavily visual in their gag telling like InSPONGEiac, Free Samples, Face Freeze!, Restraining SpongeBob, Mooncation, Glove World R.I.P, and others. There is a grand total of FIVE specials in this season, a feat no other has come close to, one of them being stopmotion and we'd also get a stopmotion special in season 11. Tom Kenny's SpongeBob became a lot deeper and sounds almost no different in post-sequel-- those are just some of the things I've noted down upon rewatch.

  One other thing that surprised me the most about season 8 is that there is a point where...it kinda crumbles. I had a feeling this would happen, but good God, the stretch from Pet Sitter Pat - Face Freeze is legitimately shit. I used to say that season 6's middle sucked, and this is coming from a guy who doesn't think this show has any bad seasons or even stretches-- season 8 broke that rule. In fact, this stretch of episodes showcases the biggest downfall of season 8: substance. A majority of episodes in this stretch end up being substanceless, plots that can't even sustain a 7 minute runtime, and some of them are so uninspired.

  Episodes like Bubble Buddy Returns and Home Sweet Rubble are plots you've seen be done before... and titles you've seen before. They don't add anything new at all and you're just watching a repeat of their previous incarnations but without any of the energy, charm, or jokes... and I don't even like the first Bubble Buddy Episode. Pet Sitter Pat, House Sittin for Sandy, and Face Freeze are all mind-numbingly boring with some elements of frustrating due to how slow they are and how any jokes they tell are sparse or predictable-- not helping matters is that Face Freeze is the same story as Hooky which is also the same story as The Main Drain-- they've done this plot THREE times now. And then there's Fiasco! and Are You Happy Now? which are both really confused episodes, a majority of the former episode is an overly long police chase with an ending so unsatisfying and stupid, and the latter is a tonally confused episode that tries to tell lighthearted SpongeBob-y jokes whilst telling a story about Squidward suffering from depression.

  There's also the animation of this season, which honestly, i don't have a fucking clue how I'd describe it. In terms of polish, this season looks cleaner than both seasons 6 and 7... maybe even 5? Some of the background work can look legitimately beautiful, especially in the specials, but the actual animation is... well, it's stiffer than what came before, but I don't find it insultingly stiff like 9A. Season 6 may have tried to be more dynamic with its animation but it ended up looking hideous because of that, season 8 is aware of its budget limitations and so I don't think there are many episodes here that are visually interesting, but it does validate those who claim season 8 is a safe season... this animation is very safe even when they do try to go for wackier faces-- they aren't THAT over-the-top. Even though objectively 8's animation is a downgrade from 7, I will take it over both S6-7 since it eliminated a peeve I've had with those season's animation, specifically the Springer cheeks-- they are in this season but I don't find them as egregious since they don't bulge as much.

  These last two paragraphs may make it seem like season 8 has a lot of problems, but to me, this only applies to the range of Pet Sitter Pat- Face Freeze. What ultimately makes me consider season 8 a GOOD season is that I do think the first third and final stretch of season 8 are very, very good. They showcase what season 8 tried to do best, more out-there ideas that the series has either never trialed before or expands upon-- Mooncation is what Sandy's Rocket could've been if that episode didn't turn into an alien hunting plot (It's still a fun episode), we get an entire episode dedicated to the Krusty Krab drive through and it's a frantic, fun time. Squidward's School for Grown-Ups is a well-marriage between Grandma's Kisses and Patrick SmartPants, and of course there's It's a SpongeBob Christmas! which is one of the most unique and jolly episodes the series has ever produced.

  While season 8 might not be the greatest, I do respect it for bringing something new to the series after season 7 didn't do much. It's flawed for sure, but it doesn't stop me from finding it mostly funny and creative. It's the first spark of life SpongeBob has had in quite some time, and I'm happy it set the blueprints for what was to come, with season 10 being a foundation, and S11-onwards being the monuments.

Description

  Season 8 is an enigma, considered by many to be either the best or the worst of the S6-9A era... or even the most forgettable. Next to season 10, I'd say season 8 is one that almost no one ever talks about, probably because it's been labeled the "safest" and "blandest" season the series has. I agree with that on some level, as I do think this era tried to play things safe with the exception of 6, which went to territories that this series would never go to again (grossout and antihumor). I can't tell you anything unique or interesting season 7 did, but season 8 breaks that mold.

