Written By: Doug Quimby, Deanna Bushey

To honor Stephen Hillenburg, we here at Mirth Films thought long and hard about the show he created, the one that was in all of our childhoods. Spongebob Squarepants. After going through all the episodes over and over again we wanted to share some episodes with you that still stand out to us after all these years. So in no particular order, these are ten episodes that showcased the impact Stephen Hillenburg had on us.

Dying For Pie

When Squidward thought he killed Spongebob by giving him a pie which turned out to be a bomb, he had a change of heart and dedicated his time to giving Spongebob the best possible final hours. It was heartwarming to see the caring side of Squidward come out in this episode.

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FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTUUREEEEEEEE

Krusty Love

Mr. Krabs falls for Mrs. Puff! To show his affection, Mr. Krabs has Spongebob go out and buy all these different things that he thinks Mrs. Puff needs. After Spongebob returns to them with the items, Mrs. Puff says that she doesn’t need them. Realizing how much of his money is being spent, Mr. Krabs says, “you’re spending all me money Spongebob!” which always pops into my head when I look at my bank account.

Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III

The third installment in the Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy series and the most memorable. Spongebob and Patrick are trusted to watch over Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boys lair under specific instructions to not touch anything. Obviously, they did. Spongebob and Patrick accidentally released one of Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy’s enemies onto the world under the impression that they had rehabilitated him and that he was now nice. Luckily, the attempts at rehabilitation eventually did cause Man Ray to have a change of heart as he attempted to rob a bank.

Band Geeks

Not only was their performance at the end one for the ages, but this entire episode showed the characters coming together to accomplish their dream while staying true to the staple goofy humor we all know and love.

Graveyard Shift

An episode I find myself quoting constantly, form taking out the trash ~at night~ to saying Nosferatu when the lights are flickering. And the man with a spatula for a hand… The Hash Slinging Slasher!

Nasty Patty

Remember that time when Spongebob and Mr. Krabs thought they killed the Health Inspector? And then went to bury it only for it to pop up when the cops were picking them up? This one always kept me on the edge of my seat.

Squilliam Returns

All of us could relate to the inner workings of Spongebob’s brain as shown in this episode. The files, the fires, the scrambling around… An iconic moment in the series.

Krab Borg

An episode from the weirder side of Spongebob Squarepants; Spongebob is convinced Mr. Krabs is a robot and keeps misinterpreting minor events as solid evidence. He gets so paranoid that eventually he and Squidward are convinced the world has been taken over by robots. We’ve been there.

Krusty Krab Training Video

This episode was done in a different style than the others on this list. The episodes that strayed from the norm were always a good time.  This one makes us especially nostalgic.

Have You Seen This Snail?

Gary running away hit home. Spongebob became too preoccupied with a paddle ball challenge to feed Gary, causing him to leave. In his time on his own, Gary is confronted by a Snail Gang. An old lady finds him and takes him home with her. After days of being showered with affection and food, Gary leaves once he realizes that the old lady has poor intentions and is found by Spongebob. Meanwhile, Spongebob was searching for him while the heartbreaking hit, “Gary Come Home” played.

Spongebob Squarepants was an integral part of so many childhood memories. Recalling these episodes brought immense nostalgia.  These episodes bring forth so many memories about childhood joy and simpler times. Thank you, Stephen Hillenburg, for giving generations of kids the gift of laughter.