This is without a doubt, either the most or one in a handful of contenders when it comes to SOUTH PARK at its most disturbing and unhinged. "Scott Tenorman Must Die" is virtually the beginning of SOUTH PARK as it is known today and it puts the character of Eric Cartman, the unhinged psychopathic eight year old as he is known today, into full motion. This is a darkly hilarious cat and mouse tale with the most memorable of endings and is an absolute stand out in the show's legacy.
The opening scene, where Cartman arrives and taunts Stan, Kyle and Kenny over being the first to get his own pubic hair (actually, he only purchased pubic hair from the teen, Scott Tenorman) and in doing so, becomes the first to reach adulthood is a hilarious opening for the episode. The cat-and-mouse that emerges between Cartman and the fifteen year old bully, Scott, goes onto yield some of the show's most memorable content and some of its finest laughs.
The title, "Scott Tenorman Must Die" is essentially the entire story of this episode. Unlike the majority of the show's episodes, there are no dual plot lines in this episode and it works all for the better. The cat-and-mouse between these two characters is plenty joyous and watching Cartman continually bested and increasingly exasperated by Scott is hilarious, especially in retrospect knowing the ending of the episode.
The ending really makes and breaks this ending. The final scene is as dark as the show has gotten to this point and it does not hold back. If Cartman planning out the murder of Scott's parents, then dragging their bodies away and cutting them up to put into a bowl of chilli is not disturbing enough, the episode ends with Cartman licking the 'delicious' tears of Scott Tenorman's grief and then the episode ends on an iris fade out as Eric, ever so innocently, breaks the fourth wall and waves goodbye to the audience. It is such an impressively twisted and memorable scene that it has added a new dimension to the show.
"Scott Tenorman Must Die" is a landmark episode of the show and it is an incredibly well written episode. Trey Parker as the voice of Cartman in this episode is particularly amazing, especially in the scenes between Cartman and Tenorman. This is a true classic of the show.
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