Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)

 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
type
TVTItem
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
label
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
page
SomeThingsNeverChange
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
comment
Some Things Never Change is a one-shot SpongeBob SquarePants fanfic written by WDGHK. It's an introspective (though far from humorless) piece told from the point of view of an aging Squidward as he continues his drab and routine life as the underpaid cashier at the Krusty Krab, alongside his overzealous coworker SpongeBob, the same as it has been for the last 20 years. It defies the show’s use of Comic-Book Time and explores the idea of the world of SpongeBob being subjected to the real-life passage of time, but somehow still finding a way to remain largely stagnant. Until its two sequels come along.In the first sequel, called Finite, Squidward learns about the passing of his Arch-Enemy Squilliam Fancyson III, and tries to process his death while also reflecting on his own life and coming to terms with his many regrets, while the third story, called Nothing Lasts Forever, involves Mr. Krabs's time finally running out and SpongeBob being forced to accept it.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
fetched
2023-11-03T02:32:18Z
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
parsed
2023-11-03T02:32:18Z
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
processingComment
Dropped link to Foil: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
processingComment
Dropped link to RichBastard: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
processingComment
Dropped link to TheDeterminator: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
processingUnknown
RichBastard
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
processingUnknown
TheDeterminator
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_119ea1fd
type
Stop Motion
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_119ea1fd
comment
The Abominable Snow Mollusk from “Frozen Face-Off” cameos during Mr. Krabs’s backstory, being seen chasing him and his old crew through the Arctic sea, as a Call-Back to Krabs’s first encounter with the monster from that episode.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_119ea1fd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_119ea1fd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_119ea1fd
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1257a2d1
type
15 Minutes of Fame
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1257a2d1
comment
15 Minutes of Fame: During their final encounter, Squidward brings up his victories over Squilliam during the events of "Band Geeks", and later "House Fancy", as his one and only trump card. However, Squilliam laughs it off, pointing out how the true measure of fame isn’t gaining it but holding onto it and leaving your mark on society. Squilliam, by this point (and after his death), has had a lifelong career of countless achievements, and has been immortalized by Bikini Bottom as a Renaissance Man. Meanwhile, Squidward's past accomplishments have long been forgotten, only remembered by the very few who even bother to care about him (like Sandy and SpongeBob). This turns out to also be something of a good thing though, as while Squidward's fame might not have lasted, at least his failures and past mistakes can't really haunt him anymore after his epiphany with Sandy. Squilliam's past misdeeds however, end up coming back to damage his reputation severely.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1257a2d1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1257a2d1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1257a2d1
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_14beeefd
type
Darker and Edgier
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_14beeefd
comment
Darker and Edgier: Compared to the author's other SpongeBob fic, definitely. Though it's not deprived of humor or absurd moments, especially whenever SpongeBob or Mr. Krabs are present, but they mainly serve as comic relief in between the more mature subject matter concerning Squidward.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_14beeefd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_14beeefd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_14beeefd
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_15b2cab3
type
Tempting Fate
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_15b2cab3
comment
Tempting Fate: In Finite, Mr. Krabs is looking forward to being rejuvenated at the Fountain of Youth again, and possibly dragging his employees into it so as to keep them young and working for him forever. In the direct sequel, it's revealed that Krabs' three-century-long exploitation of the fabled spring has finally sapped it dry, leaving him as a mortal old man, aging rapidly and with the Flying Dutchman gunning to finally collect his soul.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_15b2cab3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_15b2cab3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_15b2cab3
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b590025
type
Dead All Along
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b590025
comment
Dead All Along: invokedMermaid Man died almost a decade ago (implied to have been 2012, the same year his voice actor died) and Barnacle Boy passed shortly after, thus explaining their Chuck Cunningham Syndrome. SpongeBob remains completely oblivious about their passing and has been told by the caretakers at Shady Shoals that the two old superheroes simply moved away to a different retirement home but nobody wrote down the address. None of SpongeBob's friends seem to have the heart to tell him the truth either. After Squidward arrives at the cemetery to visit Squilliam’s grave, we learn that SpongeBob's grandma and his uncle Blue are also dead and buried, as is Mr. Krabs' mother.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b590025
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b590025
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b590025
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b65dfad
type
The Cameo
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b65dfad
comment
The Cameo: Lord Royal Highness, the ruler of Atlantis, appears as a guest at Squilliam's birthday party in 2017. He doesn't recognize his waiter, who is Squidward, since he only met him once and literally a decade ago. The titular monster from the episode "Yeti Krabs" makes a comeback, as part of a trio. The Abominable Snow Mollusk from “Frozen Face-Off” cameos during Mr. Krabs’s backstory, being seen chasing him and his old crew through the Arctic sea, as a Call-Back to Krabs’s first encounter with the monster from that episode.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b65dfad
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b65dfad
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_1b65dfad
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_23a06c52
type
TheUnReveal
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_23a06c52
comment
The Un-Reveal: In Nothing Lasts Forever, SpongeBob (desperately trying to stall) asks Mr. Krabs why he adopted Pearl, to which the latter simply says that Pearl would do a better job explaining why than he could, before getting interrupted by an impatient Flying Dutchman, who tries to rip Krabs’s soul out of his body.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_23a06c52
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_23a06c52
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_23a06c52
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_259d5879
type
Anachronism Stew
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_259d5879
comment
Anachronism Stew: Played for Laughs during Mr. Krabs's backstory. During his salad days as “Thrifty Jack”, they apparently had things such as ship plumbing, bubble gum, and canned spray (meant to repel sea monsters). Conquistadors were still around during the The Golden Age of Piracy, and The Great Depression was apparently going on in Bikini Bottom in 1950, when Mr. Krabs (after accidentally turning himself into a baby) was adopted by Betsy (granted, this is anthropomorphic sea creature history, not human history).
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_259d5879
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_259d5879
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_259d5879
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_26beee71
type
Taught by Experience
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_26beee71
comment
Taught by Experience: Squidward has actually grown wiser from some of his past experience (and many humiliations), as he has not only quit his futile pursuit of fame and fortune (which he now views as a ridiculous pipe-dream) and makes an active effort to find enjoyment in his hobbies (art and music) instead of using them as a means to achieve the former, but he has also gotten better at handling SpongeBob and Patrick's idiocy, by using more subtle manipulation and their own shortcomings against them, in order to make their meddling more tolerable. Exemplified during the scene where he finds Patrick trespassing into his home again and looting his fridge. Instead of getting angry and trying to kick him out (which he knows won't pan out well for him), Squidward instead exploits his Big Eater nature by offering him a big glass of warm milk and a cooked turkey, which promptly knocks Patrick out cold while he's watching TV and Squidward just leaves him there while continuing on with his regular routine, knowing that having a sleeping Patrick in his home, who is known to stay asleep for days, is much more preferable than having him there while he's awake.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_26beee71
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_26beee71
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_26beee71
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_298a9d75
type
Detrimental Determination
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_298a9d75
comment
Detrimental Determination: Squidward eventually realizes his past feud with Squilliam only hurt him in the long run. His determination to fight a battle that was badly rigged against him due to Squilliam's money, fame and talent far eclipsing his own ultimately ended up being more poisonous to him than it did to Squilliam. His love for art and music was turned toxic because of his need and desire for fame to one up Squilliam and prove to himself that he was worth something, hollowing them out until he could not find any joy in doing them. In addition, any victories he did manage against his former rival end up being pointless in the long term, since he was never able to turn any of them into long-term achievements, while his rival has remained consistently successful from his youth. Ultimately, his own ego and pride proved to be even more detrimental for him than it did for his rival, who saw him as little more than a persistent bit of amusement for him.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_298a9d75
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_298a9d75
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_298a9d75
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2e8441c9
type
The Bad Guy Wins
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2e8441c9
comment
More bitter than sweet, but Finite ends with Squidward visiting Squilliam's grave and admitting to his late rival that the latter has won their feud, while also refusing to mock him at his final resting place, insisting that he's the "bigger man" for admitting defeat and for having a sense of accountability (which Squilliam never had). Squidward is fully aware that he has squandered his life and that there's nothing he can do to change that, but has also learned to move on and is avid about eating humble pie and trying to enjoy what time he has left.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2e8441c9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2e8441c9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2e8441c9
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2ef005ab
type
Vocal Evolution
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2ef005ab
comment
Vocal Evolution: Towards the end of "Nothing Lasts Forever", after finally accepting his employer's mortality and the inevitable passage of time, SpongeBob's voice drops, going from childishly high-pitched to a more mature-sounding tenor (specifically described as sounding like Tom Kenny's natural speaking voice).
