History Recap / SouthParkS8E13CartmansIncredibleGift

* BadCopIncompetentCop: Yates and his crew are not only too stupid to notice the actual killer, but they use brutal force against their "suspects", shooting one of them to death.

* CassandraTruth: Stan and Kyle know who the serial killer in this episode is, but the police refuse to believe the two of them and only listen to fake psychic Cartman, who's just using them to arrest anybody he has a grudge with. Kyle realizes that the only way the idiot police will listen to him is if they think he's a psychic as well and repeats the same accident that gave Cartman his "powers" on himself.

* PoliceAreUseless: In his efforts in finding the Left-Hand Killer, Officer Harrison Yates becomes convinced that Cartman is a psychic and hires him to be their psychic detective. Cartman makes him think that Tom Johannsen, owner of the local ice cream shop, is the killer and Yates has him arrested. When the killings continue unobstructed, rather than thinking that Cartman was simply wrong, he presumes to think that it is a copycat killer. As Cartman uses his "psychic abilities" to have them arrest the "copy-cat killers", it never occurs to Yates that Cartman was simply wrong the first time. When the [[FailedASpotCheck actual killer is there at the crime-scene, covered in blood and rambling like a mad man]], they overlook him, brushing off Kyle's attempts at directing their attention toward him because he wasn't a psychic. It takes Kyle injuring himself and convincing him that he is a psychic for him to even consider looking into it (even then, Yates and Murphy initially dismiss Kyle once again, since he ''isn't'' a professional like Eric). When he investigates his house, Yates dismisses the actual killer because he mistakes the various human hands he has as being ''right'' hands. After that, it takes an extensive criminological montage at the police station (even forgetting what he was doing halfway through) before he ''finally'' realizes what's going on.

* TooDumbToLive: Cartman actually thought he could fly with cardboard wings. It is a miracle that he didn't die or wasn't paralyzed for life. A doctor even tells Cartman's mom point blank that he's this.
-->'''Doctor''': I'm afraid that your son is... incredibly stupid.

* PoliceAreUseless: In his efforts in finding the Left-Hand Killer, Officer Harrison Yates becomes convinced that Cartman is a psychic and hires him to be their psychic detective. Cartman makes him think that Tom Johannsen, owner of the local ice cream shop, is the killer and Yates has him arrested. When the killings continue unobstructed, rather than thinking that Cartman was simply wrong, he presumes to think that it is a copycat killer. As Cartman uses his "psychic abilities" to have them arrest the "copy-cat killers", it never occurs to Yates that Cartman was simply wrong the first time. When the [[FailedASpotCheck actual killer is there at the crime-scene, covered in blood and rambling like a mad man]], they overlook him, brushing off Kyle's attempts at directing their attention toward him because he wasn't a psychic. It takes Kyle injuring himself and convincing him that he is a psychic for him to even consider looking into it (even then, Yates and Murphy initially dismiss Kyle once again, since he ''isn't'' a professional like Eric) When he investigates his house, Yates dismisses the actual killer because he mistakes the various human hands he has as being ''right'' hands. After that, it takes an extensive criminological montage at the police station (even forgetting what he was doing halfway through) before he ''finally'' realizes what's going on.

* PoliceAreUseless: In his efforts in finding the Left-Hand Killer, Officer Harrison Yates becomes convinced that Cartman is a psychic and hires him to be their psychic detective. Cartman makes him think that Tom Johannsen, owner of the local ice cream shop, is the killer and Yates has him arrested. When the killings continue unobstructed, rather than thinking that Cartman was simply wrong, he presumes to think that it is a copycat killer. As Cartman uses his "psychic abilities" to have them arrest the "copy-cat killers", it never occurs to Yates that Cartman was simply wrong the first time. When the [[FailedASpotCheck actual killer is there at the crime-scene, covered in blood and rambling like a mad man]], they overlook him, brushing off Kyle's attempts at directing their attention toward him because he wasn't a psychic. It takes Kyle injuring himself and convincing him that he is a psychic for him to even consider looking into it, and even then, he dismisses the actual killer because he mistakes the various human hands he has as being ''right'' hands. After that, it takes an extensive criminological montage at the police station (even forgetting what he was doing halfway through) before he ''finally'' realizes what's going on.

* PhonyPsychic: Cartman, Kyle and the other Psychic Detectives.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: When Veronica Crabtree turns out to be one of the Left-Hand Killer's victim, this troped milked for all its worth. When one of the detectives at the scene noting that she was "[[CListFodder an ancillary character, one the fans wouldn't miss much]]", and Yates lamenting her death by remarking "I know she hadn't been in any recent episodes, but dammit, she deserved better than this!"

* JackTheRipoff: Subverted. When he Left-Hand Killer keeps killing despite Tom Johannsen (the guy Yates assumed to be the killer on account of Cartman's "premonitions") being arrested, he presumes it to be the work of a copy-cat killer. When Cartman provides a suspect for that, Yates presumes there is a ''second'' copy-cat killer when ''that'' doesn't work, and so on and so on.

