10 Oddly Wholesome South Park Moments
3. Cartman’s U-Turn
The Pandemic Special (Season 24, Episode 1)
The extended episode featured some of the raw and pressing issues of the global pandemic, taking swipes at issues such as Trump’s response to Covid-19, police brutality, and declining mental health.
Stan has the most subdued reaction to the pandemic, focusing his energy on kids like Butters, who aren’t as strong as him. When the students are forced to lockdown inside the school, Butters has a meltdown about the repeated delays to his Birthday Build-A-Bear trip.
Following a mass breakout, the Boys get Butters to Build-A-Bear. When armed police close in, Randy is forced to give up the pangolin containing his semen (the believed cure for the virus) to stop them firing on the Boys.
To preserve his “new normal”, Cartman seizes the pangolin and holds it above the Build-A-Bear do-over shredder. Stan comes forward and emotionally admits that it hasn’t been about Butters. He tearfully reveals; “I did all this because I just want my life back... I just want my life back”. Without word, Cartman hands the pangolin over to a scientist and leaves.
However, Cartman’s most selfless act is undone when President Garrison destroys the creature with a flamethrower.