YMMV / South Park S 5 E 13 Kenny Dies

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Was using the stem cells to create a duplicate restaurant Cartman's plan all along, or did Cartman actually care about finding a cure for Kenny and then decided to make a duplicate restaurant because it was too late? In-Universe, Kyle accuses him of the former, and Cartman doesn't correct him, but dialogue implies he got the idea during the conversation with the doctor (implying his initial sorrow over Kenny's death was genuine since there was no ulterior motive); he only commits to it after Kenny has died.
• Crosses the Line Twice:
  • Cartman convinces a woman in her third trimester to have an abortion. Her husband says "Well, I suppose we can just have another one" and she responds with "I love you!"
  • Cartman revealing he was using the stem cells to make his own duplicate Shakey's Pizza instead of saving Kenny is a really sick Kick the Dog moment on his behalf, but you just couldn't help but chuckle at how ridiculous it is. Kyle attacking Cartman for it, and Stan realizing that Cartman was Kenny's "worst f-f-friend", adds bonus points.
• Harsher in Hindsight:
  • "The Coon" trilogy reveals that Kenny is cursed with resurrection. Part of that curse involves his friends forgetting his death everytime he comes back, but Kenny himself remembers all of the pain. This means Kenny remembers his body gradually shutting down from muscular dystrophy, but Stan and Kyle don't.
  • Stan needed Chef's guidance to help him muster the strength to see Kenny one last time. Then Chef himself died, and by the time Kenny died for good, Stan had moved out of South Park after their friendship had broken down.
• Heartwarming in Hindsight: Kenny's "death" turns into this in the last scene of Season 6's "Red Sleigh Down" when he appears out of nowhere almost without any explanation.
• Narm: The touching scene where Cartman and Kyle hug and cry over Kenny's impending death can be undercut by the awkward animation making it look like they're kissing, causing several first-time viewers to do a double take before realizing that they were only supposed to be hugging.
• Stoic Woobie: When Stan runs out of the hospital in grief, Kyle runs after him and says they need to keep it together for Kenny's sake. While Kyle seems to be the calmest of the three boys at the time, this moment shows he's just as upset as Stan but hides it better.
• Tear Jerker: The whole episode is this. Even though Kenny does come back one season later, it's hard not to feel sad as the boys (particularly Stan) are absolutely devastated by Kenny's suffering, especially for those who had lost a close friend themselves.
• The Woobie:
  • Kenny, who is outright dying of a muscular disease. Unlike his other deaths, he is genuinely suffering.
  • Stan is outright distraught over Kenny's state and thus doesn't have the courage to see him in his final moments. When he finally does have the courage to see him (with the help of Chef), Kenny is already gone.

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