Our take
The show's first Christmas episode is still its warmest, a satire of a town so anxious about offending anyone that it forgets to enjoy the holiday, seen through the eyes of a boy who feels shut out. It is filthy, of course, and some of the culture-war jokes have dated, but the songs are sharp and the ending is oddly sweet. Mr. Hankey became the show's festive mascot from here on.
What happens
Christmas is coming to South Park, and Kyle, who is Jewish, feels left out of it all. He wanders through town singing about being a Jew at Christmas, and then he is visited by Mr. Hankey, a cheerful talking piece of poo who comes out of the toilet every year to bring presents to children with plenty of fibre in their diet. Nobody else ever sees Mr. Hankey move or talk, so when he lashes out at Cartman it looks as if Kyle has thrown a turd at him, and the school counsellor, Mr. Mackey, in his first appearance, gets involved. Meanwhile Kyle's mother objects to his part in the school nativity play, and the row spreads until the mayor strips the town of anything that might offend anyone, leaving Mr. Garrison's class with a non-denominational pageant that pleases nobody. Told again and again that Mr. Hankey is not real, Kyle checks himself into the town's mental hospital. Chef confirms that Mr. Hankey does exist, the townsfolk come to blows, and Mr. Hankey finally appears to everyone, telling them they have been so busy with what is wrong with Christmas that they have forgotten what is right with it. For once, Kenny makes it to the end alive.
Can the kids watch it?
Not for children: adult animation rated 15 in the UK, full of crude toilet humour and swearing, so for 15 and over.
Cast and crew
Starring
- Trey Parker as Stan Marsh, Eric Cartman, Mr. Hankey, Mr. Garrison, Mr. Mackey
- Matt Stone as Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Father Maxi, Jesus
- Mary Kay Bergman as Wendy Testaburger, Sheila Broflovski, Mayor McDaniels
- Isaac Hayes as Chef
Writers
- Trey Parker
- Matt Stone
Directors
- Trey Parker
- Matt Stone