SpongeBob SquarePants (post-Season 5; Alternate Version)

As we all know, after Season 5 of SpongeBob SquarePants, one of Nickelodeon's most popular shows, the series began to deteriorate in quality with SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, among other characters being flanderized, the episodes encouraging bad morals such as bullying and crying to get your way, Hillenburg's lack of involvement, and most notably, the many torture episodes given to either Squidward or SpongeBob. Here is an alternate scenario of how the series would handle its quality with Hillenburg being involved in the future seasons and trying to keep it similar to the old seasons.

List of changes

 * Stephen Hillenburg would be involved in the show's future episodes until his death in 2018.
 * All of the flanderization to the show's many characters wouldn't happen.
 * SpongeBob, though still childlike, doesn't become an overly immature idiot who gets too emotional sometimes, and he wouldn't treat Squidward as if he were stalking him 24/7.
 * Patrick would still retain his simple-minded nature, but wouldn't become a complete idiot.
 * Mr. Krabs would still be greedy, but he doesn't treat his employees like trash or sell them for cash.
 * Pearl would retain her emotional capabilities and wouldn't become a spoiled brat.
 * Plankton would still be more villainous and wouldn't be a constant punching bag, which leads to more episodes involving his evil schemes.
 * Plankton's wife Karen, though still snarky and loyal to her husband, wouldn't only defined by her snarkiness.
 * Sandy wouldn't become a science-obsessed eccentric and, while still maintaining her interest in science, will still be interested in karate and Texas, those now being her defining interests.
 * Squidward wouldn't be such a grouch and remains good hearted, though he does retain his grumpiness. He later begins a character development sub-arc in the series where his view on the world begins to change, starting with SpongeBob, You're Fired!
 * He also wouldn't be used as a punching bag and be hurt for no reason whatsoever.
 * He also wouldn't be a complete big jerk to SpongeBob.
 * Mrs. Puff would also not be a punching bag like Squidward and Plankton.
 * She would also begin teaching SpongeBob better, as with the latter paying more attention in her class in the middle of season 8, to the point where he earns his license in Season 10, which, in this version, is the penultimate season of the series.
 * Larry wouldn't become a coward and retain his bravery and strength.
 * Nickelodeon wouldn't demand more episodes and rush the production, which results in more good episodes and less bad ones.
 * A majority of the specials would be different:
 * Atlantis SquarePantis would also be less of a filler and forced musical episode and would have a plot involving the characters helping the financially-troubled Bikini Bottom Museum of Natural History by getting artifacts from the Lost City of Atlantis, while Plankton plans on stealing the artifacts for himself to turn his home into an Atlantean-themed restaurant. The writers would also study more on Atlantean culture.
 * Truth or Square would be a better 10th anniversary special than it originally was, and would be retitled to the more suiting name of The Krusty Anniversary, while the video game retains the original title, and clips from the past seasons would be shown.
 * The Clash of Triton would be an entirely different double-length episode, and would involve a personality switch between Neptune and his son, Triton, and would now involve an evil Triton being accidentally freed from his imprisonment on a kinder Neptune's 5,000th birthday, and recruits SpongeBob and his friends to help stop him with the help of a weapon forged by Neptune should his son ever return.
 * TBA