South Park is a phenomenon of tv that’s nonetheless going robust virtually three many years since its authentic debut. In its inception, the filthy content material and unsparingly darkish humor differentiated Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s tv present from different animated packages aimed toward adults. Nevertheless, South Park modified its premise for the higher because it honed in on its satirical themes over the course of its later seasons.
Much like different animated sitcoms like The Simpsons and Household Man, South Park’s most up-to-date seasons don’t essentially maintain as much as the genius of its authentic classics. That being stated, the final ten years of South Park have allowed the present to deal with such fashionable subjects as company sponsorship, the acquisition of Lucasfilm, digital actuality, and the Donald Trump presidency. Listed below are the ten greatest South Park episodes of the final decade.
South Park
- Launch Date
- August 13, 1997
- Seasons
- 26
- Studio
- Comedy Central
10 “The Cissy”
Season 18, Episode 3 (2014)
Though it is a present that has by no means been afraid to deal with scandalous subjects, South Park took a daring stance in “The Cissy” by exhibiting Cartman making an attempt to border himself as a sufferer of discrimination. Cartman claims to be a “transginger” with a purpose to get his personal non-public toilet at South Park Elementary, a lot to the anger of Wendy and the opposite women in his class. Whereas it is not an episode that’s hateful, it does present how a personality as egocentric as Cartman is ready to benefit from a controversial scenario.
“The Cissy” additionally has one of many higher South Park celeb cameos lately, as it’s revealed that the musician Lorde is the key identification of Randy Marsh. Sia contributed the unique music “Push (Really feel Good on a Wednesday)” to the soundtrack, which immediately ranked among the many present’s greatest musical moments.
9 “Grounded Vindaloop”
Season 18, Episode 7 (2014)
Though it is at all times been a present that incorporates a large number of fashionable tradition references, South Park dug into the controversy surrounding digital actuality headsets in “Grounded Vindaloop.” The episode facilities round Cartman pulling an elaborate prank on Butters by making an attempt to make him query his personal actuality by opening up a VR headset. The sequence brings this satire full circle by referencing a number of traditional science fiction movies, together with The Matrix, Complete Recall, and eXistenz.
South Park is usually at its greatest when it tackles current points, because the present’s fast manufacturing time permits Parker and Stone to supply new episodes that really feel related. “Grounded Vindaloop” was launched when curiosity in VR was peaking, and revealed how foolish it might be within the South Park universe. Like every new expertise launched to assist folks, VR is one thing that Cartman makes use of to bully folks.
8 “The place My Nation Gone?”
Season 19, Episode 2 (2015)
South Park took a deep dive into nationwide politics in its nineteenth season, which explored the rise of Mr. Garrison as a possible Presidential candidate that’s clearly meant to be an allegory to Trump. Angered by the rise of political correctness as the results of PC Principal’s tenure at South Park Elementary, Garrison decides to run an extremist marketing campaign that focuses on discriminating in opposition to Canadian immigrants.
“The place My Nation Gone?” kicked off considered one of South Park’s most profitable serialized storylines, as the remainder of the season targeted on Garrison’s success within the race and the impact that it has upon the scholars. Whereas the actual outcomes of the 2016 election proved to be extra surprising than something that South Park may give you, “The place My Nation Gone?” was nonetheless a compelling means for the present to touch upon current occasions.
7 “Tweek x Craig”
Season 19, Episode 6 (2015)
Though a lot of the humor in its early season would seemingly be deemed to be offensive in the present day, South Park has at all times had a robust fanbase amongst LGBTQIA viewers. One of many longest-running theories amongst followers of the present is that the characters Tweek and Craig are literally a homosexual couple, due in no small half to the numerous homoerotic conditions that they discover themselves in.
“Tweek x Craig” confirmed that the 2 characters have been actually in love, and confirmed the struggles that they undergo when making an attempt to be accepted in a socially conservative city like South Park. Though South Park is a present that has at all times been unsparing in its satire of each side of any political or social debate, “Tweek x Craig” was a surprisingly heartfelt episode that felt like a love letter to the followers.
6 “Member Berries”
Season 20, Episode 1 (2016)
Maybe essentially the most memorable new addition to the present’s canon within the final decade, “Member Berries” took a hardline have a look at the rise of the “legacy sequel” idea, and the way studios tried to mine nostalgia for older properties with a purpose to get audiences . The critique is actually aimed on the regime of Kathleen Kennedy and the newest installments of the Star Wars franchise, however it’s relevant to any variety of nostalgia-baiting movies lately, comparable to High Gun: Maverick, Terminator: Darkish Destiny, Jurassic World, Creed, and the newest Halloween trilogy.
