"I'm Your Biggest Fanatic" Idol Worship and Posers
One thing that went over my stupid child brain about this episode, but became more obvious to me as an adult...
Kevin and his Jellyfishspotters group call other people not like them "nerds". But clearly they would also fit into the definition of a "nerd"-so what makes them different?
The whole episode's main point is about the dangers of idol worship-
But I also saw it as a look into gatekeeping and hierarchies in subcultures/hobby spaces.
People at the convention take his word as gospel but there's a subtle hint that he has no idea what he's talking about (he says something about not using bamboo as jellyfishing net material, even though bamboo historically has been very useful as both a sturdy, lightweight, and easily replenish-able material).
And of course, Kevin is very dismissive as Spongebob initially- but decides to bring him along just to mock him. Though it quickly becomes apparent that the sponge is more talented and knowledgeable in Jellyfishing than he is.
This makes Kevin insecure and quick to dispose of him the same way he did with his other "biggest fans" from the past. Literally throwing them into a ditch and leaving them to die.
Following some antics involving faking a queen jellyfish and accidentally attracting a real KING Jellyfish, they all end up taking shelter in a nearby cave, when Kevin breaks down and reveals that he's a phony.
"I'm only in this for the fashion"
Of course Spongebob ends up saving the day by luring the king jellyfish away with a bubble pie, and the Jellyspotters want to make him their new leader because he's proven to know more than Kevin ever did.
He turns it down, deciding that the art of jellyfishing is more important than any clique.
So yeah- the episode on the surface level is about idol worship and why you shouldn't do it, but to me its also about the dangers of toxic communities or anyone who deems themselves a "leader" of any hobbyist group, subculture, etc.
Kevin was basically a poser, pretending to be something he wasn't just for social credit. And for what? To make yourself feel more cool than you are in a subculture most people outside of it would also consider "dorky" or "uncool"? Its just an ego driven desire thats ultimately utterly pointless from an outsider's perspective.
I highly doubt they were fully intending to make parallels between punk (or other alt subcultures) and this, but thats the easiest translation in my head.
