South Park’s First Trilogy Was Arguably Its Best

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In a surprising turn of events, the premiere of Season 27 of “South Park” marked the highest viewership in over two decades for the series, surpassing numbers since the debut of Season 3’s episode “Rainforest Shmainforest.” Today, we’ll delve into Season 3, not because of its impressive ratings but due to its unique feature: it was the first season to attempt a trilogy, a concept that the show wouldn’t revisit for quite some time. However, this trilogy is somewhat unconventional compared to the more formal “Imaginationland” series. Despite this, it’s incredibly entertaining and may even outshine the “Imaginationland” trilogies. Luckily, both trilogies are now accessible in their entirety on Paramount+, as “South Park” has moved from HBO Max. The two-part episodes “200” and “201,” however, remain unavailable in their complete form.

In this discussion, we’ll delve into the “Meteor Shower Trilogy” from Season 3. We’ll break down each of the three episodes, examine their interconnections, and highlight what sets each episode apart as unique and memorable.

The Cartman-Focused “Cat Orgy”

The three episodes within the “Meteor Shower Trilogy” each tackle unique themes, yet they share a common thread. Each installment features at least one of the primary four characters, along with a character who wasn’t heavily featured before. For instance, in “Cat Orgy,” it’s Cartman and Shelley Marsh, who had significant roles in only the first season’s “An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig.

Title “Cat Orgy” isn’t as impactful in the “Meteor Shower Trilogy” as “Jewbilee”, but it stands out for its exceptional narrative. The character development of Cartman, once depicted in an Adolf Hitler costume with admiration during the early seasons, is particularly noteworthy here. He transforms into a compassionate figure and even serves as something of a voice of reason. In Shelley, he encounters his equal. As her babysitter, she holds the reins, forcing Cartman to comply with her decisions. When Shelly introduces her 22-year-old boyfriend, Skyler, Cartman quickly realizes that he might be exploiting her vulnerability.

Initially, Cartman is attempting to catch Shelley with a boyfriend, providing ample comedic moments throughout the episode. However, when Skyler breaks up with Shelley because she won’t give him attention, she is deeply saddened. Cartman tries to console her and understand her thoughts, but he crosses a line as he is an older man manipulating a younger girl. This situation suggests that Shelley may be one of several victims of his inappropriate behavior.

Working together, they plot their retribution against this guitar enthusiast who is also a pedophile. This could be one of the rare instances where Cartman’s vindictive behavior aligns with a morally righteous course of action. Essentially, this episode presents an unusual character development for Cartman – something he seldom encounters. Normally, he engages in reprehensible acts and subsequently deals with the consequences of those actions.

The Cat’s Extravaganza” –

The Stan-Focused “Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub”

From the start, Pip, who appeared quite frequently, was easily overlooked as a character. This was actually intentional; he was largely ignored by the main four boys and even school staff at South Park Elementary, such as in “Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride” where Pip was the only child not given a helmet during football games. Moreover, due to episodes 200 and 201 being taken off streaming platforms, fans can no longer watch him getting written out of the series through his character’s demise.

For him, the episode titled “Two Guys in a Hot Tub” held significant importance. Looking back now, it marked the start of his downfall. This was particularly meaningful because it was the first time Butters had more than just one small line, which was unusual for him before this. Essentially, it was the moment when Butters stepped into the limelight and began to outshine Pip in the role of the frequently overlooked boy, doing so with greater impact.

This episode mainly focuses on Stan, Gerald Broflovski, and Randy Marsh’s storyline. In a separate subplot, Gerald and Randy decide to rebel against their conventional family roles for a night by attempting something daring. What they consider daring, we later learn, is watching each other use a hot tub for an unusual purpose. Randy becomes increasingly anxious throughout the episode over the possibility of others discovering their secret, which unfortunately comes true as Gerald shares the news with many.

A more engaging aspect unfolds as Stan finds himself imprisoned in Mr. Mackey’s home’s basement while a celebration takes place upstairs. The only other kids present are Pip, Butters, and Dougie – individuals whom Stan considers the most obnoxious students at South Park Elementary School. However, by the closing moments of the episode, Stan realizes that these ‘Melvins’ aren’t as detestable once you spend time with them. Yet, this revelation is quickly shattered when Kyle inquires about Stan’s night during the final scene.

Among the three episodes, this one is the most politically charged, and I must say, the plot involving Stan is exceptionally well-executed. The portrayal of the ATF and their contentious management during Waco stands out prominently. In a striking reenactment of real events, they even play loud music, though it’s not quite the same noise – it’s more like the wailing of people and babies, but in this case, it’s the popular tunes of Cher from her album “Believe”, cleverly alluding to her recent hit songs.

The Kyle and Kenny-Focused “Jewbilee”

Title event “Celebration of Jewry” unites Kyle and Kenny, but it’s Kenny who steals the show in this episode. Gerald and Sheila Broflovski plan to attend Mr. Mackey’s meteor shower party, making it a key link between all three episodes. They drop off Kyle, Kenny, and Ike at what appears to be a Jewish version of Boy Scouts camp, which unfortunately proves to be rather exclusive. An Asian boy gets expelled into the freezing cold (where a bear is rumored to reside), and anyone considered non-Kosher, such as Kenny, also faces expulsion.

Kenny encounters such an unusual character when Moses arrives, who is undoubtedly the most peculiar character in South Park up until then. His appearance and voice seem to be directly borrowed from the Master Control Program in Tron. It’s unclear why they chose this direction, yet it fits perfectly well, much like it’s challenging to explain why this unexpected combination works so exceptionally well.

Among the three episodes, “Jewbilee” stands out for its clear narrative focus. The fact that it takes place in one location works particularly well, even surpassing settings like Cartman’s house or Mr. Mackey’s house. This unique locale lends a sense of novelty to the episode, making it feel more original and interesting. Moreover, “Jewbilee” served as a touching conclusion to the trilogy by having Kenny ultimately save the day. In doing so, the characters at the camp learned to be more open-minded towards outsiders. Furthermore, the villain, Garth, hailing from the Synagogue of Antisemites, was an exceptionally witty and humorous early-season joke.

The Argument for the “Meteor Shower Trilogy”

From my perspective as an observer, South Park has always been renowned for taking risks, and one of its most daring instances was showcased in the two-part episode format. This epic storytelling unfolded during the season finales of both Season 1 and Season 2: “Cartman’s Mom Is a Dirty Sl-t” and “Cartman’s Mom Is Still a Dirty Sl-t,” respectively. Unlike typical cliffhangers, these two-parters stood out because they didn’t provide resolution to the cliffhanger posed at the end of Season 1. Instead, it opted for a Terrance and Phillip special, choosing to delay the narrative resolution in favor of a different thematic exploration.

The ‘Meteor Shower Trilogy’ presented an unusual challenge for Parker and Stone. This series aimed to explore how the main four characters would adapt when compelled to operate independently, a factor that sets it apart and potentially makes it their finest work.

The story demonstrates that each character possesses a captivating personal journey and undergoes development. For instance, Cartman displays a kinder side towards Shelley, Stan broadens his perspective toward people he previously dismissed, Kyle learns to acknowledge responsibility for his actions, and Kenny lays down his life to rescue a group who had previously excluded him.

The ‘Meteor Shower Trilogy’ can be enjoyed multiple times, making it a unique series because each installment stands independently while also contributing to the overall storyline when watched as a trilogy. Alternatively, one can appreciate just the standalone episode titled ‘Cat Orgy,’ and that works perfectly fine on its own.

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2025-08-17 04:43