Like?
1
0
Who have voted
South Park - Season 17
Seventeen seasons in and ‘South Park’ is a vastly different show from when it started. It’s become one of the most poignant social commentaries of our time. Even though it’s told by a group of foulmouthed fourth-graders.
The first season that is no longer split in two halves over the course of one calendar year, the show already feels more consistent and meatier. Every episode is inspired, original and extremely unpredictable. This season’s delay of an episode, caused by a power outage two days before the airing of that same episode, proves just how extremely responsive the creators are. Not many TV shows, not even many live shows, depend on that kind of last-minute production schedule. The benefit of which is ‘South Park’ responds to the news, shortly after, or even while, it happens. Because this show doesn’t take itself seriously (or at least pretends it doesn’t), it can get away with a lot; almost anything, really. That, combined with its very opinionated view of real-world events, guarantees a certain creative freedom, through offensive, unrealistic and unhinged stories, sketch shows and stand-up comedians only dream of.
When you look beyond a rude animated show aimed at college frat boys, you’ll be surprised to find an informed, optimistic and, dare I say, educated variation on modern day journalism. If you’re not ridiculed on ‘South Park’, do you even matter? Not really, considering nearly every memorable event in the back half of 2013 is touched upon in some form. The show parodies the news by pairing two seemingly unrelated events together for an episode. At the same time, it spouts criticism and begs for solutions through its young protagonists who are naive like children and skeptic like the adults who created them.
This season tells a lot of story in twenty minutes. Though all episodes are pretty fantastic, ‘World War Zimmerman’ stands out because of its offensive yet effective take on gun control combined with the racial undertone of the George Zimmerman trial all while mocking the movie ‘World War Z’. There’s not one creative outlet who would ever consider these three stories let alone put them together for an actual TV show. Should anyone? Probably not. But with Cartman’s extreme antics which always stem so painfully realistically from the real world, this particular episode delivers. Same goes for the season finale, which sees Wendy Testaburger in an emotional arc. With a melancholic look, Wendy is confronted with the pressures of beauty for young girls, especially with Photoshopped ads. This is an important discussion in our time, one many shy away from. It speaks volumes that ‘South Park’ doesn’t really deflate the issue or even mocks it. Instead, we see a tormented Wendy, powerless against the superficial masses. The show even advocates an actual, workable solution (ads have to add that the images are Photoshopped). Because this is the show that aims for the very same guys that will probably be in charge of marketing, the episode holds a cultural relevance that is easy to overlook.
The power of ‘South Park’ continues throughout the season. Obamacare, Kanye West, The Hobbit, Black Friday, NSA surveillance, Alec Baldwin, Game of Thrones, Syria, it is all addressed. Not everything is dealt with in a thought-provoking matter. Such as the episode of ‘Ginger Cow’ which both examines the ridicule of the many conflicts between religions and the vanity that comes with doing good, without really touching upon real-life issues. After all, this is an animated show about kids, so when it offers up a ridiculous story with even the slightest cultural relevance, it’s already above average. Luckily, even with a three-parter that spoofs ‘Game of Thrones’ through the gaming console wars, the show is always insisting on opening up eyes. It does so through highly entertaining, legitimately crazy, ever-twisting stories with some very good jokes.
‘South Park’ is one of the funniest, most relevant shows on TV right now. It has settled into a work flow that feels more contemporary and concentrated than earlier seasons. Only few people might look beyond the cheap shots, sensationalizing celebrities and unnecessary cursing. Which is understandable, because this is still ‘South Park’. But those that do take away more from the show will be thinking, even if it's with the same heedless and subjective attitude, about its message after the credits role. In case the papers, the blogs, the in-depth TV shows and documentaries fail to focus on the subjects that define our time. If the target audience of a cartoon show doesn’t rely on traditional media, ‘South Park’ might be the most informed source of news some people have. In a world where journalistic integrity is continuously questioned and the least influential stories are the ones that gain the most attention, having a show that’s not pretentious and unapologetic as an informant is not the worst thing in the world.
