The Return of Chef

"The Return of Chef" is the first episode of the tenth season of South Park.

It marks the final appearance of the character Chef as his voice artist Isaac Hayes left due to the scientology controversy. This episode made #1 on the list of 10 South Parks That Changed the World.

Synopsis
Chef returns after his stay with the Super Adventure Club. Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny notice there's something different about him...

Plot
Chef has gone away to stay with the Super Adventure Club because he seeks adventure. The boys' lives have been very dull without Chef after a tearful farewell...

Three months later, the boys are sitting around, sad and bored. Suddenly the door rings and Stan goes to answer it. It is Chef he exclaims his usual "Hello there children!". Stan exclaims that Chef is back and the boys run up to him and hug him.

The townsfolk are all delighted to have Chef back (who is staying at Jimbo's for the time being). Chef answers the questions of the residents (in a rather unusual and strangely pitched voice) and reveals he is still part of his club, but is living with all his old friends. As Chef leaves, only the boys have noticed the change in Chef's voice.

Next day at school, the boys stand in line for lunch looking forward to Chef's meals. Clyde walks up to the boys and tells them that he thinks Chef wants to have sex with him. The boys ignore this believing Clyde to be wrong. As they reach the front of the queue, Chef asks if they want to meet up and make love. The boys are confused. He can't be serious. He is. The boys horrified, and Chef continues his perverted conversation.

Soon, police arrive at the school to question the pupils about Chef explaining he is believed to be a pedophile. A cop uses a doll to question and demonstrate the possible ways Chef may have molested the boys. It's very through. Later, Chef asks the boys over to his place to make love. The boys warn Chef he has to stop, but he ignores this and continues his pursuit of man-boy love.

The boys then take a trip to the Super Adventure Club to find out what actually is wrong with Chef. They discover that the Super Adventure Club goes adventuring round the world, having sex with children. The boys realize that Chef has been brainwashed by the club.

The next thing they do is take Chef to a psychiatrist, who takes them to the Peppermint Hippo (a strip club). Chef does not seem interested in the women there and they prepare to leave, but he then notices a large black pole dancer who he immediately falls for. He then realizes that he has been brainwashed and blurts out "I'm gonna make love to you woman!" as he would do before. He apologizes to the children but suddenly the Super Adventure Club hit him with tranquilizer darts.

Taken back to the club's headquarters, Chef is being hypnotized again. The boys arrive and the club explains to them their history. They reveal that their founder used to cross the world trying to be the first to reach somewhere, but was always beaten. He realized that if he couldn't beat people getting to a place then he could be the first to have sex with the native children. As time progressed the founder realized that by having sex with children he was becoming immortal because small things called marlocs in the children's bodies are entering his. He was granted immortality until he was hit by a train in 1892. The club leader then tells the boys to leave but they refuse. They won't go. Not without Chef. The four burst into Chef's room and try to free Chef. They manage to escape (thanks to an attack move from Kenny) and cross the rope bridge to freedom. On the other side the club's members tell Chef that he left his home because he seeked adventure and that his life was dull. The boys respond by telling Chef they love him. He apologizes but crosses the bridge to the club. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning hits the bridge and Chef catches fire. He then becomes impaled on the rocks as he falls down the ravine. He is then impaled on a branch and a mountain lion and bear attack him, pulling his face off and tearing him in half. As he lies dead, the boys look in horror. Stan says, "Oh my God, they killed Chef," and Kyle angrily yells "You bastards! You bastards!". The club comments he would have made a great member. Cartman offers the boys a ray of hope that Chef may not be dead, as "''the last thing you do before you die is crap your pa...!" ''at which point, Chef's body voids its bowels. The boys are resigned to the fact their friend is dead.

Back at South Park, a funeral is held, the coffin containing a spatula. Kyle explains they should not be mad at Chef, but at "that fruity little club, for scrambling his brains". The town comment that Kyle is right, and he adds that he believes a good part of Chef is still out there, alive in their hearts.

Back at the Super Adventure Club, Chef's corpse is pulled into an suit reminiscent of Darth Vader's, complete with a glowing red spatula. He answers the club's leader asking if he would like to suck on his Chocolate Salty Balls, but he does not mean the confectionery, he means his balls.

Trivia

 * Chef's voice is composed of audio clips of his voice spliced up poorly (this is intentional to make him sound out of his mind, along with other characters stating what wouldn't be in an auto clip) as Isaac Hayes quit after being offended by the episode "Trapped in the Closet" which mocked his faith, Scientology. The Super Adventure Club can be compared to Scientology.
 * With the death of Hayes in 2008, this means that the original Chef (if he ever appears that way again) will never again have original dialogue, unless another voice actor is chosen.
 * Darth Chef was voiced by Peter Serafinowicz in reference to his role in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as Darth Maul.
 * This episode features end credits after the braniff splash ad.
 * This is the last mention or appearance of Chef (apart from his appearance in the crowd scene in the title sequence). From the next episode onwards, his appearance in the crowd scene is replaced by Darth Chef. Although Chef technically survived his 'death', the fact he has not appeared at all, is most likely out of respect to Issac Hayes, who died shortly after leaving the series.
 * Peppermint Hippo (previously seen in Lil' Crime Stoppers) is a parody of the strip club Spearmint Rhino.
 * Elton John,Kathie Lee Gifford,Ike Broflovski, Terrance and Phillip (who are weeping), Timmy, Jimmy Vulmer, Liane Cartman, Butters Stotch, Mrs. McCormick, Stuart McCormick, Principal Victoria, Janet Garrison, and even Kenny's rarely seen brother make cameos during Chef's funeral. Strangely, Chef's Parents are not present at all.
 * The picture of the founder of the Super Adventure Club appears reminiscent of Theodore Roosevelt who went on several exploratory adventures during his lifetime, including the American west, the Amazon, the Alps, and an African safari.
 * In the episode "Die Hippie, Die", Chef was the head of Public Safety Department. After his death, he was replaced by Glenn in the episode "Night of the Living Homeless", who was also killed.
 * Chef's last role before this episode was Die Hippie, Die so he was only seen twice after Season Eight.