TV-Reviewed

If you criticize, they will build it. In the 23.5 hours between McCain’s concession and the last episode of South Park, Matt and Trey found pure gold and erased the pain and anguish of a season floundering in irrelevance. Somehow the energy of the entire election was captured, pitch perfect, in this one coherent story. Perhaps I was wrong, perhaps Matt and Trey knew that instead of speculating and choosing sides like a “gotcha liberal media,” they needed to be objective reporters and wait for concrete facts. President-Elect Obama. Yes, We Can!

Beginning where it matters most, Randy Marsh has voted for change, and he is sure excited when it comes to be. As in typical fashion, South Park is divided. The Marshs are leading the pack of Obama supporters. Across the street, Garrison, Mackey and the Stotchs are among the horribly depressed McCain supporters. As the party takes to the streets, something more sinister – in true South Park form – is occurring. Obama, McCain, Michelle and Palin are all in fact part of a club of international jewel thieves and using the election to guarantee their plan to steal the Hope Diamond will be a success. As McCain supporters take to a bomb shelter (or attempt suicide) believing the world will end, the Obama army takes to the street in epic party fashion.

So much of this episode was spot on, such a relief to be seen and heard, that I hardly know where to begin. Much like the argument against Family Guy, South Park has character based humor and jokes that come from the characters themselves instead of non-sequitor expendable jokes. Firstly, there is Randy Marsh’s drunken belief that because the world has changed, he can get drunk and tell his boss off all the while trying to hold his ever falling pants up. Cartman’s cameo as he drives by on his big wheel, revealing that he has spent the night looting everyone too drunk to notice. Mr. Stotch, seemingly level headed as always, revealing that he has built an arc for his family to use should Obama win, and thus mark the end of civilization.

As per usual, by going over the top with the “everyman” behavior and side stepping the mud slinging and satire already becoming too much to bare, Matt and Trey proved why they are worth every penny of their contracts. Much like the campaigns had you believe, the world was going to change – and possibly end – depending on who you voted for. And while the world celebrated and mourned, we all hopefully came to the conclusion that the world wasn’t going to end, its simply a turning point and the future is now wide open. Well played sirs, well played.

Rating: 10