Every South Park Season 2 Episode, Ranked, 28 Years On

The first four seasons of South Park have a unique appeal that isn’t quite present in later seasons. While Season 5 is arguably the second-best (with Season 8 being the best), it marks a shift away from the show’s original, groundbreaking style. The storylines also became more complicated, like Cartman’s detailed plan to get back at Scott Tenorman, moving away from the simpler, *Ed, Edd n Eddystyle pranks of Season 4 and the more juvenile humor of the first three years. Season 2, in particular, was the last year where episodes had very simple, yet endearing, plots.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the show, aren’t big fans of the first three seasons, feeling they lack the humor and maturity of later episodes. They especially point to Season 2 as being the weakest link. Interestingly, they stepped back from much of the writing during that season and later wished they hadn’t. Despite this, Season 2 is still a strong year overall, particularly for those who enjoy a bit of nostalgia, with simple but fun stories and wonderfully strange characters. It’s also the longest season, with 18 episodes – but which one stands out as the best?

18) “Merry Christmas, Charlie Manson”

Some South Park one-off characters should come back. Charles Manson isn’t one of them.

It’s easy to see why Parker and Stone later said the show initially focused too much on being shocking – this episode is a good example. The central joke – that Charles Manson secretly has a kind side and loves Christmas – feels weak and isn’t strong enough to carry a whole episode. However, the introduction of Cartman’s family is genuinely funny and enjoyable.

17) “Prehistoric Ice Man”

It’s strange they chose such a weak episode – out of eighteen – to end the season. “Prehistoric Ice Man” feels completely by-the-numbers, from the predictable jokes between the characters to everything else. It doesn’t seem like anyone tried to do anything different or creative.

This episode doesn’t have much going for it. The highlights are its depiction of 90s music – specifically Ace of Base and Marilyn Manson – and a funny visual gag involving a federal agent staring at a character resembling a monkey. However, even that joke feels unoriginal, as something similar appeared in last year’s episode, “Starvin’ Marvin.” The rest of the episode relies on the same, repetitive joke: the Crocodile Hunter sticking his thumb in the rear ends of different animals.

16) “City on the Edge of Forever”

“City on the Edge of Forever” was the 20th episode of South Park. Because it aired so early in the series, it was unusual for it to be a clip show – an episode made up of footage from previous shows.

Despite being a clip show, this South Park episode manages to offer more than just recycled footage. It features two main storylines: the kids being chased on a school bus by a monster, and Ms. Crabtree’s attempts to rescue them, which surprisingly lead to her being seen as a funny performer – even though she’s simply scolding people. However, the new content isn’t particularly strong.

15) “Terrance & Phillip in Not Without My Anus”

No episode embodies the essence of South Park quite like “Terrance & Phillip in Not Without My Anus.” The show’s first season was a huge success, and the season finale left viewers wondering who Cartman’s father was. So, fans expected the second season to reveal the answer, but instead, the opening episode focused on a completely different storyline and didn’t even include the main characters, the boys.

The episode upset and disappointed many viewers, which feels perfectly in line with the creators’ famously unconventional behavior – they once famously showed up to the Oscars in dresses after taking LSD. As for the episode itself, it’s…okay. Whether it works really depends on if you find the two main characters and their simple personalities engaging enough to carry a 22-minute story.

14) “Cartman’s Mom Is Still a Dirty S**t”

Following the short film “Terrance & Phillip in Not Without My Anus,” Parker and Stone finally revealed who Cartman’s father was – surprisingly, it turned out to be his mother. However, this storyline was later changed in Season 14.

The first half of this episode was good, but the second half was significantly better. The storyline where the film crew gets stuck in a snowstorm and eventually resorts to eating Eric Roberts – with the darkly humorous justification that no one cares about him – is brilliantly done. Similarly, Cartman’s compulsion to finish the song “Come Sail Away” by Styx whenever he hears the beginning is a hilarious and memorable bit.

13) “Summer Sucks”

Shows with simple plots are the most enjoyable to rewatch, and that’s definitely true for Season 2. You can watch it again and again because the story is so easy to follow – like a giant firework snake threatening to destroy South Park! It doesn’t get much more straightforward than that.