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2ef005ab
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2ef005ab
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_2ef005ab
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_355007c3
type
Brilliant, but Lazy
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_355007c3
comment
Brilliant, but Lazy: Patrick apparently had it in him to be a responsible, working adult all this time, but spent two decades as a Lazy Bum Manchild because he didn’t want to rush things (growing up and maturing), to the point that he completely lost track of time and didn’t even bother graduating high school until he was in his early 40s. Six months after his long-delayed epiphany, he becomes an accomplished accountant!
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_355007c3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_355007c3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_355007c3
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_3e8d9cd3
type
Historical Hero Upgrade
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_3e8d9cd3
comment
Historical Hero Upgrade: The immediate news reports and articles Squidward finds about Squilliam's passing already make it clear that the latter will be remembered as a great and brilliant Renaissance Man by future generations, with all of his Jerkass and Smug Snake qualities getting swept under the rug. Though the ending of “Nothing Lasts Forever” shows that scandals about his unsavory actions in life are starting to come to light, suggesting that he’ll be remembered for what he truly was after all.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_3e8d9cd3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_3e8d9cd3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_3e8d9cd3
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_40cc0c7e
type
Bittersweet Ending
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_40cc0c7e
comment
Bittersweet Ending: More bitter than sweet, but Finite ends with Squidward visiting Squilliam's grave and admitting to his late rival that the latter has won their feud, while also refusing to mock him at his final resting place, insisting that he's the "bigger man" for admitting defeat and for having a sense of accountability (which Squilliam never had). Squidward is fully aware that he has squandered his life and that there's nothing he can do to change that, but has also learned to move on and is avid about eating humble pie and trying to enjoy what time he has left. The ending of Nothing Lasts Forever is this as well, but much more sweet than bitter. All of the characters end up more accepting of how they've changed and aged, and resolve to live their lives to the best they can with what time they have left. Some lives are better than others: Squidward manages to find some peace in his new job as the boss of the Krusty Krab, giving wise advice to younger hires (even if he expects that they won't listen), and is now on much more amicable terms with Spongebob after so many years. He also gets a last laugh of sorts, as Squilliam's checkered history of dating underage girls (and implied other scandals) ends up being steadily unearthed post-mortem, souring his earthly reputation. Spongebob has finally matured and is now able to speak with his coworker on equal terms and has gotten Karen as a wife. All the while still retaining his child-like love of the things he enjoyed as a younger man. Pearl, in the wake of her father's death, decides to open a boutique using the inheritance money and get her life together, with Spongebob popping in every once in a while to make sure they don't go out of business from being too distracted. Patrick, surprisingly enough, ends up realizing that he's wasted 20 years of his life and has started to take his adult life quite seriously as an accountant, much to everyone's surprise (especially Sandy, who is utterly blindsided by the whole notion). Mrs. Puff retires due to no longer having to deal with Spongebob's terrible driving and Mr. Krabs' passing...only to end up missing due to implied foul play. Larry the Lobster finally accepts that he's become old, and retires to his personal gym to teach a new generation of bodybuilders. Karen moves on from Plankton and comes to live with her much more loving new husband, Spongebob, even if she is a bit bemused at him still worshiping Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. Mermaid Man, Barnacle Boy, Marion Squarepants, and Betsy Krabs are all revealed to have made it to Heaven, playing Bingo. In a more darkly amusing turn, Mr. Krabs and Plankton are all down in Davy Jones' Locker, being forced to exercise for the rest of eternity for their crimes alive. However, Mr. Krabs and Plankton end up not entirely minding the situation, given that they've continued their rivalry even down there, eagerly trying to outpace each other in their torment (much to the impressed Dutchman's amusement) and have at least made peace on Krabs basically stringing Plankton along with the Krabby Patty Formula for so many years. Squilliam however, is not taking his death so well. On top of his earthly reputation being slowly destroyed by his years of scandals being unearthed, he is utterly miserable in Davy Jones' Locker and begging to know why he's down here, claiming that he had so much of his life left to live. The Flying Dutchman laughs in his face by pointing out that he's been guaranteed a spot down here ever since he was actually 35, and he's done nothing but do awful things afterwards. This is just karma for him thinking he'd get away with it.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_40cc0c7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_40cc0c7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_40cc0c7e
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4781adbb
type
Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4781adbb
comment
Squidward and Squilliam ends up being the most prominent for much of the second story. Squidward being a hapless middling sour Jerk with a Heart of Gold, surrounded by co-workers and friends who he could barely tolerate, and who ultimately ended up squandering most of his life trying to win a futile feud. By contrast, Squilliam is a cruel, selfish, and pompous Rich Bastard who rose to fame and has been successful for most of his life, surrounded by sycophants who lavished him with praise for his achievements and eagerly allowed Squidward to ruin his own life for his own amusement. By the end of the story however, this turns around for Squidward somewhat, as he manages to become Older and Wiser, leading the rest of his life in a modestly successful position of leadership as the new boss of the Krusty Krab, and is now on amicable terms with the people who once annoyed him due to them all becoming more mature. Squilliam is not so lucky, his horrible behavior in life being steadily unveiled after his death, and said actions having guaranteed him a place in Davy Jones' Locker.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4781adbb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4781adbb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4781adbb
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_48e8fe57
type
Happily Adopted
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_48e8fe57
comment
Happily Adopted: After accidentally tripping into the Fountain of Youth in 1950 and turning himself into a baby, Mr. Krabs was forced to find himself an adopted family until he grew up again and could resume his exploits. He found Betsy Krabs in Bikini Bottom (who happened to have the same common surname for crustaceans) and she took him in. Despite Bikini Bottom going through an economic depression at the time and two living in poverty, they were happy together and Krabs grew to genuinely love his adoptive mother.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_48e8fe57
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_48e8fe57
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_48e8fe57
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4fc6385e
type
Unreliable Voiceover
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4fc6385e
comment
Unreliable Voiceover: When Mr. Krabs reveals his backstory in the third story, his narration greatly downplays and whitewashes all the atrocities he has committed in the past, like pillage and plunder, grave-robbing, land theft, Black Comedy murder, and being a massive cheapskate of a pirate captain who didn't share his loot with his crew and refused to pay for proper ship maintenance.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4fc6385e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4fc6385e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_4fc6385e
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_504a1991
type
Body Horror
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_504a1991
comment
Body Horror: Plankton's death in Finite, as his synthetic body starts deteriorating and shriveling up while he's still alive. It convinced the author to bump up the fic's rating.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_504a1991
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_504a1991
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_504a1991
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_543a0278
type
Villain Respect
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_543a0278
comment
Villain Respect: Very downplayed. Squilliam admitted that he admired Squidward's moxie, as he was Squilliam's only rival who kept coming back and kept trying to one-up him, despite being at a massive disadvantage, something many other more powerful and successful rivals of his never did. But that means little in the end, as Squidward's unflinching determination only encouraged Squilliam to continue to seek him out for the sole purpose of bullying and humiliating him, which only prolonged their rivalry and caused Squidward a lot more misery. It's the final nail in the coffin that made Squidward start to realize that he was the architect of his own misery in this very one-sided rivalry. Mutual example. Once they get reunited in Davy Jones’s locker, Plankton is seen ranting to Krabs about how the latter ruined his whole life without a shred of guilt (due to the Krabby Patty formula being sham) just to fill his pockets, before promptly laughing and commending his old rival for being Eviler than Thou, and two patch things up as Vitriolic Best Buds. The Flying Dutchman, despite being understandably irritated at Mr. Krabs evading death for so long, ends up having slightly more respect for him after Krabs settles his affairs and leaves for Davy Jones' Locker with some level of dignity, as well as taking his punishment in the afterlife relatively well thanks to being more focused on his rival Plankton. The same cannot be said for Squilliam, as his whining and pain about his deserved afterlife only earns the Dutchman's scorn.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_543a0278
