South Park

Maybe one of the reasons they kept a bit quiet for this episode is that they realized it would be a little hypocritical to criticize others for allowing mature content in places they are well aware get watched by children, considering they run a cartoon with graphic violence and sexual content despite knowing full well the cartoon appeals to children...

Then again, I've never known these people to be that kind of self-aware, so maybe not...

I managed to see this special thanks to a friend who has Paramount+ and what can I say, maybe as a regular episode it could have worked but as a special it feels too stretched out, it felt repetitive and redundant. Less is more and they used to criticize consumerism, fads and internet weirdness much better. Also I'm really tired of these "Randy tries the new fad, fails at it but doubles down because he's a dumbass" plots, and the kids killing each other over bottles of Cred were much funnier and more poignant when it was the shoppers during the Black Friday trilogy which was maybe the last time I genuinely enjoyed SP content. Also the whole stuff about influencers being innocent pawns of dark powers is not nearly as clever as they think it is. Lest you think I'm a killjoy, the two people I watched the special with are much bigger SP fans than me and even then they just guffawed a few times and did not mention anything about it the next day. EDIT: the only thing I really liked was the return of Nathan and the fact that for once he managed to get away with it. Maybe because Mimsy wasn't there? And what's up with Cartman? Why was he so protective of Clyde? I don't remember him ever caring so much about anyone who isn't himself and I don't remember he ever interacting with Clyde before.

Edited by WoodyAlien3rd on Jan 8th 2024 at 2:52:53 PM

What's up with Cartman is that I think they are trying to force a reform of his character. Note how he explicitly said Nazi veneration was too far in the Kanye episode, and how he has been a lot less racist and evil lately.

You think that, given the current USA political climate, they're worried of being seen as poster boys for anti-semitism and right-wing talking points since Cartman has consistently been one of the most popular characters? Though nowadays Randy seems to be the main character of the show and he's being dumber and more callous than ever...

Yes, I think that's basically it. Reality has unfortunately caught up to them, and now they are in danger of becoming a model for an actual part of society, rather than a parody of something that didn't really exist as such back in the 90s.

Yep. They are actively trying to distance themselves from the Nazis and chuds.

Sadly it doesn’t quite seem to be working as the chuds are memeing the “make it a chick” line from Panderverse.

Then again, chuds tend to lack media literacy.

I wonder when are we gonna get a Cartman/Stan feud episode? I mean, the boys have been at each other's throats every once in a while (especially Cartman and Kyle), but there's never really been an episode where Cartman antagonizes Stan specifically.

I don't think we're ever going to get one. There's just not enough there for any sort of fight.

Didn't Cartman and Stan clash in "Whale Whores"? I know Kenny was also there but mostly as a tagalong. Stan doesn't get as emotionally invested in what Cartman is doing compared to Kyle is all.

Stan never really gets all that involved, to be honest.

There’s a reason why I say that Stan is boring.

I think his most interesting episodes are You’re Getting Old/Ass Burgers, Butterballs, and Raisins.

And any episode where he’s paired with Wendy.

So I had this weird thought pop into my head:

I’m trying to imagine what if they did an episode about VHS vs Laser Disc back in Seasons 1-3?

Also, speaking of South Park and Laser Disc, yikes that Laser Disc of BLU is expensive.

Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe it would've been like the "Black Friday" story arc in season 17.

I wonder what Matt and Trey have in store for season 27 of South Park this year? I'm at least expecting one episode or special to promote the upcoming Snow Day game, like they did before with the Stick of Truth and the Fractured But Whole. Perhaps they'll do an episode parodying Top Gear, in light of the news that the BBC cancelled the show for the time being, or maybe the Grand Tour, due to that show coming to an end as well.

Edited by IvanovTroping97 on Jan 12th 2024 at 8:07:39 PM

Don't you mean Beta Max? Laser Disc is just as old, and any such episode would have been immediately dated, seeing as VHS had already won the video tape format war in 1988, and Laser Disc was never even in the race. I'm also not really sure what the point of such an episode would have been.

And I don't think they are going to parody Top Gear. I don't think they really care for that sort of parody.

Edited by Redmess on Jan 12th 2024 at 6:01:09 PM

No, because Laser Disc was still a thing when SP launched and I think the plot would end up being about a wealthy kid owning one and the main boys maybe being jelly of it.

In 1997, though? That seems really late for anyone to still buy Laser Discs. Just because it still technically existed doesn't mean it wasn't obsolete by then.

A rich kid would have a DVD player at that point, not a Laser Disc.

Edited by Redmess on Jan 12th 2024 at 7:15:22 PM

I just remembered a scene in "Here Comes the Neighborhood" where Token/Tolkien brings a DVD copy of the Lion King, at a time when DVD players were expensive and most households only had VCRs and VHS tapes. I'd imagine the joke would've worked just as well if Token/Tolkien brought a LaserDisc copy of the movie instead.

At that time most movies weren’t releasing on DVD so LD was still very much viable in 1997.

But what movies could you get on LD back then?

Just some examples:

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Batman and Robin
• Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition
• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
• Star Trek: First Contact
• Titanic (either 1997 or 1998)
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park

And rereleased of some older Disney movies namely Bambi, Sleeping Beauty, and Jungle Book.

Even in 1998 LD was still kinda viable.

In fact, LD would still be seeing new releases until 2000/2001.

So I just watched Blade Runner and realized that the Post-COVID episodes were referencing that movie.

There is a new South Park game... apparently.

Having to hear about this from Yahtzee says a lot, I think.

Here's a review that shows a bit more of what the game is actually like.

Edited by Redmess on Apr 24th 2024 at 7:05:29 PM

I simply heard mixed things from it. A lot of people aren't liking the game but there's a lot of people who are saying "It's no the worst game ever made", and from the looks of it it looks like fun but not too fun/kind of repetitive.

I heard about it a while ago and wasn't captivated, and after I watched the Johnny2Cellos video on it, it pretty much confirmed my decision. It's multiplayer-oriented rather than single-player-oriented, which means less focus on the characters and story, and the 3D art style means it loses the "play an episode of the show" appeal. Plus it has a Fortnite-style "pay for special edition clothes" system which just bums me out a bit.

Apparently the climax of the game serves as a sequel to the Mr. Hankey cancellation episode of all things??? Which isn't a selling point to me either.