Since the premiere of SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon in 1999, the animated series has become a household name for children and adults alike. It is one of the longest-running animated shows ever, following the lives of SpongeBob and his friends, such as Sandy Cheeks, Patrick Star, and Squidward Tentacles.
In between the series and feature films that have been created for the show, there have not only been many adventures for the sponge, but also many plot inconsistencies for the characters in its 21 years on the air. From mismatched family to uncommon career choices, the show's many plot holes have their reasoning behind them, even if it is not as obvious to viewers.
Sandy's Treedome Constantly Changing
Throughout the series, Sandy's Treedome has become a popular hangout for SpongeBob and Patrick, as they spend many of their absurd moments there. However, some fans have pointed out minor inconsistencies at her home, such as what tree is planted at her home and what the dome is actually made of.
Spongebob's fanbase forgets to consider how innovative and creative Sandy is, as she is always inventing new gadgets and thinking of new ideas. This may seem like a plot hole, but her house alterations could just represent her constant need for change and a fresh look.
Pearl's Biological Parents
One of the biggest plotholes of SpongeBob SquarePants is the mystery of who Pearl's mother is and how her father is Mr. Krabs, considering she is a whale and he is a crustacean. Most of the episodes completely disregard the situation and show Mr. Krabs trying to find love with other sea creatures in Bikini Bottom.
In the official SpongeBob SquarePants Trivia Book, it is noted that Pearl's mother is Mrs. Krabs, which says she "takes after her mother" by being a whale. There is still uncertainty about if there was a divorce involved or if Mrs. Krabs ed away, but this plot hole can be a bit smaller now with this information.
Spongebob Living In A Pineapple
"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?" is one of the most iconic lines in the history of animated cartoon theme songs. The thought of a sea sponge living in fruit may seem off, but there is actually some background on this design choice.
Other than the backstory of a pineapple falling into the ocean while searching for a house, creator and former marine biologist Steve Hillenburg would enjoy living in a pineapple home. A sense of smell is important to sea animals, which makes living in a pineapple perfect for Spongebob's needs.
Lack Of Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy
Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy have been a staple to the show since its debut, as SpongeBob idolizes the two older superheroes and helps them through some wild adventures. It seems that out of nowhere, the two recurring characters have not shown up in recent episodes, leaving fans wondering if there was an explanation for their sudden departure from the show.
In real life, the voice actors of both Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy ed away. Younger versions of the men are sometimes shown in more recent episodes, but the original characters have not been reprised.
Spongebob's Origin Of Becoming A Fry Cook
Since episode 1, it is known that SpongeBob has a knack for cooking and whipping up the best Krabby Patties in Bikini Bottom. Even in the episodes where he is fired by Mr.Krabs, it is an automatic regret for the Krusty Krab owner for how talented he is with his creations for their loyal customers.
A sea sponge being a fry cook may seem random, but the new SpongeBob prequel series, Kamp Koral: Spongebob's Under Years, explains how this came about. The series highlights Plankton being the camp's main cook who needs help in the kitchen and an eager, young Spongebob learning from him and continuing to sharpen his cooking skills.
The Multiple Old Man Jenkins
A running joke of the series is how Old Man Jenkins is either causing unnecessary trouble or ending up in unusual situations with the other characters. However, throughout the years, the appearance and voice of Old Man Jenkins seem to differ as he appears in different episodes.
This plot hole has never been truly addressed, but it is safe to say that there may be multiple men named Old Man Jenkins in the small town of Bikini Bottom, and it is a popular name. Further, the name could be a common name that the characters address to the older folk in their community.
SpongeBob's Age
A debated topic in the SpongeBob universe is how old SpongeBob actually is, as many episodes seem to counteract his age. This plot hole is not actually a plot hole, yet some fans do not seem to let this one go. Earlier episodes have shown SpongeBob's license information, which lists that he was born on July 14, 1986.
The series premiered in 1999, which would have made him 13 years old when he got his job at the Krusty Krab. However, the true plot hole here is how time works in the ocean and what year the show is set in when it first debuted on Nickelodeon.
The Secret Box Episode Changing
An ongoing discussion between SpongeBob fans is whether viewers have seen what was in the Secret Box or if the episode stopped before anyone could see it. In reality, Nickelodeon ended up airing two different versions of the episode. A slightly longer version of the episode shows the "embarrassing picture of SpongeBob at the Christmas party", which many fans have claimed to have seen many different versions of what that means.
Some have seen a picture of Spongebob with his pants ripped while others have seen Spongebob with a lampshade on his head. Both of these versions aired on television at some point, but they never seemed to resurface since.
Sandy's True Backstory
As the only land creature in Bikini Bottom, many viewers have been curious as to why Sandy lives in the ocean. Reigning from Texas, the squirrel moved to Spongebob's community to pursue her scientist dreams. It's not until season 4 that the show reveals Sandy's true intentions of moving on her own under the sea.
The episode "Chimps Ahoy" shows that she is funded by Treehome Enterprises to create inventions and can be sent back to Texas at any time if they do not live up to expectations. Lucky for Sandy, her nutcracker-banana peeler impresses the employees of Treehome Enterprises so much that she gets a major salary raise and extension of stay in Bikini Bottom.
Plankton Being Scared Of Pearl
The famous enemy of Mr.Krabs has been the center of many plot holes of the show, but one that is most talked about is a more recent issue of Plankton being afraid of whales. The season 7 "One Coarse Meal" episode focused on Mr.Krabs taking advantage of Plankton's fear of whales and using his whale daughter Pearl to scare him away.
Many die-hard fans of the show have wondered why this is a sudden fear for Plankton, as Pearl and Plankton have crossed paths in previous episodes. The only explanation for this late introduction of his fear could be that in real life, whales prey on plankton, and in the show he lost his ancestors to whales, making Plankton's reasons valid.