South Park
Summary
WhileSouth Parkseason 27 is sure to dominate a sizable audience , the ever - pop satirical series needs to fix a lot of major issues in this forthcoming pleasure trip . South Park ’s dismissal schedule changed in 2021 when the show ’s Colorado - Maker Matt Stone and Trey Parker sign a historical $ 900 million great deal . This saw the duo promise to produce six seasons and 14 feature - length special of the series in the coming years . Since then , South Parkhas release two six - episode season between February and March 2022 and 2023 , and four specials afterward in those years . 2024 ’s specials were October’sJoining the Panderverseand December’sNot Suitable for Children .
Judging by this relatively reproducible schedule , South Parkseason 27should commence airing in February 2024 . However , the show will ask to employ this abbreviated season to direct numerous recurring matter . The transience of these six - episode season entail that mostSouth Parkoutings replicate the same problems as their predecessor since the show seldom has meter to change its overture . season 25 and 26 both ran into the same issues as did the special released in 2022 and 2023 . While all of theseSouth Parkofferings had their moments , time of year 27 is still overdue a re - evaluation of the show ’s originative approach .
5South Park’s Lack of Holiday Episodes
South Park’s new schedule means the show has no Halloween or Christmas episodes
SinceSouth Park ’s seasons now air between February and March , the show never has an opportunity to publish any novel vacation special . This would n’t be a major issue for a pile of sitcoms , butSouth Park ’s secure vacation offerings are among the show ’s smashing outings . OneSouth ParkChristmas episodehinted at Kenny ’s dead on target individuality old age before the show eventually revealed this spin , while another featured Cartman take on a expansive character for the first time . Christmas offers the relentlessly profaneSouth Parkan inimitable chance to bemock sentimental holiday specials , while Halloween allows the sick , gory show to come back to its root .
It is sluttish to draw a blank thatSouth Parkbegan lifespan as a parody of sci - fi and revulsion pic adjust in the nominal little town . While the show shift its focus to current events around time of year 4 , time of year 1—3 featured a plethora of extraterrestrial , goliath , demons , and living dead . Thisgory mayhem stay primal toSouth Park ’s appeal , as even the show ’s most serious-minded political commentary has moments of egregious - out gore and bizarre villains like the killer cryptid ManBearPig . Despite this , South Park : Not desirable for Childrenfailed to capitalize on its December 20 release date , whileJoining the Panderversedidn’t apply its October 27 release to sharpen on Halloween .
4Mr. Garrison’s Unclear Role
South Park’s Mr. Garrison acts as both a supporting star and a Trump stand-in
In season 19,South Parkplayed a wild secret plan by using the show ’s longstanding part Mr. Garrison as a stand - in for the controversial presidential candidate , Donald Trump . forthright and campy , Garrison voiced outrageous viewpoints that were clearly a parody of Trump ’s factious palaver . However , this storyline begin to hang aside when Trump out of the blue won the 2016 election . Midway through season 20,South Parkhad to decide whether Mr. Garrison was literally Donald Trump , an parallel of Trump , or a separate character entirely . In trueSouth Parkfashion , the show never really clarified this in the year that followed , with Garrison only standing in for Trump sometimes .
As such , South Parkseason 27 must now explain whether Garrison is a full - time Trump parodyor plainly a foul - mouthed schoolhouse teacher . To be fair to the show ’s creators , South Parkseason 26 addressed Garrison ’s eldritch rolein episode 6 , “ Spring Break . ” This season finale envision Garrison go on a quixotic lam with his partner , only for him to be tempted back into holding Republican presidential rally once in South Carolina . This storyline depict a Garrison who was take in between being a outdoor stage - in for Trump and a small - town instructor , but time of year 27 will have to prefer one route or the other as the show continues .
3South Park’s Relationship With Serialization
South Park’s storylines flirt with serialization but rarely embrace it
One reason that Garrison ’s story is so confusing is thatSouth Parkhas a troubled kinship with serialization . The show wholeheartedly embrace this storytelling trend in season 19 and hit critical acclaim in the process , with the outing ’s 10 episodes organize a cohesive larger story . However , when season 20 ’s contrive plot was upended by Trump ’s victory , the closing curtain was cheekily nickname “ The End of Serialization as We Know It . ” Since then , the show has bound between standalone plot line and complect multi - episode discharge without ever select one reproducible storytelling style .
2Cartman’s Inconsistent Character Arc
Cartman has been redeemed and re-villainized repeatedly
WhileSouth Park : Not worthy for Childrenmade Cartman a more desperate characterthan he usually is , this was just the recent in a string of story that were not certain what to do with the fibre . Cartman has become less externally antagonistic in recent season and specials , burying his feud with Kathleen Kennedy inJoining the Panderverseand salvage Cupid Ye in the season 26 premiere . Whileit would be interesting to see a more sympathetic interlingual rendition of Cartman , his antics in episodes like season 26 , episode 5 , “ DikinBaus Hot Dogs , ” prove that this change is never consistent enough to stick .
1Randy Marsh’s Main Character Status
Randy can’t continue to be South Park’s de facto lead character
The giving issue thatSouth Parkmust destination in season 27 is the role of Stan ’s forefather , Randy Marsh . In the other season of the series , Randy was a soft - mannered suburban pop and niggling more . Around season 24 , outing like sequence 3 , “ Medicinal Fried Chicken , ” and episode 14 , “ Creme Fraiche , ” turn him into a wackier , more outrageous figure . This eventually run to Randy becomingSouth Park ’s unofficial 5th master quality , with him playing a large office than his Word Stan in specials likeJoining the PanderverseandNot Suitable for Children . The problem with this approach is thatmaking RandySouth Park ’s lead quality betrays the show ’s original premise .
South Parkwas intended to show the world through the eyes of child , to exemplify the fatuity of contemporary society . WhenSouth Parkmakes Randy its main character , the show becomes just another animated sitcom about a middle - aged father behaving poorly . This is a well - tire trope thatSouth Parkdoesn’t necessitate to succeed . As such , season 27 should take its focus off Randyand re - midway Kenny , Kyle , Stan , Cartman , and Butters . In doing so , the series should have more time to flesh out Cartman ’s theatrical role arc and tell apart a more ordered serialized tarradiddle . Thus , South Parkseason 27 could fix all its major issues at once .
Cast
