Season Nineteen

Ok, so people tend to stop watching shows when something goes wrong. For me regarding this show, it was when they introduced PC Principal. I mean, the series was getting kind of mean spirited and unfunny for me, but that was a huge factor. If you stopped watching new episodes of South Park. where did things go wrong for you?

(Doubles as a personal take on the past 6 years of SP)

First, a warning. One, this theory is largely only existent due to my own views on the current state of South Park, so this will be incredibly subjective. This entire lineup and analysis is formed purely from my own views. Additionally, this is NOT meant to be a promotion or discussion of any views of mine on real-world politics or Donald Trump. I only say these things because I believe Matt and Trey have expressed before that they really don’t like Trump.

So, let’s look at the state of things since 2015. Season 19 is known for being the first heavily political and serialized season. However, South Park kept a good amount of its classic tone. Oh, and Randy content but not obsessive Randy content.

Additionally, we saw two critical characterizations emerging: “Dark Butters” is one. While he had gotten less pure and sweet over the seasons prior, “Safe Space” was the last nail of abuse in the coffin for this boy. After having to neglect his physical and mental health horribly in order to save some man and women-children from reality online, he finally broke and attempted suicide. He survived, but he’s still very broken. This breaking was a major cause in his actions and bitterness since then. “PC Cartman” (known as “Nice Cartman” to most of you) is yet another, but even more subjective, character we saw. The Cartman we knew before this season was a very politically incorrect chonker. He then got the shit beat out of him by PC Principal, and found that the culture has its own perks that he can play with (he can simply avoid criticism and reality with the culture values, also shown heavily in “Safe Space”). Therefore, he became more “PC”. Not a truly better person (sorry, S20 Cartman lovers), just a new, more covert, and more socially accepted version of the entitled and ever-so-sickeningly-narcissistic shithead he was and is.

But the point here is that this was pre-Trump presidency in real life. The season was darker, more political, and more adult than what we’d seen before, but still good ol’ South Park in a way. It lacked a certain unfortunate pessimism I see in other modern seasons. I still loved it to bits.

Season 20. Season 20 was another serialized and political season that was still, potential-wise, very good. It would have been so interesting to see our new concepts and characterizations played out the way they were intended to. I personally think it could have been up there with 19, say things had gone just as planned. Too bad they mis-predicted. Trump in office screwed up the whole season and, according to this theory, the entire series up until now. I think my old Season 20 review sums other things up well.

Then, well, the rest. I think ever since the new real president, South Park has changed. I’m not referring to a decline in quality, however. The stories are still genius, it’s still funny, and my only complaint there is the particular topic and character focus. *cough*RANDY CAN SUCK MAH BALLS*cough*

I’m referring to a small, sad change in tone. It’s always been a dark cartoon, and its satire has always been on the cynical side, but this seemed too serious to enjoy. Byack in thyem dyays, the darkness was played for laughs and felt comfortably in-genuine. Season 21-current felt too wholeheartedly bitter and harsh for me to enjoy it the way I had other seasons. (Perhaps this could be perceived as reflected by Cartman’s not-so-laughably evil actions in Season 21.) Theoretically, Trump being president has negatively affected Matt and Trey so much, they can’t keep the series as lighthearted as it used to be, with direct Trump parody or not. (Of course, that can also be partially attributed to more political stuff in it in general, but I already addressed that.)

However, my theory says that will all change with the new dude in office. If I’m right and M&T’s feelings about Trump were negatively influencing South Park, then that’s gone. Optimism and hope may come back to them, so will creative juices.

WHAT MAY CHANGE WITH BIDEN IN OFFICE

The tone. See everything above. I’m not saying we’re gonna go back to Season 13 here, I’m just saying they might take a few steps back.

Uptick in characterization. One of the complaints with the series as of late has been that the characters haven’t been on their best or most consistent, much like a certain other cartoon the creators hate. I feel this will be something that improves too.

A bit less ripped from the headlines.

An overall return to Season 18-ish content.

WHAT MAY NOT CHANGE WITH BIDEN IN OFFICE

Adult focus, Randy, and T*****y. Yeah, unfortunately the Word of God about Randy indicates to me that we’re likely never fully getting our four boys back, at least not on an early season level. And it’s clear they’re trolling us with his retarded weed farm. When they’ve had their fun with it is not dependent on politics.

Hope my views and predictions made sense to anyone else. Tell me what you think below. And again, this is purely opinion and prediction.

Ok, in my opinion, I thought that Season 19 was good, but at the same time, it was kind of the start of South Park's "down hill" episodes. SO much changed during the season if you think about it - Principal Victoria got fired and got replaced by PC Principal, the whole town tried to have this modern "image" just to get a Whole Foods (which left shortly after), Officer Barbrady got fired and we haven't seen him since, Tweek and Craig got together (not a bad thing, but a big change), Mr. Garrison started his presidential campaign and isn't a teacher anymore, but we all know how that happened. But need I go on?! I feel like ever since this particular season, things just haven't been the same. To be honest, this season is actually entertaining on my end, but the reason Season 18 is probably one of my favorite seasons is because that was probably the last season of South Park before characters started getting written and killed off like they have been in the last 5 years. Hopefully this post makes sense. Let me know what you think!

I based it off of the video game scene in S19 E6 Tweek x Craig