South Park (season 7)


release year: 2003
genre: animated comedy
viewing setting: home DVD, 1/28/18 - 2/3/18

synopsis: This show revolves around the odd adventures of four kids (and a large supporting cast) in a fictional Colorado town where damn near anything can happen.

impressions: I watched these back when they came out fifteen years ago, but hadn't kept up with anything after early season two from 1998. So here I am catching up, and delving into new material I'd never seen before. This season's satire targets include...well, you can look at the episode briefs below to see. This is one of those shows that you either know about and watch(ed) or else never have and never will. It's loosely-continuous, meaning that someone could die in one episode and be fine in the next, and it's often a biting satire of popular people and events. It's also crude, with profanity and other references that will drive away critics...which I suspect is the point. Episode briefs:
  • (1) (episode 97 overall) The kids learn that Earth is a reality show for aliens
  • (2) Timmy and Jimmy start a gang, but get absorbed into a real gang, while Christopher Reeve hatches an evil plot
  • (3) The kids toilet-paper a house, causing the police to consult the master toilet-paperer in jail a la Silence of the Lambs
  • (4) The kids are caught between pro- and anti- war factions in town
  • (5) Cartman's hand becomes a false Jennifer Lopez, wins a talent contest, and gets a record deal
  • (6) The kids start a detective agency and get drafted by the real police
  • (7) Native Americans try to buy and bulldoze the town
  • (8) Every male in town becomes metrosexual because it's the in thing to do
  • (9) Cartman forms a Christian rock band
  • (10) The old people have too many traffic accidents and have their licenses taken away, which leads to war
  • (11) Cartman will do whaever it takes to get invoted to Kyle's birthday party at a super-restaurant/entertainment complex
  • (12) Stan befriends a Mormon family
  • (13) Rob Reiner comes to town to crusade against smoking, whatever it takes
  • (14) Wendy dumps Stan, who becomes a Goth; meanwhile, Butters falls for a waitress at "Raisins"
  • (15) (episode 111 overall) The kids go to Canada to try and get Ike back from his real parents


    • acting: n/a but it's pretty impressive when you consider that two guys basically provide almost all the different voices. Isaac Hayes is hilarious as Chef, who often spontaneously breaks into song to try and explain something.

    final word: This was groundbreaking stuff, and people typically either love it or hate it. Like Beavis and Butt-Head there's some clever humor and satire hidden there, for those with the patience and intelligence to find it...though with the bold and brash nature of this show, it's a lot easier to find.

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