South Park is one of the longest running animated TV shows in the world. With 23 seasons and 307 episodes under its belt, fans have enjoyed countless hilarious and memorable moments since the show’s debut in 1997. But what are the best South Park episodes?
It recently reappeared on Amazon Prime and Netflix. Almost every episode is included with a subscription to the former. And a few of the newer seasons and a handful of fan-favourites are available if you’re signed-up to the latter.
So, I decided to dive back in and watch from the start. I’ve been dipping in and out when I’ve had chance. And I thought I’d make it easy for you to decide which ones to watch if you’re struggling for time. In no particular order, here are my 5 best South Park episodes to watch if you want a good laugh…
5. Super Fun Time (Season 12, Episode 7)
The year is 1864 – at least to the actors working at living history museum Pioneer Village. It’s ridiculous in all the best ways from start to finish. This episode sees South Park Elementary’s fourth grade kids on a school outing. Except none of the village employees break character – ever. The situation goes from mildly irritating to life threatening when a group of heavily armed thieves storm the town and take hostages following a successful Burger King heist. Meanwhile, Cartman lives it up at the amusement center next door with a stubborn and typically anxious Butters in tow.
4. How to Eat With Your Butt (Season 5, Episode 10)
I can’t even read the name of this episode without cracking a smile.
It all starts with a simple prank – Kenny climbs into his parka backwards for his school photo so his bare butt shows instead of his face. Shifting things up a gear, Cartman gets Kenny’s picture printed on milk cartons as a missing child, complete with a detailed description of his ‘appearance’. Cartman blows his funny fuse when some hopeful parents show up at his house looking for their missing son – and they have butts where their faces should be. He spends the rest of the episode desperately searching for something to get himself laughing again. While all this madness ensues, Butters is accused of pulling silly faces and winds up grounded.
3. Cartman Joins NAMBLA (Season 4, Episode 5)
It’s one of South Park’s more controversial episodes (and that’s saying something). Cartman Joins NAMBLA sees Eric on a mission to make mature friends after growing tired of the other boys. Having searched around online, he ends up in an internet chat room talking obliviously to adult men with an interest in young boys. As he makes new ‘friends’, Cartman joins the ‘North American Man/By Love Association’ and becomes their poster child – but the group is quickly embroiled in a feud with another NAMBLA, the ‘North American Marlon Brando Look Alikes’.
Best South Park Episodes – 2. Butters’ Very Own Episode (Season 5, Episode 14)
Probably the most innocent and hilariously disturbing episode in the show’s history, this is the first dedicated entirely to Butters and his family. Complete with it’s very own theme song, the episode transforms South Park into ‘The Butters Show’ and tells the story of the eponymous character as he excitedly prepares for his parents’ anniversary and looks forward to an evening at Bennigan’s (his favourite restaurant). What follows is a tale of gay bath houses, adultery, mental breakdown and attempted murder as poor Butters discovers a terrible secret.
Best South Park Episodes – 1. The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers (Season 6, Episode 13)
It’s often cited as one of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s favourite episodes. This Lord of the Rings spoof lives up to its high praise as it follows Stan, Kyle and Cartman on their journey to return a copy of the film to the video store. What the boys don’t know is that Randy accidentally swapped the movie with a porno he’d rented to watch with Sharon. But this is no ordinary porno. It’s the ‘single most vile, twisted, dark piece of porn ever produced’. And it turns innocent Butters into an obsessed Gollum-like creature and attracts the rampant interest of the sixth graders.
What do you think are the best South Park episodes? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to check out our other Film & TV articles…
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Featured image credit: Comedy Central (fair use)
