Fred the Fish, a recurring background character in SpongeBob SquarePants, became a legendary meme through his high-energy 'Rev up those fryers!' entrance in the episode 'Pickles.' However, the specific image of him gloomily mopping the floor has taken on a life of its own, symbolizing the monotony of daily chores and the 'NPC energy' of service industry jobs. It perfectly captures the feeling of performing a thankless, repetitive task while the world around you is chaotic. Since its rise in the late 2010s, the template has been a staple for relatability, often used to depict students, employees, or anyone just trying to get through the day.