South Park: The Best Episode of Each Season

Season 1: "Death"

Also in:

Top 10 Funniest Our Flag Means Death Moments

Focused squarely at Stan’s grandfather’s desire to prematurely end his life, it was one of the few early episodes that showed audiences this wasn’t just a show about four foul mouthed kids. Sure, it’s full of laughs including Grandpa Marsh’s scowling at “Billy”, and the grim reaper’s love of Terrance and Phillip. But the heart of this episode showed audiences how difficult end of life decisions can be, and how they affect your loved ones. This set the stage for countless stories that would follow on for years.

When you think of things that might scare you during Halloween, killer goldfish are probably not at the top of your list. Through the magic of parallel dimensions and evil twins, “South Park” gave us not only Stan’s spooky fish, but perhaps one of the show’s most terrifying guests: an Eric Cartman who’s nice. Sporting a goatee, this one is friendly, kind, and even thoughtful towards others. As for the fish, he manages to go on a bit of a rampage, taking out visitors to Stan’s home. Throw it all together with a “spooky vision” frame on the screen and you’ve got laughs to go with all your candy.

Fun fact: Did you know that Jennifer Aniston did the voice of Miss Stevens in this episode? Her character leads the boys down to Costa Rica to teach them more about the rainforests. From there, the episode's funniest scenes come from the interactions between Stevens’ and Cartman. With Eric’s clear disdain for the country, the two collide repeatedly as she tries to get him to behave. The laughs keep coming as she gets the kids lost in the forest, and somehow ends up in a cheerleader outfit very reminiscent of Rachel’s from “Friends”.

Season 4: "Something You Can Do With Your Finger"

Also in:

Top 10 Shocking Moments in South Park

Thanks to Cartman’s efforts to form his own boy band, fans were given a tasty satirical look at the singing craze. This episode goes after every trope associated with these kinds of pop groups. Ridiculous band name: check. Stereotypical members: check. Songs that make no sense but drive fans crazy: check. Yet it gets even that much better when we find out Stan’s dad Randy was also once in a boy band. It’s Randy’s last minute inclusion in the group that makes the whole thing even more outrageous and comical than we would have expected.

Season 5: "Scott Tenorman Must Die"

Also in:

Top 10 Worst Things Michael Scott Has Done

It’s interesting that the absolute best “South Park” episode would also be one of the simplest. There’s no moral or commentary on our society; it’s essentially just a cat and mouse game as Cartman tries to get back at Scott Tenorman for selling him his pubes. After watching Cartman continually fail miserably in his revenge plot, it’s the twist ending that makes this episode. We won’t give it away here, but let’s just say it elevates the story to another level of comedic genius and Cartman to another level of psychopath. You’ll also never look at a bowl of chili the same way again.

Season 6: "The Return of the Fellowship of the Two Towers"

Also in:

How South Park is Made

Coming out about a month before “The Two Towers” hit theaters, this episode brought Middle-earth to South Park. Stone and Parker have often said that some of their favorite episodes are simply about the “kids being kids.” This episode takes us back to a more innocent time when playing make-believe almost felt real. For the boys, returning “The Lord of the Rings” to the video store evolves into a rousing quest. What they don’t realize is that the video has been switched with an adult film, attracting the attention of their parents and Ringwraith-like sixth graders. Perhaps what’s most impressive about this episode is that it manages to satirize a three-part epic in just 22 minutes, faithfully recreating several scenes and turning Butters into Gollum.

Season 7: "All About Mormons"

Also in:

Top 20 Greatest South Park Episodes

Before Matt Stone and Trey Parker were a hit on Broadway with “The Book of Mormon,” they made this classic “South Park” episode. When a Mormon family moves to town, people are completely bewildered by how unusually nice they are. Stan only becomes more judgmental as he learns the story of Joseph Smith, which he considers “dumb-dumb-dumb dumb-dumb.” Aside from deriving humor from actual Mormon beliefs, the episode also provides a meaningful message about faith. Sure, religion doesn’t always make sense, but if it helps you to be a better person without hurting anyone else, who cares what other people think?

Given all the hell Cartman has put Butters through, it’s only appropriate that Eric gets his comeuppance in this hysterical episode. When Cartman dresses up as a robot to learn Butters’ embarrassing secrets, he finds out that Butters actually knows one of his secrets. Now Cartman must fully commit to his role in order to avoid humiliation. Although we don’t see Cartman’s face for much of the episode, it’s hilarious just to imagine what’s running through his head as he digs himself deeper and deeper into trouble. Despite his best efforts, it’s the tiniest of errors that ultimately exposes him.

Being a show that’s not afraid to tackle any subject matter, it isn’t shocking that “South Park” has riled up so much controversy. “Trapped in the Closet” is arguably the most controversial episode of all. Taking on the Church of Scientology and poking fun at Tom Cruise, the episode naturally offended numerous parties. Despite this, it remains one of the show’s boldest half-hours, which – over the years – has come to be seen as less of a shot at Scientology and more of an advocate for free speech.

