There are few on screen partnerships as epic or as long standing as the one between SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star. They've been best friends since the show first debuted in 1999. Over two decades later, SpongeBob and Patrick are still going strong and a more dynamic duo than Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.
Their relationship has had some rocky patches over the years though. No one can spend as much time together as they do and not get into the occasional fight. But SpongeBob and Patrick always make up and come back stronger than ever. That's what friendship is.
Weren't BFF's: SpongeBob Vs The Box
Nothing comes between friends like secrets, and Patrick had a doozy which he wouldn't share with SpongeBob. This secret was hidden inside a box, which Patrick told SpongeBob he could never look in.
Not surprisingly, this drove SpongeBob nuts and just made him want to look inside the box that much more. His repeated attempts to open the box incensed Patrick, damaging their friendship. The duo made peace and Patrick let SpongeBob look inside the box, only to find a piece of string. After SpongeBob left, Patrick used the string to open a secret compartment and enjoy what was hidden.
BFF Goals: Prehistoric Friends
One special episode of season three showed Bikini Bottom in prehistoric times. Ancient versions of SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward were still hanging around with each other. The prehistoric Squidward was, of course, annoyed by everything the other two did.
But the key here is that even the ancient ancestors of SpongeBob and Patrick were friends. Their friendship might actually be hardwired into their DNA somehow, which means generation after generation of Squidwards will be genetically annoyed too.
Weren't BFF's: Boating School
Patrick has long been jealous of SpongeBob going to boating school. So one day, SpongeBob decided to bring Patrick with him to cheer his buddy up. It really felt like SpongeBob should have seen this coming, but Patrick made his day incredibly difficult.
Patrick drew a very mean cartoon of SpongeBob's teacher, Mrs. Puff. She blamed SpongeBob for the joke, punishing him by sending him to the back of the class and taking away one of his coveted noodle stars.
BFF Goals: Replacement Heroes
When their heroes Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy needed to go away, they asked the boys to watch their secret base. It's like they hadn't met SpongeBob and Patrick before. As anyone would, the guys suited up and went into action as replacement heroes.
Whether it went well or not was a matter of opinion, though most opinions seemed to be that their time as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy 2.0 was a total failure. Still, it was a prime example of how far the best friends would go to support each other.
Weren't BFF's: Supper Time
SpongeBob and Patrick get lost a surprising amount of the time, frequently finding themselves stranded in the wilderness. This time, they were stuck in a cave together for quite awhile.
That being said, it was nowhere near long enough to turn on each other so completely. With no food or water, the friends quickly started wondering how delicious the other might be and tried to eat each other. It definitely wasn't a necessary move.
BFF Goals: Glove World
Nothing strengthens a friendship like a trip to your favorite theme park. In the case of SpongeBob and Patrick, that would be Glove World, a park built thematically around gloves. The boys wanted to ride the Fiery Fist O' Pain, but soon come to realize they were too scared to do it.
After several misfires and aborted attempts, they finally got on the ride but only because they were there to support each other. The power of friendship gave them the bravery they needed to face their fears, and quite literally lose their spines on the ride.
Weren't BFF's: Fry Cook Games
SpongeBob takes being a fry cook at the Krusty Krab incredibly seriously. He derives an incredible amount of pride from being the best burger flipper in the business. So he took it kind of personally when Patrick derided his job, saying it's easy.
Patrick went so far as to get a job as the fry cook at the Chum Bucket, which only enhanced the feud. They ended up facing off against each other in the Fry Cook Games, which was even more ridiculous than it sounds.
BFF Goals: Best Friends Forever Club
Nothing cements a friendship like being part of a club specifically devoted to that concept. Since they were children, SpongeBob and Patrick have been card carrying members of the Best Friends Forever Club. They even have special rings to indicate their membership in said club as well as their strong bond to each other.
Nothing says BFF goals like being officially certified best friends, though it does beg the question of what official body governs and manages such things. Shockingly, Squidward is a member with no one.
Weren't BFF's: Patrick SmartPants
One of the hardest moments of their friendship was when an accident upped Patrick's intelligence, which isn't a hard bar to get over. He ended up becoming a genius, and realizing that all of the things he used to do with SpongeBob for fun were now beneath him.
It was difficult for SpongeBob, as Patrick had suddenly outgrown his best friend and started to leave him behind.
BFF Goals: Patrick SmartPants
But the same episode also showed how strong the friendship is between the two truly is. Despite now possibly being the smartest creature in the ocean, Patrick willingly gave up his new gifts to return to his old self and rebuild his friendship with SpongeBob.
These two belong out in the fields, chasing jellyfish together. That's exactly what they ended up doing.