TV Review | South Park (S26:E6 Spring Break)

“Well, South Park Episode 5 delivered the laughs but the season finale dialed it a bit back in terms of interest level and creativity,” says Max Nocerino in his review

Nobody likes a sloppy eater. It makes eating a delicious meal almost null and void. At least to the person watching you eat. And the season finale of South Park has disappointingly been not to be desired because it delivers its satire and jokes a bit cold and without much laughter behind it.

SPRING BREAK

This episode shows the duo’s stories of the “Spring Break” experience. Mr. Garrison (whose first name is Herb) planned a vacation with his live-in boyfriend Rick to Myrtle Beach. Rick is reluctant as he feels that Herb will just devolve into his old habit. The audience doesn’t know what this habit is and as South Park fans, we used are expecting some ridiculous, bizarre, and hilarious “substitute” that pokes fun at human nature. And the ugly side of pop culture. Meanwhile, Stan wants to have his friend Tolkien over to play Warhammer 40,000k. Perhaps the only space opera with more content than Star Wars.

Randy, (Stan’s idiot father) is disappointed that Stan isn’t partying for Spring Break. And he erroneously assumes he is trying to repress his masculinity due to woke liberalism. Randy doesn’t want Stan not to be a boy and play with Warhammer “dolls”, and he decides to remedy this by throwing his own party at the farm. While his wife and daughter are away. The vice that Herb hoped to kick is a substitute for raving which has cheekily been changed to rallying. Rallying for the former President in his inevitable run in 2024 (who is also Mr. Garrison as well). Garrison blows off Rick multiple times to rally with his supporters and wakes up “hung-over” and unable to participate in their planned activities.

A LACK OF HUMOR?

So, I feel Trey Parker’s formula was right as rain (as usual) with this episode. But it just missed that crucial ingredient that makes South Park so funny. The whole metaphor of Woke-culture suppressing masculinity just didn’t fit well with the partying nonsense. Yes, it’s satire but it wasn’t very funny. Likewise, Garrison’s petulant desire to rave and worry about his significant other was cute but ultimately lackluster.

Garrison represented the party girl who pushes their partner away because they are always drinking, drugging, or cheating on them with a rally supporter in a restaurant bathroom. Randy’s antics have gotten old. And while I did crack a smile when Stan and Tolkien completely ignored the mass chaos in the house and only focused on their Warhammer models, it just wasn’t enough to carry the story along.

VERDICT

Usually, in this modern era, I track my laughs when watching South Park. Just to see how funny my subconscious automatically determines it to be. And sadly, I only laughed twice. Once at the crude nickname Garrison had for Joe and Jill Biden. And second, when after all that chaos at the Marsh residence, Sharon is not surprised whatsoever and tells Stan flatly not to play with his miniatures on the kitchen table.

I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but aside from DickandBaus Hotdogs, this season was kind of a dud. I don’t know if Trey is running out of ideas. Or if this awful cultural black hole we have found ourselves in is leeching the writing talent out of everyone. I think South Park should continue for the rest of eternity (so we aren’t stuck with stuff like Digman on Comedy Central). BUT Trey needs to reboot his creative juices and return to the old days. DickandBaus showed that the spark is not gone. It just needs a little kindling. I give this episode a C-

UK fans can catch up with a host of South Park specials on Paramount+.

 

 

 

 

---

Why not complete your South Park collection with the awesome “Stay Back Six Feet” themed mug? Grab yours with our affiliate link now. Any commissions earned are used to improve the site and your reading experience.

• 
• 
• 
•