Follow South ParkThe first season that is no longer split in two halves over the course of one calendar year, the show already feels more consistent and meatier. Every episode is inspired, original and extremely unpredictable. This season’s delay of an episode, caused by a power outage two days before the airing of that same episode, proves just how extremely responsive the creators are. Not many TV shows, not even many live shows, depend on that kind of last-minute production schedule. The benefit of which is ‘South Park’ responds to the news, shortly after, or even while, it happens. Because this show doesn’t take itself seriously (or at least pretends it doesn’t), it can get away with a lot; almost anything, really. That, combined with its very opinionated view of real-world events, guarantees a certain creative freedom, through offensive, unrealistic and unhinged stories, sketch shows and stand-up comedians only dream of.
When you look beyond a rude animated show aimed at college frat boys, you’ll be surprised to find an informed, optimistic and, dare I say, educated variation on modern day journalism. If you’re not ridiculed on ‘South Park’, do you even matter? Not really, considering nearly every memorable event in the back half of 2013 is touched upon in some form. The show parodies the news by pairing two seemingly unrelated events together for an episode. At the same time, it spouts criticism and begs for solutions through its young protagonists who are naive like children and skeptic like the adults who created them.
This season tells a lot of story in twenty minutes. Though all episodes are pretty fantastic, ‘World War Zimmerman’ stands out because of its offensive yet effective take on gun control combined with the racial undertone of the George Zimmerman trial all while mocking the movie ‘World War Z’. There’s not one creative outlet who would ever consider these three stories let alone put them together for an actual TV show. Should anyone? Probably not. But with Cartman’s extreme antics which always stem so painfully realistically from the real world, this particular episode delivers. Same goes for the season finale, which sees Wendy Testaburger in an emotional arc. With a melancholic look, Wendy is confronted with the pressures of beauty for young girls, especially with Photoshopped ads. This is an important discussion in our time, one many shy away from. It speaks volumes that ‘South Park’ doesn’t really deflate the issue or even mocks it. Instead, we see a tormented Wendy, powerless against the superficial masses. The show even advocates an actual, workable solution (ads have to add that the images are Photoshopped). Because this is the show that aims for the very same guys that will probably be in charge of marketing, the episode holds a cultural relevance that is easy to overlook.
The power of ‘South Park’ continues throughout the season. Obamacare, Kanye West, The Hobbit, Black Friday, NSA surveillance, Alec Baldwin, Game of Thrones, Syria, it is all addressed. Not everything is dealt with in a thought-provoking matter. Such as the episode of ‘Ginger Cow’ which both examines the ridicule of the many conflicts between religions and the vanity that comes with doing good, without really touching upon real-life issues. After all, this is an animated show about kids, so when it offers up a ridiculous story with even the slightest cultural relevance, it’s already above average. Luckily, even with a three-parter that spoofs ‘Game of Thrones’ through the gaming console wars, the show is always insisting on opening up eyes. It does so through highly entertaining, legitimately crazy, ever-twisting stories with some very good jokes.
‘South Park’ is one of the funniest, most relevant shows on TV right now. It has settled into a work flow that feels more contemporary and concentrated than earlier seasons. Only few people might look beyond the cheap shots, sensationalizing celebrities and unnecessary cursing. Which is understandable, because this is still ‘South Park’. But those that do take away more from the show will be thinking, even if it's with the same heedless and subjective attitude, about its message after the credits role. In case the papers, the blogs, the in-depth TV shows and documentaries fail to focus on the subjects that define our time. If the target audience of a cartoon show doesn’t rely on traditional media, ‘South Park’ might be the most informed source of news some people have. In a world where journalistic integrity is continuously questioned and the least influential stories are the ones that gain the most attention, having a show that’s not pretentious and unapologetic as an informant is not the worst thing in the world.
Reacties (0)