For nearly 25 years, South Park has played a major role in mature animation. The initial appeal was that these young characters and South Park’s crude presentation style were anachronistic and didn't match the racy dialogue and subject matter that drove the show's storytelling.
Over the course of more than 320 episodes, South Park has become one of the most fearless and intelligent satires currently airing. South Park has an uncanny ability to highlight real issues through absurd and inappropriate concepts. However, South Park's ability to pull stories from the headlines and recklessly feature real-life personalities as punchlines can sometimes get out of hand.
Updated March 20, 2023 by Daniel Kurland: It’s nothing short of incredible how Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s crude animated creation, South Park, has lasted for more than 25 years and evolved from crass comedy to a satirical touchstone. There’s a certain fearlessness that fuels South Park’s storytelling where it feels like anything is possible and nothing is off limits. This approach results in prescient and bold pieces of television, but the disadvantage is that South Park occasionally goes too far by pursuing unnecessary topics or telling stories where the comedy can’t sustain the controversy.
Sensitive and potentially disturbing topics and events will be discussed. Please proceed with caution.
15 “The Death Camp Of Tolerance”
Release Date: November 20, 2002 (Season 6, Episode 14)
"The Death Camp of Tolerance" depicts Mr. Garrison pushing his new openly out self in an attempt to get the school to fire him so that he can get rich off of the ensuing lawsuit. Garrison's lewd behavior results in the South Park kids getting sent to a death camp of tolerance, which presents stereotypes at face value in unsubtle attempts to demystify them.
All of these scenes are shown in black-and-white, evocative of Schindler's List. The introduction of Lemmiwinks and his journey is easily some of the most graphic visuals that South Park has used up until this point, even if it's filtered through ridiculous fantasy.
14 “With Apologies To Jesse Jackson”
Release Date: March 7, 2007 (Season 11, Episode 1)
South Park's season premieres usually have a little more time for planning, which means that they can hit the ground running with radical ideas. Season 11 begins with a seemingly innocent incident where Randy competes on Wheel of Fortune. A chance for big money turns Randy into a social outcast when his prediction faux pas goes terribly wrong.
"With Apologies to Jesse Jackson" doesn't censor itself when it comes to inflammatory language, which is a lot in the name of "comedy." Furthermore, Cartman's subplot where he mocks a differently abled counselor is South Park at its most cruel and empty.
13 “Band In China”
Release Date: October 2, 2019 (Season 23, Episode 2)
South Park is often at its most inspired when someone decides to push their buttons. "Band in China" is a 2019 episode that specifically explores China's comprehensive censorship protocols that result in major blockbuster movies getting edited or outright banned if they don't comply.
Everything from Marvel to Star Wars has bent to China's whims, and South Park starts a dangerous game here that culminates in China actually banning South Park in their country and proving the episode's point in the process. A lot of "Band in China" involves the slaughter of beloved intellectual properties, like Winnie the Pooh, or the heightened tyrannical abuse that stems from Mickey Mouse.
12 “It Hits The Fan”
Release Date: June 20, 2001 (Season 5, Episode 1)
The aim of "It Hits the Fan" almost seems quaint compared to the chaos that South Park has subsequently caused. The show's fifth season gets bold by digging deep into FCC guidelines and TV red tape in order to execute an experiment where South Park doesn't just say a particular expletive for the first time, but does so 163 times in 22 minutes.
There's even a running counter in the corner of the screen that clocks South Park's crudeness as the show literally normalizes this "curse word" of its power. It's the type of brashness that South Park is now famous for.
11 “Holiday Special”
Release Date: September 27, 2017 (Season 21, Episode 3)
A lot of the more recent South Park entries have used Randy's Tegridy Farms marijuana business as a way to indulge in self-aware storytelling courtesy of different "holiday specials." Season 21's "Holiday Special" puts Columbus Day on its radar as it explores the modern discussion over the holiday's mixed messages and celebration of Native American erasure.
In a dig at Elizabeth Warren, Randy pledges that he comes from Native American heritage while simultaneously attacking the people's legacy. Randy's status as a Christopher Columbus mega-fan also triggers a look into current cancel culture, too.
10 "Woodland Critter Christmas"
Release Date: December 15, 2004 (Season 8, Episode 14)
South Park’s origins revolve around the spirit of Christmas. South Park has always put a bit of extra effort into their winter seasonal episodes. The woodland critters that Stan comes upon in South Park’s eighth season look like adorable animals in "Woodland Critter Christmas."
Their innocence slowly gets subverted as it’s revealed the animals have Satanic inclinations, expressed in inappropriate ways. "Woodland Critter Christmas" is mostly a figment of Cartman’s imagination, allowing the episode to end on a very grim note without upsetting the show's status quo.
