Fans have plenty of questions after season 25 of South Park ended with only six episodes. With the shortest running time ever for the series, it seems as though the creators are not running out of material anytime soon. While waiting for new episodes and specials, fans can revisit old episodes in anticipation.
The season premieres have some of the funniest and most controversial storylines in the series. From alien abductions to parodying a disturbing horror film, these episodes kickstart their respective seasons with the most shocking and memorable moments full of social commentary on politics, censorship, and current events.
Cartman Gets An Anal Probe (Season 1)
The series premiere of South Park will go down in history as one of the most absurd introductions to an animated series ever. As aliens begin abducting the people of South Park, including Cartman, the boys must save Ike from the extra-terrestrials. The only hope of saving him is using the satellite that was inserted into Cartman despite him being adamant that he was never probed.
The first episode is a memorable introduction into the crude humor of the series and outlandish storylines. It’s a solid premiere that is just the beginning of the escapades of the controversial children.
White People Renovating Houses (Season 21)
The season 21 premiere finds Randy and Sharon Marsh starting a TV series following as they renovate homes. As a hilarious take on popular HGTV renovation shows, their series is interrupted by a Confederate mob upset that smart speakers are taking their jobs. The protesters get jobs replacing the speakers.
The introduction to the Marsh’s show is the perfect parody. Randy steals the renovation show and there are just clips of him destroying walls for an open concept plan. The addition of a drunk redneck sitting in a corner and responding like the Amazon Alexa is so bizarre yet predicts the uprising of smart devices.
Mr. Garrison’s Fancy New Vagina (Season 9)
Mr. Garrison undergoes sex reassignment surgery in the season 9 premiere, starting a chain reaction of cosmetic surgeries. Kyle wants to undergo a surgery to change his race and height to compete with other kids on the basketball team. His father, Gerald, also decides to have surgery to turn himself into a dolphin.
The episode is shocking and no other show except South Park could pull off the storyline. While the major social takeaway is the seriousness of gender reassignment surgery, the point is made through such scenes as Kyle’s kneecaps made from testicles exploding and Mrs. Garrison being upset that she cannot get pregnant and have an abortion.
The Pandemic Special (Season 24)
The season 24 premiere finds the citizens of South Park dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Randy fears the pandemic started because he and Mickey Mouse had sex with a bat in China. Cartman attempts to avoid going back to school, preferring Zoom class over in-person. Butters’ parents take the pandemic seriously, not letting him go places despite restrictions being lifted.
The funniest part about the special is the reality. South Park is no stranger to turning real events into a storyline. The fears of spreading the virus and the misuse of face masks are a focal point and offer hilarious social commentary on the handling of COVID-19.
The Tooth Fairy’s Tats 2000 (Season 4)
The boys create a Tooth Fairy scheme to raise money for a Sega Dreamcast in the season 4 premiere. Going to great lengths, including stealing teeth and money from under their classmates’ pillows, they’re introduced to organized crime and the underground tooth market.
The episode is a child’s fantasy. Using the Tooth Fairy to gain money is something most kids have imagined at one time or another growing up. The idea is taken and greatly elaborated to include the American Dental Association becoming suspicious about all the missing teeth and blaming a half chicken, half squirrel monster. The episode is so bizarre and absolutely hilarious.
It Hits The Fan (Season 5)
A literal curse plagues South Park when the townspeople begin saying “sh*t” after the word is uncensored on television. After sudden deaths from overusing the curse word, Chef and the boys must save the town from an unleashed murderous dragon using an ancient runestone.
The word is said a whopping 162 times, all uncensored with syndicated airings showing a counter in the corner to tally every time it’s spoken. The episode takes an ordinary swear word and escalates into a catastrophic event threatening everyone. It’s a different view on censorship and the use of swear words on cable television.
Reverse Cowgirl (Season 16)
South Park addresses the hilarious topic of who is responsible for putting the toilet seat down in the season 16 premiere. After Clyde’s mom dies after falling into the toilet because he didn’t put the seat down, the Toilet Safety Administration (TSA) implements new rules and security for properly using the restroom.
Recurring character Butters is the best part of the episode as he uses the toilet by correctly removing his clothing and sitting backwards. The issue is blown completely out of proportion, making for a hilarious situation as people patrolling private restrooms and confirm everyone is wearing seat belts in the restroom. It’s a unique idea, executed with hilarious results.
With Apologies To Jesse Jackson (Season 11)
After Randy incorrectly guesses a racial slur on Wheel of Fortune, the town turns their backs on him, and Stan is mortified, trying to apologize to Tolkien for his father’s behavior. Cartman starts a feud with a man with dwarfism after he won’t stop laughing during a school assembly.
As the boys learn appropriate behavior toward all walks of life, the episode is memorable for being insightful and commenting on hate language while still managing to be funny. Cartman is incredibly petty, and his treatment of Dr. Nelson is no different though he still doesn’t learn a lesson after pinning the man down and forcing him to submit.
Member Berries (Season 20)
In the season 20 premiere, the national anthem is rewritten by J.J. Abrams due to protests, Mr. Garrison wants to give up his presidential campaign, and Randy eats member berries to relax him with nostalgia. Though the berries end up spouting off conservative views instead of nostalgic phrases.
Politics mix with pop culture to create a funny narrative mocking the cultural climate of the time it premiered. J.J. Abrams being asked to rewrite the national anthem is so absurd, yet believable to make it marketable so nobody can protest. The jokes intertwine with real-world events perfectly and even ends on a cliffhanger to confirm Cartman is not the internet troll.
HUMANCENTiPAD (Season 15)
South Park takes on The Human Centipede in the season 15 premiere. After Kyle doesn’t read the Terms and Conditions, he’s kidnapped and becomes the middle of the HUMANCENTiPAD with his mouth sewn to a Japanese man’s anus and a woman’s mouth south onto his own anus. Cartman is gifted the HUMANCENTiPAD after his mom refuses to buy him an iPad.
Just when audiences thought the series could only push the envelope so far, the creators take it one step further. It’s a disturbing consequence for a relatable situation: users who never read the lengthy Terms and Conditions. Despite being fictional, the episode will make viewers think twice before agreeing to something they’ve never read.