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_543a0278
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_543a0278
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_547196be
type
Broad Strokes
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_547196be
comment
Broad Strokes: How the author approaches the show’s lore, besides diverging from post-2020 canon entirely (when “Some Things Never Change” was written). “Nothing Lasts Forever”, in particular, makes a lot of call backs to “Born Again Krabs” (including the “Harold Flower” joke) but never addresses why in the latter, the Flying Dutchman was willing to give Krabs another chance at life, while here, he has eagerly been waiting to collect Krabs’s soul for centuries and specifically says that he wouldn’t give him a second chance.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_547196be
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_547196be
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_547196be
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_56045172
type
Took a Level in Idealism
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_56045172
comment
Took a Level in Idealism: Squidward was already a major cynic in his younger years and has actually mellowed out a bit in his old age, being more composed, rational, and less easily agitated. That said a he's still a committed Deadpan Snarker though.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_56045172
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_56045172
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_56045172
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_561dab6b
type
Mistaken for Gay
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_561dab6b
comment
Mistaken for Gay: A mother fish (Sadie's daughter) sees SpongeBob glomping Squidward after working hours, gives them a scornful glare and walks off while telling her son that they "don't associate with such people." Squidward promptly laments about him and SpongeBob constantly ending up in compromising positions in public.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_561dab6b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_561dab6b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_561dab6b
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_589661ad
type
Renaissance Man
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_589661ad
comment
Squidward's attempts to defeat his rival Squilliam end up being worth nothing in the end, as he's still ultimately a lowly cashier with only brief flashes of glory and remembered by most as an unpleasant loser and grouch, while Squilliam would go down in history as a Renaissance Man with fame, glory, society forever remembering him for his accomplishments, and all of his negative qualities swept under the rug. What's worse is Squidward realized this far too late in his life, and how much his own ego, envy and jealousy clouded his judgment on the matter until he could no longer change his path.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_589661ad
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_589661ad
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_589661ad
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_599f943f
type
Karma Houdini Warranty
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_599f943f
comment
Karma Houdini Warranty: After staving off going to Davy Jones’s locker for 300 years and committing various crimes and atrocities beyond his original career in piracy, Mr. Krabs’s time finally runs out in “Nothing Lasts Forever”, after using up the last drop of the Fountain of Youth with his annual visits. It's downplayed, in that while he's very much stuck in Davy Jones' Locker forever, he at least isn't there alone, having reunited (and enjoying a much friendlier feud) with his eternal rival Plankton. By the end of Finite, Squilliam may have died an Undignified Death but goes down in history as a beloved Renaissance Man, with all his negative qualities forgotten. But he suffers this in the epilogue of the sequel fic Nothing Lasts Forever, as not only has he been sent to Davy Jones' locker to suffer eternal Training from Hell, but his legacy in the land of the living is also starting to get tarnished as scandals about his past affairs come to light, with the narration stating this might encourage more people he has crossed in life to publicly speak out about his Jerkass, Smug Snake behavior and debauchery, which ultimately renders him trumping Squidward in their feud rather hollow.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_599f943f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_599f943f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_599f943f
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5c5ac0e2
type
Really 700 Years Old
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5c5ac0e2
comment
Really 700 Years Old: Mr. Krabs is ultimately revealed to be around four centuries old, and has stayed alive after discovering the fabled Fountain of Youth (which somehow exists at the bottom of the ocean, but that's nothing unusual for this show), which he visits once every year in order to rejuvenate himself. The cover story he gives Squidward and SpongeBob each time before embarking on his perilous quest is that he's going to a fast-food convention in New Kelp City. Squidward knows his boss isn't being truthful but he doesn't press on.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5c5ac0e2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5c5ac0e2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5c5ac0e2
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5ce7dbb9
type
Central Theme
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5ce7dbb9
comment
Central Theme: The first two stories explore the complexities of how determination can affect the characters' lives and being in various ways, both subtle and overt, and how the end result can be worthwhile or utterly pointless depending on the reasoning and mindset behind said determination. Tellingly, mindsets driven by envy and jealousy are portrayed in a much more negative light. In Squidward's case, his determination is framed as ultimately detrimental, by showing how his one-sided feud with Squilliam was utterly pointless and fruitless due to the sheer gap in talent, skill, and money between the two, and Squidward's own inability to reflect on his flaws for the longest time. In Plankton's case, it's presented as being simultaneously the only reason he's been able and willing to keep going for so long despite years of failure, but it is also framed as being the reason his life is nothing but miserable failure, as his inability to self-reflect and just realize the pointlessness of trying to repeatedly steal the Krabby Patty Formula has left his life and his marriage in shambles. The former especially quite literally, once his synthetic body gives up the ghost and he dies. Sandy's determination in her backstory and present are presented more positively, as her willingness to fight against the odds coupled together with her smart investments and good use of her skills and intelligence enabled her to achieve her dreams. It's only portrayed more detrimentally when she also acknowledges that her daredevil tendencies ultimately burned out her body, thus leaving her unable to enjoy her favorite hobbies as much as she used to. There is also a theme underlying all of the stories of how nothing lasts forever. Squidward and Sandy are no longer the younger adults they used to be, with their bodies slowly giving out on them due to age and old injuries. Bikini Bottom is noted as being a shell of what it used to be, with many of the old regulars and background characters having long since had grandchildren or died. Even Squilliam has kicked the bucket before Squidward, putting an end to their one-sided rivalry and leaving Squidward to live the last years of his life after moving on. And the final story, the aptly named Nothing Lasts Forever has Mr. Krabs meeting his demise as his prolonged life is finally reaching an end. In a more positive version of this however, it turns out this also applies to good reputations hiding scandalous histories, as Squilliam's checkered past and numerous horrible deeds end up being revealed after his death, much to the amusement of Squidward.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5ce7dbb9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5ce7dbb9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_5ce7dbb9
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6375f746
type
Drill Sergeant Nasty
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6375f746
comment
Drill Sergeant Nasty: The Flying Dutchman serves this role for all those who are sentenced to Davy Jones's locker.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6375f746
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6375f746
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6375f746
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63b12059
type
Villainous Friendship
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63b12059
comment
Mutual example. Once they get reunited in Davy Jones’s locker, Plankton is seen ranting to Krabs about how the latter ruined his whole life without a shred of guilt (due to the Krabby Patty formula being sham) just to fill his pockets, before promptly laughing and commending his old rival for being Eviler than Thou, and two patch things up as Vitriolic Best Buds.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63b12059
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63b12059
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63b12059
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63d861f8
type
Even Evil Has Loved Ones
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63d861f8
comment
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: As his backstory shows, Mr. Krabs was anything but a good person, but he did genuinely love his adopted mother Betsy and adopted daughter Pearl, and saw SpongeBob as the son he never had (and truly regrets not having been a better father figure to him in life) and Squidward as a friend (despite them rarely seeing eye to eye). He also regrets his fallout with his old best friend Plankton and how he strung the latter along for years in order to market his brand (using Plankton’s many failed attempts at stealing his non-existent Krabby Patty formula to further boost its mystique).
