You're Getting Old

Trey Parker and Matt Stone probably haven't been that open in the last ten years...

This is not an episode, this is a message!

If you consider this and watch it again, it turns out very clearly. The makers of this show made a big statement: "Hey, guess what, we just came to terms with the fact that for some time now we've been cheating on our fans (and on ourselves) - we evolved something that was great into something sh**ty!" - I believe this is one of the greatest moves cartoon-show-creators have ever made. These 20 minutes are packed with metaphors and statements that are so unusual for South Park - already 5 minutes into the episode I knew something was wrong, odd, different... But in the end I smiled and was so thankful for this revelation.

Over the years I was seriously wondering where South Park was going - the topics got repetitive - the average episode quality dramatically sunk starting with season 8 - humor was largely based on aggressive American slapstick rather than the original black (british) sarcastic humor - it became almost entirely dependent on current issues in the world - the exaggerated topics left the makers no "air" to slow down again - it mostly revolved around conspiracy, stereotypes, trends or stupid celebrities - the "points to prove" became either increasingly absurd or too theatrical - the sequential dramaturgy of each episode became almost identical after season 10 - I could go on...

Until season 4 South Park is absolutely timeless, fresh, cheeky, honest and original. Until season 7 it became more sadistic, sociopolitical and versatile. Season 7 itself confirmed the routine that was starting to take action. Up from season 8 you can clearly observe certain "side topics" Matt & Trey may have experienced during their childhood - but the main concerns have already been used. So the only way to get the show going now was to weave the setting together with things happening at that time in the real world. So it became like a "Saturday Night Let's review the past 7 days in a comedic comment"-show that almost cried out to be forgotten when its successor aired. In fact I can hardly quote any statement made from now on... It kinda became sh**ty... Season 9 finally confirmed the new destination: mainstream!

Like Randy said - I've been unhappy for a long time - So have I been. I think this isn't about growing old within the heads of Matt & Trey, it's more about the self-pressure of topping themselves after each episode in a paradigm that they didn't want to have created in the first place. That's why this episode is so "asymmetrical" for a routine South Park one.

Damned, I should get to and end with this. In conclusion: I interpret this as a cry for help. They're stuck in something they obviously can't get out of anymore. Are they growing old? No, they are getting wise. Someone once said "You realized you've become mature after you stopped educating your parents (-> audience)" - perhaps the tranquilizing remedy for this.....is cynicism. I seriously can't wait what's going to be next, and even if it was the end of the whole show, I would be satisfied. Thanks Matt & Trey for this confession!

I have loved South Park for some time now. Many fans have complained about the quality of this season, and I had heard how Trey Parker and Matt Stone have not been so happy... but this episode gave me a much different side to the best animated show of all time.

As always, there is a cultural relevance to the episode, about the 'new' generation, but the episode also served as a sense of melancholy. We all get old. We all find ourselves feeling differently about things as we get older, and as time passes. I cannot recall any TV episode hitting on that note as much as this South Park episode. It conjured up a tone unlike anything else I had seen from South Park.

I expected the writers to come up with a new joke at the end, to reset the show like always. But it ended on the melancholy tone that I didn't expect. It was sort of depressing, but it gave the show new heights.

Is South Park ending for good? The end of this episode, after seeing how "cynical" the episode was throughout about how s***ty everything is, makes me wonder are they done?

"Support what, another stupid dream? Because I'm unhappy OK, I've been unhappy a long time?" "I'm unhappy too. We both are obviously, how much longer can we keep doing this? It's like the same s*** just happens over and over, and then in a week it just all resets until it happens again. Every week it's kinda the same story in a different way but it just keeps getting more and more ridiculous." "I don't know if I've changed or you have. I just feel like I might not have a whole lot of time left and, want to enjoy it." "I want to enjoy it too, but I can't fake it anymore. You just seem kinda s***ty to me." "You kinda seem s***ty to me too" "People get older Randy. People grow apart." Enter "landslide" song....

Is this it? Is this the end of South Park? The ending of City Sushi was awkward to say the least and now this ending? Is it over... could it be?????

p.s. - I've loved South Park, but this episode was horrible and felt ominous...

What a great episode. I was 12 when South Park first came out. I was totally hyped about it months before it finally premiered. I've been using IMDb for what feels like 10 years.

This is my first review!

I could not believe the ending. This episode contains elements that have never been in a South Park episode before...

It almost reminds me of when The Simpsons used to have scenarios you could actually relate to. This episode deals with some of the most depressing social situations that a scary amount of people go through every day.

Probably the first time I've ever been shocked by this show. Because it was so unexpected.

I actually planned on watching the episode right before bedtime. Instead I ended up staying up late chatting about it. Blah what a loser!

Before watching this episode, my favorite South park episode was "Scott Tenorman must die." But, I have to say this is the best South park episode. On the exterior side some people might view the episode to be of toilet humor nature, but its just the facade.

I didn't have a single laughing moment in this episode. South park always conveys a message in a humorous approach. Matt and Trey are very intelligent. They always convey a message in the garb of humor.

This episode starts with the 10th birthday of Stan Marsh. And as the episode progresses, it turns out that as you get old the things you used to like, you don't like those things anymore. So, we may speculate that South park has been there for a long time and it has grown old. Also the ratings of south park have declined this season. But, all the episodes have been picked up from the recent but not very popular events.

The episode ends with Stan's parents getting separate. Both Randy and Sharon Marsh said they have been unhappy for awhile and they further say that the same sh*t happens every week without change. Both Matt and Trey said that they have become tired of making South park episodes. So, it might be an indication of South park coming to an end.

On the new front, it is shown that Stan & Kyle growing apart and Cartman & Kyle getting a little closer(we see cartman & kyle exchanging smiles at each other for the first time, I guess). So, it may be a new beginning as well.

But, I must say that this episode is the most serious South park episode I've ever seen. I thought it would get lighter in the end, but it didn't. I am a huge South park fan and I wouldn't ever want South park to come to an end. But, despite being serious this is a terrific mid session episode. I hope its a new beginning, not curtains for South park.