Review: SpongeBob SquarePants ‘Tutor Sauce/Lost in Bikini Bottom’

Spoilers Below:

Welcome back to season 9 of SpongeBob SquarePants. Honestly, it seems like the show has been on for much longer than nine years, probably because it has actually been on for over 16 years. However, the episodes aren’t released as regularly as most shows are – especially recently, with the last new episode airing way back in March, and that was just a single, 11-minute installment.

Tonight we get a full double-feature, with episodes entitled “Tutor Sauce” and “Lost in Bikini Bottom.” I feel like it’ll be easier to follow if I split this review in two parts (with two separate scores), so here we go.

“Tutor Sauce”

After SpongeBob failed his boating exam (again!) and it began affecting his work at the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs decided to take over as his teacher. After numerous catastrophic failures and a ticket for allowing Gary to (successfully) operate the boat, Mr. Krabs ended up having to join Mrs. Puff’s class, sitting right next to SpongeBob.

In Case You Missed It:

1) Best customer complaint: “My patty tastes like sadness…”

2) Mr. Krabs’ generous offer: “$100 a semester? Why I could do it for double the price in half the time!”

3) “Objects in mirror will be expensive.”

4) “I thought you were just using Gary as a colorful example.”

Maybe it’s because it has been a while since we got a new SpongeBob, but I really enjoyed this segment. It had almost all the elements that make a good episode, including plenty of silliness, a few jokes that were meant to fly over kids’ heads, and most of all, great sight gags like SpongeBob constantly crashing into the Krusty Krab (and once crashing a driving simulator video game into it) and Squidward inexplicably beating a customer with a spatula. It wasn’t as quotable as some of the classics, and thus probably won’t be quite as re-watchable, but this was still a super solid effort all around.

“Lost in Bikini Bottom”

While running late for work one day, SpongeBob decided to take a shortcut – despite the Krusty Krab being only a short distance directly down the road. Of course he got hopelessly lost and had to overcome all sorts of obstacles, before eventually reaching his destination – barely. Unfortunately for SpongeBob, he was sent home due to his filthy appearance.

In Case You Missed It/Best Bits:

1) SpongeBob has a Patrick watch that says “tick” in his voice every time the minute-hand moves. I desperately want one.

2) “That’s the face! That’s the look!”

3) Remember when pay phones actually only cost ten cents? And existed?

“Lost in Bikini Bottom” acted as a nice contrast with the first installment. It still contained some great visual jokes and plenty of silliness, but it had very little adult/teen humor. Instead, it counted on a lot of “what the H?” moments, like a couple of Ren and Stimpy­-esque close-ups (showing disgustingly detailed body parts) and comments like, “He’s almost saved enough to attend community college!” It was even a bit educational, with Squidward repeatedly explaining that “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line,” as well as some actual wilderness survival tips.

In the end, “Lost in Bikini Bottom” was a fine showing, but considering it got most of the commercial attention, I was surprised that it was slightly bested by “Tutor Sauce.” Go figure.

So…how long until the next new one?