10 Oddly Wholesome South Park Moments
8. Lemmiwinks Is Crowned "The Gerbil King"
The Death Camp of Tolerance (Season 6, Episode 14)
In chasing a pricey lawsuit, Mr. Garrison tries to force South Park Elementary to fire him for reasons relating to his sexuality. He enlists Mr. Slave to help push the expression of their relationship beyond taste and appropriateness. The exhibitionist display cumulates in Mr. Garrison putting class gerbil Lemmiwinks up Mr. Slave’s anus. With the parents terrified of appearing bigoted, it is the class who face punishment. As the children endure a Schindler's List parody in Tolerance Camp, Lemmiwink’s has his own journey.
Despite its gross location and oddball characters, Lemmiwink’s quest follows the traditional “Hero’s Journey”. Set to a descriptive folk ballad, the gerbil navigates his way through Mr. Slave’s digestive system. He is guided by spirits of animals who have perished inside (the Frog King, Sparrow Prince, and Catatafish).
Unlike the ecosystem of spirit animals inside Mr. Slave, Lemmiwinks survives. Outside the body, he is reunited with his guides. The Sparrow King reveals that thanks to Lemmiwinks the animal spirits are free. As a reward he is crowned ‘The Gerbil King’. After traversing through grotesque visceral terrains, it is contenting to see the crazy critters at peace.