A few months ago, HBO Max acquired the exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s subversive animated satire South Park in a behemoth $500 million deal. The series is one of the most rewatchable comedies on TV, with 23 seasons full of iconic episodes and unforgettable storylines.
As with any long-running TV show, South Park has had a number of ups and downs over the years, with both disappointing entries and groundbreaking classics. In the streaming age, every episode is available to fans at the touch of a button. So, here are 10 South Park episodes that will never get old.
You Have 0 Friends (Season 14, Episode 4)
Hilariously lampooning the Facebook craze at the height of its popularity, “You Have 0 Friends” blends insightful critique of the culture of social media with a brilliant parody of Tron.
When Stan’s Facebook profile becomes bigger than his physical presence, he’s sucked into his computer and forced to compete in a game of Yahtzee with his virtual self.
Goobacks (Season 8, Episode 7)
Season 8’s “Goobacks” uses a sci-fi premise to satirize the immigration debate. As people from an economically devastated future come back in time to earn money for their families, present-day Americans start losing work. This includes Stan and the boys, whose snow-shoveling business is threatened by visitors from the future.
The episode nails South Park’s unique blend of incisive satire and unbridled silliness, tackling a major political issue through the lens of absurdist comedy.
Make Love, Not Warcraft (Season 10, Episode 8)
The animators at South Park teamed up with the game developers at Blizzard for the show’s World of Warcraft episode, in which the boys start playing the beloved MMORPG religiously to get good enough to beat a player who’s been killing their characters.
“Make Love, Not Warcraft” works as both a spoof of the Warcraft fan base and a satire of the gaming community in general. The game is hilariously treated with life-or-death stakes.
Cartmanland (Season 5, Episode 6)
When Cartman inherits $1 million in season 5’s “Cartmanland,” he uses it to buy his own theme park. It’s been his lifelong dream to own a theme park and not let anybody in. Of course, the maintenance costs pile up until the park is filled with crowds and Cartman loses everything.
The episode works as both a cautionary tale about the folly of man and a classic Cartman episode. There’s also some perceptive satire of the advertising business layered in for good measure.
All About Mormons (Season 7, Episode 12)
Before their acclaimed musical The Book of Mormon, Trey Parker and Matt Stone first tackled Mormonism in the South Park episode “All About Mormons.” Stan and his family convert after meeting a Mormon family who have moved to town.
The story is a smart exploration of religious views, while the episode’s greatest gag is its ongoing musical retelling of the story of Joseph Smith.
Medicinal Fried Chicken (Season 14, Episode 3)
It’s rare that both the A-plot and the B-plot of a TV comedy episode can be all-time classics, but that’s the case with South Park’s season 14 episode “Medicinal Fried Chicken.”
In the A-plot, Randy gives himself testicular cancer to get a prescription for medicinal marijuana, and in the B-plot, Cartman peddles illegal KFC shipments in a Scarface parody.
Smug Alert! (Season 10, Episode 2)
Brilliantly lampooning the self-righteousness of Prius drivers, season 10’s “Smug Alert!” sees everyone in South Park buying a hybrid car called a Pious and filling the air with dangerous levels of “smug.”
Kyle and his family move to San Francisco and suffocate in a cloud of smug. After realizing he can’t live without his worst enemy, Cartman enters the city in an old-timey diver’s suit to save them.
Good Times With Weapons (Season 8, Episode 1)
In the season 8 premiere “Good Times with Weapons,” the boys get their hands on some martial arts weapons. The animation switches to an anime style whenever they’re playing with the weapons, which was a refreshing visual change of pace.
From Butters taking a ninja star to the eye to Cartman thinking he’s invisible, stripping off his clothes, and sneaking across a stage in front of dozens of people, “Good Times with Weapons” is filled with classic moments.
Casa Bonita (Season 7, Episode 11)
In season 7’s “Casa Bonita,” Kyle invites everyone except Cartman to his birthday party at Cartman’s favorite Mexican restaurant. So, Cartman convinces Butters that the world has ended and locks him in a bunker to con his way into an invitation.
As with most of Cartman’s evil schemes, the plot to keep Butters away from Casa Bonita hits constant obstacles. The episode is a hysterical demonstration of how far Cartman will go to get his way.
Scott Tenorman Must Die (Season 5, Episode 4)
Widely considered to be South Park’s greatest episode, and certainly the one that first showed us just how evil Cartman can be, “Scott Tenorman Must Die” starts off with a simple setup: Cartman is conned into buying some pubic hair by an older kid and vows revenge.
The shocking climax at Cartman’s chili cook-off, in which he reveals his disturbing retaliation plot, exemplifies what makes South Park so uniquely brilliant.
