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[AV]

So, the first episode of the new season was released, and the primary theme of the episode is school shootings. Sharon Marsh seems to be the only person in South Park concerned that children are dying daily, and everyone else seems to have accepted these shootings as the norm. Stan spends the episode convincing Sharon that she's just going through her time of the month, and Cartman spends the episode getting to the bottom of why Token claims he hasn't seen Black Panther.

I loved it. South Park's never been subtle about its message, and it never pulls punches when it needs to. It's definitely the first time I've seen a comedic sequence during an active school shooting. Naturally there's a glut of people (Brie Larson included, unsurprisingly) on Twitter who completely missed the episode's message about complacency and were unhappy with the lack of resolution or solution it offered, totally failing to see the funny side in Sharon's eventual slip into acceptance.

What do we make of the #cancelsouthpark hash tag displayed over the end credits? The show is contracted until next year - some argue that Tre and Matt really do want the show cancelled, and they themselves have stated previously that it's becoming redundant in a society that's already a parody of itself. Or is the hashtag a joke pointed at the cancel culture of America, where the far left have become the very thing they used to hate in trying to remove any contradictory / controversial ideas from mainstream media?

 

[Geki-D]

22 Season is a lot. I would understand if the creators were starting to get bored and maybe feel in 22 years, give or take, they've already pretty much parodied and covered every subject.

 

[TwiztidElf]

Does Kenny get killed?

 

[WaterAstro]

Why do people take South Park seriously. They done so much worse stuff that South Park should be considered desensitizing.

They already had that one episode where Officer Barbrady shot a black kid.

 

[royox]

Sharon Marsh seems to be the only person in South Park concerned that children are dying daily, and everyone else seems to have accepted these shootings as the norm.

So a literal reflect of USA nowadays.

 

[AV]

Does Kenny get killed?

They hardly kill him any more. The last season had one episode where he died, but before that it's been years.

 

[TwiztidElf]

Whoosh!

 

[hariseldon]

I'll have to check it out. South Park has always been an equal opportunities offender, offending everyone, and that's part of what I loved about it, though the series themed around the election was a bit shit tbh (no issue with the political message, it just wasn't funny). Re #cancelsouthpark, I'd say the interpretation that it's a dig at hashtag outrage culture is probably closest to the mark. As such, satire is needed now more than ever, to puncture people's seriousness. Each side needs to start criticising its own people and holding them to account and satire has historically offered a great outlet for that. However insane society may get, never lose satire.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

Brie Larson is a serious idiot.

It's disappointing, but true.

 

[AV]

Brie Larson is a serious idiot. It's disappointing, but true.

Yeah, I cannot fathom what she wanted from South Park. Of course this episode wasn't going to end with a straight-faced, serious "lol just ban da guns its ez america" message. The entire joke is that no one has a solution and is just rolling over and accepting it as a norm. South Park Elementary's solution is to give Butters an M16 and have him patrol the halls.

 

[infinitys_7th]

I really like the Metokur solution to teen shooters - humiliate them in the media. Have pundits laugh at them and the eccentricities they often have.

Like mock Randy Stairs for being a brony who wanted a ghost vagina, or the couch cuck for being cucked by a couch, or Cruz for those mumbly videos he did that sound ripped from Hatred. And then just stop talking about them.

Let's stop giving these people what they want - they want to be taken seriously, to have a impact in some twisted way on society. So let's just mourn the victims and mercilessly mock the culprits to take away that motive.

South Park could have handled something like that well, imo. Just have the whole town gather and start roasting the shooter.

 

[Arimer]

The #cancelsouthpark thing is genius in my opinion. They perceived there would be crazy outrage. They cut it off at the pass by owning the most logical hashtag already. It undermines their ability because now they've poisoned the well to any further attempts. Is it real or is it a joke? Who knows. . .

the episode itself was a good one. I didn't really like cartman's B story but i thought the A story about us being all desensitized to shootings was right on the money.

 

[Clear]

I hope they use the hashtag thing to really push the envelope this season.

 

[TTOOLL]

I loved the episode. Randy <3

 

[Cybrwzrd]

I really like the Metokur solution to teen shooters - humiliate them in the media. Have pundits laugh at them and the eccentricities they often have.

