Change Your Image
mastotom4114
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
South Park (1997)
The Greatest Show on Television
South Park was created by Trey Park and Matt Stone. Both Stone and Parker are still to this day highly involved in the making of each episode, often writing and directing most of the episodes, something very rare in television(animation or otherwise). They also perform a majority of the voice-overs for the male characters, often using pitch-shift technology in order to do the voices of the child characters. The first episode was actually made almost entirely construction paper- cutout stop motion animation. But from the second episode onwards, they switched to computer animation.
By the fourth season, the technology and production had advanced to where they could write, produce, and animate an entire episode within a week. By season 5(my personal favorite season), they had become the quintessential satirical television show. In addition to the fast production cycle, the creators had a fearless ambition to write about hot topic events, sensitive issues, and other aspects of society deemed too taboo for television. Whether it be an episode that addressed post-9/11 America and U.S. military activity in Afghanistan a mere 2 months after 9/11("Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants" by personal favorite episode), an episode that aired one day after the '08 election that predicted Obama would win, and predicted both Democrats and Republican's (over)reactions towards it("About Last Night..."), numerous episodes about the controversy over cartoon depictions of Muhammed(some of which resulted in death threats towards the South Park crew), or episodes that simultaneously slammed PC Culture and Trump- esque xenophobia(most of Season 19, most notably "Where My Country Gone"), no topic or ideology is free from slander.
But it's not just current events that make South Park so amazing. Some of their better episodes have involved more low-key, sitcom-based plots, which the creators sometimes call "kids being kids", or "Peanuts-esque" episodes. In addition to clever and humorous writing, these become successful due to the great characters that inhibit South Park.
The series mostly revolves around four 4th grade boys: Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick and Eric Cartman. Stan and Kyle are the main protagonists of the series, and often act as the voice of reason amidst all the chaos that consumes South Park. Stan and Kyle are based on series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone respectively. While both Stan and Kyle have similar personalities, they differ in other ways. Stan(my favorite character in the show) has had numerous episodes devoted to his occasional spells of depression, and Kyle's Jewish heritage and rivalry with Cartman are long running hallmarks of the series. Kenny, while most famous for his numerous deaths and reincarnation throughout, as well as his near inability to speak without mumbling due to him almost always wearing his iconic orange parka, with the hood pulled to tight over his face, has in recent seasons become one of the more complex characters in the series. In recent seasons he has occasionally become his superhero alter-ego Mysterion to save the day. He also often uses his immortality(which he only knows about, as later episodes have explained everyone but Kenny forget his numerous deaths ever happened) to sacrifice himself in order to save his friends and family. His sex obsession, occasional drug use, and family's lack of money are also key characteristics Kenny's had since the beginning. Cartman(only his mom calls him Eric), despite sometimes being considered a "friend" by the others, and constantly hangs out with them, is openly hated by almost everyone in town, and rightfully so. Cartman's key characteristics include his shrewd deception, greed, racism, and is generally described as a borderline sociopath, and his schemes have intentionally caused the deaths of numerous one- time characters(most infamously in "Scott Tenorman Must Die").
South Park also has excellent secondary characters, who occasionally steal the spotlight. This includes but is not limited to: Butters, a friend of the main boys, whose innocence and naiveness often gets him in trouble, and makes him a perfect victim and/or right-hand man for Cartman's schemes. Wendy, Stan's girlfriend, who is often a very outspoken and politically active(for a 4th grader) feminist, and often acts as another voice of reason. She also has a rivalry with Cartman, who often insults her and her liberal viewpoints. Tweek, the boys overly-caffenated, paranoid, but well-meaning and likable friend. Randy, Stan's humorous father, who often acts irrationally(especially when drunk) over trite situations, and usually gets caught up in South Park residents near constant mob mentality, often as the mob's leader. Mr.Garrison, the boys teacher for most of the series, who is actually very mentally unstable, and often has the same racist, and xenophobic ideologies as Cartman.
While I've tried my best to describe what makes South Park the best, the only way to find out is to actually watch it. I never thought I'd consider myself a South Park fan, but about 2 years ago I gave it a shot, and it's become my favorite show ever. It's even helped shape me as a person. There are numerous life lessons and philosophical teachings scattered throughout almost all their episodes. And that's what makes South Park special and enjoyable, for me at least. There's a healthy mix of heart and humor that not a lot of people expect, but South Park has handled topics such as depression, grief, isolation, the value of love and friendship, and other emotional and personal topics so perfectly, that sometimes I almost end up crying because the episodes are just so beautiful, heartfelt, and amazing. As of writing this, South Park just finished up it's 19th season a month ago, and it's still going strong. Hopefully it'll go on forever, because I know it'll still be good in it's 40th season if it ever reaches it, that's how amazing Trey Parker and Matt Stone are. And that's why in my opinion, South Park is television's greatest achievement.