Season 10: "Make Love, Not Warcraft"

Also in:

Top 10 Things From Friends That Make NO Sense

“South Park” has produced a variety of video game-related episodes and this is by far the most ingenious. When a griefer starts claiming innocent lives in the World of Warcraft, the boys decide to band together. As their characters level up into unstoppable warriors, in the real world they’re reduced to slobs with no lives. Much like an RPG, this episode manages to take something as uneventful as sitting at a computer screen and turn it into an absorbing adventure. The story both satirizes the “WOW” fan base while also embracing the franchise. It’s only made funnier by the fact that Blizzard Entertainment contributed to the CG animation.

Season 11: The Imaginationland Trilogy: “Imaginationland Episode I/II/III”

Also in:

Top 20 Best South Park Songs

Of all the multi-part episodes “South Park” has done, this Emmy-winning trilogy stands out as a magnum opus. “Imaginationland” is certainly one of the show’s most ambitious and cinematic outings as imagination itself is threatened. In addition to providing one great laugh after another, “Imaginationland” constantly leaves you at the edge of your seat, not only wondering where the story will go, but also which imaginary character will make an appearance next. They even make room for our favorite woodland critters. In the end, we get a unique moral regarding the importance of imagination and the impact many of these fictional characters have had on us.

By this time in the show’s run, Randy had become a far more centric part of “South Park”’s storylines. So when the internet seemingly disappears from town, Randy’s inability to “master his domain” forces him to find the web elsewhere. That alone was funny enough, but it’s how things go once they get to an internet refugee camp that really dialed the laughter up. From the hilarious “internet simulator”, to Randy’s ectoplasm excuses, everything about his obsession brings gut filled laughter. Plus, let’s not forget Kyle saving the day by merely doing what many have done before with many of our electronic devices: unplugging something and plugging it back in.

Season 13: "The Ring"

Also in:

Westworld Season 2 Episode 4 BREAKDOWN - WatchClub

Season 13 may have had some great stories, like Butters becoming a pimp [xref], but how it opened topped them all. This was all about “South Park” taking clear aim at Disney. It may start with mocking the Jonas Brothers and their sexual suggestive performances, but once Mickey Mouse enters the frame, the bigger picture of it all shines straight through. Depicted as a physically and emotionally abusive boss, the writers use Mickey as a means to mock the so-called family friendly image the brand is known for. They hold nothing back as Mickey becomes a fire-breathing beast who destroys everything in his path. Like so many others on this list, it combines the best parts of comedy and social commentary.

Season 14: "200/201"

Also in:

Westworld Season 2 Episode 3 BREAKDOWN - WatchClub

In these landmark episodes that mark the show’s 200th and 201st episodes respectively, “South Park” pays homage to its best moments with the return of fan favorite characters and practically every celebrity the show has ever parodied. They all tie into a clever – albeit controversial – story in which Tom Cruise, Rob Reiner, and other big names threaten to sue the town unless they deliver the taboo prophet Muhammad. After “200” resulted in a threat from a radical Muslim group, Comedy Central heavily censored the follow-up, “201.” Nevertheless, both episodes still effectively enforce the message that no public figure should be off-limits when it comes to satire. Plus, we finally learn who Cartman’s real father is.

Season 15: "You're Getting Old"

Also in:

Westworld Season 2 Episode 2 BREAKDOWN - WatchClub

Writers of any kind will often include aspects of their own life in the material they are creating. Perhaps more so than any other episode at the time, this mid-season 14 finale echoed the real life difficulties of the show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Stan’s frustration with getting older and life changing was merely a reflection of the pair’s own struggles with getting older as well. No matter how hard any of us try, you can’t fight the clock. Although much of the weight of this episode was undone by the follow-up, it doesn’t change how much this made all of us think about our own views on how life inevitably changes.

Season 16: "A Nightmare On FaceTime"

Also in:

Westworld Season 2 Episode 4 BREAKDOWN - WatchClub

Even back in 2012, renting your movies from a local Blockbuster store was still considered antiquated. So only the likes of Randy Marsh would think buying a video rental store would be a good idea. Nonetheless, he does, and when it fails to drum up much in the way of business, Randy goes a little…crazy. What makes this episode stand out among the rest of the season is how it turns Randy into an animated version of Jack Torrance from “The Shining”. From the crazy eyes, to being frozen out front, it’s a comical take on such a scary and iconic character.

Season 17: The Black Friday Trilogy: “Black Friday” / “A Song of Ass and Fire” / “Titties and Dragons”

Also in:

Top 10 Times Kenny Was The Best Character On South Park

You think “Game of Thrones” is brutal? You should see the mall on Black Friday. This three-part epic that consists of the episodes “Black Friday,” “A Song of Ass and Fire” and “Titties and Dragons” takes a long, hard look at the dark side of consumerism as the boys devise a plan to achieve discounts on next-gen consoles. The question is whether they should buy Xbox Ones or PS4s. What, no love for Nintendo Wii U? While Sony and Microsoft go to war, Randy prepares for winter, George R.R. Martin procrastinates, and Princess Kenny reigns supreme. Firing on all cylinders, the “Black Friday” trilogy dishes out ingenious references, commentary, twists, and even a tie-in to “The Stick of Truth” video game.

