Line #49 Recap/SouthParkS1E12MechaStreisand


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/smith_4.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350: Robert Smith (Music/{{The Cure\|Band}}) is phoned to help save the day.]]
3
4	'''Original air date:''' 2/18/1998 ''(produced in 1997)''
5
6	On an archaeology trip, Cartman finds an odd triangle that turns out to be an artifact needed to turn Music/BarbraStreisand into a metal [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} God]][[RentAZilla zilla]]-like monster.
7
8	!!"Tropes of Zinthar":
9	* AffectionateParody: Of Japanese {{Kaiju}} cinema, particularly those made by Toho and Daiei. Giant monsters based on the likenesses of Godzilla, Mothra, Gamera and Ultraman appear to fight each other and cause destruction, all to the campy soundtrack of [[LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn some random Japanese guy who's singing along to all the chaos]].
10	* AnythingButThat:
11	-->'''Creator/LeonardMaltin:''' "Her [[Film/TheOmen1976 mother was a jackal]] and her father was an insurance salesman."\
12	'''Chef:''' "Woohoohoohoo. An insurance salesman!"
13	* ArtifactOfDoom: The Triangle of Zinthar is one part of an AncientArtifact that, when assembled, will turn its bearer into a nigh invincible monster.
14	* AttackItsWeakPoint: Mecha-Streisand is only defeated when Smith punches her nose, releasing the Triangle of Zinthar and weakening her severely.
15	* AuthorAppeal: The only explanation why a bunch of eight year old boys are gushing over Robert Smith.
16	* AuthorAvatar: The fact that Kyle says that "''Music/{{Disintegration\|Album}}'' is the best album ever!" should be understood as the opinion of Creator/MattStone, a known huge fan of Music/{{The Cure\|Band}}, who voices Kyle.
17	* BigDamnHeroes: Robert Smith defeats Barbra Streisand and saves the world.
18	* BigShutUp: Cartman sings loudly while digging for arrowheads. Stan yells at him to shut up.
19	* BilingualBonus: The Japanese song literally translates to "Barbara, Barbara, the person we hate the most! Barbara, Barbara, you have a big nose!"[[note]]It's worth noting that Creator/TreyParker is a Japanophile, and is fluent in the language.[[/note]]
20	* ButtMonkey: Pip. He finds an arrowhead and Cartman [[GroinAttack Roshambos]] him for it and then throws it aside, claiming he didn't really want it.
21	* CallBack:
22	** When Cartman mistakes Streisand's helicopter for an alien spaceship, he [[Recap/SouthParkS1E1CartmanGetsAnAnalProbe covers his ass]].
23	** Creator/SidneyPoitier's co-star is Creator/SallyStruthers, who, as seen once the director cuts, [[Recap/SouthParkS1E8StarvinMarvin starts stuffing her face]].
24	* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In subsequent seasons, the boys would have instantly seen through the PaperThinDisguise that Streisand uses to fool them into handing over the triangle.
25	* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: Streisand's singing is so torturous to the boys it causes one of them to tell her where he hid a small artifact he took from Kyle. Guess which one it is.
26	* ContinuityNod: The town being destroyed before is mentioned by a news reporter, right before being destroyed again by Mecha-Streisand.
27	-->'''Reporter:''' And so just weeks after the attack of [[Recap/SouthParkS1E5AnElephantMakesLoveToAPig mutant genetic creatures]], [[Recap/SouthParkS1E7Pinkeye zombies]] and [[Recap/SouthParkS1E8StarvinMarvin Thanksgiving turkeys]], the town of South Park has managed to rebuild itself once again be– ''[Mecha-Streisand rampages through downtown]'' [[OhNoNotAgain Oh, goddammit! Not again!]]
28	* DutchAngle: One when Streisand is torturing the boys with her singing.
29	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Pip falls over after Cartman kicks him in the nuts, and '''[[NiceGuy Butters]]''' ''laughs'' at this. Granted this is long before Butters was named or even singled out among the random boys.