* PoliceAreUseless: In his efforts in finding the Left-Hand Killer, Officer Harrison Yates becomes convinced that Cartman is a psychic and hires him to be their psychic detective. Cartman makes him think that Tom Johannsen, owner of the local ice cream shop, is the killer and Yates has him arrested. When the killings continue unobstructed, rather than thinking that Cartman was simply wrong, he presumes to think that it is a copycat killer. As Cartman uses his "psychic abilities" to have them arrest the "copy-cat killers", it never occurs to Yates that Cartman was simply wrong the first time. When the [[FailedASpotCheck actual killer is there at the crime-scene, covered in blood and rambling like a mad man]], they overlook him, brushing off Kyle's attempts at directing their attention toward him because he wasn't a psychic. It takes Kyle injuring himself and convincing him that he is a psychic for him to even consider looking into it, and even then he dismisses the actual killer because he mistakes the various human hands he has as being ''right'' hands. After that, it takes an extensive criminological montage at the police station (even forgetting what he was doing half way through) does he ''then'' put it together.

* SuicideDare: Kyle encourages Cartman to perform his flight stunt knowing that it will fail and that Cartman will just fall off the roof and seriously injure himself.

'''Airdate:''' December 8, 2004

* SelectiveObliviousness: Even with all the evidence staring right in front of him, Yates ''still'' cannot figure out who the left-handed killer is. It's only at the end that he ''finally'' is able to put two and two together.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: When Veronica Crabtree turns out to be one of the Left Hand Killer's victim, this troped milked for all its worth. When one of the detectives at the scene noting that she was "[[CListFodder an ancillary character, one the fans wouldn't miss much]]", and Yates lamenting her death by remarking "I know she hadn't been in any recent episodes, but dammit, she deserved better than this!"
* CListFodder: When Veronica Crabtree is revealed as one of the Left Hand Killer's victims, it is [[BreakingTheFourthWall outright remarked]] by one of the detectives that "She was considered an ancillary character, one the fans wouldn't miss much."

* BreakingTheFourthWall: When Veronica Crabtree turns out to be one of the Left Hand Killer's victim, this troped milked for all its worth. When one of the detectives at the scene noting that she was "[[CListFodder an ancillary character. One the fans wouldn't miss much]]", and Yates lamenting her death by remarking "I know she hadn't been in any recent episodes, but dammit, she deserved better than this!"
* CListFodder: When Veronica Crabtree is revealed as one of the Left Hand Killer's victims, it is [[BreakingTheFourthWall outright remarked]] by one of the detectives that "She was considered an ancillary character. One the fans wouldn't miss much."

* SelectiveObliviousness: Even with all the evidence staring right in front of him, Yates ''still'' cannot comprehend who the left-handed killer is. It's only at the end that he ''finally'' is able to put two and two together.

* JackTheRipoff: Averted. When he Left-Hand Killer keeps killing despite Tom Johannsen (the guy Yates assumed to be the killer on account of Cartman's "premonitions") being arrested, he presumes it to be the work of a copy-cat killer. When Cartman provides a suspect for that, Yates presumes there is a ''second'' copy-cat killer when ''that'' doesn't work, and so on and so on.
* NoKillLikeOverkill: The South Park P.D.'s SWAT team promptly riddle one of the Psychic Detectives with bullets when he pretends to use his powers on them, despite it being pretty obvious he's faking any kind of ability.

* ObviouslyEvil: Michael Deets, a clearly deranged man wearing a blood-soaked raincoat with a ThousandYardStare, hanging around crime scenes bragging that the police aren't smart enough to catch him and muttering about his mother apparently sexually abusing him as a child. The police not only completely miss him but threaten Kyle with arrest for trying to draw their attention to the man.

* TooDumbToLive: Cartman actually thought he could fly with cardboard wings. It is a miracle that he didn't die or wasn't paralyzed for life.

* ObviouslyEvil: Michael Deets, a clearly deranged man wearing a bloodsoaked raincoat with a ThousandYardStare, hanging around crime scenes bragging that the police aren't smart enough to catch him and muttering about his mother apparently sexually abusing him as a child. The police not only completely miss him but threaten Kyle with arrest for trying to draw their attention to the man.

* ShoutOut: The plot itself bares more than a few reference to ''Literature/RedDragon'' and ''Literature/TheDeadZone''.
* SuicideDare: Kyle encourages Cartman to perform his wingsuit stunt knowing that it will fail and that Cartman will just fall off the roof and seriously injure himself.

* PoliceAreUseless: In his efforts in finding the Left-Hand Killer, Officer Harrison Yates becomes convinced that Cartman is a psychic and hires him to be there psychic detective. Cartman makes him think that Tom Johannsen, owner of the local ice cream shop, is the killer and Yates has him arrested. When the killings continue unobstructed, rather than thinking that Cartman was simply wrong, he presumes to think that it is a copycat killer. As Cartman uses his "psychic abilities" to have them arrest the "copy-cat killers", it never occurs to Yates that Cartman was simply wrong the first time. When the [[FailedASpotCheck actual killer is there at the crime-scene, covered in blood and rambling like a mad man]], they overlook him, brushing off Kyle's attempts at directing their attention toward him because he wasn't a psychic. It takes Kyle injuring himself and convincing him that he is a psychic for him to even consider looking into it, and even then he dismisses the actual killer because he mistakes the various human hands he has as being ''right'' hands. After that, it takes an extensive criminological montage at the police station (even forgetting what he was doing half way through) does he ''then'' put it together.

* NoKillLikeOverkill: The South Park P.D.'s SWAT team promptly riddle one of the Psychic Detectives, despite it being pretty obvious he's faking any kind of ability.

* JackTheRipoff: Averted. When he Left-Hand Killer keeps killing despite Tom Johannsen (the guy Yates assumed to be the killer on account of Cartman's "premonitions"), he presumes it to be the work of a copy-cat killer. When Cartman provides a suspect for that, Yates presumes there is a ''second'' copy-cat killer when ''that'' doesn't work, and so on and son on.