Line #21 Recap/SouthParkS15E8AssBurgers


1	'''Original air date:''' 10/5/2011
2
3	Continuing from the events of "You're Getting Old", the school becomes concerned that Stan's recent downbeat, cynical behavior may mean he's developed Asperger's Syndrome from a prior vaccination, so they enroll him into a Asperger's support group, who are convinced they live in a BrokenMasquerade. Meanwhile, when Cartman's latest ruse backfires due to a misunderstanding of Asperger's, he discovers a food franchise opportunity when the other kids eat the hamburgers that, unknown to them, were shoved up his ass.
4	----
5	!!"Ass Burgers" contains examples of:
6	* AdultsAreUseless: Stan doesn't receive any support from the adults because they misdiagnose his depression as Asperger's.
7	* BigShutUp: The opening scene in the classroom culminates in Stan angrily screaming for everyone to just shut up when their arguing gets on his nerves.
8	-->'''Stan''': GOD SHUT UP! '''EVERYONE JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!'''
9	* BookEnds: The episode begins and ends with Stan waking up to his radio, but this time, the radio sounds normal and Stan continues to be an alcoholic.
10	* BreakTheCutie: Stan when he's in Mr. Mackey's office.
11	-->'''Stan:''' ''(tearfully)'' How do you go on when nothing makes you happy?
12	* CommutingOnABus: Officer Barbrady briefly reappears as a truant officer.
13	* TheCuckoolanderWasRight: It appears that there ''is'' an Omniscient Council of Vagueness that the cynics were worried about. [[SubvertedTrope However, they're actually just restauranters working against Cartman Burger.]]
14	-->'''Council Leader:''' We all know why we are here. There's a rebellion in our midst and it must be '''squashed out!'''
15	* DeadpanSnarker[=/=]WhatTheHellHero: The [=McDonald's=] businessman.
16	-->'''Stan:''' ''(on Kyle)'' We don't hang out anymore.\
17	'''Businessman:''' Oh, right. Like someone would just walk away from a friendship like that.\
18	'''Stan:''' Dude, I didn't walk away, I turned 10 and everything he wanted to do seemed shitty to me, so I--!\
19	'''Businessman:''' Oh, sure. Anyone would ditch out on their best friend 'cuz they weren't feeling good.\
20	'''Kyle:''' ''(when Stan confronts him on Cartman Burger's secret ingredient)'' Look, I know you got Asperger's from the school and I'm sorry, but your negativity is poison to me.\
21	'''Businessman:''' ''(hidden from Kyle's view)'' Oh, right. Like a friend would walk out on somebody who was diagnosed with a serious illness.\
22	'''Stan:''' Dude, I'm sorry that I've been bumming you out, but it's not my fault.\
23	'''Kyle:''' You said "fuck you" to my face, Stan.\
24	'''Stan:''' Dude, I didn't realize what I was saying.\
25	'''Businessman:''' Oh, yeah. Like any friend would say something that severe and then try to take it back.
26	* DownerEnding: The ResetButtonEnding mostly reverses [[Recap/SouthParkS15E7YoureGettingOld You're Getting Old]]'s DownerEnding, but also reverses all morals learned from that ending, replacing them with a much darker one, especially in the context of the episode.
27	-->'''Sharon:''' As you get older you realize -- the best thing to do is just... stick with what you know.
28	* DumbassHasAPoint: While Mr. Mackey is being clueless and misguided per usual, he isn't wrong to point out to Stan that he has no choice but to accept the recent changes in his life; constantly moping about them isn't going to do any favors.
29	* FlippingTheBird: Stan does this to Kyle while drunk.
30	* IAteWhat: The fate of Cartman Burger.
31	-->'''Kyle:''' You were sticking these in your ass, Cartman?!
32	* InsaneTrollLogic: The [[AdultsAreUseless adults]] automatically assume Stan's melancholic, antisocial behavior has to do with having Asperger's Syndrome since he was vaccinated.
33	* KarmaHoudini: No one seemed angry enough to beat the ever living crap out of Cartman after Kyle found out Cartman has been farting on the burgers he was selling to people. He loses his business, but other than that Cartman got away scot-free, most likely because everyone actually ''did'' find them extremely delicious.
34	* MondegreenGag: Cartman's mishearing Asperger's as "ass burgers".