No matter how you look at it, this episode tops season 18 for one very good reason: the very last scene. Come on? Who didn’t laugh themselves off their seat to find the kids in the real world, mocking the show’s blocky animation? The episode also had the added bonus of watching Butters let loose a little while thinking he’s in the VR world. He may have gotten grounded yet again, but at least he had a moment of payback for his dad.

This time around the show brings the Japanese art form of Yaoi into the mix by depicting Tweek and Craig as a couple. The confusion around the art inevitably causes the townsfolk to think the two boys are actually together. This results in both Tweek and Craig both adamantly insisting that they are straight, but ultimately end up portraying themselves as a couple to appease both the townsfolk and themselves. It is confusing as to whether these two really are a couple, but that isn’t what makes the episode great, as we’re given multiple moments where everyone reassesses what it means to be happy.

Season 20: "Oh Jeez"

Also in:

Westworld Season 2 Episode 3 BREAKDOWN - WatchClub

It was 2016 and much like the rest of the country, the residents of South Park are in shock as Garrison has become president. And as unlikely as that was, most of this episode builds on the season-long arc about Gerald Broflovski’s obsession with being an internet troll. Danish company TrollTrace has been hard at work combatting the likes of Gerald and his cronies. Thanks to a deal with Hillary Clinton, all the trolls are captured and turned over to TrollTrace in exchange for keeping people’s web history a secret. Without the setups from an episode like this, the rest of the season would not have come out as well as it did.

Season 21: "Franchise Prequel"

Also in:

Top 10 Bachelor Franchise Contestants Who Deserved Better

The “Coon and Friends” gang are hard at work trying to figure out the plans for their movie and TV franchises. But it all goes sideways thanks to the proliferation of fake news. When the town invites Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to address the issue, they get one of the weirdest people the town has ever seen. Zuckerberg seemingly ignores anyone’s request to talk, speaking in a weird voice, and making bizarre noises. It’s this depiction that takes the humor of this episode and dials it up. No one could have thought Facebook’s CEO could be so funny, but in the town of “South Park”, anything is possible.

Season 22: "The Problem with a Poo"

Also in:

Westworld Season 2 Episode 2 BREAKDOWN - WatchClub

This one has it all: The Roseanne Barr tweeting controversy, discussions around racism in television, and even a hearing that eerily mirrors the one undergone by Brett Kavanaugh. It all centers around a longtime fixture in “South Park”: Mr. Hankey. Even the title of the episode is a play on words of the documentary about “The Simpsons” character Apu. The episode makes it crystal clear that as inclusivity becomes the norm, there’s a dangerous line to ride between the acceptance of change, and clinging to the past. Through the eyes of the town, we can see the real struggle of the past vs the present and it makes for a great standout episode.

Season 23: "Shots!!!"

Also in:

Top 10 Greatest Shots in TV History

Let’s just get this out of the way. Eric is a pig. No, we’re not calling him names, or trying to be derogatory towards him. The truth is, the episode’s plot primarily focuses on Cartman needing his vaccination shot. Every time they try to give him the needle, he ends up running around on all fours, squealing like a little pig. He lost it during his visit at the doctor’s office and even at an old fashioned rodeo. No matter how hard you try, this one’s hilarious for just how well they’ve taken anthropomorphism and reversed it into zoomorphism.

Season 24: "South Park: Post Covid: The Return Of Covid"

Also in:

Top 10 People South Park Loves to Make Fun Of

While season 24 technically only had two actual episodes, both of which were TV specials, they are both listed as having production codes from that season. This two part special concluded with the future boys of “South Park” finding a way to travel back in time to undo the COVID-19 pandemic. But instead of preventing it, they choose to forgive each other for how they behaved during the outbreak. With Kelly Clarkson’s “I Forgive You” playing in the background, the episode reminds us of all the hard times and struggles we went through during the pandemic. Leave it to a handful of kids to teach the rest of us a great lesson in forgiveness and cutting each other some slack.

Season 25: "Help, My Teenager Hates Me!"

Also in:

Top 10 Funniest Moments From South Park Not Suitable For Children

Airsoft guns have hit the town and the four boys are eager to try them out. Only one problem: the boys are forced to play with teenagers. Now having a teenager “assigned” to each kid, they become replacement parents, taking on all the typical tasks teenage parents have to deal with. It’s hysterical watching these 10 year olds try to teach teens things like personal hygiene or how to cook ramen noodles. Inevitably, the teens rebel against their new “parents” and the real dads (and Uncle Jimbo) join our boys in a battle against the teens. It’s both funny and heartwarming seeing the kids finally getting real bonding time with some adults.

Season 26: "Deep Learning"

Also in:

The Boys: A Deep Dive

AI services such as Chat GPT have taken the world by storm, so it came to no one’s surprise when they featured in this Season 26 episode. Much to our delight, we find several of the boys using the software for their own purposes, which include completing homework and texting girls. Even Garrison joins in on the action to grade his student’s papers. Naturally, it all hilariously backfires. Fortunately, Stan is able to save the day, but not without some obvious help. It’s entertaining and social commentary we are so accustomed to seeing from the show at its finest.