Often considered by modern-day adults as the most relatable character in Spongebob Squarepants, Squidward Tentacles has had his fair share of suffering and elation in the show. While he often gets relegated to the butt-end of the jokes, Squidward also has his villainous moments.
Suffice to say, he spreads as much negativity around Bikini Bottom as much as he absorbs it. Squidward has done some terrible things to other characters, but, at times, he does elicit the empathy of the viewers for being a poor victim of circumstance or dark humor. Here are five of each of those moments to make you torn on whether to feel sorry for Squidward or feel hatred for his big nose.
Felt Bad: Became Homeless
Mr. Krabs has been established as a scum of the Earth in Spongebob Squarepants who cares little for his employees' welfare and has a life-long love affair with money. So, it's not surprising anymore to see him fire Squidward based on the suspicion that he stole his relic dime.
It's also clear that Squidward hates his job anyway. Unfortunately for the grumpy cephalopod, Squidward didn't do so well making money off of his talents. It's one of the harshest realities in life that most adults deal with every day and Squidward came to personify that modern-day problem in a kids' cartoon nonetheless.
Hated Him: Mooching Off SpongeBob
Too bad the viewers' sympathy for Squidward's struggle was short-lived. Spongebob, being a nice friend and all, offered his home to the homeless and jobless Squidward. Squidward has proven that he's no better than Mr. Krabs and soon after took advantage of Spongebob's hospitality.
Worse even, Squidward refused to carry his own weight and rely on Spongebob for everything while treating him badly. Even someone as patient and dense as Spongebob couldn't tolerate such behavior.
Felt Bad: Every Single Day Spent Working At The Krusty Krab
Well, Squidward did get his job back at the Krusty Krab, but it was the lesser of the two evils in his life. It's a dead-end job and has no room for any person to grow or do what they're passionate about. Squidward knows this, Mr. Krabs knows this, and Spongebob doesn't care how futile it is.
It seems every single Squidward appearance as a cashier in the Krusty Krab is an opportunity for the cartoon to showcase just how disillusioned and enslaved he is. The cruel joke is that he can't leave his job since he doesn't have what it takes to be self-employed or successful in the field of work that he loves.
Hated Him: Trying To One-Up Squilliam
This is where the complexity of Squidward's character goes deeper; he is also insecure, materialistic, and narcissistic, making him envious of a more successful and rich rival, Squilliam Fancyson.
Squidward often goes out of his way to be a social climber to try and impress a person he doesn't even like. While doing this, he often uses people when it's convenient for him, and, at one point, he even made the whole Bikini Bottom bend over backward for him just so he could falsely prove to Squilliam that he's extrinsically successful.
Felt Bad: Exploited By Patrick
Apparently, Mr. Krabs wouldn't be the only person to exploit Squidward. In one of the worst episodes of Spongebob Squarepants, Patrick Star managed to pull his life together by selling lemonade... whose secret ingredient is Squidward's ink.
It's outright disgusting, both for Squidward and whoever drinks his lemonade. Squidward was forced into being a cash cow for Patrick's small business, and the relentless starfish kept coming up with ways to scare him for his ink.
Hated Him: Relentless April Fools Pranks
Being a sociopathic snob, Squidward isn't really on the same page as Spongebob when it comes to jokes. Hence, when he got annoyed one time by Spongebob's persistent Aprils Fools jokes, he pulled a rather extreme and hurtful prank against him.
This resulted in Spongebob being humiliated and in front of the whole Bikini Bottom. It may or may not have been an act for Spongebob for the most elaborate April Fools prank ever, but there's no way viewers liked what Squidward did in that episode.
Felt Bad: Squidward's Best Day Ever
There are many moments in the cartoon where one can understand Squidward's disdain for Spongebob and Patrick. One of those episodes is a whole segment dedicated to Squidward's pain.
Squidward got a bit of bad karma after sarcastically insulting Spongebob and Patrick's hobby and became wheelchair-bound. What happens afterward was a series of ignorant caretaking and further injuries down the line which eventually rendered Squidward bedridden.
Hated Him: Straining SpongeBob And Patrick's Relationship
Whether Squidward did deserve all the agony Spongebob and Patrick unknowingly dealt to him is best explored in another episode. One of the earlier skits from the show focused on Squidward ruining Spongebob and Patrick's friendship.
He did it all because he was irritated at the noise Spongebob and Patrick were making. While he could have figured out other ways to reach a compromise or solution, he went for the most diabolical one and even nearly succeeded in tearing the two long-time friends apart.
Felt Bad: Depression
The lowest psychological point for Squidward in the show, apart from having to eat his own artworks out of hunger and homelessness, is when he fell into an apparent depression. It was all triggered when Squidward found out that he can't recall his happiest memory.
The struggling and frustrated artist fell into a sulking, reclusive phase and refused to do anything but lay in bed. At one point, the show even went into darker territory by doing a joke involving Squidward doing something with a rope.
Hated Him: Neglected Gary
There was that one time in Spongebob Squarepants where Squidward actually came close to killing someone. That person or character is none other than Gary, Spongebob's pet snail. Spongebob left Gary in Squidward's "care" in one episode and Squidward, selfishly forgot to feed Gary.
The poor snail was left starving for three days while Squidward did nothing but sunbathe. Gary became lethargic and emaciated but still recovered—no thanks to Squidward. As always, the show didn't forget to karmically reward Squidward.