South Parkbegan as the upstart answer to what cartoons for adults could be like. The concept was a good one, as the show’s more than 25-year running time proves, and that means that some episodes have aged better than others. It’s important to remember that some things were different back in the day, and some of those older South Park shows are like digital time capsules.
RELATED:Every South Park Christmas Special, Ranked
All of the followingSouth Parkepisodes had their share of fans and detractors back in the day, and the show was never a stranger to controversy. They were always funny, but years later these episodes mean even more now that we can apply their lessons to a new millennium.
7Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride (1997)
It seems strange now to think that concepts like gay marriage or other civil rights issuesconnected to the LGBTQ communitywould have been controversial, but it’s also important to remember that many still are. There’s actually a sequence during the boat ride when Al narrates a short sequence about the history of LGBTQ rights.
This episode not only took on those issues years before it was cool but it also took on other thorny social problems related to bigotry, like why a kid would run away from home. Perhaps, like the animals seeking sanctuary with Al, they were being raised in a home with oblivious parents at best. Everyone is looking for a place to belong, andBig Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ridehas room for everyone.
6Medicinal Fried Chicken (2010)
“Can’t we just skip all this and make pot legal?” The exasperated voice of the haggard pharmacist was speaking for many people with this simple question. The episode also holds the distinction of being one of the funniestSouth Parkepisodes ever, featuring Randy Marsh as someone willing to go to some ridiculous lengths to buy legal weed.
RELATED:Best South Park Characters (Who Only Appear In One Episode)
That was 2010. Now, cannabis is legal in several states, including Colorado where the show is based, and the 49th parallel is lined with Canadian Compassion Clubs. Society isn’t exactly on the verge of collapse, making Randy’s antics in the episode even more ridiculous.
5Make Love, Not Warcraft (2006)
Trey Parker was afraid that this episode would be so badly received that it would bring down the reputation of the show. The result was the exact opposite, and the TV showvideo game crossover elevated both mediums. It made fun of gamers and those who love them, or at least those that try to love them.
Today, it means a lot toWorld of Warcraftfans who have watched the game change into another game since this episode first aired in 2006. The recent controversies have put the game and the company that made it into a permanent downward spiral, and there seems to be a consensus there’s no coming back this time.
4Cherokee Hair Tampons (2000)
Interestingly, Trey Parker was afraida connection with an MMORPGwould ruin the show but somebody had to greenlight this title. Then again this is one of the ’90s episodes, and gross-out humor was a thing. The name of the episode is always going to be tragic, but once the viewer gets past that, this is another funny episode that has some eerie scrying powers in hindsight.
Looking at the show now, does the aptly named Miss Information remind you of anyone? It’s even more timely now than it ever was. The sub-plot includes Mr. Garrison writing a romance novel that predicts the popularity of books likeFifty Shades of Grey.
3Good Times With Weapons (2004)
When it was first released, this was a clever parody of a relatively new phenomenon that was just heading into the pop culture mainstream. Today, it’s still a clever parody, especially now that everyone is watching anime now.
RELATED:Best South Park Characters Who Were Retired Or Written Out Of The Show
This is one of the few older episodes that anyone can understand because now everyone is familiar with the basic tropes and stereotypes the episode is lampooning. In fact, this looks so much likeNarutoorInuyashathat’s even more hilarious. Now that anime has a much larger international audience today, these episodes have an even wider appeal.
2Lice Capades (2007)
This episode was one of the fewSouth Parkadventures that never got a lot of attention because it just didn’tcontain a lot of controversial material, especially compared to others. It was one of the smartest and funniest episodes when it came to lampooning action and horror movies in general, and those are still popular tropes in those genres, making this episode even funnier in the present day.
There are two parallel stories here, one of the kids pointing fingers as to who has the lice, and the lice themselves in their own apocalyptic-action movie parody that contains literally every trope imaginable. Led by Cartman, because who else would have the idea, the kids concoct a test that’s a combination of various survivalist horror movies. The story concludes with an important lesson about pointing fingers when it comes to social problems like communicable diseases. Sound familiar?
1The Mexican Staring Frog Of Southern Sri Lanka (1998)
This was just crazy good fun when it was first released,and it’s still just as funny, but now chillingly prophetic. This is before guys like Jimbo and Ned could have their own YouTube channel, and look at the damage they did with 12 viewers on public access tv with a fake video. Think of the same thing today but posted on social media instead. Parents would be going to PTA meetings screaming about theMexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka.
That’s not the only prophetic angle here, either. South Park resident Jesus Christ also has a cable access channel and it’s losing views to the exciting action on Ned and Jimbo’s show, “Huntin' N' Killin.” In order to get more clicks, or in this case views, Jesus resorts to some unethical choices to make the show more interesting. Things get out of hand and it takes the word of an angry Son of God to calm things down. Today’s media outlets could take a lesson from what happens when you appeal to the lowest common denominator.
MORE:South Park: The Seasons With The Best First Episodes, Ranked According To IMDb
