This meme is a surreal mashup featuring Squidward Tentacles (voiced by Rodger Bumpass) from the 1999 Spongebob Squarepants episode 'SB-129.' In the original scene, Squidward is trapped in a white void and panics, frantically asking 'What's that? What's that?' while pointing at something off-screen. This template replaces the original focus with 'Howard the Alien,' a silver 3D-animated dancing extraterrestrial that gained massive viral popularity in 2018. The combination of Squidward's genuine terror and Howard's smooth, rhythmic dancing creates a hilariously jarring juxtaposition. Culturally, this clip is used to represent situations where someone encounters something bizarre, cursed, or unexpected that they can't quite wrap their head around. It captures feelings of panic, confusion, and the 'uncanny valley' vibe that defines modern internet humor. It is especially popular for describing late-night hallucinations or seeing something weird in public. Example captions include: 'When you wake up at 3 AM and see your laundry pile looking like a person,' 'Me trying to process what's happening in the group chat,' and 'My last two brain cells during a chemistry final.'