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63d861f8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63d861f8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_63d861f8
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_64308b2a
type
Scare the Dog
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_64308b2a
comment
Scare the Dog: In "Finite", Mr. Krabs does this to a lionfish (like the one from "Spongicus") that is blocking his path to the Fountain of Youth by roaring back at it, and the beast swims away meowing like a kitten.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_64308b2a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_64308b2a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_64308b2a
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6b05b601
type
Jerkass Has a Point
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6b05b601
comment
Jerkass Has a Point: Squilliam was a Smug Snake Jerk With A Heart Of Jerk Rich Bastard for sure, but during his last encounter with Squidward at the former's birthday party in 2017, where Squidward was forced to cater as part of Mr. Krabs' "Krusty Katering" operation, Squilliam rubbed his success in his long-time rival's nose one last time, while also giving him a passive-aggressive dressing down which nonetheless, made Squidward realize that his obsessive quest to beat Squilliam, despite the latter always having had a massive and unfair advantage that Squidward could do nothing about, had ultimately led to nothing but pain and humiliation and Squidward's refusal to admit defeat and move on only needlessly prolonged their rivalry and caused him much more anguish while offering Squilliam continued free entertainment.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6b05b601
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6b05b601
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6b05b601
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6bda9a30
type
Meaningful Name
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: Or rather, meaningful original name. Squilliam was originally called Otto Mantelmeyer, taking on his Stage Name in order to sound more classy. Otto Mantelmeyer is both this and a Punny Name referring to the Ottoman Empire, his rise to prosperity and fame mirroring the Empire's golden age, while his eventual death and the reveal of the scandals and horrible things he did while famous signaling the end of his benevolent image.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6bda9a30
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6bda9a30
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6bda9a30
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6e0a57d6
type
Like an Old Married Couple
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6e0a57d6
comment
Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are shown to be together in this universe’s equivalent of heaven, still bickering Like an Old Married Couple, though MM is now free of his dementia and just acts out to mess with his grouchy sidekick
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6e0a57d6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6e0a57d6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_6e0a57d6
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7142b38a
type
The Grim Reaper
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7142b38a
comment
The Grim Reaper: Like in "Born Again Krabs", the Flying Dutchman plays this role in the third story and aims to take Krabs to Davy Jones's locker for the latter's many past sins.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7142b38a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7142b38a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7142b38a
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_72e54916
type
Retired Monster
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_72e54916
comment
Retired Monster: Compared to his past crimes (like piracy, land theft, and even murder), Mr. Krabs’s modern occupation as a Bad Boss restaurant proprietor and grifter makes him pretty benign by comparison. Even his occasional law-breaking tends to hurt him and his employees more than anyone else.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_72e54916
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_72e54916
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_72e54916
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_75f626a5
type
Nostalgia Filter
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_75f626a5
comment
Nostalgia Filter: Norm (Nat's son), one of the Krusty Krab current regulars, knew SpongeBob from back when he was a little kid, and because the latter was an eccentric Friend to All Children, Norm and his peers saw the jolly and eccentric Mr. Squarepants as very cool. But now as an adult, SpongeBob's Manchild antics come across as weird and more than a little creepy to Norm, and he makes a mental note to find a new diner to take his wife and kids to in the future.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_75f626a5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_75f626a5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_75f626a5
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_762b9223
type
Played for Laughs
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_762b9223
comment
Played for Laughs during Mr. Krabs's backstory. During his salad days as “Thrifty Jack”, they apparently had things such as ship plumbing, bubble gum, and canned spray (meant to repel sea monsters).
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_762b9223
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_762b9223
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_762b9223
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_78255ad7
type
Passing the Torch
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_78255ad7
comment
Squidward also gets one after suffering in quiet misery for the past two stories. Upon Mr. Krabs' passing, he becomes the boss of the Krusty Krab for the rest of his days, resolving to be a better boss than Eugene ever was. He's also finally able to speak with SpongeBob and Sandy on equal terms, the former having finally matured enough to act like an adult (while still retaining his cheerful personality) and Squidward having formed a strong mutual respect for the latter. To add the cherry on top, Squilliam's scandals and past behavior have been recently brought to light, ensuring that his reputation is raked over the coals.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_78255ad7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_78255ad7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_78255ad7
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7842867
type
Vengeance Feels Empty
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7842867
comment
Vengeance Feels Empty: Squidward can't find any real joy in Squilliam's passing, despite hating his guts, which vexes him to no end. After some soul-searching and his conversation with Sandy, he starts to understand why.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7842867
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7842867
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7842867
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7a1856ba
type
I Reject Your Reality
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7a1856ba
comment
I Reject Your Reality: This is implied to be Spongebob's attitude towards the realities of life around him. He is still the perpetual Manchild that he was when he was in his 20s, generally blissfully ignoring the ravages of time and how it's taking away the people he cares for (Gary, Uncle Blue). This ends up being taken to the extreme in Nothing Lasts Forever, as despite seeing Plankton literally die in front of him back in Finite, he still acts like Plankton is alive and up to his old schemes, which vexes Squidward. But once they learn that Mr. Krabs is finally dying and that there’s nothing they can do to stop it, SpongeBob breaks down in tears and reveals that he’s known all along how all of his loved ones have passed away and he’s been in willful denial for years as a coping mechanism.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7a1856ba
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7a1856ba
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7a1856ba
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7ac5c1de
type
Unishment
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7ac5c1de
comment
In a more darkly amusing turn, Mr. Krabs and Plankton are all down in Davy Jones' Locker, being forced to exercise for the rest of eternity for their crimes alive. However, Mr. Krabs and Plankton end up not entirely minding the situation, given that they've continued their rivalry even down there, eagerly trying to outpace each other in their torment (much to the impressed Dutchman's amusement) and have at least made peace on Krabs basically stringing Plankton along with the Krabby Patty Formula for so many years.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7ac5c1de
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7ac5c1de
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7ac5c1de
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7c82a67c
type
Snooty Haute Cuisine
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7c82a67c
comment
Snooty Haute Cuisine: During Squilliam's birthday party in 2017, the waiters are stated to serve caviar and shrimp, which a shrimp waiter takes note of.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7c82a67c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7c82a67c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7c82a67c
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7f080f98
type
Vague Age
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7f080f98
comment
Vague Age: Averted. SpongeBob and Patrick are confirmed to be 43 years old in the present (2020), Sandy is 46, and Squidward is 59 (with his 60th birthday right around the corner), with Squilliam being the same age as his former classmate. This would mean that at the start of the series (1999), they were 22, 25, and 38/39 respectively. The same ages apply in A Dash of Logic, another fic by the author.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7f080f98
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7f080f98
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_7f080f98
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8042e814
type
Actually Pretty Funny
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8042e814
comment
Actually Pretty Funny: Squidward laughs when some of Squilliam's past scandals (such as dating underage girls) finally come to light, souring his reputation.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8042e814
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8042e814
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8042e814
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_820ac351
type
It Amused Me
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_820ac351
comment
Very downplayed. Squilliam admitted that he admired Squidward's moxie, as he was Squilliam's only rival who kept coming back and kept trying to one-up him, despite being at a massive disadvantage, something many other more powerful and successful rivals of his never did. But that means little in the end, as Squidward's unflinching determination only encouraged Squilliam to continue to seek him out for the sole purpose of bullying and humiliating him, which only prolonged their rivalry and caused Squidward a lot more misery. It's the final nail in the coffin that made Squidward start to realize that he was the architect of his own misery in this very one-sided rivalry.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_820ac351
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_820ac351
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_820ac351
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_85ca9dab
type
Second Love
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_85ca9dab
comment
Karen moves on from Plankton and comes to live with her much more loving new husband, Spongebob, even if she is a bit bemused at him still worshiping Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_85ca9dab
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_85ca9dab
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_85ca9dab
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_868409c
type
Broken Pedestal
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_868409c
comment
Squilliam however, is not taking his death so well. On top of his earthly reputation being slowly destroyed by his years of scandals being unearthed, he is utterly miserable in Davy Jones' Locker and begging to know why he's down here, claiming that he had so much of his life left to live. The Flying Dutchman laughs in his face by pointing out that he's been guaranteed a spot down here ever since he was actually 35, and he's done nothing but do awful things afterwards. This is just karma for him thinking he'd get away with it.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_868409c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_868409c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_868409c
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8797239c
type
Bait-and-Switch
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8797239c
comment
Bait-and-Switch: During the cruise scene at the end of “Nothing Lasts Forever” SpongeBob takes a moment to tell Sandy something very important, as if he’s going to make a Love Confession…but instead, he reveals that he knew all along about Sandy growing weaker with age and getting gray hairs, before adding that he doesn’t think any less of her because of it.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8797239c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8797239c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8797239c
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_87bb6874
type
Villain with Good Publicity
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_87bb6874
comment
Villain with Good Publicity: A large part of what drove Squidward's feelings of anger and envy towards Squilliam is that he was very much this. Recognized as a brilliant man with many achievements during his life meant that Squilliam's many terrible qualities were brushed aside, seemingly ensuring that he'd remain untouchable for all of history, with only Squidward and the others tormented and silenced by Squilliam knowing and caring about his true character. This becomes subverted after Squilliam's death however, with the truth about his past scandals and evil acts rising up to tarnish his once stellar reputation, much to Squidward's quiet satisfaction. A complicated case with Mr. Krabs. In parallel to Squilliam, Mr. Krabs at first only gives the impression of being an skinflint restaurant proprieter who treats his employees badly, but otherwise sells excellent food. His actual backstory however reveals he was not only a pirate, but was also a colonizer and murderer in the pursuit of wealth for centuries. It's downplayed by the simple fact that unlike Squilliam, Mr. Krabs did genuinely come to regret some of his past behavior, especially how poorly he treated his employees, and ultimately passes on to Davy Jones' Locker with some measure of dignity, with the truth about who he is being revealed at his funeral, the good, the bad and everything in between.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_87bb6874
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_87bb6874
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_87bb6874
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8b67aba7
type
Cerebus Retcon
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8b67aba7
comment
Cerebus Retcon: The first fic explains why Squidward’s moments of kindness towards SpongeBob seemingly ceased after the third season. Early on, despite his annoyance, Squidward sincerely thought that SpongeBob was just a youngster acting out and would mature over time, only to later realize that this wasn’t the case; SpongeBob was just a delusional Manchild who would never change and/or improve himself. Fortunately, SpongeBob does finally grow and mature at the end of "Nothing Lasts Forever".
