When most fans think of what might be considered the most wholesome friendships of SpongeBob SquarePants, the strong and loyal camaraderie that he shares with Patrick and Sandy may be the first examples to come to mind for the fans. There’s one particular friendship that SpongeBob has struck up that has changed a certain character for the better over the last decade or so: Plankton. Some may hear this and ask themselves how a friendship between the two is even possible, especially considering how Plankton has been the show’s designated villain since its inception. This may be true for the earlier episodes of the first two or three seasons, but taking a look at the later seasons, their dynamic has become far less antagonistic and surprisingly more fun to watch as a result. How the show (and even the films that have followed since the first) has shown a greater complexity to Plankton’s character has made for a surprising dynamic between the two that nobody saw coming.

What makes the relationship between the two so oddly endearing isn’t just because of how SpongeBob is willing to see the good in Plankton when no one else is willing to, but also because of how he seems to be the only true friend that the villain has, whether he likes it or not. The fact that SpongeBob has managed to bring out some of the good in a character that had previously been so relentlessly evil is something that is more than worth exploring.

Outside Their Respective Workspaces, SpongeBob and Plankton Have an Oddly Wholesome Friendship

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Looking at some of the more recent episodes over the last decade or so, Plankton has become a significantly bigger player in SpongeBob’s life outside the rivalry between The Krusty Krab and The Chum Bucket. Although he would likely never openly admit it, he has definitely grown something of a soft spot for SpongeBob and has shown to be more tolerant of his energetic antics. Between the sibling-like bond that SpongeBob shares with Patrick and Sandy and the father-son-like dynamic that he shares with Mr. Krabs, the relationship he has with Plankton would be something along the lines of having a grumpy and reluctant uncle who claims to hate kids yet can’t help but enjoy spending time with his nephew simply because that nephew just enjoys spending time with him so much. Seeing the two of them together in a way that doesn’t pit them against one another offers a refreshing change of pace from the usual formula of Plankton trying to sabotage the Krusty Krab while SpongeBob tries to put a stop to it. Considering just how different they are from one another personality-wise, their interactions in the further exploration of their dynamic have also resulted in some truly hilarious comedy in their interactions.

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SpongeBob has been constantly depicted as possibly Plankton’s only real friend, and his constant willingness to help him out in certain situations seems to have gradually rubbed off on his former adversary. Even though Plankton is not always there for SpongeBob in the same way that SpongeBob is always there for him, the generosity that he receives doesn’t usually go unreciprocated. This is especially evident in several episodes from Season 9 and onward.

When Did SpongeBob and Plankton’s Friendship Truly Begin?

Many Episodes, and Even the Second Theatrical Film, Showcased Their Ability to Work as a Team

The Season 1 episode, “F.U.N.”, was one of the earliest attempts at SpongeBob trying to initiate a friendship with Plankton; but even though he may have initially seemed to enjoy it, Plankton ultimately decided that “being evil is too much fun” and used it as yet another opportunity to try stealing the Krabby Patty formula. Despite the numerous occasions that Plankton has tried (and failed) to manipulate SpongeBob to gain access to the formula, SpongeBob has never truly seen him as an enemy. In the “SpongeBob’s House Party” special of Season 2, Plankton was among the many people who attended after receiving an invitation, which was one of the first indications that SpongeBob considered him to be a legitimate friend. The Season 9 episode, “Plankton’s Pet”, even showed SpongeBob voluntarily helping out Plankton by not just selecting a pet for adoption, but also searching for it after it goes missing. The series’ second theatrical movie, Sponge Out Water, was one of the first major displays of the two actually working together, which showed that Plankton was truly more than just the one-dimensional antagonist that he was in the first film.

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A majority of the film’s story focuses on SpongeBob and Plankton teaming up and even traveling back in time to reverse the apocalyptic state of Bikini Bottom after the Krabby Patty is magically stolen. Plankton was initially reluctant to the idea of teamwork, but a mutual sense of satisfaction forged between the two when he finally came to embrace it. Although SpongeBob SquarePants has never really had a concrete chronological sense of continuity, the teaming up of two does seem to have affected how the show’s writers have since approached their dynamic.

How Plankton’s Reluctant Friendship with SpongeBob Has Changed Him For the Better

Although They’ll Always Be Business Rivals, Plankton’s More Positive Qualities Have Shined Through in His Adventures with SpongeBob

• All episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants are now available to stream on Paramount+.
• The Plankton Movie is now available to watch on Netflix.

While it may be true that Plankton serves as the series’ main antagonist, constantly plotting to steal the Krabby Patty formula (and, to a much lesser extent, for world domination), any episode where he’s seen spending an extensive amount of time with SpongeBob has shown that he’s not so much a one-dimensional villain anymore. As funny as it can be to see how Plankton plans against the Krusty Krab next, seeing the more vulnerable sides of his character is something that certainly doesn’t do anything to hurt the show. Whenever the show creates an opportunity for them to work as a unit or simply just to hang out, SpongeBob has oddly brought out some of the better qualities in a character that was once considered pure evil. Episodes such as “Plankton’s Pet”, “Delivery to Monster Island” have shown just how well the two get along and how well they still work together whenever the situation calls for it. The fact that Plankton even helped the other main characters plan a surprise party in “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout” proves just how far their relationship has truly come.

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SpongeBob has even helped make Plankton a better husband to his computer wife in episodes like “Plankton Gets the Boot” and “Single Cells Anniversary” when he confesses to the struggles he faces in his marriage. With Netflix’s The Plankton Movie now available to stream, fans can look forward to another team-up with a similar storyline. SpongeBob has always been willing to make a friend out of almost anyone, and the fact that he managed to form such an unexpected friendship with one of Bikini Bottom’s most evil and reviled citizens is something that not only speaks to how the show has managed to evolve over the years in the best way possible.

SpongeBob SquarePants

Release Date

May 1, 1999

Showrunner

Vincent Waller, Marc Ceccarelli

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