There’s much to unpack from the South Park episode that revealed the true identity of Eric Cartman’s dad. These range from the Super Best Friends to the celebrities seeking to have people stop making fun of them — and, of course, their monster Mecha-Streisand. However, unraveling the secret about Cartman’s father is the most exciting subplot of the episode often ranked among the most controversial and memorable episodes of the adult animated television series.
South Park season 14, episode 6, delivered a surprising twist that resolved the mystery surrounding the father of its favorite character. Cartman was introduced to the South Park fandom without a father; he lives with his single mother, Liane. The absence of a father figure fuels the character’s callous personality. But he eventually learns he’s lost the chance to ever reconnect with his dad due to one of his most shocking, psychopathic schemes.
Making Sense Of The Mystery Around Eric Cartman’s Dad
The series delved into the fog surrounding Eric Cartman’s dad from its early days. Set up in season 1’s “Cartman’s Mom Is a Dirty Slut,” the episode follows the character as he embarks on a mission to find his father. Without any father figure to celebrate father-and-son day, Cartman confronts his mom about his dad. She tells him his father is Chief Running Water, a Native American she met at the Drunken Barn Dance.
Cartman approaches Chief but learns his mother had sex with multiple individuals at the annual party. These include Father Maxi, Chef, Mr Garrison, Principal Victoria, Mayor McDaniels, Jesus, and the entire 1991 Denver Broncos team. His friends help him raise $3,000 for a paternity DNA test but a narrator cuts in, preventing Dr. Mephesto from announcing the test result.
Eric Cartman Was Deceived Into Believing His Mom Was His Dad
Eric Cartman’s quest to find his father continued in “Cartman’s Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut,” the second episode of South Park Season 2. Picking up from Season 1’s finale, the episode saw Dr. Mephesto reveal the identity of Eric Cartman’s dad. With so much hesitation, Mephesto announced that Eric Cartman’s mother, Liane Cartman, is his father. The geneticist explained that Liane is a hermaphrodite with both male and female genitals.
Adding that hermaphrodites cannot bear children, Mephesto concluded that Liane Cartman’s DNA match with Eric’s means she is his father. She got another woman pregnant at the Drunken Barn Dance. Liane corroborated this, stating she didn’t tell Eric because she imagined it would be too shocking for him. If Liane is Eric Cartman’s dad, who is his mom? The question was raised at the end of the episode but Cartman was so distraught he gave up the quest about his parentage.
Jack Tenorman Revealed As Eric Cartman’s Dad
The unresolved mystery around Eric Cartman’s dad was eventually addressed in South Park season 14, episode 6. The episode pursued multiple lingering storylines, tying the truth about Cartman’s father to “Scott Tenorman Must Die,” season 5, episode 4. The episode revolves around Cartman’s attempt to get even with Scott Tenorman, who sold him pubic hair. Scott deceived Cartman into believing he’d reach puberty if he purchased pubic hair from him. And then humiliated him several times as he tried to get his money back. Cartman began plotting his revenge and eventually pulled off a heinous payback that made his friends vow never to upset him as much as Scott did.
To even the score, Cartman had Scott’s parents killed. He then chopped up their corpses and tricked Scott into consuming the remains of his parents. While Cartman was already a bigoted child with disturbing behavior, the episode marked the beginning of his psychopathic tendencies. It seems he unlocked a new level of manipulative, non-empathetic, and narcissistic version of himself with the revenge on Scott. But as often the case, Eric Cartman’s actions in “Scott Tenorman Must Die” return to hunt him in “201.” Amidst the dramatic commotion of the episode, Cartman learns his nemesis, Scott Tenorman, is his half-brother. This means Jack Tenorman was his father.
Why South Park Residents Obscured The Truth About Eric Cartman’s Dad
To get back at Cartman, Scott divulged a secret the inhabitants of South Park had kept for years to protect the Denver Broncos. Jack Tenorman was playing for the team when he slept with Laine, which resulted in the birth of Eric. To avoid a scandal that would ruin the good year the Broncos were having, residents of South Park decided to cover up the affair between Jack Tenorman and Liane Cartman. This also meant concealing the truth about Eric Cartman’s paternity.
Learning he killed his father and fed him to his half-brother was a shocking revelation. But Cartman was more concerned he’s half-ginger. Jack Tenorman was a ginger, a group of people Cartman often disparages. By and large, Eric Cartman consoles himself with the fact that he’s also half Denver Bronco. Check out 10 South Park episodes ranked for your amusement.
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