South Park
Summary
WhileSouth Park ’s Cartman was never much of a hero , the show ’s darkest gag made him a baddie in a means that the series still has n’t reversed . Although the early time of year ofSouth Parkare still funny , the first three pleasure trip of the long - running animated comedy have a clearly different tone and trend compared to subsequent seasons . In its first three long time , South Parkrarely used current events as the basis for its storylines since the show was more focused on gory slapstick , shock value , and unrefined witticism than political satire . This micturate earlySouth Parkfeel jumpy , disjointed , and more directionless .
AsSouth Parkseason 27approaches , the show has become almost unrecognizable . The humour is still as smelly - mouthed as ever , butSouth Parknow rarely releases episodes or specials that do n’t focus on specific timely case , be they ethnic , political , or social . Nowadays , South Park ’s formula core around mock real - life event via the show ’s cast of colorful character , whereas early season focused on exotic abductions , zombie attacks , and other outlandish storylines . However , this is n’t the biggest alteration thatSouth Parkmade to its reliable other pattern . The show ’s characters have also transform , none more notably than its infamous antihero , Eric Cartman .
“Scott Tenorman Must Die” Made Cartman South Park’s Villain
This infamous episode represented a major shift in Cartman’s character
WhenSouth Parkbegan , Cartman was not all that unlike from the rest of the show ’s Hero of Alexandria . Cartman was always more obnoxious than the rest of theSouth Parkboys , but he was n’t a significantly worse individual than the opportunistic Kyle or the luckless Kenny . However , time of year 5 , sequence 4 , “ Scott Tenorman Must perish , ” changed this forever . Around the time thatSouth Parkabandoned its original premiseand the show ’s Maker set out to focalize on its storytelling more pointedly , this instalment saw Cartman tricked into buying an sr. shaver ’s pubic hair in the Leslie Townes Hope of fast - tail his own puberty .
After the eponymous Scott Tenorman humiliated Cartman and combust his money , Cartman hatched a retaliation plan . This ploy involved educate a donkey to sting Scott ’s penis off , a cockamamy muzzle that would have fit out in early season of the serial publication . However , the episode ’s trouble twist ending change this plot line entirely . Cartman revealed that he got Scott ’s parent killed , ground their corpse into chili , and tricked Scott into eat them , a horrific reveal that saw him become the sociopathic monster that fans now know and love . The depravity of this twist come as a shock to viewers and the show ’s character likewise .
Cartman’s Character Change Altered South Park
Cartman becoming a full-blown villain made South Park more consistent
While “ Scott Tenorman Must Die ” was amongSouth Park ’s most controversial episodes , it is also frequently list as one of the show ’s best outings . Co - Lord Trey Parker and Matt Stone named it as one of their favourite not once , but twice , and it is well-situated to see why . The episode coincide withSouth Park ’s electric switch to less random and more topical humorbetween seasons 4 and 6 , which allowedSouth Parkto focus more on Cartman ’s progressively twisted crimes as the series retain . Cartman becoming a full - blow scoundrel facilitated many classic report that followed , broadening the show ’s scope .
Before “ Scott Tenorman Must Die,”South Park ’s primal quartet were for the most part static type who react to the chaos circumvent them . This outing madeCartman the locus ofSouth Park ’s barbarian trick , with subsequent seasons using Cartman ’s villainy to ground their level . Classic episode like time of year 5 , episode 12 , “ Kenny Dies , ” time of year 12 , instalment 1 , “ Tonsil Trouble , ” and season 25 , episode 5 , “ break through Baby Athletic Association ” would n’t have worked without Cartman ’s outlandish villainy and the show came to rely on this element of his character to tug plots as the serial publication experiment with serialization . This number to a head in season 20 and 21 .
South Park Needed Cartman’s Villainy
Cartman’s amoral antics drove some of South Park’s best stories
As proved byCartman ’s relationship with Heidi inSouth Parkseasons 20 and 21 , the series now needs his villainy to drive its natural action . The show ’s former season have a light tactile property and more muddled plotting since there is no ordered major villain to drive the action . In direct contrast , episodes after “ Scott Tenorman Must decease ” fell back on Cartman if they lack an antagonistand this madeSouth Park ’s storytelling more effective . Since Cartman was both an amoral teras and one of the lead persona , watcher were encourage to express joy at his unspeakable action while also simultaneously being appalled .
South Park’s Later Seasons Altered Cartman’s Persona
Cartman hasn’t remained a one-dimensional South Park villain
Although Cartman act asSouth Park ’s villain elevated many of the show ’s outings , this frame-up finally became as commonplace as the show ’s original premise . As such , South Park ’s 2023 specialsand time of year 26 of the serial publication experiment with a less unequivocally awful side of Cartman . In 2023’sJoining the Panderverseand the time of year 26 premiere “ Cupid Ye , ” Cartman is depicted as a relatively grand figure who help Cupid Ye get back on his medication and who assists Kathleen Kennedy in solve the multiverse crisis . This is a gradual displacement , but it still map a seismal variety from season 5 .
South Park ’s later seasons making Cartman more complicatedworks for the same grounds that his initial villainous turn did , as it nominate the show ’s storytelling less predictable . When “ Scott Tenorman Must Die ” was first released , much of the instalment ’s plaudits was rooted in how scandalous and unexpected its blackly funny twist end was . However , a few years later on , viewing audience were familiar with Cartman ’s dark side and all too cognizant of what he was open of doing . As such , when late pleasure trip draw him as less flagitious , this leaves viewer unsure whether to trust him and adds much - needed tension to the narrative .
South Park Season 27 Could Transform Cartman’s Character
Cartman is overdue another character shift in season 27
WhileSouth Parkseason 27 may strugglewith other storylines , the show has a thoroughgoing opportunity to switch Cartman ’s type again in this coming outing . He has been the show ’s villain for the majority of its lengthy tally , so it is very possible thatSouth Parkcould persist in to improve Cartman ’s demeanor to freshen up its formula going forward . After years of evil antics and deplorable deportment , it is a shock to see kindness descend from Eric Cartman . South Parkseason 27 can take vantage of this by teasing a sweeter Cartman and leaving viewers to decide whether this change is actual or just another trick .
Cast
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