35	* TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: Lampshaded. The cynics are convinced there's some group of masterminds behind the {{masquerade}} they believe they see through, but every time the topic comes up the identity of the masterminds changes multiple times. Aliens, robots from the future, genetically altered humans, rock creatures, and vampires are all put forth, and speculation is always capped off with a "or whatever, fuck you"; all because the council's actual identity doesn't matter as much as their role in the narrative as vague, powerful antagonists.
36	* {{Portmanteau}}: At the beginning of the episode, Stan hears a TV commercial about a show "coming this Fall to Creator/{{FOX}}[==]Creator/{{CBS}}[==]Creator/{{FX\|Networks}}".
37	* ResetButtonEnding: The MontageOut from the previous episode gets turned inside out at the end of this episode.
38	-->'''Sharon:''' People get older, Stanley, and as you get older you realize -- the best thing to do is just... stick with what you know.
39	* RuleOfThree: Stan being awakened by a morning radio show. Notably, [[ResetButtonEnding the radio is no longer constantly interrupted by shit in the ending scene]].
40	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Stan's initial reaction when he discovers what the Asperger's support group is really like.
41	-->'''Lead cynic:''' There's a big war going on out there, Stan, and we want you to join our fight to bring it all down!\
42	'''Stan:''' ''(heading for the door)'' Uh, [[RapidFireNo no, no no no!]] We're not doing this!
43	* SecretIngredient: As part of his Cartman Burger business, Cartman secretly shoves hamburgers up his ass as his flavor enhancer.
44	-->'''Kyle:''' Dude, come on Cartman. As employees, don't you think ''we'' should get to see what the final secret flavor enhancer is?\
45	'''Cartman:''' I'm sorry Kyle, but if we compromise our final cooking process, then our patented flavor will be everywhere, and we'll have to go back to school.
46	* ShaggyDogStory: Stan finally learns to accept change. Unfortunately, [[ResetButtonEnding everything that happened in the past two episodes is undone]].
47	* ShipperOnDeck: There are two boys that hope Wendy and Kyle will hook up.
48	* ShouldntWeBeInSchoolRightNow: At the beginning of episode, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny ditch the bus stop yet again to ask Kyle's dad about Asperger's, leaving Stan alone to get on the bus. They were later brought back to school by Officer Barbrady. Later still, Cartman creates Cartman Burger so he and his friends can stay out of school.
49	* ShoutOut: While Cartman cooks hamburgers for his Ass Burgers ruse, he sings "Heartlight" by Neil Diamond.
50	** The cynics all dress and act like they're in Franchise/TheMatrix, although instead of elaborate martial arts and GunFu, all they're capable of is flailing around drunkenly while firing their guns.
51	* StatusQuoIsGod: [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]]. Just as Stan was finally adjusting to the new changes, everything goes back to normal. Much to his dismay.
52	* StoryArc: After a four-month hiatus, the two-episode story arc involving Stan living through his cynicism finally ends with everything going back to the way it was.
53	* TakeThat:
54	** Anti-Vaxxers get one when Randy, who at this point is acting like an obnoxious contrarian teenager, uses vaccines as a [[TheScapegoat scapegoat]] for his divorce and his son's depression.
55	** Armchair therapists are called out, as Mr. Mackey diagnoses Stan's emotional outbursts as a symptom of Asperger's simply because that word was trending at the time.
56	* ThereAreNoTherapists: DoubleSubverted. Stan ''does'' go to several therapists to help him out with his depression, [[AdultsAreUseless but they're all too incompetent to do so]].
57	* ThoseTwoGuys: The boys leering at Wendy and Kyle as they discuss Stan's recent behavior.
58	-->'''Boy 1:''' [[ShipperOnDeck Those two should just screw and get it over with.]]\
59	'''Boy 2:''' Yeah.
60	* VisualPun: The president of the United States is a lame duck.
61	* WelcomedToTheMasquerade: Stan ends up with a group of cynics who believe their shitty perception of the world is the true reality.
62	* WhoopiEpiphanySpeech: Stan, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and refusing to accept the changes around him, gives one to Kyle after realizing he doesn't want the status quo to return after all. Of course, [[StatusQuoIsGod the entire thing is undermined in the end]].

Context Recap / SouthParkS15E8AssBurgers