Like mock Randy Stairs for being a brony who wanted a ghost vagina, or the couch cuck for being cucked by a couch, or Cruz for those mumbly videos he did that sound ripped from Hatred. And then just stop talking about them.

Let's stop giving these people what they want - they want to be taken seriously, to have a impact in some twisted way on society. So let's just mourn the victims and mercilessly mock the culprits to take away that motive.

South Park could have handled something like that well, imo. Just have the whole town gather and start roasting the shooter.

Gotta say I totally agree with this idea. Every time a school shooter's name is brought up, label them as Randy "the brony lover" Stairs and turn their idea at having a legacy of being some sort of badass into being a laughing stock for humanity.

 

[Redneckerz]

Crude hot take, but if South Park has to go, please take The Simpsons with it aswell.

We know which show is here longer. Hell, The Simpsons is a meme in and out of it self (''The Simpsons already did it!'')

That being said, South Park, as crude as it is at times, its really a show of my generation. Its a legacy that won't carry over to he new fidget spinning (Oh wait thats 2017), Soundcloud rapping, Purple Drank drinking Generation Social of our times.

 

[hariseldon]

Holy shit it's been going since 1997. I feel old! I remember going to LA back in 99 to on my first trip abroad solo as a teenager and seeing it in the cinema out there.. so many laugh-out-loud moments and of course everyone came out of the cinema swearing their fucking heads off. Different fucking times.

 

[#Phonepunk#]

saw this, it was ok, kinda boring. once you got the joke they just did it over and over again. yes they think she's on her period, wow they are all being misogynists, i get it, lol at them. dunno, seems like the same old joke, laughing at bad liberals, kinda getting old. im as non-shocked at the school shooting plot as the characters themselves.

the hashtag thing is just promotion. they always love to make themselves a victim but in an edgelord way. it is part of the brand.

 

[yeahokaywhatever]

So, the first episode of the new season was released, and the primary theme of the episode is school shootings. Sharon Marsh seems to be the only person in South Park concerned that children are dying daily, and everyone else seems to have accepted these shootings as the norm. Stan spends the episode convincing Sharon that she's just going through her time of the month, and Cartman spends the episode getting to the bottom of why Token claims he hasn't seen Black Panther.

I loved it. South Park's never been subtle about its message, and it never pulls punches when it needs to. It's definitely the first time I've seen a comedic sequence during an active school shooting. Naturally there's a glut of people (Brie Larson included, unsurprisingly) on Twitter who completely missed the episode's message about complacency and were unhappy with the lack of resolution or solution it offered, totally failing to see the funny side in Sharon's eventual slip into acceptance.

What do we make of the #cancelsouthpark hash tag displayed over the end credits? The show is contracted until next year - some argue that Tre and Matt really do want the show cancelled, and they themselves have stated previously that it's becoming redundant in a society that's already a parody of itself. Or is the hashtag a joke pointed at the cancel culture of America, where the far left have become the very thing they used to hate in trying to remove any contradictory / controversial ideas from mainstream media?

Brie tweeted about this? Do you have a link?

 

[Musky_Cheese]

It’s a fantastic episode

 

[paparazzo]

Brie tweeted about this? Do you have a link?

Nope, because OP is citing an entirely unrelated account:

https://twitter.com/search?q=#cancelsouthpark&src=tyah

Real thing:

https://twitter.com/brielarson

 

[cryptoadam]

Didn't find the episode that funny and I thought they were going somewhere with how no one cares about school shootings anymore, but did not like the Sharon is on her period/menopause framing and thought they could of come up with something better.

I think its probably time for the show to go. It still gets laughs from me, but each season the laughs are less and less. I have no problem saying SP is a historic show and one of the funniest and most poignent shows created. They have so many episodes that just nailed it. Apologise Mr Jackson was released like 4 years ago and its still relevant today. Heck even the episode about the flag thats like a decade old is still relevant.

Or maybe I am just getting older I don't know but Matt and Tre seemed to have lost a bit of their touch.

Man I can't imagine the ride those guys have been on. Going from making a stupid christmas video card to a multi million dollar 22 season franchise. SP in the late 90's to early 2000's was a phenomenon. These guys must have made so much bank.

