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As of late, I have been on a meme kick. As such, here is another one where I rank my top five episodes of the debut season of South Park, back when outlandish plots were familiar territory for Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

5. "Pinkeye" (original air date: October 29, 1997)

One of my favorite Halloween themed episodes of any animated series (and coincidentally, nine months before this first aired, I actually had pinkeye myself, after returning from a class camping trip in seventh grade). Basically, Kenny gets crushed by a fallen MIR space station, and at the morgue he is inadvertently revived with Worcestershire sauce, leading to an influx of zombies plaguing South Park. Even Chef is one, to the point of paying homage to Michael Jackson.

4. "Death" (original air date: September 17, 1997)

For a while, this was my favorite episode of the first season (and of the series itself). Basically, when Stan's grandfather turns 102, he is hell bent on ending his life. But Stan refuses to do this, and eventually the titular Death pursues the boys. Meanwhile, we get a first glimpse of Kyle's mom as a rabid moral guardian. Her crusade against Terrance and Phillip obviously foreshadows her Nazi-esque actions in the movie two years later. That being said, the parents of South Park are hypocrites for objecting to flatulence jokes from T&P, but they laugh uncontrollably regarding their own diarrhea.

3. "Tom's Rhinoplasty" (original air date: February 11, 1998)

The Valentine's Day episode. Basically, Mr. Garrison is absent from teaching duties due to him undergoing rhinoplasty (which results in him with a face which is identical to David Hasselhoff's), thus a substitute, Ms. Ellen, picks up the slack. And in a split, the boys all have crushes on her, unaware that she is a lesbian. Even Stan falls for Ms. Ellen, much to the chagrin of Wendy, who descends into jealousy, to the point of arranging for her to be fired into the sun. People say the infamous "Scott Tenorman Must Die" from four seasons later is dark, and while they are not wrong, did they forget about Wendy's actions here?

2. "Damien" (original air date: February 4, 1998)

Originally, "Weight Gain 4000" was going to be my choice for a runner up, but this ended up as the victor. Basically, Satan's son Damien starts school at South Park Elementary, and right away he wreaks havoc (even turning Kenny into a platypus), prompting a boxing match between his father and Jesus, complete with Michael Buffer as the announcer.

1. "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig" (original air date: September 10, 1997)

Lo and behold, my favorite episode of the first season and the entire series itself. Basically, the boys seek to breed "pot-bellied elephants", but their DNA cannot splice, prompting Chef to assist them (as much as Cartman disapproves, due to the boys involving his pet pig in their hybridization project). Meanwhile, Stan's sister abuses him, and his own teacher gaslights him over it (then again, this is Mr. Garrison we are talking about). Plus, the icing on the cake is a clone of Stan, who wreaks havoc upon South Park, for which the real Stan nearly takes the fall. As such, this deserves top ranking.

Meme template:

www.deviantart.com/wildcat1999…

Screen captures (C) Comedy Central

Description

As of late, I have been on a meme kick. As such, here is another one where I rank my top five episodes of the debut season of South Park, back when outlandish plots were familiar territory for Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

5. "Pinkeye" (original air date: October 29, 1997)

One of my favorite Halloween themed episodes of any animated series (and coincidentally, nine months before this first aired, I actually had pinkeye myself, after returning from a class camping trip in seventh grade). Basically, Kenny gets crushed by a fallen MIR space station, and at the morgue he is inadvertently revived with Worcestershire sauce, leading to an influx of zombies plaguing South Park. Even Chef is one, to the point of paying homage to Michael Jackson.

4. "Death" (original air date: September 17, 1997)

For a while, this was my favorite episode of the first season (and of the series itself). Basically, when Stan's grandfather turns 102, he is hell bent on ending his life. But Stan refuses to do this, and eventually the titular Death pursues the boys. Meanwhile, we get a first glimpse of Kyle's mom as a rabid moral guardian. Her crusade against Terrance and Phillip obviously foreshadows her Nazi-esque actions in the movie two years later. That being said, the parents of South Park are hypocrites for objecting to flatulence jokes from T&P, but they laugh uncontrollably regarding their own diarrhea.

3. "Tom's Rhinoplasty" (original air date: February 11, 1998)

The Valentine's Day episode. Basically, Mr. Garrison is absent from teaching duties due to him undergoing rhinoplasty (which results in him with a face which is identical to David Hasselhoff's), thus a substitute, Ms. Ellen, picks up the slack. And in a split, the boys all have crushes on her, unaware that she is a lesbian. Even Stan falls for Ms. Ellen, much to the chagrin of Wendy, who descends into jealousy, to the point of arranging for her to be fired into the sun. People say the infamous "Scott Tenorman Must Die" from four seasons later is dark, and while they are not wrong, did they forget about Wendy's actions here?

2. "Damien" (original air date: February 4, 1998)

Originally, "Weight Gain 4000" was going to be my choice for a runner up, but this ended up as the victor. Basically, Satan's son Damien starts school at South Park Elementary, and right away he wreaks havoc (even turning Kenny into a platypus), prompting a boxing match between his father and Jesus, complete with Michael Buffer as the announcer.

1. "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig" (original air date: September 10, 1997)

Lo and behold, my favorite episode of the first season and the entire series itself. Basically, the boys seek to breed "pot-bellied elephants", but their DNA cannot splice, prompting Chef to assist them (as much as Cartman disapproves, due to the boys involving his pet pig in their hybridization project). Meanwhile, Stan's sister abuses him, and his own teacher gaslights him over it (then again, this is Mr. Garrison we are talking about). Plus, the icing on the cake is a clone of Stan, who wreaks havoc upon South Park, for which the real Stan nearly takes the fall. As such, this deserves top ranking.

Meme template:

www.deviantart.com/wildcat1999…

Screen captures (C) Comedy Central