South Park has been entertaining and offending the public for over 20 years, created by Trey Parker and Matt Smith. Launched in 1997 in the US (1998 in the UK), the animated series is now in its 26th season. But after all this time which are the best South Park episodes?
South Park 1997-2022
There are over 300 episodes to choose from so to make it a little easier we won’t include season 26 as it’s currently airing. That still leaves plenty to select from, with plenty of classic moments to remember. However, even for the creators, some past South Park episodes aren’t as funny as they used to be and are now considered embarrassing.
Make Love, Not Warcraft
Season 10, Episode 8 – In the 147th episode Cartman, Kyle, Stan, and Kenny begin playing the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft. They soon themselves dedicate their lives to the game in a bid to defeat a high-level player killing other players.
Trapped in the Closet
Season 9, Episode 12 – In this escapade, Stan becomes a Scientologist. After discovering he has high “thetan levels” religious leaders recognise Stan as the second coming of the founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The episode caused plenty of controversies thanks to a satirized version of R. Kelly as well as a portrayal of Tom Cruise.
Scott Tenorman Must Die
Season 5, Episode 4 – 9th grader Scott Tenorman cons Cartman out of money by making him buy pubic hair that Tenorman says will help him reach puberty. An angry Cartman then plots revenge after realising he’s been tricked. The episode also sees rock band Radiohead guest star as themselves.
Pinkeye
Season 1, Episode 7 – In this Halloween-themed episode the MIR space station crashes into South Park killing Kenny. Setting off a turn of events where Worcestershire sauce mixes with embalming fluid, turning Kenny into a zombie. While the living dead take over, Cartman dresses as Adolf Hitler only for the costume to be removed and replaced so he looks like a ghost. This then leads to him to resembling a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Good Times with Weapons
Season 8, Episode 1 – In the first episode of the eighth season the boys manage to get hold of ninja weapons from the fair. Playing with their new weapons the episode switches to a highly stylized anime theme. When Butters wants to join in but is rebuked he becomes his supervillain alter ego, Professor Chaos. However, when Butters is injured with a throwing star they all panic, dress him up as a dog and take him to the vet for treatment.
Kenny Dies
Season 5, Episode 13 – Kenny is hospitalized with a terminal disease but Cartman just so happens to have a truckload of fetuses he cannot sell. So Cartman attempts to save him by lobbying Congress to legalise stem cell research.
Casa Bonita
Season 7, Episode 11 – Based on the real-life Casa Bonita in Denver, Colorado, this episode sees Butters invited to Kyle’s birthday party at the restaurant instead of Cartman. In a bid to change that Cartman tries to convince Kyle that he is nice, whilst at the same time kidnapping Butters and locking him in a bomb shelter to take his place.
That’s it! The seven best South Park episodes across 25 seasons. Do you have a different favourite episode? Let us know in the comments below!
And be sure to check out Chit Hot’s ranking of Archer episodes to see if you agree!
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