 

[cryptoadam]

Holy shit it's been going since 1997. I feel old! I remember going to LA back in 99 to on my first trip abroad solo as a teenager and seeing it in the cinema out there.. so many laugh-out-loud moments and of course everyone came out of the cinema swearing their fucking heads off. Different fucking times.

I don't know if I ever laughed so hard in my life as I did seeing that movie.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

I really like the Metokur solution to teen shooters - humiliate them in the media. Have pundits laugh at them and the eccentricities they often have.

Like mock Randy Stairs for being a brony who wanted a ghost vagina, or the couch cuck for being cucked by a couch, or Cruz for those mumbly videos he did that sound ripped from Hatred. And then just stop talking about them.

Let's stop giving these people what they want - they want to be taken seriously, to have a impact in some twisted way on society. So let's just mourn the victims and mercilessly mock the culprits to take away that motive.

South Park could have handled something like that well, imo. Just have the whole town gather and start roasting the shooter.

The internet is to blame for it becoming such an epidemic because people made a hero out of Seung-Hui Cho, a fact which I'm sure a lot of people have forgotten.

But even if lionizing Cho was just 4chan's typical ironic dark humor, a lot of disturbed guys didn't get the irony and it's led to a spree of copycat killers for over a decade now, even if these dudes aren't specifically thinking of Cho, that's where it began.

I hope all those people who made a hero out of Cho "for the lulz" are happy that it led to many, many more actual murders, great job internet!

But yeah, the solution now is to go the opposite route, relentlessly mock these shooters and make it to where it no longer seems "cool" by these disturbed minds to do this.

 

[PerezDeCorcho]

IMO, South Park started going downhill with HumancentiPad back in 2011.

 

[cryptoadam]

IMO, South Park started going downhill with HumancentiPad back in 2011.

But why won't it read?

 

[jadedm17]

22 Season is a lot. I would understand if the creators were starting to get bored and maybe feel in 22 years, give or take, they've already pretty much parodied and covered every subject.

I keep thinking that but the last few seasons are better then ever and Stick of Truth was a blast, so it would seem that our current climate of flat-earthers and Trump POTUS has a seemingly endless supply of ridiculous things to keep making fun of; Though I'll agree on the redundant comment since it does seem a parody of itself at this point.

IMO, South Park started going downhill with HumancentiPad back in 2011.

The over-arching plots that actively effect each episode and each season have made the last few seasons great, so I completely disagree and wonder if you've even watched any recent episodes.

 

[TrainedRage]

South Park>Simpsons>Family Guy

 

[Basoes]

South Park>Simpsons>Family Guy

12 oz mouse > South Park >Simpsons > Family Guy

 

[Codes 208]

South Park>Simpsons>Family Guy

I would seriously take most other animated sitcoms over family guy. Even cleveland show was funnier to me. American dad is still Seth's best.

 

[-MD-]

I would seriously take most other animated sitcoms over family guy. Even cleveland show was funnier to me. American dad is still Seth's best.

Early Family Guy was great, like the first 3 seasons.

 

[Codes 208]

Early Family Guy was great, like the first 3 seasons.

I liked 4 and 5 as well. But now its too self-aware and almost nothing but rehashed jokes and themes.

 

[J-Roderton]

IMO, South Park started going downhill with HumancentiPad back in 2011.

Weird. I’ve said similar before. I’m not saying all of it has been shit since that episode, but it really has kind of been a different show since, to me at least. I love South Park but it really did change a lot.

Hopefully I’ll have time to catch this weeks episode tomorrow night.

 

[Cybrwzrd]

Gotta say I loved the new epidsode. They ended up getting the exact reaction they wanted on social media; which completely proved their point.

Didn't find the episode that funny and I thought they were going somewhere with how no one cares about school shootings anymore, but did not like the Sharon is on her period/menopause framing and thought they could of come up with something better.

And apparently you didn’t get it as well. Sharon was one side of social media, the overly emotional side who is crying over everything bad that happens in the world that doesn’t actually do anything about the problem- a very vocal minority that gets a lot of attention. Everyone else is the vast majority who just doesn’t care because it doesn’t affect their life, so they don’t talk about it and go on about their business like nothing is happening. So they tried to appease the loud annoying Sharon, and she eventually gives in, even after hearing her son was shot.