South Park as soon as once more confirmed its willingness to look at each side of the argument, as a lot of “Member Berries” focuses on Cartman utilizing his fandom of Star Wars to justify spewing hateful feedback on the Web. Contemplating the rise in overview bombing of current Star Wars reveals, this storyline feels significantly related.
5 “Put It Down”
Season 21, Episode 2 (2017)
As odd as it might appear, South Park is definitely a fairly cathartic viewing expertise for these struggling to deal with real-world points, because the sequence is way extra cynical in its method than most grownup animated reveals. “Put It Down” focuses on Tweek having a psychological well being disaster over the state of world politics, together with the tensions with North Korea that resulted from President Trump’s indignant tweets.
“Put It Down” confirmed that the youthful South Park characters have been able to being surprisingly empathetic, as Craig has to exit of his means to assist soothe Tweek’s anxieties as he grows extra involved concerning the future. The episode additionally options some surprisingly charming insights into the event of Cartman’s relationship with Heidi, a surprisingly nuanced dynamic that ended up strengthening one of many present’s most formidable seasons to this point.
4 “Useless Youngsters”
Season 22, Episode 1 (2018)
South Park has by no means been afraid to deal with controversial points, however “Useless Youngsters” could also be one of many darkest episodes that the sequence has ever aired. The episode examines the rise of faculty shootings and different gun-based crimes, exposing how violence has turn out to be normalized due to the refusal to put in background checks. It’s significantly morbid to observe Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny attempt to survive a barrage of faculty shootings as they make their option to class every day.
“Useless Youngsters” additionally examined the cultural phenomenon of Black Panther, which Cartman feels is an overrated film that doesn’t should be thought of one of many best superhero motion pictures of all time. Cartman’s obsession with getting Token to confess that the movie didn’t deserve the reward that it obtained as soon as once more reveals that there’s no low that he’s not prepared to sink to.
3 “Band in China”
Season 23, Episode 2 (2019)
One of many best hallmarks of South Park is that it usually satirizes the manufacturing constraints that different rival packages undergo. “Band in China” analyzes how American productions will try and censor their very own content material with a purpose to enchantment to Japanese audiences, thus compromising their integrity. That is seen as Randy Marsh makes an attempt to increase his “Teggridy Farms” marijuana empire abroad, all whereas Stan’s new dying steel band begins to develop in reputation.
“Band in China” was a fantastic instance of how South Park was in a position to proceed its serialized storyline with out ever compromising its inherently episodic nature. Whereas the “Teggridy Farms” storyline grew much less fascinating in subsequent seasons, it nonetheless felt like a comparatively enjoyable option to broaden on Randy’s character arc in “Band in China.” Randy’s seize and brainwashing by the hands of the Communist Social gathering are significantly amusing.
2 “Photographs!!!”
Season 23, Episode 3 (2019)
Notable for being the three hundredth episode of the long-running animated sequence, “Photographs!!!” allowed South Park to work in a well timed little bit of commentary concerning the rise of conspiracy theories circulating across the connection between required immunizations and the event of mental handicaps. Terrified that taking pictures will indirectly compromise his psychological exercise, Cartman goes to excessive lengths with a purpose to stop his mom from taking him to the physician’s workplace.
“Photographs!!!” reveals simply how ridiculous anti-science activists are, and makes enjoyable of Cartman for his antiquated viewpoints. Whereas the newest few seasons struggled to really feel fairly as surprising and insightful because the present had been throughout its “Golden Age,” “Photographs!!!” was a reminder that South Park was evolving with present occasions, and was nonetheless able to making robust arguments that appealed to all kinds of viewers with totally different beliefs.
1 “The Credigree Weed St. Patrick’s Day Particular”
Season 25, Episode 6 (2022)
Though the sequence has had various traditional Christmas episodes, South Park took a have a look at the Irish vacation for the primary time in “The Credigree Weed St. Patrick’s Day Episode.” One other installment lampooning simply how ridiculous Randy may get, “The Crediegree Weed St. Patrick’s Day Particular” featured South Park’s premium weed vendor going to jail after making an attempt to pinch folks for not sporting inexperienced. This inevitably takes a extra drastic path when each Towlee and the ghost of Saint Patrick himself present as much as information Randy.
“The Credigree Weed St. Patrick’s Day Episode” additionally served as a intelligent commentary on racism, as Randy makes use of the guise of celebrating his Irish heritage as a option to justify white supremacy. Satirically, it’s Randy’s ridiculous conduct that finally ends up ruining the vacation for everybody, successfully resulting in its cancellation by all the group.