30	* {{Foreshadowing}}: Remember whose name was mentioned at the end of Cartman's [[UsefulNotes/SaddamHussein Saddam]]-destroying [=V-Chip=]-fueled profanity rant in TheMovie?
31	* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: Cartman overhears the news reporter on live-TV calling him tubby and pops up in front of the camera to call him out on this.
32	* GratuitousJapanese: The Japanese singer who pops up during the fight and sings; notable in that it's actual Japanese, as opposed to [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign foreign-sounding gibberish]].
33	-->'''Singer:''' ''Megara Poitier, Megara Poitier''\
34	''Sokuroi da ne''[[labelnote:Translation]]Look how black you are[[/labelnote]]\
35	''Megara Poitier, Megara Poitier''--\
36	'''Chef:''' Is that really necessary?
37	* GroinAttack: What the Roshambo is. Two guys kick each other in the nuts until one of them can't stand up. Cartman does it to Pip and Robert Smith does it to Cartman.
38	** This is a joke that has been in existence for decades and told by many comedians. The man suggesting this type of challenge always concedes victory to his opponent straight after delivering a vicious first kick.
39	* HellIsThatNoise: The boys' reaction to Streisand's singing.
40	-->'''Cartman:''' Damn your black heart, Barbra Streisand!
41	* HereWeGoAgain: After Robert Smith saves the day and leaves, the boys decide to leave the artifact separated. However, Ike soon finds the artifact and turns into a giant.
42	-->'''Cartman, Kyle and Stan:''' AAAAAGH! MECHA-IKE!
43	* MediumBlending: Chef and Maltin's car ride is superimposed over a live-action forest background.
44	* MetaSequel: In Poitier's dressing room is a poster for ''Film/InTheHeatOfTheNight 5''.
45	* NotZilla: Streisand is obviously changing into Mechagodzilla from ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzilla'' (with Streisand's hair on top), but this is never addressed.
46	* OhCrap: Mecha-Streisand has one briefly when she sees Maltin.
47	* OneWingedAngel: Streisand uses the completed Triangle of Zinthar to turn into Mecha-Streisand and go on a rampage. Leonard Maltin, Sidney Poitier and Robert Smith transform as well.
48	* PetTheDog: Mecha-Streisand stops her rampage in South Park to sign an autograph for Sheila, aka Kyle's mom.
49	* RunningGag: A Japanese man singing in [[AsianSpeekeeEngrish Engrish]] due to celebrities transforming and fighting.
50	* ShoutOut:
51	** The entire episode is one to Japanese shows like Series/{{Ultraman}} as well as kaiju movie series like Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, Film/{{Gamera}} and Film/{{Mothra}}.
52	** The Mecha-Streisand robot specifically references ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzilla''.
53	** Kyle (Matt Stone) calls ''Music/{{Disintegration\|Album}}'' "the best album ever."
54	* SinisterSchnoz: Streisand is pure evil, and has a hideously large nose to compliment it. It turns out to be her weak point.
55	* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Robert Smith has the same definition of Roshambo as Cartman.
56	* TakeThat: The episode is one to Barbra Streisand, since she's one of the few celebrities that Trey and Matt genuinely hate instead of just poking fun at her like they do with everyone else. Appropriately enough, she wasn't all too pleased with the "homage" either.
57	* TheyKilledKennyAgain: Kenny narrowly avoids being stomped by Mecha-Streisand, [[BaitAndSwitch only to get himself strangled playing tetherball]].
58	* TooDumbToLive: The boys all get into a car with Streisand wearing a PaperThinDisguise. Kyle [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this before they do so.
59	-->'''Kyle:''' Wait, isn't there some rule about not getting into cars with strangers?\
60	'''Cartman:''' No, not when money's involved, stupid!
61	* UnusualEuphemism: The act of [[GroinAttack kicking someone in the nuts]] is called Roshambo[[note]]Roshambo is really rock-paper-scissors[[/note]].
62	* WouldHurtAChild: Streisand picks up Kyle and strangles him for information on the Triangle of Zinthar. Later she kidnaps all of them, tortures them for information with medieval torture devices [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment and uses her voice on them]].

Context Recap / SouthParkS1E12MechaStreisand