South Park: The Streaming Wars

I know that the last few seasons have been panned by audiences and critics, everyone loves South Park for their own reasons whether it be nostalgia, great jokes, toilet humor, whatever..

For me I have enjoyed the direction the show has gone and I'll try to help explain why it is better (with the exception of a few episodes). Although I was the first to be extremely upset in the constant reduction in episodes the quality of the content has gone up. They are able to connect the story over multiple episodes which has jokes references hitting twice. I suppose if you didn't like the first joke it won't hit hard a second time but it seems to me that half of the viewers do not understand the satire behind the jokes made. I understand the joke itself may not be a knock out with every viewer as people have become more sensitive about certain topics, do not care for toilet humor, or it went over their head, but believe me, the writing is still as solid as it ever was if not better. There are fundamentally multiple levels of storytelling here in streaming wars- first I appreciate the connections that go back to the last season that were comical for me and they worked here too. Second streaming wars is relevant with the entertainment industry's constant struggle with retaining and paying talent, becoming a monopoly, etc etc. Third, have you all not seen the actual "streaming wars" in the American west? Africa? General shortage of water? The reviews that I have been reading about how people aren't laughing anymore, I promise that half of you aren't laughing because you don't understand the joke references. The other half may be offended or just got tired of the story. Randy's Tegridy weed antics have about run it's course, but I appreciate that Towlie is now a recurring character, so win some lose some. The episodes that he is the prominent character I rewatch less of, but I still enjoy them. Don't give up on this series, if the jokes or the story isn't landing, try to see what they are referencing behind the reference. There is a reason Family Guy has never won an Emmy and South Park has a vault full. It's not for everyone but there is quality writing.

The moment when Cardi B's "Wap" was played I had to mute it, What in the world were Trey Parker and Matt Stone thinking? It was inappropriate for the scene and nothing related to what was going on, even back in the South Park day all they had to do was play groovy music in this one scene where Butters meet pimps! But now we have this instead? What a joke. Other than that, I really enjoyed this and laughed mostly, one thing to add that no other reviewer said is that the quality of the production into this is AMAZING, the details and hard work that goes into the scenes is superb, shame that only 3 stars had to be cut out BECAUSE OF ONE CANCEROUS MOMENT.

I'm getting the feeling that they don't really have the infinite freedom with these Paramount+ productions to select whatever music they want to insert anywhere. That would explain some of the choices, especially the now infamous 'rapper chic going on about her puss for minutes' bit.

Otherwise i don't get the unified negativeness towards this, i was fooled into the belief that i'm not gonna smile or laugh even once, and there i am, adequately entertained, even if it is more on the clever satire side than the laugh out loud side of things.

I have no idea if South Park Studios has returned to their regular ways, or if this was done in that from-home style, but either way, the art direction was way more consistent and simply South Park, than the virus movies, which were just all over the place, possibly from the hectic working conditions. Apart from strange 1:1 inserts of the diorama style series intro as establishing shots for the town which felt out of place, it was all done right.

You could say too much Randy, but i didn't see any Randy, but this new Karen guy looks promising. Jokes aside, the boys got a good amount of scenes, nothing to nag there.

Just overall it's kinda obvious that the guys REALLY got accustomed to the 20 minutes structure, and these specials are essentially 20 minutes worth of stuff stretched to 40. That might make some people uncomfortable a bit, but it is nothing to throw 1/10's at these, that's just rude.

Honestly, one of the most snooze-fest South Park outings I think I've ever been on.

Feels like a script they wrote a couple of years ago with outdated jokes like "Karen" and forgot to add in any laughs.

Nothing edgy, nothing particularly witty and the so-called satire in this episode seems more geared toward TV executives than at regular joes like me watching the show.

They were doing good with the new episodes, but this "special" seemed unnecessary and pointless. These hour long shows drag out, the jokes are much less punchy because they need to be stretched out and by the 45th minute they've gone stale.

Got absolutely nothing out of the characters/boys either which is weird. I don't mind the Randy's Farm storylines but they have to land and this one didn't.

The streaming wars "analogy" just... isn't very funny? But it was nice to a-see a-Pi-Pi again, I'll give 'em that! Get back to the episodes I say.

I know a lot of people found it dull, uncreative, repetitive, and too dependent on current trends in society and pop culture. But I disagree for the most part. They successfully found a fun way to bring elements from many previous episodes, and merge them together with a mockery of modern day streaming services as the glue. They make a lot of great critical points about streaming services in fun, hilarious ways. Like how anybody can "sell content" for streaming services, how quickly they get canceled, and how the content can be garbage and yet people will still pay for it. And don't forget how competitive the streaming business has become in such a short period of time.

On top of all that, you have the usual antics from Cartman, driven by his greedy, incessant need for attention and material gain. And the boys are the focal point of one of the three main story arcs of course that play a part in the mockery of streaming services. And the story of Tegridy Weed continues. And yes, I do agree, South Park should be all about the boys and not so much about Randy and his farm, but I don't feel like he really hogs the limelight.

And to those complaining about it being oversaturated with parodies and references to current news, where have you been the last 10 seasons? That's basically what they do now, and have been doing for some time.

Overall it's pretty funny, not the best, but when you take a step back to see what the creators are doing, it certainly becomes an episode worthy of watching. On a streaming service of course.