As a die-hard fan of South Park since its inception, I can confidently say that these three episodes – “Black Friday” trilogy – are some of the best they’ve ever produced. The creators have masterfully combined humor, pop culture references, and social commentary to create an entertaining and thought-provoking experience.
Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s “South Park” has provided us with some fantastic holiday specials throughout the years, featuring chilling (fishy) Halloween episodes, timeless Christmas tales involving murderous forest creatures and sentient fecal matter, and at times, spectacular Thanksgiving installments starring intelligent turkeys, epic conflicts, and even interstellar journeys.
As a devoted fan, I’ve eagerly gathered these Thanksgiving special episodes together, sparked by the intriguing console wars and the captivating clash between turkeys and townsfolk depicted in the series. Each episode offers its unique charm, but some leave a lasting impression or are simply irresistible to rewatch. They serve up the perfect dose of laughter to complement your holiday feast, making Thanksgiving that much more enjoyable!
7 “A History Channel Thanksgiving”
Season 15, Episode 13
After meeting David “Running Horse” Sawitzki, the boys are tasked with writing a school essay about Thanksgiving. Cartman suggests they learn from the History Channel, but Kyle is appalled by the channel’s theory that aliens were present at the first Thanksgiving. The boys incorporate this unusual information into their essay, which leads to the History Channel investigating them. A series of mix-ups ensue, and eventually, the boys find themselves in a conflict between alien Pilgrims and Native Americans, each group seeking dominance over the valuable stuffing mines.
He Who Controls the Stuffing Controls the World
This episode playfully imitates various History Channel programs, and acknowledges the Marvel character Thor (hence Natalie Portman’s unexpected appearance). It also reworks the traditional Thanksgiving story, serving as a form of criticism towards those who dismiss historical truths. However, the narrative flow is somewhat uneven, and certain gags fall flat. In essence, this episode is like cranberry sauce among others – we enjoy it, but more as a complement than the main dish.
6 “Helen Keller! The Musical”
Season 4, Episode 13
In the upcoming Thanksgiving performance, fourth graders are staging “The Miracle Worker”, aiming to outshine the kindergarten play. However, when Timmy incorporates a disabled turkey named Gobbles into his act, the other students push for a more attractive turkey, Alinicia, to take Gobbles’ place. Cartman manipulates Timmy into discarding Gobbles, which nearly results in Gobbles being taken to a slaughterhouse and Timmy getting wounded. Eventually, Timmy brings Gobbles back, who performs a remarkable trick by leaping through a flaming hoop, saving the show.
The Most Talented Turkey of All
What makes this episode particularly amusing is the extraordinary measures the fourth graders take to stage their musical. From special effects to original songs, they leave no stone unturned in their quest for an exceptional performance – and it becomes even more hilarious when we discover that the kindergarten play is less than impressive. Simultaneously, the production manages to annoy somewhat, but it’s enough to tickle the funny bone of a slightly tipsy Principal Victoria.
5 “Starvin’ Marvin”
Season 1, Episode 8
Following a charitable act of donating for a sports watch to aid starving children in Africa, the boys were taken aback when an Ethiopian boy named Marvin showed up at their doorstep. Meanwhile, turkeys broke free from Dr. Mephisto’s lab and began terrorizing the town. As Marvin adjusted to life in South Park, the turkey chaos persisted. Eventually, the town paid tribute to the movie “Braveheart” by banding together to fight off the turkeys. However, perplexed by these events, Marvin ultimately decided it was time to go back home.
A Thanksgiving Classic
This particular episode played a crucial role in setting up the Thanksgiving specials for South Park, introducing key characters, and embedding some of the show’s most iconic lines from its early seasons. While the Sally Struthers jokes might grow repetitive and the conclusion feels rushed, there’s no denying that this is an episode to remember, and it stands as a classic in the South Park series.
4 “Starvin’ Marvin in Space”
Season 3, Episode 13
When an alien spacecraft touches down on our planet, Marvin leaps into action, seeking a refuge where him and his fellow townsfolk can reside without religious interference. Accompanied by the local lads, he unearths Marklar, a world inhabited by the Marklar race who label everything as Marklar. With authorization to relocate his people there, Marvin first encounters obstacles from the CIA, a band of missionaries, and a character reminiscent of Sally Struthers’ Jabba the Hutt.
