AlthoughSouth Parkdid fix one of its most famous villains relatively early on, season 1 of the series offered an uninspired take on the iconic character. It is hard for any TV show to re-imagine the devil himself. There might be many on-screen depictions of Satan, but this only makes it more difficult for any new depictions to feel like it is breaking new ground or doing something genuinely original with the character. After all, the Devil is one of the most famous figures in the entire Western canon.
WhileSouth Parkseason 27’s delaysmight leave longtime fans frustrated, there is no denying that the long-running satirical cartoon comedy has never shied away from a challenge. From mining comedy from unimaginably bleak topics to taking on cultural, social, and political taboos that few other shows would touch,South Park’s history of risky satire proves the show was fearless in its early years.South Parkeven mocked itself, proving that the show didn’t take itself seriously despite its satirical credentials.
South Park’s Version Of Satan Is Actually Evil In Season 1
Season 1 Episode 10 Sees Satan Act As Evil As Viewers Would Expect
Considering how riskySouth Park’s humor is and how much the show makes a point of never pulling its punches, it is somewhat surprising to revisit season 1, episode 10, “Damien.” In this outing, Satan’s son joins theSouth Parkboys in the titular town’s elementary school, and, before long, his father is setting up a boxing match against a woefully unprepared Jesus. Bizarrely,Satan was originally portrayed as a straightforward villain inSouth Park, albeit a more minor and petty one than he is in most on-screen incarnations.
A standout South Park season 2 episode altered Satan’s attitude and landed on a far funnier, more inventive, and unexpected depiction of the Prince of Darkness.
With the show being as subversive as it is, it is surprising to see Satan played straight in “Damien.” He is an uncomplicated villain who sets up a scam boxing match that ensures he will profit no matter what the outcome is, making money from the credulous and cynical attitude of South Park’s populace. While the episode is a fun re-watch,a standoutSouth Parkseason 2 episodealtered Satan’s attitude and landed on a far funnier, more inventive, and unexpected depiction of the Prince of Darkness.
South Park Turned Satan Into A Surprisingly Sympathetic Antihero
Satan’s Personality Received A Total Overhaul In Season 2
In season 2, episode 6, “The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka,” Jesus’s heartless producer is sent to Hell at the end of the episode and encounters a surprisingly meek Satan who is joined by his more assertive romantic partner, Saddam Hussein. Somewhere between seasons 1 and 2, the creators ofSouth Parkworked out that it was funnier to depict Satan as this unexpectedly sensitive, catty character, rather than the very conventional depiction of the devil from “Damien.”
South Park’s 2025 Comeback Plan Is Worryingly Risky After A Disappointing 2024
The news that South Park’s first 2025 release is likely to be a feature-length special is worrying after the long running show’s disappointing 2024.
From this point onwards, the show’s version of Satan stuck with this persona, with 1999’s movie spinoffSouth Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncutcementing the change.South Park’s alteration of Satan’s depiction ensured that the satirical cartoon’s take on the devil was instantly memorable and unique, allowing the character to stand out in a flood of near-identical cartoon devils. In an environment where depicting the devil isn’t all that shocking or offensive anymore,South Parkturned the character into a secretly soft hearted antihero and reinvented him as a result.
