14-Year-Old South Park Episode That Is Shockingly Underrated Wouldn’t Work If It Were Made Today

There are now so many South Park episodes that there are countless installments that are incredibly dated, but one very unappreciated story in particular wouldn’t make any sense if it had premiered in 2024. Already one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time, South Park has been renewed through season 30 – which will take the show into 2027. So, there will likely be many more episodes to come that will eventually be aged out of relevancy. However, that doesn’t stop them being thoroughly hilarious.

South Park has become known for its impressively short production time and unapologetic comedic style through the decades. The list of best South Park episodes of all time doesn’t tend to change all that much these days, suggesting the show will struggle to beat most of its past efforts. Regardless, it won’t stop co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone from endlessly satirizing current events in the most absurd manner possible – such as they’ll continue to do in South Park season 27 and beyond.

Randy’s Storyline In “Medicinal Fried Chicken” Became Outdated Just 2 Years After Release

Marijuana was legalized in Colorado shortly after this South Park episode

In South Park season 14, episode 3, “Medicinal Fried Chicken,” the story revolved around Randy Marsh’s crazy quest to give himself testicular cancer to legally access marijuana. The episode first aired in 2010, and use of the drug had been permitted for medicinal purposes for around a decade in the real Colorado. However, it was still illegal to use marijuana for recreation. In 2012, Colorado – where South Park is set – became the second US state to vote to legalize weed (via Boston University), after Washington. So, Randy’s bizarre method of acquisition would be even more superfluous in the modern day.

Although marijuana is still illegal at the federal level in the US, many other states have since followed Colardo’s decision to abolish those laws. If this storyline were to be attempted today, then the episode would need to be set in a state where the laws still prohibit the recreational use of weed, but still allow it for those with certain medical conditions. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t make much sense, as South Park thrives on showing how the town’s residents react to scenarios such as these. If the story unfolded away from Colorado, it just wouldn’t be the same.

Cartman’s KFC Story Also Would Have Suffered In A Present Day Version Of The Episode

Fried chicken being treated like drugs only makes sense if marijuana use is restricted

Eric Cartman’s brilliant underground junk food arc in “Medicinal Fried Chicken” is just as great as Randy’s story. Ascending to the level of fried chicken drug baron after the foodstuff is made illegal, Cartman’s plot brilliantly exposes the illogical decision to make marijuana so readily available, but preventing the purchase of KFC products – driving the distribution of the latter through seedy and alternative channels. While it could be argued to be the episode’s B story, it’s just as strong as Randy’s arc.

The beauty of the story is that it perfectly compliments Randy’s scenes as he smokes himself into big-balled bliss. The downside of the plots’ symbiosis is that if they were to be pulled into 2024, Randy’s story wouldn’t happen because he wouldn’t need to go to such extreme measures to get high. Due to this, the whole imagery of Cartman underhandedly dealing KFC as if it’s contraband would lose its efficacy. Thankfully, the episode was released when everything being paradise was currently relevant – which is almost always the case with South Park.

“Medicinal Fried Chicken” Is Still A Brilliant Episode

The 2010 installment is still just as funny as it was upon release

Currently ranked in 42nd place in the list of best South Park episodes on IMDb, “Medicinal Fried Chicken” boasting a rating of 8.7/10 further supports the installment’s quality. It may have become a relic of times gone by, like many other South Park episodes, but that somehow doesn’t detract from how funny the script is. The story does a great job of highlighting all the bizarre loopholes that could easily be exploited before Colorado legalized marijuana, while also letting fast food take the fall.

Related

This 10-Year-Old South Park Scene Was As Funny As It Was Impressive Thanks To A Behind-The-Scenes Detail

South Park’s attention to detail when engaging in satire has long been one of the sitcom’s hallmarks, and this decade-old scene is a great example.

“Medicinal Fried Chicken” is filled with hilarious moments that have a tendency to sear themselves into the mind of the viewer. While one of the most memorable may be Randy and his friends bouncing their way through the streets of South Park, the image of him holding his balls to the microwave is equally hard to shake – not to mention Sharon’s “Scrotum Coat.” Equally, Cartman snorting a line of chicken skin is a strangely haunting shot. Just because it’s fallen out of relevance doesn’t mean this South Park episode should be forgotten.

Sources: Boston University, IMDb

Beginning in 1997, South Park has become one of the most successful and popular adult animations ever. The five-time Emmy-winning series follows Stan Marsh, Eric Cartman, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick, as they find themselves in unbelievable situations in South Park, Colorado, while trying to navigate the world as fourth graders.

Cast

Trey Parker , Matt Stone

Release Date

August 13, 1997

Seasons

27

Showrunner

Trey Parker