So on turn nothing gets done. Slacktivism is a wet, clammy, weak handshake that most do not take seriously, and turns people off. At the same time slacktavists are loud and annoying to most people. Most people just don’t care, because their concerns are greater than larger social issues that are difficult to understand and even harder to address, so they just put it away out of mind and go on about their lives oblivious to problems.

So in turn nothing is ever accomplished, and eventually problems just become routine, normal things that people accept as part of their life. This wasn’t just about school shootings, but it was used as the most absurdly possible background for the episode.

The main story was of Cartman trying to not appear racist to Token, by trying to signal to everyone that even he liked Black Panther even tho he didn’t. For personal gains. So he was trying to be an “ally” to get points to prove he isn’t bad by trying to appeal to every black person on the show. And in the end, Token let him cheat again.

 

[oagboghi2]

Did OP purposely misquote Brie Larson? Her Twitter feed shows nothing about South Park. It's just a bunch of "Bret Kavanaugh is a rapist" tweets

 

[oagboghi2]

saw this, it was ok, kinda boring. once you got the joke they just did it over and over again. yes they think she's on her period, wow they are all being misogynists, i get it, lol at them. dunno, seems like the same old joke, laughing at bad liberals, kinda getting old. im as non-shocked at the school shooting plot as the characters themselves.

the hashtag thing is just promotion. they always love to make themselves a victim but in an edgelord way. it is part of the brand.

I think you completely missed the point of the episode.

And how is the hashtag "edgelord" exactly?

 

[Dr. Claus]

The #cancelsouthpark thing is genius in my opinion. They perceived there would be crazy outrage. They cut it off at the pass by owning the most logical hashtag already. It undermines their ability because now they've poisoned the well to any further attempts. Is it real or is it a joke? Who knows. . .

the episode itself was a good one. I didn't really like cartman's B story but i thought the A story about us being all desensitized to shootings was right on the money.

I *hope* it is a joke. I absolutely love South Park and do believe it is needed in today's America. I also like the idea that it is a "critique" against the cancel/outrage culture currently common in America. However, a part of me also fears that it really will be the last South Park season and... I don't like that. I feel South Park has only improved with each season.

 

[davepoobond]

i doubt they will cancel south park now, they've been ramping up all of the side properties with games and stuff. they only make 10 episodes a year.

 

[cryptoadam]

Gotta say I loved the new epidsode. They ended up getting the exact reaction they wanted on social media; which completely proved their point.



And apparently you didn’t get it as well. Sharon was one side of social media, the overly emotional side who is crying over everything bad that happens in the world that doesn’t actually do anything about the problem- a very vocal minority that gets a lot of attention. Everyone else is the vast majority who just doesn’t care because it doesn’t affect their life, so they don’t talk about it and go on about their business like nothing is happening. So they tried to appease the loud annoying Sharon, and she eventually gives in, even after hearing her son was shot.

So on turn nothing gets done. Slacktivism is a wet, clammy, weak handshake that most do not take seriously, and turns people off. At the same time slacktavists are loud and annoying to most people. Most people just don’t care, because their concerns are greater than larger social issues that are difficult to understand and even harder to address, so they just put it away out of mind and go on about their lives oblivious to problems.

So in turn nothing is ever accomplished, and eventually problems just become routine, normal things that people accept as part of their life. This wasn’t just about school shootings, but it was used as the most absurdly possible background for the episode.

The main story was of Cartman trying to not appear racist to Token, by trying to signal to everyone that even he liked Black Panther even tho he didn’t. For personal gains. So he was trying to be an “ally” to get points to prove he isn’t bad by trying to appeal to every black person on the show. And in the end, Token let him cheat again.

Ya I guess I didn't "get it". I think I kinda saw what they were going for but it didn't really work for me. I think they could of done what you said but framed it in a different way that would of been funnier and worked better for me. Just didn't really find the whole period/menopause thing funny and a good metaphor for what you described. I like the premise but not the execution.

The background part was what I found most funny. The whole shootings happening and no one caring about it, or Cartmen getting to class and its a warzone, that got some laughs from me. I would of preferred that they expanded on that and found a clever way to use that to put out the message that rather than the period/menopause thing.

