Top 5 - South Park Season 7

9/19/2017

Honorable Mention - Krazy Kripples

I was debating on including this for a few reasons, not the least of which is that it's an episode where Trey and Matt really seemed to test their borders. It was as if they said "we need to increase our riskiness and raise the bar", so along came Krazy Kripples - an episode full of controversy, and another one I enjoy for it's sheer ballsiness.

Christopher Reeve arrives in South Park (this was over a year before his death, mind you) to inform the public about stem cell research and it's benefits. Through it, the paralyzed man develops the muscle power little by little to get back on his feet. By the way, fair warning, the way it's done is hilariously disturbing and gross. In the meantime, however, Jimmy and Timmy are upset at Christopher Reeve taking all the attention away from them, as they were crippled at birth and not in an accident. They therefore attempt join the Crips (a real life and very dangerous gang who opposes another known as the Bloods) under the impression it's for cripples who were born that way.

The episode, between dangerous gangs and the controversy of stem cell research, is easily one of their riskiest moves. It's an episode so controversial that the other kids opt to stay clear of it at all costs through a running gag, which honestly just makes it more funny. One might make this the "test episode" for the series' newcomers, as it probably doesn't get much riskier than this altogether.

Honorable Mention - Cancelled

This episode could have easily made the Top 5 based on it's whole idea, alone. However, due to it's rather irritating ending involving Jewish stereotype aliens getting drunk and overly sexual with annoying voices... I know it's 'South Park' and to expect certain things, but I personally just can't stand that whole bit. Otherwise, though, the episode is brilliant!

It starts off the exact same way the 'Cartman Gets an Anal Probe' (the pilot) does. Eventually the boys click in to their strange deja vu situation, and recall the giant satellite dish that was implanted in Cartman's ass. With the help of Chef, they discover that the satellite is beaming some sort of message, but it's hard to decipher.

Eventually, the boys are all abducted and separated from Chef. Chef heads for more help in deciphering the hidden message (with he aid of a Jeff Goldbum-like character named "Jeff"), and the boys run into an alien who explains to them in a really interesting and cool twist what Earth is actually all about. It's one of those episodes that truly had a great, smart, original idea. For that, the episode gets a lot of credit. Unfortunately for myself, though, I just hate those aliens at the end. Call it a personal thing, I dunno. It's even surprising to me, considering all the worse stuff that 'South Park' has done before or since.

#05 - Casa Bonita

Kyle announces to the other boys that as a special birthday treat, his mother is taking him and three friends to Casa Bonita. Kyle's selection, however, is Stan, Kenny and Butters since by now, Kyle has pretty much established he actually hates Cartman. Obviously, this doesn't go over well with Cartman, who is otherwise obsessed with the restaurant.

For the rest of the episode, Cartman does what he can to manipulate Kyle into letting him come in Butters' place. Eventually, he gets through to Kyle with his fake kindness, and is told he go if for some reason Butters can't make it at the last minute. This, of course, leads Cartman to take some drastic measures.

This is another episode that sort of highlights two characters at their best, namely Cartman and Butters. We see a great example here of how Cartman plain and simply cannot be trusted no matter how he acts. He also provides the episode's simple punchline at the very end. Butters' in the meantime, allows his imagination to run away with him as usual, as Cartman plants some dark ideas in his head.

#04 - All About Mormons

This is an episode that I don't think I enjoyed quite as much as many others did. It's very often one of their most praised episodes, and it feels likely that this was the lead into the famous 'Book of Mormon' musical.

It all starts when a new kid named Gary comes to South Park Elementary. Gary is unusually perfect in nature. He's super polite, does very well in school, and is even goo at sports. Of course, as a result, all the kids just wanna see him get beaten up for being so smug (even though he's actually very kind-hearted). Stan goes for it, but Gary's kindness messes with Stan's mind, and soon he is invited to Gary's house for dinner. This is where Stan learns of Gary's Mormon faith, and the story of Joseph Smith is told in sections throughout the episode. I have no real idea about the REAL Mormon history and how much of it this episode got right, but it's my understanding that most see it as pretty ridiculous.

The beautiful part about this episode is actually the somewhat unexpected punchline at the end. It's the kind of joke that saps the audience in the face with "to you this is stupid, but to others, it leads to a happy and healthy lifestyle". It's a nice little punctuation at the end of an episode in which you're fully agreeing to the silliness of it all. A well-executed episode if nothing else.

#03 - It's Christmas in Canada

As a Canadian, myself, let me just admit that I tend to find 'South Park's view on Canada freaking hilarious. It started with the flapping heads and the Canadian accent, and the development continues through this episode. The tradition of Canada being a sort of low-grade place continues through 'The Stick of Truth' as well, but I think this was where the real development of it started.

Ike's real parents arrive from Canada to take him away in accordance with a new Canadian law passed by the Prime Minister. The law states that all Canadian children living in America are to be returned to their birth parents. With that, Kyle seeks out the help of the other boys to head to Canada to get the Prime Minister to change the law. The boys are reluctant, but follow. Cartman insists that they be back in time for Christmas presents, or else he and Kyle fight. Stan, on the other hand, is ironically worried about missing out on a Christmas adventure.

Along the way, the Canadian gags continue, which includes a complete farce on 'The Wizard of Oz'. This is complete with there being only one road in Canada, munchkin-like characters, Scott (from 'Not Without My Anus') acting as the Wicked Witch, and the three characters met along the way, a Mountie who rides a sheep, a French Canadian mime, and a Newfie.

#02 - Grey Dawn

This episode just ends up being a lot of fun, and actually a bit of a farce on the zombie genre (at least in my eyes). It all starts when a bunch of the senior citizens in town are noticed to be driving rather recklessly. They're so bad, that things kick off with a memorial service for nine people who have died as a result.

Eventually, the senior citizens get their licenses taken away as a safety precaution. Not about to give in, and maintaining his stubbornness, Grandpa Marsh takes to driving again anyway. He is, however, arrested by Barbrady. It's an episode that seems to want to illustrate how stubborn senior citizens can be with their rights, but it also acts as a cautionary tale for the younger generations not to treat them like children. Okay, so old folks have a cuteness to them, but I feel like I always understood how frustrating for them it can be to be talked down to like a child.

The rest of the episode unfolds as a sort of senior citizens revenge story, in which the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) gets involved. In other words, just imagine a bunch of old folks wearing army helmets and packing heat. It's like something out of 'Python'. But again, I just enjoy how it's one where you can sort of route for either side; stop the seniors from driving around dangerously and risking lives, or stand up for yourself if you're being constantly condescended to.

#01 - Raisins

May I recommend this episode to anyone who may be struggling through a break-up. By the end of the episode, it becomes abundantly clear that break-ups are NOT the end of the world.

This one starts out with Wendy officially breaking up with Stan. Throughout the episode, Stan reminds us just how pathetic we can become after having our hearts broken. He tries to send her poetic messages through friends, offers grand romantic gestures, etc. When none of it works, he joins the Goth kids (in their first appearance) in all their dark, non-conformist glory.

Meanwhile, Butters has some problems of his own. He befriends a Raisins waitress (think disturbingly young version of Hooters) who leads him on to think he's something special, and he mistakes it as an actual relationship. Long story short, this episode also serves as a friendly slap-in-the-face reminder that some women definitely use their charms to get the most out of you. The episode is punctuated, however, with the one scene that solidified Butters as quite possibly my favorite 'South Park' character - and it remains to this day one of the best insights on how to handle your heartbreak.

0 Comments