@lostwiginity
You've got a point! Margaret is also kinda distant. It almost feels like she talks down at him sometimes like a small child like in A Squarepants Family Vacation. And like you said, it doesn't seem like she's really listening. I liked her in older episodes but maybe there's a point to that? Like they're more perceived to be a picture perfect family vs the later ones where theres a weird tension between all of them. Also they're both dressed kinda vintage. Especially Margaret with her early 1960s look.
Like the birthday episode where Margaret remarks that Spongebob has a lot of interesting friends. She barely knows her own child. It sounded almost out of disgust.
I forgot about Under The Small Top where spongebob didn't care for a letter from his family. I get the gag is that he was too excited for his flea circus to come in the mail but maybe there is something going on between them 👀 👀