Like I said the message and premise was good and funny, I thought it was going to be a classic when the episode started, but I think they exectuted it poorly by going with the period angle and could of found a better way to do what you said. Also Sharon isn't one of my favorite characters so it also fell a bit flat there as well.

 

[Tapioca]

It was a decent episode.

 

[CatLady]

The #cancelsouthpark thing is genius in my opinion. They perceived there would be crazy outrage. They cut it off at the pass by owning the most logical hashtag already. It undermines their ability because now they've poisoned the well to any further attempts. Is it real or is it a joke? Who knows. . .

the episode itself was a good one. I didn't really like cartman's B story but i thought the A story about us being all desensitized to shootings was right on the money.

This exactly, there is a billboard I drive by on thr way home from work with #CancelSouthPark sponsored by Comedy Central

 

[Akuza89]

They knew when they were writing the episode that a hashtag such as that would start ... why not create one themselves ?

the episode was brilliant though, I have to say.

 

[Geki-D]

-"Oh a School shoo... Did you do it?"
-"No"
-"Did you get shot?"
-"No"
-"Oh. What's this about failing a maths test?"

 

[WaterAstro]

Oooh the #cancelsouthpark is a meme/joke by them lol.

Now I get it.

The episode is an exact representation of how America feels. School shootings, gun violence, hurricanes, whatever. They are so desensitized to these events that they don't care anymore. South Park always loves to make that point.

 

[#Phonepunk#]

the Halloween Tricks & Treats episode with the scooters was one of the best episodes in a long time. so good!!!

 

[Dice]

Does Kenny get killed?

You know, seeing as how it has been 22 seasons, it would be funny if everyone but him was killed and then Stan walked in and, in seeming 4th-wall-breaking knowledge of the trope over their universe, was shocked that "they spared Kenny!"

 

[Grinchy]

The season has been alright so far. It's still watchable, unlike the other cartoons (Simpsons, Family Guy, ect) but it isn't really all that funny anymore. There are funny moments and deeper layers that aren't laugh out loud funny but are slightly clever but overall it can be a bit of a slog to watch. That's not just this season, I guess. It's been this way for years.

 

[Dr. Claus]

The season has been alright so far. It's still watchable, unlike the other cartoons (Simpsons, Family Guy, ect) but it isn't really all that funny anymore. There are funny moments and deeper layers that aren't laugh out loud funny but are slightly clever but overall it can be a bit of a slog to watch. That's not just this season, I guess. It's been this way for years.

I disagree. It is still hilarous, but I also have begun looking at the show to find the meaning of the episode. Wisecrack ruined me on that front XD.

By the way, I do suggest you give their podcast "Respect Our Authoritah" a listen. It is brilliant.

 

[Airola]

Ya I guess I didn't "get it". I think I kinda saw what they were going for but it didn't really work for me. I think they could of done what you said but framed it in a different way that would of been funnier and worked better for me. Just didn't really find the whole period/menopause thing funny and a good metaphor for what you described. I like the premise but not the execution.

The background part was what I found most funny. The whole shootings happening and no one caring about it, or Cartmen getting to class and its a warzone, that got some laughs from me. I would of preferred that they expanded on that and found a clever way to use that to put out the message that rather than the period/menopause thing.

Like I said the message and premise was good and funny, I thought it was going to be a classic when the episode started, but I think they exectuted it poorly by going with the period angle and could of found a better way to do what you said. Also Sharon isn't one of my favorite characters so it also fell a bit flat there as well.

I haven't seen the episode but to me the premise sounds hilarious even with that period thing.

I read it as them having a laugh at people who try to rationalize and dismiss emotions by naturalistic thinking. That for any emotion there must be a "scientific explanation", so to speak, and how those emotions go on the way of reasonable behaviour. She's showing emotions, it must be her biology messing up her thinking. As if emotions aren't valid reason for concern. Kinda laughs at "both sides" in that we can see the right criticizing the left how they let their emotions define the world when it's about, say, the LGBT issues, and the left criticizes the right that they are letting their fear to define the world when it's about terrorists.

 

[AV]

I'm happy that they're clearing trying to go back to their roots as a cartoon show about kids getting into wacky adventures, while also keeping the flavour-of-the-week social/political stuff in there for the newer crowd. They did come out publicly and say that they missed how things used to be, so it's nice to see it in action.