{"id":52988,"date":"2024-06-10T18:26:30","date_gmt":"2024-06-10T16:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2044102"},"modified":"2024-06-10T19:00:40","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T17:00:40","slug":"15-best-south-park-episodes-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/15-best-south-park-episodes-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"15 best South Park episodes of all time"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’re gonna have ourselves a time… <\/p>

By David Craig\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 10 June 2024 at 16:26 PM<\/p>

\n\n

South Park has been a consistent presence on the television landscape for decades now, known for its outrageous and bizarre storylines that are often designed to skewer the latest news and trends.<\/p>\n

The show has recently found a new lease of life on streaming service Paramount Plus<\/a>, which is home to most episodes (some are notably absent) as well as a series of extended specials \u2013 the latest being The End of Obesity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If the new instalments get you in the mood to dive into the archive, you\u2019ve come to the right place. Here, we\u2019ve compiled a list of the 15 best and most legendary episodes of South Park for your next (re-)watch.<\/p>\n

Expect controversy, adult humour and some utterly surreal concepts.<\/p>\n

15. Kenny Dies (S5 E13)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the most famous running gags from the early years of South Park was the routine killing of Kenny McCormick, who suffered a wide variety of unpleasant deaths over the course of the first five seasons. That was, until this momentous instalment, which killed Kenny \u2013 and this time it stuck (well, for a little while anyway).<\/p>\n

The episode follows the group as they come to terms with Kenny being diagnosed with a terminal disease, with the creators noting that this is the first time any of them have given significant thought to their friend\u2019s mortality. The topic is also a gateway for co-creator Trey Parker to comment on stem cells, in a surprisingly informative subplot.<\/p>\n

14. You\u2019re Getting Old (S15 E7)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A slight gear shift from the typical South Park formula, You\u2019re Getting Old was highly praised for its relatable themes of growing up and coming to terms with change, as Stan Marsh begins to see the world extremely negatively after his 10th birthday. It\u2019s a surprisingly affecting storyline with a knockout cliffhanger addressed in the following episode.<\/p>\n

Back in 2011, this chapter was interpreted by some viewers as a bold message from creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, implying that they had lost their passion for making South Park. However, they later clarified that \u2013 while challenging \u2013 they do still enjoy the process, and continue to put themselves through it more than a decade later.<\/p>\n

13. The Death of Eric Cartman (S9 E6)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Cartman\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
South Park.<\/span><\/figcaption> Comedy Central\/HBO Max<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While he certainly has his fans, it\u2019s nice to see the maniacal Eric Cartman taken down a peg from time to time. By the time of this season 9 episode, his \u201cfriends\u201d in South Park have grown weary of his devious schemes and agree to collectively ignore him, which naturally leads the troublemaker to assuming that he\u2019s dead.<\/p>\n

Believing himself to be a restless spirit in this mortal world, he becomes so desperate to get to heaven that he even starts doing good deeds to get there. But how long can that possibly last? The Death of Eric Cartman is a fan favourite for its sharp script, which includes several classic lines as the exclusion escalates.<\/p>

12. Fishsticks (S13 E5)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kanye West has become an increasingly controversial figure in recent years, but the South Park writers wasted no time before parodying his behaviour, producing this thorough roasting in April 2009. The episode sees Jimmy come up with a joke swiftly hailed as the funniest of all time, with the world-famous rapper being the only one who doesn\u2019t understand it.<\/p>\n

Things escalate in typically absurd South Park fashion, with West (voiced in the episode by South Park co-creator Trey Parker) ultimately embracing his destiny of being a \u201cgay fish\u201d. It\u2019s a title that followed him in the real world for some time, with the musician referencing it most recently in the 2021 demo of his song, Life of the Party.<\/p>\n

11. Imaginationland (S11 E10-12)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"A\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
South Park.<\/span><\/figcaption> Comedy Central<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This trilogy of episodes from South Park\u2019s 11th season sees the show veer into fantasy territory, with the gang discovering a land inhabited by characters and creatures from the human imagination. They then get drawn into an epic battle for this mystical realm, after an attack allows the evil creations to wreak havoc over the good.<\/p>\n

The three episodes that comprise this ambitious storyline are often compiled together, securing it the Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program (One Hour or More) in 2008. Expect parody cameos from some of the most recognisable characters in pop culture and a particularly unpleasant Cartman with just one thing on his mind.<\/p>\n

10. Good Times with Weapons (S8 E1)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The rather modest animation style of South Park has allowed the show to keep up with current events more closely than any other scripted comedy, but it\u2019s nevertheless exciting to see the show try something slightly more ambitious in Good Times with Weapons.<\/p>\n

Heavily influenced by anime, this outlandish chapter sees the gang acquire martial arts weapons from a local market, transforming them into formidable warriors who proceed to clash with their arch-nemesis Professor Chaos. A treat for fans of the medium, this chapter is also a personal favourite of co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.<\/p>\n

9. Butters\u2019 Very Own Episode (S5 E14)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The naive and trusting Butters Stotch takes centre stage for the first time in this episode, which demonstrated the character\u2019s growing popularity among both the viewers and the writers. Here, he is once again the victim of a nefarious scheme, as his mother attempts to kill him after he discovers that his father is gay.<\/p>\n

While some of the references from the time have not aged spectacularly well, this episode is still regarded as one of the best by South Park fans, remembered for its dark humour and its parodying of 1950s sitcoms. Butters would go on to become a key part of the show, with Parker and Stone being particularly fond of the character.<\/p>\n

8. All About Mormons (S7 E12)<\/strong><\/h2>\n