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8b67aba7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8b67aba7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8b67aba7
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8cb1a369
type
Took a Level in Jerkass
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8cb1a369
comment
Took a Level in Jerkass: Sandy notices that Bikini Bottom as a whole seems to have become more unpleasant over the years, with the newer generation of citizens, in general, being more greedy, unpleasant, ornery, and judgmental, and the discrimination Sandy's been subjected to only got worse over the years.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8cb1a369
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8cb1a369
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8cb1a369
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8dd4a996
type
Identical Grandson
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8dd4a996
comment
Identical Grandson: Many of the local townsfolk like Fred, Nat, and Sadie have been succeeded by their identical-looking children and/or grandchildren, explaining why the recurring fish characters seemingly didn't age, and why they Took a Level in Jerkass, with some of their children being shown to be far more selfish, ornery and/or judgmental than their predecessors, as seen with Sadie's daughter.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8dd4a996
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8dd4a996
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_8dd4a996
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9141fba3
type
Fountain of Youth
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9141fba3
comment
Mr. Krabs almost gets subjected to this after the Flying Dutchman comes for his soul now that his Fountain of Youth has dried up, but due to The Dutchman having a combination of pity for Spongebob's denial of death and Squidward noting that things weren't going anywhere so long as the former keeps trying to save Mr. Krabs, he agrees to allow Mr. Krabs time to properly settle his affairs, on the absolute condition that Mr. Krabs will be dead in a month. Ultimately, Mr. Krabs ends up facing his death with some level of dignity and comfort.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9141fba3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9141fba3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9141fba3
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_954ad71c
type
Evil Colonialist
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_954ad71c
comment
Evil Colonialist: Between his time as a cutthroat pirate captain and his modern occupation as a Corrupt Corporate Executive, Mr. Krabs spent decades being this, including driving indigenous people and wildlife from their homes and grave-robbing ancient temples.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_954ad71c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_954ad71c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_954ad71c
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9591377d
type
Heel Realization
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9591377d
comment
Squidward is still stuck in his dead-end job as a cashier, all of his hopes and dreams long since shattered and crushed, while his rival Squilliam Fancyson has attained all of the glory and achievements that he was never able to accomplish. To make things worse for him, he's long since come to the realization that much of his misery was his own fault for constantly trying to fight against Squilliam, instead of calling it quits while he still had a full life ahead of him. It's again downplayed, as his realization has caused him to reevaluate his life, and he has considerably mellowed out and gained wisdom compared to his younger years.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9591377d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9591377d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9591377d
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_98576799
type
Throw the Dog a Bone
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_98576799
comment
Throw the Dog a Bone: After abusing both of his employees for so long, Mr. Krabs ends up feeling remorse for his cruelty (among other things) near the end of his life, acknowledging his fondness for SpongeBob and Squidward by giving them (and Patrick and Sandy) an all-expenses paid vacation cruise, choosing to spend his last days of life among his friends. Squidward also gets one after suffering in quiet misery for the past two stories. Upon Mr. Krabs' passing, he becomes the boss of the Krusty Krab for the rest of his days, resolving to be a better boss than Eugene ever was. He's also finally able to speak with SpongeBob and Sandy on equal terms, the former having finally matured enough to act like an adult (while still retaining his cheerful personality) and Squidward having formed a strong mutual respect for the latter. To add the cherry on top, Squilliam's scandals and past behavior have been recently brought to light, ensuring that his reputation is raked over the coals.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_98576799
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_98576799
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_98576799
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_99dfd4fc
type
Nothing Is the Same Anymore
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_99dfd4fc
comment
Nothing Is the Same Anymore: While the first story's focus is on how stagnant things have become, the sequels are the exact opposite, having dramatic changes that completely shakes up the status quo: In Finite, Squilliam ends up dying from a heart attack, causing Squidward to have to come to terms with his complicated relation with his Rich Bastard of a rival, his own wasted years trying to one up the man, and also surprisingly finding common ground with Sandy Cheeks on their history. Oh, and Plankton also dies due to his synthetic body failing. In Nothing Lasts Forever, Mr. Krabs is revealed to have been keeping himself alive through a Fountain of Youth...except the fountain in question has dried up, and his own death is coming soon. Spongebob is forced to face reality that he had been avoiding for years, which leads to a series of talks that result in Squidward, Spongebob, and Mr. Krabs patching things up. Squidward becomes the boss of the Krusty Krab, now finally able to be proper adult friends with Spongebob and Sandy, while the rest of Bikini Bottom begins to change slightly in the wake of Mr. Krabs' death, mostly for the better.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_99dfd4fc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_99dfd4fc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_99dfd4fc
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9afa05c7
type
Family-Unfriendly Death
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9afa05c7
comment
Plankton also goes out on a whimper in chapter 3, after his synthetic body starts to deteriorate. He only has enough time to say how he regrets "everything" before withering and crumbling to dust.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9afa05c7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9afa05c7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9afa05c7
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9c23f3a0
type
Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and Yeti
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9c23f3a0
comment
Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and Yeti: On his final journey to the Fountain of Youth, Mr. Krabs battles a trio of yeti crabs while crossing a frigid mountain range, all while speaking with Squidward over the phone, informing him that he'll be away for one more day. He manages to push one off a cliff and slays the other two with his sword, and turns them into a fur coat which he wears for insulation during the remainder of his journey.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9c23f3a0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9c23f3a0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9c23f3a0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9cbf01d6
type
Stay in the Kitchen
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9cbf01d6
comment
Stay in the Kitchen: Sandy reveals to Squidward that her parents (who are very old-fashioned) cared little about her many academic and athletic achievements or her ambitions to be a career-woman, and instead pressured her to settle down with a guy and make them a lot of grandkids. But Sandy said, "Nuts to that!" and continued pursuing her dream anyway, eventually becoming a senior scientist at Tree Dome Enterprise Limited. Squidward gains a newfound admiration for her, as she succeeded at what he failed to do (accomplish her dream despite all odds), and the two further bond over both having unsupportive parents, as Squidward's mother never supported his dreams either.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9cbf01d6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9cbf01d6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9cbf01d6
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9dab0a6e
type
Continuity Nod
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9dab0a6e
comment
Continuity Nod: The Krusty Krab II from the first movie gets brought up by SpongeBob while Mr. Krabs is trying to deliver the bad news to the former and Squidward, getting a Hand Wave as a failed business venture to expand the Krusty Krab brand.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9dab0a6e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9dab0a6e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_9dab0a6e
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a8adc5a0
type
Like a Son to Me
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a8adc5a0
comment
Like a Son to Me: Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob that he views him as the son he never had after being given an extra month to live by the Flying Dutchman.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a8adc5a0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a8adc5a0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a8adc5a0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a977e7bc
type
SelfMadeWoman
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a977e7bc
comment
Self-Made Woman: Sandy rose to become a high-ranking scientist at Tree Dome Enterprises over the years and entirely on her own, without anyone's assistance and despite her parents not caring much for her ambitions. Squidward grows to admire her for it.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a977e7bc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a977e7bc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_a977e7bc
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aabe2fb
type
Deliberate Values Dissonance
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aabe2fb
comment
Deliberate Values Dissonance: At the end of “Nothing Lasts Forever”, even in his dying days, Krabs still candidly expresses sexist and bigoted views while talking to Sandy, who is understandably frustrated by it but lets it slide for SpongeBob’s sake and because she now knows that Krabs’s backward beliefs stem from the fact that he’s 410 years old.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aabe2fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aabe2fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aabe2fb
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: As usual Squidward lives and breathes this trope... even in his old age.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae3d6438
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae50ca8f
type
Stage Names
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae50ca8f
comment
Stage Names: Squidward reveals to Sandy that Squilliam's real name was Otto Mantelmeyer and that he hadn't publicly used it since the '70s, upon the suggestion of the talent agent whose eye he caught after winning a high school talent show during his sophomore year, which kicked off his career. And he wasn't a "third" either, as his father's name was Thaddeus (a reference to Squidward's German dub name).
