I'm of the opinion that South Park is a guilty pleasure for
most people. It's almost a badge of
honor to be lampooned by the show that takes no prisoners in its satire and
truth be told its targets rarely complain.
That is so long as you don't draw a cartoon of Mohammed.
The Internet, racism, video games, hybrid cars, politics and
celebrities are all fair game. If it's
in the news chances are it'll show up in an episode of South Park.
Interestingly enough, it seems those kids from South Park
with now familiar names like Cartman, Kyle and Butters never seem to progress
past the fourth grade but still manage to remain relevant after almost 20 years. It's a strange time warp that fans just seem
to accept as the series that began in the Clinton Administration continues well
into the latter half of the tenure of the first black President.
The world's changed quite a bit since 1997 and the series
has kept tabs on it. Creators Trey
Parker and Matt Stone have somehow managed to chronicle nearly 2 decades of
popular culture while keeping the show fresh.
Over the years, the best barbs have been reserved for those
who took themselves a little too seriously.
Tea party conservatives, tree-huggers, religious fanatics and the
excesses of political correctness have all been frequent targets.
It's that last one, political correctness, that was the
focus of the premiere episode of Season 19 last week.
In it we find that the rest of the world has had it with
South Park's politically incorrect behavior and have sent in a new principal of
the school in the form of one Principal PC
to correct the transgressions.
Of course Principal PC
is a ridiculous caricature best described as a mash-up between an overgrown frat
boy and every politically correct tweet that's ever been feverishly beaten into
a Smartphone.
For the most part the episode was a hilarious take on what
is often an overheated politically correct culture that dismisses independent
thought.
Except something happened at the end of the episode.
At the risk of spoilers I'll try to be somewhat vague in
case you haven't seen it yet.
The episode ended... Wrong....
Instead of staying with the theme of the ridiculous and
driving the point home, everyone just kind of gave in.
I don't know if the show is starting to wear on Parker and
Stone but this particular episode has me worried.
In the past, I've found myself, thrilled, bent over with
laughter as well as grossed out and even offended but never was I lacking for
closure when watching an episode of South Park.
I was on board with this one up until the last 3
minutes. If ever there was a good excuse
for an alternate ending this episode is it.
I'm just hoping all is put right with the world of South
Park in episode 2 this season or I may be done with the likes of Cartman and
Kyle.
My rating, 9/10 for the first 20 minutes, 0/10 for the
ending.