9 "Mr. Garrison’s Fancy New V****a"
Release Date: March 9, 2005 (Season 9, Episode 1)
Mr. Garrison has experienced a tremendous change throughout South Park. South Park’s ninth season incorporates a major shift when he undergoes a gender transition. South Park decides to show several seconds of actual surgery footage while Garrison is in surgery.
The episode, "Mr. Garrison's Fancy New V*****a" is shocking and steeped in problematic imagery. Kyle’s own operation to become better at basketball, and Gerald’s transformation into a dolphin, make the episode tone-deaf at best.
8 "Scott Tenorman Must Die"
Release Date: July 11, 2001 (Season 5, Episode 4)
"Scott Tenorman Must Die" from South Park’s fifth season is a real turning point for Cartman. Most of the episode details Scott Tenorman’s incessant bullying of Cartman. So, Cartman inflicts his ultimate revenge plan on the older boy.
In a nod to William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, Cartman orchestrates events that lead to the deaths of Scott’s parents, who he feeds to Scott in a chili. Despite the heightened manner in which it's presented, the episode's events are still extremely disturbing.
7 "The China Problem"
Release Date: October 8, 2008 (Season 12, Episode 8)
South Park is known for exploring its opinions through incredibly intense metaphors. "The China Problem" looks at the public's disappointment in the latest Indiana Jones movie, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. South Park equates the boys' hurt feelings over the film's inadequacies to being sexually assaulted.
"The China Problem" recreates sexual assault scenes from Deliverance, The Accused, and Boys Don't Cry, which are more haunting than humorous. Cartman and Butters also push the boundaries of good taste with offensive Chinese stereotypes, one of the show's most tired tropes.
6 "Britney’s New Look"
March 19, 2008 (Season 12, Episode 2)
South Park is often fearless with the subject matter that it tackles, including the celebrities who it puts in its crosshairs. Parker and Stone have even admitted that "Britney’s New Look" is an especially dark episode.
"Britney’s New Look" is only more relevant now with the details of Spears’ conservatorship that have come to light. It's one of several South Park episodes that makes powerful points on the invasive nature of tabloids and paparazzi culture, in the most upsetting way possible.
5 "HumancentiPad"
Release Date: April 27, 2011 (Season 15, Episode 1)
South Park’s 15th season is where the series shows some signs of fatigue. "HumancentiPad" is one episode that makes a particularly disturbing impression. Pulling inspiration from the over-the-top horror film, Human Centipede, South Park combines the film's gross perversion of anatomy and torture with the public’s fervor for the latest Apple products.
Kyle becomes the middle segment in this eccentric new "invention" and he’s forced to endure a horrible fate. "HumancentiPad" may not break new ground, but it’s still a rough watch.
4 "Bloody Mary"
Release Date: December 7, 2005 (Season 9, Episode 14)
South Park regularly leans into two extremes, one of which is fully content to embrace gross-out humor and startling visuals. "Bloody Mary" ends up being about the dangers of blind devotion to religion.
"Bloody Mary" coasts on established characters, particularly Randy, getting covered in blood that’s treated like a saintly miracle. "Bloody Mary" may seem tame to some, but it makes a crude point and pushes buttons for some viewers.
3 "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants"
Release Date: November 7, 2001 (Season 5, Episode 9)
South Park’s fifth season is its breakout year. One of the show's most controversial installments involves the boys getting shipped away to Afghanistan and encountering Osama Bin Laden. South Park tackles this serious subject matter with a broad Looney Tunes energy that repeatedly makes Bin Laden the brunt of many classic jokes.
This takedown of the terrorist could be seen as cathartic, but "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants" also depicts Bin Laden getting away with genuine murder and destruction while the terrorist was still at large. Even Mel Brooks waited a few decades before satirizing the Third Reich.
2 "Hell On Earth 2006"
Release Date: October 25, 2006 (Season 10, Episode 11)
"Hell On Earth 2006" depicts Satan as a major sympathetic character, no doubt causing some controversy on its own. "Hell On Earth 2006" depicts countless villains and tyrants surrounding Satan, but the late Steve Irwin is also in attendance.
There may not be any malice intended, as it seems to be a commentary on people wearing Steve Irwin Halloween costumes. Nonetheless, the episode still upset a lot of people and Irwin's family shouldn't have to see that.
1 "Krazy Kripples"
Release Date: March 26, 2003 (Season 7, Episode 2)
"Krazy Kripples" is a memorable episode of South Park that touches on gang warfare, stem cell research, and Superman sequels of all things. Parker and Stone thought they should keep off-limits Christopher Reeve off-limits from South Park's derisive humor, but they eventually turned to him in "Krazy Kripples" to discuss the possible abuse of stem cell research.
"Krazy Kripples" turns Cartman into a fetus broker, buying and selling pre-natal bodies, and the results are naturally incredibly dark. Even Timmy and Jimmy's storyline is surrounded by death.