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae50ca8f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae50ca8f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ae50ca8f
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aed65980
type
All for Nothing
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aed65980
comment
All for Nothing: Squidward's attempts to defeat his rival Squilliam end up being worth nothing in the end, as he's still ultimately a lowly cashier with only brief flashes of glory and remembered by most as an unpleasant loser and grouch, while Squilliam would go down in history as a Renaissance Man with fame, glory, society forever remembering him for his accomplishments, and all of his negative qualities swept under the rug. What's worse is Squidward realized this far too late in his life, and how much his own ego, envy and jealousy clouded his judgment on the matter until he could no longer change his path. Plankton's ultimate goal of stealing the Krabby Patty Secret Formula is rendered fruitless without him even knowing because the Formula was invented as part of a marketing campaign by Mr. Krabs in order to give his food a mystical quality without actually making the burgers special. It's only further amplified when after yet another failed attempt, Plankton ends up dead from his body degrading due to bugs in his experiments, leaving him a complete failure to the end.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aed65980
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aed65980
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_aed65980
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b0855ef3
type
No Historical Figures Were Harmed
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b0855ef3
comment
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Julio Pez de León, the conquistador captain that helped Krabs discover the Fountain of Youth, is basically a fish version of Juan Ponce de León, albeit much nicer and much more gullible (which costs him his life).
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b0855ef3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b0855ef3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b0855ef3
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b43dfc8d
type
Your Days Are Numbered
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b43dfc8d
comment
Your Days Are Numbered: Following his departure in the first story, in Nothing Lasts Forever, Mr. Krabs returns to Bikini Bottom looking noticeably paler and weaker and tries to break some very bad news to his two employees, struggling to find the right way to tell them until the Flying Dutchman crashes the party to collect Krabs’s soul, gleefully revealing that Krabs has finally wrung the Fountain of Youth dry with his annual visits to it (which have been going on for three centuries) and can no longer prolong his lifespan.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b43dfc8d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b43dfc8d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b43dfc8d
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b77808f2
type
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b77808f2
comment
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: How “Nothing Lasts Forever” ends; Sandy remains a senior scientist at Tree Dome Enterprises (though no longer trying to hide her age), Squidward is the new owner of the Krusty Krab with a more mature SpongeBob still working as the fry cook, Patrick has completely turned his life around and become a hard-working accountant, Pearl opened up her own boutique, Larry retired from bodybuilding and went back to managing Larry’s Gym, Karen has entered a relationship with SpongeBob and turned the Chum Bucket into a computer shop, Mrs. Puff retired to Florida but went M.I.A, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are together and still bickering in heaven, and Mr. Krabs, Plankton, Squilliam, and Old Man Jenkins have to endure eternal workout in Davy Jones’s locker with the Flying Dutchman as their instructor/drill sergeant.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b77808f2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b77808f2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b77808f2
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b7b1aa73
type
And Then What?
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b7b1aa73
comment
Plankton is still doggedly trying to get the Krabby Patty Formula, but it's noted that it stems less from any true satisfaction at doing so, and more due to Plankton having no idea or willingness to do anything different. His marriage is also in shambles and his life is basically defined by his sole fixation. At least until his synthetic body finally gives out and he dies in front of Squidward, Sandy, and Spongebob.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b7b1aa73
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b7b1aa73
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b7b1aa73
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b8dbbc07
type
Ink-Suit Actor
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b8dbbc07
comment
Ink-Suit Actor: Downplayed. Once Spongebob starts to accept the realism and ugliness of reality when Mr. Krabs' upcoming death is a finality, he switches to wearing glasses and stops talking in a high-pitched tone, making him resemble his voice actor, Tom Kenny.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b8dbbc07
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b8dbbc07
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_b8dbbc07
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbc77bb5
type
Hard Truth Aesop
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbc77bb5
comment
Hard Truth Aesop: Know when to quit. Being The Determinator won't help you in the long run if you fail to make any real progress with your goals after years and years of trying. Continuing to barrel onward will only cause you grief and misery, and your own passion and hobbies will become corrupted into a poison that will galvanize you from the inside. Society and life itself won't cut you slack just because you're the put-upon little guy. There’s a fine line between optimism and denying reality. Having a fixed belief that you’ll somehow do better next time, even if each “next time” results in the same failure, or that you can keep doing something by just believing in yourself even if you have some debilitating problem that keeps you from continuing on (like being a dancer while your physical skills are naturally deteriorating with advanced age), will get you nowhere at best and will leave you stuck in a vicious cycle that is guaranteed to cause you needless misery at worst. Don't obsess about trying to one-up someone. Especially if you're the underdog and they are a highly successful and influential Rich Bastard celebrity with a penchant for bullying those less successful than them. Underdogs Never Lose isn't reflective of reality.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbc77bb5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbc77bb5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbc77bb5
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbf11c0
type
Genius Bruiser
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbf11c0
comment
Sandy's determination in her backstory and present are presented more positively, as her willingness to fight against the odds coupled together with her smart investments and good use of her skills and intelligence enabled her to achieve her dreams. It's only portrayed more detrimentally when she also acknowledges that her daredevil tendencies ultimately burned out her body, thus leaving her unable to enjoy her favorite hobbies as much as she used to.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbf11c0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbf11c0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_bbf11c0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_be30e493
type
Undignified Death
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_be30e493
comment
Undignified Death: Squilliam dies from a heart attack while sitting on a toilet on his 60th birthday (though he claimed it was his 35th and the media reports it as such). Plankton also goes out on a whimper in chapter 3, after his synthetic body starts to deteriorate. He only has enough time to say how he regrets "everything" before withering and crumbling to dust. Mr. Krabs almost gets subjected to this after the Flying Dutchman comes for his soul now that his Fountain of Youth has dried up, but due to The Dutchman having a combination of pity for Spongebob's denial of death and Squidward noting that things weren't going anywhere so long as the former keeps trying to save Mr. Krabs, he agrees to allow Mr. Krabs time to properly settle his affairs, on the absolute condition that Mr. Krabs will be dead in a month. Ultimately, Mr. Krabs ends up facing his death with some level of dignity and comfort.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_be30e493
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_be30e493
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_be30e493
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c2afffe
type
Take Me Instead
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c2afffe
comment
Take Me Instead: In Nothing Lasts Forever, SpongeBob tries offering himself in exchange for the Flying Dutchman sparing Mr. Krabs. His offer immediately gets shot down, because SpongeBob is too wholesome to go to Davy Jones’s locker, and the Flying Dutchman considers SpongeBob's Annoying Laugh and nonstop chatting a Fate Worse than Death that not even the most wicked of souls deserve to be subjected to.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c2afffe
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c2afffe
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c2afffe
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b51bb3
type
You Are Better Than You Think You Are
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b51bb3
comment
You Are Better Than You Think You Are: What Sandy tells Squidward during their heart-to-heart conversation, telling him that while he might not have found success, at least he's strong enough to admit his own shortcomings and own up to them, unlike Squilliam. Sandy is of the opinion that "strength of character" is much more admirable than having fame and money. Squidward takes it to heart and echoes her words while visiting Squilliam's grave.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b51bb3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b51bb3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b51bb3
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b760ed
type
ZigZaggedTrope
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b760ed
comment
A complicated case with Mr. Krabs. In parallel to Squilliam, Mr. Krabs at first only gives the impression of being an skinflint restaurant proprieter who treats his employees badly, but otherwise sells excellent food. His actual backstory however reveals he was not only a pirate, but was also a colonizer and murderer in the pursuit of wealth for centuries. It's downplayed by the simple fact that unlike Squilliam, Mr. Krabs did genuinely come to regret some of his past behavior, especially how poorly he treated his employees, and ultimately passes on to Davy Jones' Locker with some measure of dignity, with the truth about who he is being revealed at his funeral, the good, the bad and everything in between.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b760ed