The episode “Summer Sucks” features simple, lighthearted moments: Stan, Kyle, and Kenny playing recorders at a Fourth of July event, Cartman obsessing over pool hygiene, and Mr. Garrison’s quest for Mr. Hat. It’s a very straightforward episode, and it also includes one of Chef’s most memorable songs, “Simultaneous.”

12) “The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka”

Over the years, South Park has frequently and cleverly featured Jesus, but one of their best bits was making him the host of Jesus and Pals. The show was essentially a depraved and dishonest version of Jerry Springer. It’s also always enjoyable to see Jimbo and Ned together, and their public access show, Huntin’ and Killin’, provides a perfect setting for their antics.

Although the show-within-a-show segments are humorous, the funniest part of the episode is Jimbo and Ned’s exaggerated story about their time in Vietnam – it turns out they just visited Busch Gardens. This episode also establishes a running gag about Saddam Hussein being in Hell with Satan, a concept that later became important in the movie South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and in Season 4 episodes like “Do the Handicapped Go to Hell?” and “Probably.” This idea of Satan interacting with controversial figures still appears in recent episodes of the show.

11) “Gnomes”

The Underpants Gnomes, much like characters such as Mr. Hankey and Towelie, became surprisingly popular from early episodes of South Park, even appearing on a lot of merchandise. It’s funny, though, because they were only in one episode and didn’t have much screen time.

This episode centers around Mr. Tweak, whose coffee shop is struggling because of the growing popularity of Harbucks, a parody of Starbucks. It’s a good example of how South Park quickly turned real-world events – like the Starbucks boom – into episodes. The humor includes a memorable scene where a Harbucks representative initially offers Tweak only a briefcase for his entire business, then ups the offer to a briefcase containing $500,000 after he declines.

10) “Cow Days”

A really low-budget carnival rolls into South Park, and the boys become obsessed with winning a set of Terrance and Phillip dolls. Their determination leads to increasingly desperate measures, culminating in Cartman riding a bull until he falls and starts speaking with the distinctive voice of a character from the movie Full Metal Jacket.

The storylines involving the main characters are great, but the show’s funniest bit revolves around two unsuspecting game show contestants. Instead of a desirable prize, they win a trip to South Park’s terrible carnival – and they win by correctly naming a rather specific body part. Unfortunately, they don’t get to enjoy their prize. They’re immediately accused of theft, thrown in jail, forgotten about, and ultimately eaten by rats, making their experience hilariously awful.

9) “Conjoined Fetus Lady”

The “Conjoined Fetus Lady” episode of South Park has a surprisingly thoughtful message about looking beyond appearances, which is typical for the show. Many critics, who often haven’t even watched South Park, mistake it for simple, random humor like Family Guy. But South Park actually has something meaningful to say, even from its earliest seasons – though not every episode delivers a deep message.

The episode “Conjoined Fetus Lady” has a strong main storyline, but the secondary plot is too simple to make it truly outstanding. While the dodgeball scenes and the bits with the Chinese announcer are enjoyable, they don’t reach the level of great comedy needed to elevate the episode to top-tier status.

8) “Ike’s Wee Wee”

“Ike’s Wee Wee” marks a high point for South Park. What’s great about this episode is that it shifts the focus away from just the boys and puts Mr. Mackey front and center as the main character.

The episode features a heartwarming story about Kyle coming to terms with his adopted brother. However, it’s the subplot involving Officer Mackey that truly stands out – it receives almost as much attention as the main storyline. This is the episode that gave us the iconic line, “Drugs are bad, Mm’kay?”

7) “Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls”

South Park is known for its clever movie references, but the episode satirizing the Sundance Film Festival stands out as unique. And unlike some other episodes, it’s clear that creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone wrote this one from start to finish.

The show makes no secret of its dislike for certain parts of the entertainment industry, constantly poking fun at stereotypes with jokes about health-conscious professionals and even resorting to crude humor involving Robert Redford. A highlight of the episode was definitely Mr. Hankey’s hilarious scream when Redford throws him into a wall – it was arguably the funniest moment all season.

6) “Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods”

The South Park episode “Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods” isn’t the most elegantly titled, but many fans consider it one of the most enjoyable to watch again and again. Similar to “Summer Sucks,” it’s delightfully straightforward and hard to dislike.

