Before long, Comedy Central’sSouth Parkwill have been on the air for three straight decades. This is more impressive thanThe Simpsons' even longer run because, if anything was going to fall during the cancel culture era, it was Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s hysterical satirical comedy. But the show’s perpetually sharp nature and insightful look at life’s intricacies have kept it alive and well, as have the characters. Naturally, the central quartet of Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny still the focus even 20 years in, but other characters have moved up to the forefront of the spotlight over the years, e.g. Randy Marsh and Butters Stotch.
Then there are characters that have been around since the beginning, and while they’re not one of the show’s main characters, there’s often something memorable for them to do. For instance, Stan’s girlfriend: Wendy Testaburger. Stan and Wendy have been on and off since the first episode, and their complex dynamic has sometimes boosted episodes to the level of greatness. The following episodes aren’tallquite that great, but they have some plot element that furthers the relationship between Stan and Wendy. Note that Wendy-centric (but Stan-light) episodes like Season 13’s “Dances with Smurfs” or Season 4’s Wendy and Cartman (of all people)episode “Chef Goes Nanners” were not considered for inclusion.
10"Insheeption" (S14 E10)
As a Stan and Wendy episode, “Insheeption” is more average than anything else. But, as a parody ofInception, it’s pretty great. The way the characters from Nolan’s film burst into rooms already firing guns wildly is hilarious, as is the episode’s consensus that being excessively complex is not the same thing as being cool.
“Insheeption” finds Stan as a hoarder, a fact that Wendy makes others aware of out of concern. From there, after discovering that Mr. Mackey is even worse, all involved decide it’s best to engage in some subconscious exploration.
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9"Bass to Mouth" (S15 E10)
Season 15 ofSouth Parkfound the show’s quality beginning to decline, but there were still diamonds in the mediocre rough. For instance, “Broadway Bro Down” or the Wikileaks-satirizing “Bass to Mouth.” The plot follows a mysterious entity revealing all of South Park Elementary’s students' deepest, darkest secrets.
Everyone who hasn’t been exposed (thus far) finds it funny, including Stan. But, when one of his texts to Kenny about a girl’s butt crack gets leaked, his tune changes on a dime. This is mostly because Wendy (naturally) confronts him on this, to which Stan is rendered effectively speechless. It’s a funny moment in a funny episode, but the best part has nothing to do with Stan or Wendy, it’s Catatafish’s constant insistence that he didn’t make anyone do (b)ass to mouth.
8"Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" (S1 E1)
Like any other pilot, “Cartman Gets an Anal Probe” is rough around the edges. And, given how far the show has come, it’s pretty hard to find any of it novel or hilarious by this point.
But it’s still important in terms of the show’s history, with Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Kenny, Mr. Garrison, and Chef all basically becoming instant household names. The first episode is also the one to introduce Wendy, though she’s mostly relegated to approaching the four boys, excitedly blurting “Hi, Stan!,” and having the object of her affection throw up in her face. It’s a running joke the show has revisited intermittently over the years.
7"Tom’s Rhinoplasty" (S1 E11)
“Tom’s Rhinoplasty"is outright classicSouth Park, which can sometimes be less of a compliment than it seems. For instance, not every plot (A or B) in the show’s earlier episodes works to even the slightest degree (just look at “Volcano”).
But “Tom’s Rhinoplasty” is good stuff, front to back. The plot follows the students of South Park Elementary’s third-grade class as they get a new substitute teacher, voiced bySpecies' sex symbol Natasha Henstridge. There’s a level of nostalgia to having Henstridge in the cast, as she was just three years off of the film that brought her fame, even if that fame didn’t last. And if Henstridge didn’t provide enough nostalgia, there’s also the result of Mr. Garrison’s nose job, which just literally turns his face into that of David Hasselhof’s. This is also one of the few episodes where Wendy (who is jealous of the beautiful substitute teacher) has her confidence shaken, a character trait that wouldn’t be repeated until Season 6’s “Bebe’s Boobs Destroy Society.”
