10 of My Favourite South Park Episodes
This week marked the return of South Park! Around these parts that's cause for celebration. It's a top 10 cartoon for sure. I enjoy how the show has evolved while still giving me the laughs I enjoyed from the beginning. I, for one, legitimately dig the new attention to continuity creating seasons long arcs.
That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which 10 episodes would I present as my sure fire crowd-pleasers? That's what this list is all about!
Rank/Episode:
#10- "Pre-School" (S08E10)
A bully who was sent to juvenile hall in a misunderstanding is released, and comes looking for revenge.
What's so special:
This episode just needs to be watched to be believed. If I told you seeing the burnt to within an inch of her life teacher try to communicate throughout the episode always makes me laugh, you'd think I was a bad guy. But trust me, it's pulled off with aplomb.
Rank/Episode:
#9- "Make Love, Not Warcraft" (S10E08)
The kids work around the clock to improve their character skills in "World of Warcraft" so that they can beat a fellow gamer who keeps violating the rules and killing everyone else's characters.
What's so special:
I've never played Warcraft, but I did watch the movie that came out this year... I almost wanted to play after this episode. I thoroughly enjoyed how they switched up the animation for the game play and gave the always interesting Randy Marsh something to do.
Rank/Episode:
#8- "Cartoon Wars Part 1" (S10E03)
Cartman begins a one-man crusade to get "Family Guy" taken off the air after it shows an image of Mohammed. But his real motive is not that it's offensive to Muslims--it's because the show's not funny.
What's so special:
The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy. Three Cartoons I will not hear anything bad about. Unless, of course, they start taking shots at each other. I've said it before, The Simpsons are like the Biggie of this cartoon game. Everyone else is trying to make their mark the way they did. South Park taking aim at Family Guy was great no matter how much more I feel like Family Guy informed my sense of humour.
Rank/Episode:
#7- "Le Petit Tourette" (S11E08)
Cartman fakes having Tourette's syndrome so he can say whatever he wants without getting in trouble.
What's so special:
There's a character in my book, Better Than Me, who is fascinated with Tourette's. I too am invested in reading up and watching videos about Tourette's. Yes, I did laugh at some of the ticks. However, I was happy that ultimately the syndrome was treated with a bit more reverence than you'd initially think.
Rank/Episode:
#6- "Tweek vs Craig" (S03E05)
The boys pit two classmates against each other for entertainment. Meanwhile, Kenny takes a home ec class.
What's so special:
I've always liked that Craig just randomly flips people off and Tweek may be my favourite character. His stress mixed with coffee pushing parents is the perfect combination for me. Thank you for bringing these two together.
Rank/Episode:
#5- "Gnomes" (S02E17)
A school assignment pairs the boys up with Tweek, a neurotic boy who claims that gnomes are stealing his underwear. Meanwhile, Tweek's father fights against a corporation that is stealing his business.
What's so special:
The Tweek-centric episode that set things off for me. Plus the idea that the Gnomes just won't expand on what phase 2 is always makes me laugh. The key here is all the funny voices.
Rank/Episode:
#4- "The Jeffersons" (S08E06)
Michael Jackson moves to South Park but tries to conceal his identity. and local cops try to frame him because he is a rich black man.
What's so special:
My family would hate that this is in my top 5 but there is no denying how funny this episode is. Plus I feel like it's one of the first episodes where they have Kenny out of his coat with unobstructed speech. They don't even really draw attention to it until the cool pay off. I won't get into all the mean Michael Jackson jokes, but there are some great ones in there for people who love to hate on one of my favourite musical artists.
Rank/Episode:
#3- "All About Mormons" (S07E12)
Stan learns about the Mormon religion after a new family moves to South Park from Utah. Caught up in the family-friendly doctrine of the church, Randy declares the Marshes to be Mormon as well.
What's so special:
This is pretty much South Park in a nutshell. They're able to see the shortcomings in the things that they appreciate. Throughout the episodes the Mormon faith takes a beating, but at the end, the show's moral compas, Stan, is set straight by his Mormon friend. Yes the faith has a questionable history but if it's teaching Stan's friend to be a nice person and enjoy life, then it can't be all bad.
Rank/Episode:
#2- "Trapped In The Closet" (S09E12)
After Stan scores a remarkably high "Thetan Level" at a Scientology center, he is considered to be the reincarnation of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. John Travolta, Tom Cruise and other Scientologists go to South Park to convince Stan to be their leader, but when Stan makes disparaging remarks about Cruise's acting, the movie star locks himself inside a bedroom closet. R&B singer R. Kelly is recruited to get Tom Cruise to come out of the closet, but eventually Kelly, as well as Travolta, find themselves all trapped in the closet.
What's so special:
The extended metaphor of Tom Cruise being in the closet by way of Tom Cruise being in a closet is the perfect example of keeping it simple paying it off. Everyone's attempt to get him out of the closet is funny and even the credits play into the jokes of the episode. A simple premise that gave way to a bunch of great flourishes. How did this not get the number one spot?
Rank/Episode:
#1- "Scott Tenorman Must Die" (S05E04)
Cartman plans an elaborate revenge when an older boy cons him out of money.
What's so special:
I've always wanted to see Cartman get his comeuppance. This episode satiated that desire and then some right up until the last minute where I had to doff my hat off to Eric. He never gave up on himself and became the Tortoise to Scott's Hare. As Ben would say, #RIPMRANDMRSTENORMAN.
-YG