Squid Baby (SpongeBob SquarePants)

"Squid Baby" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from Season 9. In this episode, a head injury causes Squidward to think he's an infant, and SpongeBob and Patrick must look after him.

Why It Cries Like A Baby

 * 1) This episode, like many other post-Season 5 episodes, is 11 minutes of Squidward torture, although it is less rampant compared to seasons 6-8.
 * 2) At the beginning of the episode, SpongeBob and Patrick are playing with their baby toys, making them look like manchildren.
 * 3) * While the two are indeed childish for their age, this takes it up to eleven.
 * 4) The episode makes light of head injuries, to a disturbing effect.
 * 5) Excessive gross-out humor, up to and including a scene where Squidward soils his diaper (complete with a gross close-up).
 * 6) "Head-Go-Boom-Boom-Itis" is not only an immature name for a debilitating injury, but it's also uncreative.
 * 7) Ignoring the gratuitous shock and gross-out humor, the episode is a rehash of "Rock-a-Bye Bivalve" from Season 3, even recycling a few jokes (such as the scene with Patrick watching TV).
 * 8) * It also feels a lot like a rehash of "Regarding Stuie" from mh:besttvshows:Rugrats, since the episode revolves around an adult hitting his head and becoming a baby; the difference is that "Regarding Stuie" had little-to-no gross-out humor and was well-received.
 * 9) Mr. Krabs is also unlikable. He forcing Squidward to work at the Krusty Krab despite SpongeBob warning him of Squidward's injuries. He also apathetically treats Squidward like he's normal despite his infant amnesia hampering his personality.
 * 10) Patrick is unlikeable for causing most of Squidward's injuries and leaving Spongebob to watch him at the Krusty Krab when he falls asleep.
 * 11) Mr. Krabs insisting that SpongeBob change Squidward's diaper in the kitchen is both gross and stupid.
 * 12) Both Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob, and Patrick walk away from their mistakes scot-free.
 * 13) Bad ending: Squidward reverts to his usual self and upon seeing his diaper, becomes shocked and walks away in disgust. SpongeBob simply remarks that they grow up so quickly. A gross-out innuendo was slapped into the audience's face before the episode cut to black.

Redeeming Qualities

 * 1) Though SpongeBob and Patrick are to blame for Squidward's head injury in the first place, they do try their best to prevent it from happening again.
 * 2) The fish Nat references Fred's iconic My Leg! gag when he says "My face, my face! Also my leg, but mostly my face!"
 * 3) At least Squidward becomes an adult at the end of the episode.
 * 4) The animation is still great as usual.

Reception
Along with "Little Yellow Book" and "SpongeBob, You're Fired", "Squid Baby" is widely considered to be one of the worst episodes of Season 9, even though it was perceived better compared to those two episodes.

Some people consider it worse than "Little Yellow Book", though, like PieGuyRulz.

Videos
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Trivia

 * The same writing staff for this episode also wrote One Coarse Meal.