6"Ass Burgers” (S15 E8)
While not one ofSouth Park’s most controversial episodes, “Ass Burgers” still treads some risky territory. It’s a direct follow-up to “You’re Getting Old,” an episode thatverymuch felt like Trey Parker and Matt Stone attempting to express their growing ambivalence towards and exhaustion with the show.
“Ass Burgers” isn’t all that different, as it features Stan delving into alcoholism to replace his feelings of dissatisfaction with life. In fact, Stan sinks so low that even Kyle abandons him (Which actually feels a bit out of character). But, the one person who stays by his side is Wendy, who the episode shows having a picnic with Stan. It’s a refreshing loyalty that should tell Stan pretty concretely that she’s a keeper.
5"Pinkeye" (S1 E7)
Back when Trey Parker and Matt Stonewere still regularly killing off Kenny(You bas***ds!),South Parkheld a certain low-key, small-town charm. It does still technically have that charm, but the first three or four seasons are populated with episodes that are predominately character-focused.
Take Season 1’s Halloween-themed episode “Pinkeye,” which sees Wendy renege on her and Stan’s plan to dress up as Raggedy Anne and Raggedy Andy. Instead, she dresses up as Chewbacca, failing to realize just about every other child in the class is going to do the same.
4"Follow That Egg!" (S9 E10)
An angry Mrs. Garrison is a hilarious Mrs. Garrison, and she’s fuming in Season 9’s “Follow That Egg!” The plot sees her going back to her ex, Mr. Slave, and making a big show of taking him back (Even though she’s the one who screwed up their relationship to begin with). Unfortunately for Garrison and her ego, Mr. Slave is going to be marrying Big Gay Al.
The episode is a 2005 look at the same-sex marriage debate, mostly done via Mrs. Garrison’s attempted exploitation of it. But not even a hired gun is enough to make his brilliant egg plan go off without a hitch. The episode is good for Stan and Wendy because it hints at a love triangle between them and Kyle. Naturally, nothing comes of that, but it’s a nice throughline for the episode.
3"The List" (S11 E14)
Poor Kyle Broflovski. He’s one ofSouth Park’s best charactersyet not only does Cartman give him constant grief, the girls aren’t particularly into him, either.
At least not in Season 11’s finale “The List,” which sees the girls' ranking of the boys cutest to ugliest leaked for all to see. Kyle comes in dead last, even under Cartman, and his spiraling depression forces Stan and Wendy to team up and find out how this oversight could come to be.
2"Clubhouses" (S2 E12)
Season 2 ofSouth Parkfinds the show still a little rough around the edges, both in terms of the episodes' narratives and their look. Furthermore, the season has the weakest writing of the series, with a focus on the boys insulting each other that now plays like Trey Parker and Matt Stone recognizing the first season’s notoriety for raunchiness and trying to up the ante.
But there are highlights, e.g. Kyle’s protectiveness over his brother in “Ike’s Wee Wee” or Cartman’s now-over-quoted catchphrase “Respect my authoritah!” in “Chickenlover.” But, outside of perhaps “Chickenpox,” the apex of the season is “Clubhouses,” which finds Stan’s parents on the verge of divorce (a plotline the show would repeat years later). This great change in his life is matched by Wendy’s newfound desire to play “Truth or Dare.”
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1"Raisins" (S7 E14)
The seventh season ofSouth Parkis littered with some ofthe series' best episodes, andRaisinsis one of them. The narrative mostly spends time with two characters: Butters and Stan, both of whom are facing the inevitable challenge of heartbreak.
When Wendy breaks up with Stan (via one of her friends), he and the other boys decide to go to Raisins, the show’s take on Hooters, but all the servers are children. Butters falls hard for their waitress, failing to realize that they put on a show to boost tips. But, when he does learn this the hard way, he maturely says it’s better than never having loved at all. Stan, meanwhile, sinks into a depressive hole and refuses to come out of his own volition. However, Butters' wise words are enough to yank him out of it. It’s always great when an A-plot and B-plot intertwine poignantly.
