Trump and Vance head to South Park in Christmas gear for a big showdown – only for Jesus to show up. At one point, you can almost feel Trey Parker and Matt Stone taking a stand against the US government
C
oming off its most controversial and highest rated season in years, South Park had high expectations to meet with its season finale. Given how infamously down-to-the-wire its production schedule is – showrunners Matt Stone and Trey Parker often don’t start writing scripts until the week they’re set to air, working up to the 11th hour to turn in a completed episode (a method that caused them to miss a deadline earlier this year) – there was some question as to whether they would be able to tie everything up at all, let alone in a satisfying manner.
Most viewers were probably anticipating a giant, apocalyptic climax to the various long-running storylines – chief among them Donald Trump’s attempts to kill his and his lover Satan’s soon-to-be-born spawn. Instead, Stone and Parker swerved expectations, delivering an introspective and ultimately melancholy climax, one that managed to balance hope and despair in equal measure, alongside the outrageous shock humour for which they’re famous.
Only one of South Park’s main foursome appears in tonight’s episode. Stan Marsh, depressed over the horrible year he’s had (his father lost the family weed farm, forcing the Marshes to move in with their grandfather at a senior living facility), seeks solace in school guidance counsellor Jesus, only to find the son of God has joined Maga and “became all Christian”. (The darkest joke of the episode revolves around Jesus hitting rock bottom – literally, as he has begun physically abusing his girlfriend, Peggy Rockbottom.)
