South Park - Season 9 (re-pack) [DVD]

Nine seasons in, and South Park hasn’t lost its ability to upset people. This boxset brings together the 14 episodes from the ninth season, including the hugely controversial “Trapped In The Closet”, which is actually one of the weaker inclusions here (and we somehow doubt that it’s Tom Cruise’s favourite, either). However, it garnered headlines for its tale of Stan taking a Scientology test, and the repercussions of it.

That said, this particular series of South Park has much more to commend it. Across the episodes in what can be easily described as a lively season you’ll find the gang starting their own talent agency, a hippie music festival coming into town, and the small matter of Mr Garrison switching gender. All of this is the foundation for a rapid-fire collection of gags.

What South Park isn’t given credit for often enough though is what’s bubbling up under the surface. The reason creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone never seem to run out of ideas is that very often they have something to say with their episodes. And while, on one level, they can be enjoyed for being the quick hits of outrageous fun they are, there’s a wise intelligence in the midst of it all, too. Perhaps that’s why the show still shows no signs of running out of steam, and season nine is the latest evidence to back that up. --Jon Foster