Ep 9. Gary In Love

In the ninth episode of the first season of SpongeBob SquarePants, titled "Gary In Love," viewers are introduced to Gary, SpongeBob's pet snail. The episode opens with Gary gazing longingly at a picture of a snail, love hearts surrounding his head. SpongeBob remarks on how happy Gary seems, but Squidward scoffs and says that snails cannot feel love.

Later on, SpongeBob takes Gary for a walk through Bikini Bottom, and they come across a snail park. Gary's eyes light up as he spies the object of his affections: a female snail named Mary. The two snails meet and instantly hit it off. Gary even shares his food with Mary, despite being very protective of his snacks. SpongeBob is thrilled to see Gary so happy, but Squidward remains skeptical.

The episode takes a turn when Mary is taken away by her owner, leaving Gary completely heartbroken. SpongeBob tries to cheer him up by taking him to the park, but nothing seems to work. Eventually, Gary decides that he must find Mary and be with her. He escapes from SpongeBob's house and sets off in search of his true love.

The rest of the episode follows Gary's journey as he travels through Bikini Bottom, encountering various obstacles along the way. He comes across a group of tough snails who challenge him to a race, and Gary uses his skills to beat them all. He also has to evade a swarm of seagulls who are looking for their next meal.

Finally, Gary reaches Mary's owner's house and manages to sneak inside. He reunites with Mary, and the two snails share a kiss. However, their moment is interrupted by the owner, who catches them and throws Gary out of the house.

Dejected, Gary returns home to SpongeBob's house, and Squidward makes fun of him for failing to win back his love. But SpongeBob encourages Gary to keep trying, and Gary sets off once again to try and win Mary's heart. The episode ends with Gary scaling a tall building to reach Mary's window, determined to prove his love no matter what.

"Gary In Love" is a charming and sweet episode that showcases the love and dedication that pets can have for one another. The animation is bright and colorful, with plenty of comedic moments provided by SpongeBob and Squidward. The episode's focus on Gary's journey to find Mary will appeal to anyone who has ever been in love or who has a soft spot for animals. Overall, "Gary In Love" is a heartwarming and entertaining addition to the SpongeBob SquarePants canon.