6. Christian Rock Hard
Season 7 Episode 9
Character of the Week Yeah, it's really Cartman. To be honest it's always Cartman but
Token is pretty funny in this episode. After sufering hideously racist jibes from Cartman all through the episode he finally flips and beats the snot out of the fat little turd. After a whole half hour of intolerance and blasphemy (I'm not Christian but I don't appreciate people ripping on them either) it is unbelievably satisfying seeing Token serve out some justice.
Cartman's WisdomStan: You don't even know anything about Christianity!
Cartman: I know enough to exploit it.
Cartman's Lyrical Genius 'I want to get down on my knees and start pleasing Jesus. I want to feel his salvation all over my face.' 'Don't ever leave me Jesus, I couldn't stand to see you go,/My heart would simply snap my wound if you walk on out that door,/I promise I'll be good to you, keep you warm at night./Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, why don't we just shut off the lights.'
Tropes Tarnished Kind of an easy target but the much derided sub-genre of Christian Rock is thoroughly satirized in this episode. It's kind of the point of the entire affair. But, once again Parker and Stone display their tolerance. Whilst the Christians are teased for missing the point of the bad-boy rock star image and trying to shove messages of peace and love into the genre it is still Cartman who is punished in the end for treating their faith with such disdain. Why This Episode Is So Good Trey Parker can be guilty of taking one joke and repeating it over and over for a half hour show and that can sometimes be a problem. Not here. This episode centers around two running jokes, the one which I have gone into already - this ludicrous tale of Cartman aiming to create a platinum record but the other one is good too. Looking for a 'new sound' for their band Stan, Kenny and Kyle illegally download some music, much to the dismay of the FBI. They are taken on a Scrooge-esque journey to witness the lives of unfortunate celebrities who, thanks to internet piracy must now live a life of only semi-luxury. It's an interesting message to deliver, the idea that stealing has a place in modern culture but all props to them it's a message they've stuck by. In recent years they removed copyright on South Park meaning that it is technically legal to pirate the show. With two ideas that could each support an episode on their own put together this episode is truly irresistible.