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b760ed
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c3b760ed
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c4db6423
type
Yank the Dog's Chain
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c4db6423
comment
Mrs. Puff retires due to no longer having to deal with Spongebob's terrible driving and Mr. Krabs' passing...only to end up missing due to implied foul play.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c4db6423
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c4db6423
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c4db6423
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c772e7c5
type
Rags to Riches
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c772e7c5
comment
Rags to Riches: Squilliam started off as middle class, much like Squidward, but eventually rose to unfathomable fame and riches after being discovered during a high school talent show. It explains why he and Squidward went to the same public school during their teen years. Zigzagged with Mr. Krabs, as it’s shown that over his 400-year lifespan, he struck it rich several times but lost his past fortunes due to his many other money-making schemes going south, and in 1950, he accidentally turned himself into a baby and thus couldn’t lay claim to any money he had left at the time, and ended up being adopted by Betsy during an economic depression, leading to a second childhood spent in squalor (until he invented the Krabby Patty).
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c772e7c5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c772e7c5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c772e7c5
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c9e5a0db
type
Legacy Character
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c9e5a0db
comment
Legacy Character: In-universe example. Since snails are the underwater equivalent of cats, they share the same short lifespan, and the first conversation between Squidward and Sandy reveals that "Gary" was in fact multiple different snails that all eventually died and got replaced by a new one by SpongeBob's friends and family without the former’s knowledge, with Sandy insisting that he still isn't ready to face the topic of death, despite being middle-aged now, and enters the story bringing the newest "Gary" to SpongeBob after making him think that his pet went on another vacation to Uncle Blue's farm (despite the latter also being deceased). Squidward is the one burdened with the task of burying all the previous Garys and tells Sandy that he won't do it again, while also chastising her for enabling SpongeBob to continue to live in his delusional bubble. It turns out that Spongebob was aware of this all along, but was so deep in denial about the truth of his loved ones dying that he chose to pretend things were fine as a coping mechanism. Squidward is unamused about having to bury dead snails in secret for the past twenty years for nothing.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c9e5a0db
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c9e5a0db
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_c9e5a0db
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d66cd0e6
type
Training from Hell
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d66cd0e6
comment
Training from Hell: What eternal punishment in the SpongeBob universe is, as those taken to Davy Jones' locker are subjected to hellish workout forever, with the Flying Dutchman as their hardass instructor. Krabs and Plankton take it in strides, being more concerned about besting each other as Vitriolic Best Buds, but the pampered Rich Bastard Squilliam Fancyson does not.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d66cd0e6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d66cd0e6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d66cd0e6
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d7fc9fd0
type
Vitriolic Best Buds
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d7fc9fd0
comment
Krabs and Plankton share the same workout room in Davy Jones’s locker and have seemingly buried the hatchet, now acting like Vitriolic Best Buds trying to best each other, with a whining and sorrowful Squilliam sharing their room.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d7fc9fd0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d7fc9fd0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d7fc9fd0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d959f4db
type
Immortality Seeker
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d959f4db
comment
Immortality Seeker: Besides Mr. Krab using the Fountain of Youth to cheat death, his Arch-Enemy Plankton has also been trying to extend his lifespan by transferring his consciousness into a synthetic body. Unfortunately for him, he hasn't perfected it and it starts to break down immediately after he gets caught by Squidward, SpongeBob, and Sandy trying to steal the Krabby Patty formula for the umpteenth time, resulting in his gruesome death.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d959f4db
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d959f4db
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_d959f4db
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_de444805
type
The Character Died with Him
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_de444805
comment
invokedMermaid Man died almost a decade ago (implied to have been 2012, the same year his voice actor died) and Barnacle Boy passed shortly after, thus explaining their Chuck Cunningham Syndrome. SpongeBob remains completely oblivious about their passing and has been told by the caretakers at Shady Shoals that the two old superheroes simply moved away to a different retirement home but nobody wrote down the address. None of SpongeBob's friends seem to have the heart to tell him the truth either.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_de444805
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_de444805
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_de444805
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e0113647
type
Decon-Recon Switch
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e0113647
comment
Decon-Recon Switch: Despite the more realistic take on the show's setting, Squidward has grown much wiser, being overall more adaptive to his situations compared to his prior obstinate stubbornness. When dealing with Patrick, who broke into his home and pigged out on his food, he instead deftly outmaneuvers him into falling asleep, thus ensuring he can't get in the way. His Heel Realization on how he's wasted his life also pushes him to finally drop his fixation on his past mistakes, choosing to try to live the rest of his remaining life with some degree of joy in his hobbies instead of drowning in envy and depression at his circumstances. Finally, Sandy ends up pointing out to him that for all of his failings compared to Squilliam, the one thing he does have is integrity and the ability to (belatedly) admit his own faults, something that a egotistical narcissist like Squilliam would have never done, thus allowing Squidward to come to terms with his life and finally move on.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e0113647
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e0113647
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e0113647
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e150c4c7
type
Manchild
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e150c4c7
comment
Manchild: SpongeBob has the demeanor of a child even into his forties. Sandy and Squidward don't even feel he's emotionally mature enough to face the concept of death. He finally faces reality and shows a degree of maturity in Nothing Lasts Forever. Pearl and her friends from high school are in their 30s now but still act like ditzy, responsibility-shirking teenagers. At the end, when Pearl opens up her own boutique and employs her friends, SpongeBob has to stop by and give them pointers so they won’t go out of business immediately due to chatting on the phone more than attending to customers.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e150c4c7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e150c4c7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e150c4c7
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e16cd24e
type
Know When to Fold 'Em
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e16cd24e
comment
Know When to Fold 'Em: Defied by Squidward for decades, both in his rivalry with Squilliam and in his personal quest for glory, and he ultimately realizes that this attitude of his has caused him so much pain and made him squander his life. He only finally relents in Finite, after Squilliam has already died, and explains to his grave how he is deciding to let go of their rivalry for the rest of his life. After spending so much of his life evading Davy Jones' locker and the Flying Dutchman, Krabs has finally accepted that he cannot evade his own death any longer, and (after a bit of finagling on Squidward and Spongebob's part), decides to spend his last month of life getting his affairs in order and actually deciding not to be a cheapskate for once in his life, by giving his employees a proper cruise vacation.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e16cd24e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e16cd24e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e16cd24e
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e2d457
type
The Ditz
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e2d457
comment
Invoked and averted with Mr. Krabs and his original crew, as they were full-fledged cutthroat corsairs who robbed other ships and are outright shown to have caused death and destruction during their pillaging. SpongeBob is shocked to learn this, as he always thought pirates were merely treasure-hunting adventurers sailing the high seas.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e2d457
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e2d457
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e2d457
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e5fd8bc2
type
Hate Sink
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e5fd8bc2
comment
Hate Sink: Squilliam only appears for one (albeit lengthy) flashback scene, but he milks it for all it's worth and makes sure to remind us just what a massive dick he was in life.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e5fd8bc2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e5fd8bc2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e5fd8bc2
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e6b8db89
type
Deconstruction Fic
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e6b8db89
comment