  I was one of those people who used to cite 8 as being a safe season, with premises that are either recycled or unremarkable. It literally opens up with two episodes that have been done before, and done better, and it ends with episodes like Squiditis and Move it Or Lose It-- no one has EVER talked about these episodes, not once have I ever heard these be brought up in any discussion, and it goes for about 80% of the content here. I don't agree with the notion that this season is safe anymore, as rewatching it proved it to be wrong-- I'd even argue this is the most ambitious SpongeBob has been since season 5.

  I saw a lot of seeds that would bloom in the post-sequel era-- first of all, sometimes episodes are heavily visual in their gag telling like InSPONGEiac, Free Samples, Face Freeze!, Restraining SpongeBob, Mooncation, Glove World R.I.P, and others. There is a grand total of FIVE specials in this season, a feat no other has come close to, one of them being stopmotion and we'd also get a stopmotion special in season 11. Tom Kenny's SpongeBob became a lot deeper and sounds almost no different in post-sequel-- those are just some of the things I've noted down upon rewatch.

  One other thing that surprised me the most about season 8 is that there is a point where...it kinda crumbles. I had a feeling this would happen, but good God, the stretch from Pet Sitter Pat - Face Freeze is legitimately shit. I used to say that season 6's middle sucked, and this is coming from a guy who doesn't think this show has any bad seasons or even stretches-- season 8 broke that rule. In fact, this stretch of episodes showcases the biggest downfall of season 8: substance. A majority of episodes in this stretch end up being substanceless, plots that can't even sustain a 7 minute runtime, and some of them are so uninspired.

  Episodes like Bubble Buddy Returns and Home Sweet Rubble are plots you've seen be done before... and titles you've seen before. They don't add anything new at all and you're just watching a repeat of their previous incarnations but without any of the energy, charm, or jokes... and I don't even like the first Bubble Buddy Episode. Pet Sitter Pat, House Sittin for Sandy, and Face Freeze are all mind-numbingly boring with some elements of frustrating due to how slow they are and how any jokes they tell are sparse or predictable-- not helping matters is that Face Freeze is the same story as Hooky which is also the same story as The Main Drain-- they've done this plot THREE times now. And then there's Fiasco! and Are You Happy Now? which are both really confused episodes, a majority of the former episode is an overly long police chase with an ending so unsatisfying and stupid, and the latter is a tonally confused episode that tries to tell lighthearted SpongeBob-y jokes whilst telling a story about Squidward suffering from depression.

  There's also the animation of this season, which honestly, i don't have a fucking clue how I'd describe it. In terms of polish, this season looks cleaner than both seasons 6 and 7... maybe even 5? Some of the background work can look legitimately beautiful, especially in the specials, but the actual animation is... well, it's stiffer than what came before, but I don't find it insultingly stiff like 9A. Season 6 may have tried to be more dynamic with its animation but it ended up looking hideous because of that, season 8 is aware of its budget limitations and so I don't think there are many episodes here that are visually interesting, but it does validate those who claim season 8 is a safe season... this animation is very safe even when they do try to go for wackier faces-- they aren't THAT over-the-top. Even though objectively 8's animation is a downgrade from 7, I will take it over both S6-7 since it eliminated a peeve I've had with those season's animation, specifically the Springer cheeks-- they are in this season but I don't find them as egregious since they don't bulge as much.

  These last two paragraphs may make it seem like season 8 has a lot of problems, but to me, this only applies to the range of Pet Sitter Pat- Face Freeze. What ultimately makes me consider season 8 a GOOD season is that I do think the first third and final stretch of season 8 are very, very good. They showcase what season 8 tried to do best, more out-there ideas that the series has either never trialed before or expands upon-- Mooncation is what Sandy's Rocket could've been if that episode didn't turn into an alien hunting plot (It's still a fun episode), we get an entire episode dedicated to the Krusty Krab drive through and it's a frantic, fun time. Squidward's School for Grown-Ups is a well-marriage between Grandma's Kisses and Patrick SmartPants, and of course there's It's a SpongeBob Christmas! which is one of the most unique and jolly episodes the series has ever produced.

  While season 8 might not be the greatest, I do respect it for bringing something new to the series after season 7 didn't do much. It's flawed for sure, but it doesn't stop me from finding it mostly funny and creative. It's the first spark of life SpongeBob has had in quite some time, and I'm happy it set the blueprints for what was to come, with season 10 being a foundation, and S11-onwards being the monuments.