ONE
The credits have marching band music running over, then we bubble-wipe to the pineapple house. No peaceful ukeleles for this episode.
TWO
Inside, Spongebob flexes his muscles in front of the mirror. Well, haha, if he had muscles. “It’s time to grow large and wide.” Why? Because that’s the Trouble, that’s why.
Two stuffed animals are impaled on each end of the lifting bar. He strains to lift it over his head, eventually falling sideways from the weight.
Doorbell. “Yay, it’s Sandy!” I actually said that aloud while watching.
THREE
Oh, wow, he shows her his state of the art weight set! My heart. It’s all adorable stuffed animals.
FOUR
Oh, oh, dying. Sandy pulls up her sleeve and tells him he needs to lift something else if he wants arms like hers. It’s a brown, veiny Schwarzenegger arm. Spongebob wiggles his noodle arm. You just gotta follow my training program, she says.
Twinkly music, and we see Spongebob, yellow super-muscle body (with necktie!) and square head as he fry cooks and shakes the ground running after jellyfish. He’s too long for his bed. It’s a good dream.
Bubble-wipe to the tree dome.
Sandy, in bathing suit and carrying a clipboard, coaches Spongebob, bubble helmet on, as he tries to do a push-up. His arms fall off.
Now it’s boxing. While Spongebob’s working to lift his arms with the gloves on, Sandy knocks him out of the ring.
Then it’s a hamster wheel. Haha!
Now that you’re warmed up (he’s exhausted) it’s time for the arm-cruncher. Cut to a horrible torture machine with pounding stones. And gloves! “This squirrel’s trying to kill me.”
SWITCH
He goes home to bed, arms pulsing. The tv catches his attention. A shark advertizes “anchor arms” — full arm gloves that you inflate to look like muscles. Gary gives a doubtful meow.
FIVE
Bubble-wipe to Squidward outside, lounging and eating a popsicle. A large shadow goes by — Spongebob? — but we don’t see him.
Mr. Krabs sweeps the stoop outside the restaurant. The shadow approaches and says hello. Krabs disappears into his shell exclaiming, “Mother of Pearl!”
It’s Mussel Beach. Heh. Fish flex and pose. The shadow stops them all. Finally we see Spongebob. It’s him with humongous pink, veiny arms. Oh, no! He walks with hands because his arms are so long his feet won’t touch the ground. “Dude,” Larry the Lobster says, “you’re ripped.” (Spongebob’s flexed bicep is bigger than his entire sponge body.)
Sandy arrives, looking for Spongebob. He regales the crowd at the Juice Bar. (Juice Bar. For bodybuilders. I just got that joke.)
SIX
Impressed, Sandy asks, what’s his secret? He has no answer.
At the Three we see his workout plan. Stuffed animals. (So cute.) Here at the Six, he hasn’t progressed at all. The teddy bears were a better answer than telling lies about blow-up arms! This spinning around at the Three/Six is actually wonderful. Of course he hasn’t progressed. He’s going in a circle, spiralling downward.
SEVEN
Sandy, unsuspecting, says he needs to enter the anchor toss competition and put those muscles to the test. As she goes to sign him up he tries to stop her but the beverage on his fake hand keeps him pinned.
EIGHT
Everyone lines up and stretches, large anchors behind them. They each throw, and Sandy’s goes the farthest. Now Spongebob. The crowd chants. He blows up the arms to full size but he can’t lift the anchor. As he strains, air from the arms pops into different body parts. His eyeball bulges, his nose expands. The crowd starts to gasp. His tooth goes large, haha! Then the arms burst. Spongebob just stands there, deflated balloons hanging from his shoulders.
The crowd switches to a chant for Sandy.
She approaches Spongebob, arms crossed and toe tapping.
NINE
Bubble-wipe to the tree dome.
He sweats and strains. The camera pulls out to show him struggling with the remote control. He’s changing the channels for a workout. Sandy relaxes on the couch.