Deconstruction Fic: Both stories deconstruct the SpongeBob canon in a meta sense, highlighting just what would really happen if the perpetual yet bizarrely inconsistent nature of the series were applied to the characters for real, and how it would affect them: The town of Bikini Bottom never undergoing any significant changes or growth has resulted in the world seeming even more bleak for many of its citizens. The children of the citizens from early episodes are noted as being crueler, meaner, and more stupid than their predecessors, contributing to the feeling of decay and stagnation in the once lively town. Squidward is still stuck in his dead-end job as a cashier, all of his hopes and dreams long since shattered and crushed, while his rival Squilliam Fancyson has attained all of the glory and achievements that he was never able to accomplish. To make things worse for him, he's long since come to the realization that much of his misery was his own fault for constantly trying to fight against Squilliam, instead of calling it quits while he still had a full life ahead of him. It's again downplayed, as his realization has caused him to reevaluate his life, and he has considerably mellowed out and gained wisdom compared to his younger years. SpongeBob's happy-go-lucky behavior is noted as being less than endearing at 40+ years old compared to being in his 20s. Instead of being seen as a cool eccentric, he's now seen as a complete Manchild in denial of the darker aspects of his reality, still stuck in a dead-end job and being mistaken for something worse than he actually is. To make matters worse, his friends have been keeping him blissfully unaware of the passage of time and the hard reality of death by replacing his snail Gary with numerous successors after the original died, something that Squidward notes can't last forever. It's downplayed somewhat, in that SpongeBob himself is still a genuinely happy person, and it's plainly clear that he loves his job, so in a sense, according to Squidward, he is still a "winner". Plankton is still doggedly trying to get the Krabby Patty Formula, but it's noted that it stems less from any true satisfaction at doing so, and more due to Plankton having no idea or willingness to do anything different. His marriage is also in shambles and his life is basically defined by his sole fixation. At least until his synthetic body finally gives out and he dies in front of Squidward, Sandy, and Spongebob. Despite being a highly successful career woman and scientist who's also achieved her dreams, Sandy admits that her daredevil tendencies have completely burned out her body, making her unable to enjoy her old hobbies as much as she used to anymore.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e6b8db89
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e6b8db89
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_e6b8db89
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_eb8ec7c8
type
Jerkass
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_eb8ec7c8
comment
The town of Bikini Bottom never undergoing any significant changes or growth has resulted in the world seeming even more bleak for many of its citizens. The children of the citizens from early episodes are noted as being crueler, meaner, and more stupid than their predecessors, contributing to the feeling of decay and stagnation in the once lively town.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_eb8ec7c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_eb8ec7c8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_eb8ec7c8
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ed371675
type
Til Murder Do Us Part
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ed371675
comment
Til Murder Do Us Part: The epilogue of “Nothing Lasts Forever” heavily implies that Karen did hear Plankton pleading to be let inside the Chum Bucket as his synthetic body was falling apart in “Finite” but chose not to unlock the door, so she could finally be free of her unhappy marriage.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ed371675
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ed371675
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ed371675
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ee7ed46e
type
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ee7ed46e
comment
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Invoked and averted with Mr. Krabs and his original crew, as they were full-fledged cutthroat corsairs who robbed other ships and are outright shown to have caused death and destruction during their pillaging. SpongeBob is shocked to learn this, as he always thought pirates were merely treasure-hunting adventurers sailing the high seas. Played straight with the conquistadors who saved Mr. Krabs, as we only ever see them searching for the Fountain of Youth, instead of conquering and exploiting new, uncharted territories (though Krabs himself ends up doing that in his never-ending quest for riches).
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ee7ed46e
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ee7ed46e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ee7ed46e
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f1641c35
type
Ridiculous Procrastinator
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f1641c35
comment
Ridiculous Procrastinator: Unlike his workaholic (though equally immature) best friend, Patrick spent the last 20 years trying not to be in a rush and worry too much about growing up and finding work, so much so that he completely lost sight of the passage of time. Once his friends accidentally give him an epiphany during their vacation, Patrick quickly turns his life around and becomes a responsible adult and accountant.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f1641c35
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f1641c35
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f1641c35
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f6624c30
type
Together in Death
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f6624c30
comment
Together in Death: Twofold in the epilogue of "Nothing Lasts Forever": Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are shown to be together in this universe’s equivalent of heaven, still bickering Like an Old Married Couple, though MM is now free of his dementia and just acts out to mess with his grouchy sidekick Krabs and Plankton share the same workout room in Davy Jones’s locker and have seemingly buried the hatchet, now acting like Vitriolic Best Buds trying to best each other, with a whining and sorrowful Squilliam sharing their room.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f6624c30
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f6624c30
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f6624c30
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f97b5d33
type
Shoo Out the Clowns
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f97b5d33
comment
Shoo Out the Clowns: The somber final chapter of Finite is all about Squidward visiting Squilliam's grave to have one final conversation with the latter. SpongeBob, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs are all absent.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f97b5d33
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f97b5d33
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_f97b5d33
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbd285b7
type
Comically Missing the Point
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbd285b7
comment
Comically Missing the Point: In “Nothing Lasts Forever”, the Flying Dutchman sarcastically tells Squidward and SpongeBob that they could never guess why Mr. Krabs’s old pirate name was “Thrifty Jack”. SpongeBob says he honestly doesn’t, because he thinks “thrifty” is some nautical term and he’s rusty on his sailor lingo, leaving the Flying Dutchman dumbfounded.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbd285b7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbd285b7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbd285b7
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbe24ca5
type
Discovering Your Own Dead Body
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbe24ca5
comment
Discovering Your Own Dead Body: At the end of "Nothing Lasts Forever", after a rapidly aging Mr. Krabs breaks away from his group to sit down and have a drink, he falls asleep in his chair before being woken up by the fireworks they’ve been anticipating and rejoins the others (without his cane), only to realize that none of them can hear or see him and promptly sees himself still resting in the chair before the others rush towards his lifeless husk trying to wake it up. Cue the Flying Dutchman showing up to finally collect Krabs’s soul and the latter faces his departure with sullen dignity.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbe24ca5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbe24ca5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fbe24ca5
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fe1b2e75
type
Bigger on the Inside
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fe1b2e75
comment
Bigger on the Inside: Davy Jones’s locker looks like a generic, unassuming storage compartment, on the outside. But on the inside, it houses an endless hall with millions of doors lining both walls, with every one of them leading to a workout room where the damned are forced to endure literal Training from Hell for all eternity.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fe1b2e75
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fe1b2e75
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_fe1b2e75
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ff7f34c5
type
Pet the Dog
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ff7f34c5
comment
After spending so much of his life evading Davy Jones' locker and the Flying Dutchman, Krabs has finally accepted that he cannot evade his own death any longer, and (after a bit of finagling on Squidward and Spongebob's part), decides to spend his last month of life getting his affairs in order and actually deciding not to be a cheapskate for once in his life, by giving his employees a proper cruise vacation.
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ff7f34c5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ff7f34c5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_ff7f34c5
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_name
type
ItemName
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_name
comment
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_name
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic) / int_name
itemName
Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Broad Strokes / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Dead All Along / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Detrimental Determination / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Fanfics of 2020–2021 / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
15 Minutes of Fame / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Hard Truth Aesop / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Ridiculous Procrastinator / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Scare the Dog / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Stage Names / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Undignified Death / int_b028c292
 Some Things Never Change (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Unreliable Voiceover / int_b028c292