South Park: 15 Greatest Ever Episodes
5. Breast Cancer Show Ever
Season 12 Episode 9
Wendy doesn't always get a chance to shine in the sun but when she does she is one of the most believable and most admirable of the South Park characters. Her intelligence surpasses even that of Kyle and Stan, not having to contend with the foolish perceptions of boyhood. She might be a fairly annoying person to have to share a class with but in episodes like this it is proven that she is a compelling and wonderful heroine to watch.
Diseases Tarnished Cancer Why This Episode Is So Good It isn't a common occurrence that the women of South Park get to stand out. I'm not really criticizing the show for this, it's made by two men after all and their writing will naturally come from their experiences and perspective. In any case, every once in a while they make an episode like this. This is another one of those episodes where Cartman acts as the villainous anti-hero, his role fulfilled by the constant mockery he makes of Wendy's speech on Breast Cancer awareness, going so far as to mock Breast Cancer sufferers themselves. Wendy naturally grows infuriated with his constant barrage of insensitivity and threatens Cartman with violence. Needless to say this episode is best viewed with a fresh eye so I'll just tell you that Wendy has opened a Pandora's box bringing down trouble on her from all sides in her life. This episode manages to be sensitive, uplifting and hilarious all at once as the South Park guys take on the big one... Cancer itself. Wendy's fight for Cartman becomes a metaphor for the battle against cancer and even vaguely touches on the empowerment of women, this idea reinforced by Cartman's pathetic desperation not to be seen being beat up by a weak girl in front of the school. A particular strong piece of imagery is in the t-shirts that Wendy and Cartman wear. Cartman's is a truck, blue and tough, unstoppable and destructive whilst Wendy wears a whimsical unicorn at the end of a rainbow on her's. Watching Wendy fight back at Cartman in this seemingly weak and girlish attire is an added burst of adrenaline for the pro-women theme. Wendy is not held back by her soppy unicorn but instead empowered by her femininity - a tribute to breast cancer sufferers fighting the disease everywhere. Principal Victoria's Wisdom Principal Victoria: Wendy, did you know that I am a breast cancer survivor? Cancer is pure evil, it is a fat little lump that needs to be destroyed. When there is a cancer you have to fight it. You can't reason with cancer, you can't wish it away, cancer doesn't play by the rules so neither can you. Wendy: My parents said... Principle Victoria: And you can't be willing to listen to others. You must be prepared to lose everything because the cancer will take everything. Do you understand? Wendy: ... Yes ma'am! Principal Victoria: When you have cancer you fight because it doesn't matter if you beat it or not. You refuse to let that fat little lump let you feel powerless!