Another day, another migraine. Anyone who's made that a motto in their life ought to congratulate themselves for being adults has Squidward Tentacles from Spongebob Squarepants to thank. Still, one can't blame the poor octopus—and, yes, he is an octopus. He did try to be kind to the world but that kindness wasn't repaid.
In fact, Squidward has quite the record of common decency and even heartwarming acts all throughout the series. He still kept trying to show his good side despite the hopeless and disadvantageous situations he has to deal with on a daily basis. To reiterate the fact that Squidward hasn't lost it yet, these 10 good deeds prove he does have a soul.
10 Protesting Against Unfair Labor Practices
It's surprising how Squidward managed to stay so long at The Krusty Krab without actually standing up to Mr. Krabs' greed. It took him 40 episodes to stage a strike and protest action against Mr. Krabs for charging them when they're not being idle. All this took place in the "Squid on Strike" episode.
Squidward did it not only for himself, but also for Spongebob, and he even taught the passive sponge to fight for his rights. Turns out Squidward's strike was effective and Mr. Krabs agreed to his negotiations presumably for fairer worker treatment. Too bad Spongebob became a little too anarchistic.
9 Fulfilling Spongebob's Bucket List
It's rare for the series to make Squidward willingly go the extra mile for Spongebob, but, in the "Dying for Pie" episode, he had no choice. After assuming Spongebob ate a pie rigged with what appears to be a bomb, Squidward's guilt got the best of him.
He proceeded to make what he assumed to be Spongebob's remaining days more meaningful and happy by fulfilling his bucket list. He even let Spongbob perform surgery on him—what a friend! His reward? Getting nuked by a pie bomb.
8 Helping Mr. Krabs Get His Millionth Dollar Back
It's not just Spongebob that receives Squidward's rare givings of kindness, but also Mr. Krabs. In the episode "Clams," the one where Mr. Krabs gets his millionth dollar stolen by a giant clam, Squidward proved that he wasn't immune to pity or begging.
All Mr. Krabs had to do was cry some crocodile tears in the most creative ways possible to get Squidward to agree with some serious clam fishing. Mr. Krabs' act didn't last long, and Squidward was rewarded with hostility by a dollar-crazed crustacean.
7 Performing For Pearl
Pearl, Mr. Krabs' illogically odd whale daughter, has also received some semblance of goodwill from Squidward. During the episode "Whale of a Birthday" which highlighted Pearl's supposedly grand birthday party, Squidward had to stand in for a boyband because Mr. Krabs was being himself even to his daughter.
What followed was a hilarious case of Squidward showing off his "talent" and making a song about a tissue paper even when he didn't have to. As expected, Pearl didn't have to be a connoisseur or arts to know mediocrity when she sees one—though, at the very least, she could have appreciated the effort.
6 Playing A Song For Patrick
Speaking of performing arts, Squidward also graced Patrick with one of his artistic fortes, namely the clarinet. Well, he had to, as he was also responsible for destroying Spongebob and Patrick's friendship in the "Naughty Nautical Neighbors" episode.
So, when Patrick tried to go on a "rebound friendship" with Squidward, the latter surprisingly obliged and even tried to form a bond by playing Solitude in E Minor using the Clarinet. It worked... well, assuming Squidward's plan was to lull Patrick into a coma.
5 Genuine Concern For Everyone's Safety
Despite being the most disillusioned and pessimistic characters in the show, Squidward also shows the most concern for anyone's safety, most especially Spongebob's. This notably happens in multiple episodes where Squidward almost always rushes to help Spongebob from any perceived danger.
In the "Idiot Box" episode where he thought Spongebob and Patrick got stuck in an avalanche, he didn't hesitate to help. Also, in "Squid's Day Off," he always looked after the Krusty Krab and even rushes back there from time to time to check if everything hasn't burned down yet.
4 Standing Up For Spongebob
As for being subtly supportive of Spongebob and his wellbeing, Squidward has also demonstrated many times how he deeply cares for his annoying friend and neighbor. Not only does he miss Spongebob in the latter's absence from his life, but he also stands up for him.
It's usually when Mr. Krabs does something bad to Spongebob that Squidward steps in. At one point, Mr. Krabs traded Spongebob's soul to the Flying Dutchman for a few coins, Squidward was visibly sad and distraught. There was also that time when Mr. Krabs kept scaring Spongebob with a yeti to make him work harder and Squidward defended him.
3 Fighting Supervillains
During a clunky parody of Super Friends, the aging Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy had to bring in some recruits to help them against E.V.I.L. (Every Villain Is Lemons). Say what you will, but these guys are crazy and serious about being bad.
Squidward didn't seem to hesitate in volunteering to become a part of the team as Captain Magma and put himself in harm's way to supposedly save Bikini Bottom. He ended up causing the whole team's failure.
2 Breath of Fresh Squidward
Of course, there's going to be that one episode where Squidward becomes good all throughout. It's called "Breath of Fresh Squidward" and it's a full 180-turn for the character. In the said episode, Squidward essentially channeled Spongebob and became a generally positive, fun, and nice person.
He hosted parties, cooked good, and even danced with Patrick. As usual, this behavior didn't last long, and he reverted back to his old self by the end of the episode, just the way we'd like him to stay.
1 Replacing Santa Claus
Squidward was the obvious choice for the local Bikini Bottom Grinch in a Christmas special. True to his nature, he didn't believe that an overweight geriatric would trespass inside houses to leave gifts during a certain son-of-god's birthday. However, Squidward just couldn't take it when he saw just how heartbroken Spongebob was when Santa Claus didn't arrive and how the latter wanted to make it special for him with a handcrafted clarinet.
So, being the only one with a Christmas gift, he took it upon himself to make it up to Spongebob by becoming a bootleg Santa. All it cost was a bit of his pride and all his household furnishings. In the end, it was worth it, and Squidward ended up making everyone happy.