"You're Getting Old" Is The Definitive Episode Of South Park
The word "genius" gets thrown around too liberally nowadays. Anytime somebody does something clever or creative, it's considered genius. With that said, that word is very appropriate when describing Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The creators of South Park are geniuses. Their legacy speaks for itself. They aren't just comedic geniuses; they are storytelling geniuses. There's a reason why a show like South Park has endured as long as it has. And in my opinion, the episode that perfectly encapsulates what makes South Park such a unique and masterful television show is the season fifteen finale, "You're Getting Old."
I can't say that it's the funniest episode of South Park. Some episodes make me laugh more. And if we're talking cultural relevance, I don't know if I could say that "You're Getting Old" is on the Mount Rushmore of memorable South Park episodes. But if I had a friend who had never seen South Park before, "You're Getting Old" would be the first episode I would show them.
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The premise of the episode is straightforward. Stan Marsh turns 10 years old and starts to think that everything looks like shit. When I say that, I mean literal shit. It makes for some hilarious imagery. You also have Randy, who is going through a midlife crisis and becomes obsessed with tween-wave music.
The humor in this episode is peak "South Park." It is so silly. You have fart humor and shit humor, and you have Randy putting a microphone up his butt and farting into it. It is pure silliness, and it could've been cringe-worthy in the hands of lesser storytellers. But how Matt Stone and Trey Parker present the story is so fucking funny. There's a great behind-the-scenes clip of Trey Parker and Bill Hader recording some audio from this episode. They can't keep a straight face, and I can't blame them.
South Park does not get a lot of credit for how they deal with emotional moments. Stan seeing everything as shit is a clear allegory for clinical depression. It's played up for laughs throughout the episode, as it should be. It doesn't shy away from the fact that people who live with such cynicism are often just not enjoyable to be around. South Park has always done an incredible job of ensuring that their tonal shifts don't feel inconsistent.
The show is a comedy, and this episode is hilarious but features a heartbreaking conclusion. The final montage set to Stevie Nicks' "Landslide," showing Stan's descent into depression as his parents separate from one another, is maybe the most heartbreaking moment of the entire series.
When this episode first aired, speculation was that it may be the beginning of the end for South Park. There's a scene near the end between Randy and Sharon with something of a meta-element, with Sharon acknowledging the absurdity of Randy's antics and how they're starting to wear thin. It almost felt like Matt Stone and Trey Parker were talking to their audience. But it's been over 12 years, and South Park is still going strong.
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While South Park can still create hilarious and poignant television, I view "You're Getting Old" as the apex of the series. It was the conclusion to the prime of the series, and it was a 10+ year prime that ranks among the best any television comedy has ever offered. It may not be the funniest episode, but it is my favorite.