The One South Park Episode Fans Want First-Time Watchers To See

For over two decades, "South Park" has been entertaining fans, and the series TV Guide refers to as one of the greatest cartoons of all time continues to grow its fan base. While there are many places one could start when entering the "South Park" fandom, the Emmy-winning series is an ideal jumping-off point. But with over 300 episodes to choose from, figuring out an appropriate starting episode could prove daunting. 

It might seem wise to start from the beginning, but that might not be ideal because even the "South Park" co-creator Trey Parker told Entertainment Weekly (via Cheatsheet.com) that he isn't a fan of the show's early seasons. When one of the show's creators doesn't fully endorse watching earlier episodes, it's probably a safe bet for fans to consider beginning elsewhere.

Fortunately for those out there looking to find the perfect entry point in the long-running series, fans have been vocal about where newcomers to "South Park" should start.

When asked via Reddit which "South Park" episode first-timers should check out, one user wrote, "Scott Tenorman Must Die." But they weren't the only fan that harbored that thought. TheTattyKing similarly posted, "I recommend starting from Season 5... Plus, that means you'd start with 'Scott Tenorman Must Die,' which is widely regarded as one of the best episodes."

In Season 5, Episode 4, Eric Cartman (Trey Parker) gets conned by ninth-grader Scott Tenorman (Toby Morton) and decides to get even by making the kid eat his own parents, which results in one of the most pause-worthy "South Park" moments ever unleashed. There is no denying that the particularly astonishing episode is a solid choice to start and will likely reveal exactly how far "South Park" will go to newcomers. 

Rolling Stone called it "the perfect high-low amalgamation of the show's ability to be both shocking and brilliant at the same time." Some go even further, like The AV Club, which called it one of the best sitcom episodes ever. Not only has the episode received significant amounts of critical acclaim, but it also is the highest-rated entry from the series on IMDb as part of what many consider to be one of the best seasons of "South Park." 

If there is one episode that will set expectations for newcomers, it might as well be one of the absolute best — which "Scott Tenorman Must Die" is undoubtedly among.