The Problem with a Poo
"The Problem with a Poo" | |
---|---|
South Park episode | |
Episode no. | Season 22 Episode 3 |
Directed by | Trey Parker |
Written by | Trey Parker |
Production code | 2203 |
Original air date | October 10, 2018 |
"The Problem with a Poo" is the third episode of the twenty-second season of the American animated television series South Park. The 290th overall episode of the series, it aired on Comedy Central in the United States on October 10, 2018.
The episode explores modern
Plot
At a South Park City Council meeting,
Vice Principal
Feeling that people have forgotten what the spirit of Christmas is about, Mr. Hankey enlists Kyle to help him put on a musical performance in the park, but when the show's politically incorrect humor offends PC Principal's and Strong Woman's PC babies, they begin crying. Their distress continues even after Mr. Hankey ceases his politically incorrect material, because it is explained to him that "sometimes PC babies don't know what they're crying about." Mr. Hankey angrily excoriates the townsfolk for this, and when Kyle tries to stop him, an altercation ensues that destroys their stage. South Park severs all ties with Mr. Hankey, ending the long Christmas association between him and the town. Mr. Hankey leaves town, in search of a place that still accepts objectionable, racist beings like him. He arrives in the fictional town of Springfield, the setting of the animated TV series The Simpsons, where the characters native to that show, in particular Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, welcome him with open arms. A title card is then shown that reads "#cancelthesimpsons", mocking cancel culture, and the "#cancelsouthpark" marketing to that was used to promote season 22.[1]
Reception
Jesse Schedeen rated the episode 4.3 out of 10 in a review for IGN, offering the verdict, "This episode tries to have its cake and eat it too by attacking badly behaving celebrities and outrage culture at the same time, and it fails to accomplish either. The funny moments this week can't outweigh the jumbled, frustrating narrative."[4]
John Hugar with The A.V. Club rated the episode a C, summarizing his review stating "'The Problem With A Poo' was a convoluted attempt to insert too many of-the-moment references into one half-hour without definitively saying anything about the possibility of redemption for once-beloved entertainers who engage in abusive behavior."[5]
Jess Joho, writing for Mashable, saw the episode as a turning point for the series, and the references to The Problem with Apu and the #CancelSouthPark hashtag evidence of a deeper metafictional subtext than the series had previously exhibited, stating, "For the first time, South Park seems to be genuinely engaged with questioning its own place in the current cultural climate." Noting that the episode seemed intentionally vague as to what its views were on the Roseanne Barr, Brett Kavanaugh, and Simpsons issues, Joho felt that its takeaways were also more "measured, sincere, elusive, and bafflingly balanced" than had previously been the case. Joho also thought that the show's usually bitter take on such topics was not tempered with a greater modicum of seriousness, reason, and empathy, which Joho saw as an opportunity for "potential brilliance."[1]
References
- ^ a b c Joho, Jess (October 12, 2018). "Why the latest season of 'South Park' feels like a total game-changer". Mashable. Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ Parker, Ryan (October 10, 2018). "'South Park' Goes After Roseanne Barr, 'Simpsons' Apu Character". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ Barsanti, Sam (October 9, 2018). "South Park will somehow tackle both Brett Kavanaugh and The Problem With Apu simultaneously". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Schedeen, Jesse (October 10, 2018). "South Park: 'The Problem With a Poo' Review". IGN. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ Hugar, John (October 10, 2018). "South Park takes a legendary character down in an episode lacking a coherent message". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
External links
- "The Problem with a Poo" Full episode at South Park Studios
- "Episode 2203 'The Problem with a Poo' Press Release". South Park Studios. October 8, 2018.
- "The Problem with a Poo" at IMDb