The boys and their classmates are taken to a local planetarium run by a really unsettling man who has a condition that affects how he speaks – he pronounces ‘planetarium’ in a strange, halting way. This man is secretly brainwashing people into working for him, and it’s surprisingly effective on people like Officer Barbrady. Meanwhile, Cartman tries to become the new face of Cheesy Poofs, leading to a funny argument with his mom about his habit of picking his nose. Oh, and Kenny, predictably, has his head explode after being sent inside the planetarium to investigate – because that’s just what happens to Kenny.

5) “Chef Aid”

Stories where a character we care about is treated unfairly always feel especially impactful, and “Chef Aid” is a prime example. The episode centers around Chef discovering that a record producer has taken a song he wrote years ago and turned it into a current hit for Alanis Morissette.

Chef was a key character, especially during the show’s first two seasons, and quickly became a fan favorite. It was upsetting to see him get sued by a wealthy person simply because he wanted recognition for his work. However, the episode ends on a high note when we discover Chef has had a significant impact on music legends like Elton John and Ozzy Osbourne (who both appear as themselves, along with Rick James). They’re now using their fame to help him. Plus, Johnnie Cochran’s hilarious “Chewbacca Defense” is a standout moment.

4) “Chickenlover”

A standout character from Season 2 was definitely the bookmobile driver – a fluffy, red-haired man who also has a peculiar fondness for chickens. While the episode’s joke about him and the chickens being… intimate, to get Officer Barbrady interested in reading is funny, it wasn’t actually the most memorable part of the show.

This episode actually introduced the idea of Cartman pretending to be a police officer, clearly inspired by the TV show Cops. It’s also where he first said his now-famous line, “Respect my authoritah!” Without Season 2, South Park wouldn’t have some of its most memorable moments, and that line is a perfect example of why.

3) “Chickenpox”

It’s satisfying when a show brings its storylines back around to where they began. Early episodes of South Park were particularly strong when the plot revolved around the boys misinterpreting something, and “Chickenpox” perfectly exemplifies that approach.

The boys’ mothers are trying to get them all infected with chickenpox by having a sleepover, hoping they’ll catch it before they become too old – it’s a common parenting strategy. However, the boys don’t understand what chickenpox is, or that it’s more serious for adults, so they believe their moms are deliberately trying to make them sick. In retaliation, they concoct a plan: they hire a prostitute to use their mothers’ toothbrushes, successfully giving everyone except Cartman’s mom herpes (she was already a carrier).

2) “Clubhouses”

Season 2 doesn’t focus heavily on complex storylines. While “Ike’s Wee Wee” tries to be touching, the episode “Clubhouses” successfully delivers genuine emotional moments and is a clear standout.

This episode centers around Stan dealing with his parents’ divorce and wrongly believing he’s to blame. Despite the serious subject matter, it’s still very funny. We see Randy clearly prioritizing partying over spending time with Stan during a visit, immediately speeding off in his new car as soon as he can. Meanwhile, Sharon starts dating a sensitive man who obsessively demands Stan chop more firewood, even though they already have plenty.

1) “Spookyfish”

Whether it’s “Summer Sucks” or “Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods,” “Spookyfish” is certainly one of the most rewatchable episodes from South Park’s second season. It’s also considered a standout example of how the show developed its storylines over time.

When their great aunt Flo visits, she gives Shelley a new TV, CD player, and home theater system, while Stan receives a small goldfish. Stan isn’t thrilled with the fish, and things quickly get strange. The goldfish starts acting menacingly, writing messages on the inside of its bowl and even ‘breathing’ on the glass like a mirror. Soon, the fish is escaping its bowl and mysteriously killing people, dragging them back to Stan’s room.

It’s ridiculously funny when Stan’s mom finds the bodies – she instantly believes her son is the killer and calmly gets rid of them, including poor Kenny. To make things even stranger, we see alternate universe versions of the boys, like ‘Evil Cartman,’ who surprisingly turns out to be a genuinely kind version of the character. It’s a perfect blend of dark humor and unexpected twists.

What’s your favorite episode from the second season of South Park? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-05 03:16