Tea at the Treedome

"Tea at the Treedome" is the third episode of season 1 and the SpongeBob SquarePants show overall. It is paired with "Help Wanted" and "Reef Blower", and is the last of them to air. "Tea at the Treedome" is notable for being the first episode that Sandy Cheeks appears in.

Plot
SpongeBob is taking a walk through Jellyfish Fields by himself. After failing to catch a jellyfish, he hears fight. SpongeBob runs to the top of a hill and witnesses a squirrel in a space suit-like diving suit fighting a giant clam. SpongeBob checks his field guide and identifies the squirrel as a "land squirrel". SpongeBob hurries to the scene and uses karate to brawl the giant clam and defeat it.

The squirrel introduces herself to SpongeBob, informing him that her name is Sandy Cheeks. They quickly discover they both share a common interest: karate. She also explains that the helmet is used for her to breathe air, since she cannot survive without oxygen. After they depart as new friends, SpongeBob hurries to tell Patrick about his friend.

Not long after, Sandy and SpongeBob meet up for a meal at Sandy's treedome, which is closed off from the water and filled with air. Therefore, Sandy is not required to wear her suit. SpongeBob must wear a helmet filled with water since they cannot survive on oxygen. However, SpongeBob doesn't know this and nor does Sandy. SpongeBob struggles to keep healthy whilst he visits his friend. Patrick later arrives to remind SpongeBob that he should drink tea in a fancy fashion. Patrick, too, is unaware that the tree dome lacks water and is instead filled with oxygen. SpongeBob and Patrick begin to lose their ability to maintain health and shrivel up due to lack of water. Sandy realized their lack of water was why they shriveled up, so she fills two bowls with water and places it around their heads.

Characters

 * SpongeBob SquarePants
 * Sandy Cheeks (debut)
 * Patrick Star
 * Giant Clam (debut)
 * Birdy (debut)

Reception

 * The episode ranked 97th in the "Best Day Ever" marathon.

Trivia

 * At the end of the episode, SpongeBob and Patrick are wearing their water helmets with the opening facing upward. Most subsequent episodes show them wearing their helmets with the opening facing down.