Another Dimension
In this latest episode, I found myself delving deeper into not just Sally and Marvin, but also the potential of the entire series. One of the early instances of cohesion in the show, “Starvin’ Marvin in Space,” expanded upon the first episode to develop Marvin’s character, his original narrative, and overall comedic elements. Although it may not surpass the best episodes on my list, it certainly added an appetizing layer to my viewing enjoyment.
3 “Black Friday”
Season 17, Episode 7
Over the next three episodes, you’ll find a trio of interconnected stories that deserve the top spot on this list. Kicking off is the “Black Friday” series, where a team of mall security guards led by Randy are gearing up for the chaotic shopping frenzy of the holiday season. Meanwhile, the gang gets wind of an amazing deal at the mall – the first 30 shoppers can purchase Xbox Ones at a steep discount. With their strategy in place, the boys soon discover that not all their peers share their preference for Xbox; some want PlayStation 4s instead, notably Stan, which could potentially derail their plans.
Meanwhile, as a subplot unfolds, Butters finds himself immersed in the TV series ‘Game of Thrones’, expressing irritation over its excessive portrayal of certain male anatomy parts, while simultaneously, a chilling new version of the Tickle Me Elmo doll makes its debut at the local mall.
A Stellar Trilogy is Coming
Black Friday” is smartly designed, amusing, and a joy to watch multiple times. The likenesses to “Game of Thrones”, like Randy saying, “You can’t die, everyone really likes you” when the mall manager dies, are laugh-out-loud funny. Additionally, Kenny’s choice to change allegiance at the end, along with his dragon-mouse, is just as humorous. Remarkably, viewers don’t have to be familiar with “Game of Thrones” to appreciate it, since the characters’ objectives, deceit, and humor can all stand independently.
2 “A Song of A** and Fire”
Season 17, Episode 8
In the sequel of the “Black Friday” series, Kenny expresses his dream of transforming into a genuine princess, which primarily led him to change allegiances. Infuriated by his treachery, Cartman devises a plan to convince Microsoft to offer such an irresistible deal on Xbox Ones that the other kids will have no choice but to buy them. Meanwhile, he dispatches Butters on a mission to consult George R.R. Martin, claiming he holds crucial information needed for victory in their war. Additionally, Cartman attempts to coax Kenny back to their side, arguing that he’ll never achieve princess status if he remains loyal to his current cause.
Shortly afterward, Kenny receives a visit from the leader of Sony who presents him with a mystical amulet. This transformation grants Kenny the role of an anime princess and equips him with the powers necessary for victory in the impending war.
Princess Kenny
As a seasoned movie reviewer, I’ve got to say that South Park never misses a beat! From Kenny’s ominous “Winter is Coming” to Cartman’s cunning maneuvers in the betrayal garden, the show’s pop culture references are as sharp as ever. The intriguing debate of “who will come out on top in the console wars” keeps me on the edge of my seat, and watching each company step into the fray only makes things more thrilling. The “Wiener Wiener” tune might be a love-it-or-hate-it situation for audiences, but one thing’s for sure: Princess Kenny is spot-on perfect!
1 “T*tties and Dragons”
Season 17, Episode 9
In the concluding part of the “Black Friday” series, the gang devises a scheme to stage a phony wedding celebration at Red Robin, allowing them entry into the mall. While pretending to be content with receiving PlayStation 4s, Cartman secretly intends to imprison the PS4-owning kids inside the restaurant as they raid Xbox Ones. However, when Stan learns of this plan, Cartman punishes him by grounding him. This revelation causes Kyle to question his allegiance to the PlayStation and his position in their console conflict.
Meanwhile, Randy and other security personnel struggle to keep shoppers at bay as an unexpected event unfolds – the Red Robin Wedding. Shocked beyond words, Randy rushes to intervene for his son’s sake, suggesting a bizarre solution: the leaders of Sony and Microsoft should engage in a fight to decide which gaming console the boys will own. As it turns out, Microsoft comes out on top – yet their triumph proves fleeting and insignificant.
A+ Marketing Strategy
The Red Robin wedding is a genius play on Game of Thrones’s Red Wedding, and the betrayals in this episode reach a new height when Stan is unfairly punished. Seeing the head of Sony and Bill Gates fight to the death is an epic twist, but after everything that’s happened, the boys decide they’d rather play outside than use their new Xbox Ones. Cartman then picks up a stick, saying they can play with that instead, and an ad appears for South Park’s own video game, “The Stick of Truth.”
Humorously put, it seems as if the whole trilogy was a clever marketing strategy all along. However, during this festive season, isn’t it just typical to be promoting something?
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2024-11-16 06:34