Our take
The darkest and arguably best of the show's Christmas episodes, a pitch-perfect pastiche of a sweet animal Christmas special that curdles into satanic horror. Every swerve is funnier than the last, and the final reveal of who has been telling the story makes the whole thing click. Remarkably, it was written and animated in about four days, after the team came close to having no episode at all.
What happens
Out sledding, Stan meets a band of adorable woodland critters who are getting ready for the birth of their lord and saviour: the porcupine is pregnant. Increasingly reluctant, Stan agrees to help, builds them a manger and is tricked into killing the critters' apparent enemy, a mountain lion who turns out to be a mother of three. The critters celebrate the coming birth with a blood orgy, one of them having given himself up as a sacrifice, and Stan discovers that the lord they serve is Satan and that the baby will be the Antichrist. They decide that Kyle would make the perfect human vessel for it. Meanwhile the orphaned mountain lion cubs learn how to perform abortions. In the end Santa Claus turns up and blows the critters away. Then comes the twist: the whole tale is a story Cartman has been telling the class.
Can the kids watch it?
Absolutely not for children, despite the cute animals: satanic horror, blood, abortion jokes and strong language make it adults-only viewing.
Cast and crew
Starring
- Trey Parker as Stan Marsh, Eric Cartman, Narrator, Mr. Garrison
- Matt Stone as Kyle Broflovski, Butters Stotch, Mousey the Mouse
- April Stewart as Porcupiney the Porcupine, Deery the Deer, The Lioness
- Mona Marshall as Foxy the Fox
- Isaac Hayes as Chef
Guest stars
- Adrien Beard as Token Black, Squirrely the Squirrel
- Dakota Sky as Mountain lion cub
- Spencer Lacey Ganus as Mountain lion cub
Writer
- Trey Parker
Director
- Trey Parker