South Park (1997 - Present): Review By T.Clark

South Park's latest episode, "Breast Cancer Show Ever," furthers the point that Matt and Trey have been trying to make for 12 years: Cartman is cancer. Metaphors are common with this show, and Matt and Trey use them often to make a point(just look at the last episode where Lucas and Speilberg raping Indy was a metaphor for how people feel that Lucas is destroying franchises he helped make classics). However, with this metaphor, it doesn't pertain to a particular pop-culture or political subject, which has also become quite common with the show. In fact, this episode focuses solely on the kids of South Park we've all come to love. Sure, it's intriguing and mostly hilarious when South Park bashes the hell out of celebrities or politicians, but a backtrack to the show's roots is also a nice change of pace from time to time.

As I was saying, this episode's metaphor is that Cartman is like cancer, and you can't get rid of cancer, you've just got to beat it to a pulp...and that's exactly what Wendy does in one of South Park's best brawls to date. It all starts when Wendy does a presentation on Breast Cancer awareness in school, and Cartman actually makes fun of it continuously, pissing Wendy off to no end. Wendy ultimately challenges Cartman to a fight. Cartman, never wanting his ego bruised accepts, but it soon becomes frighteningly clear to him that Wendy can kick his ass. He uses everything at his disposal(minus admitting it to everyone that he doesn't want to fight) to get out of it, even, wait for it, eating his own underwear.

As I said in my opening statement, this isn't one of South Park's "breast"(best) episodes. It's not even one of the best Cartman episodes. However, it's classic South Park in the sense that it takes place at the school and focuses on the kids. No Britney Spears, no George Bush, none of that. Just purely and simply the show's main characters, particulary Cartman, which, even when it's not the best, is always hilarious. The espisode does a great job at highlighting kids' excitement over a playground fight, which I think we can all relate to if you older folks remember back to your elementary school years.

Trey Parker still does an exceptional job at voicing Cartman, even after 12 years. His has become the most recognizable pop-culture voice in America, and it's for good reason. People immitate it. I myself do a pretty good impression. But there's only one Trey Parker and only one Cartman, and he's great in this episode.

The episode's flaws are what, like the last episode, keeps me from giving it a higher score. The episode is honestly forgettable(as has been this entire season). It's funny, but not episodes that will go down in SP history as one of the greatest seasons. It seems Matt and Trey are, tragically, running out of ideas. I say this hesitantly, because there's so much f*cked up in this world right now, I'm waiting for that one episode that just bashes the hell out of a controversial subject like no other and saves this season. Will it be next week? The week after? I don't know, but I truly believe Matt and Trey are saving the best for last.

The most memorable aspect of the episode is the fight between Wendy and Cartman, which I already stated is one of the best SP brawls I've seen...not THE best, far from it, but definitely ONE of the best. It still doesn't save the episode from a 3.5 score, though. After the fight is over, it's just...over. It seemed anti-climactic and Cartman's usual misinterpretation of his "friends'" statements doesn't do it the justice I think Matt and Trey were expecting out of it. The creative team possibly did this on purpose, but the whole episode just seems too short lived. Now that we've got a Cartman episode...where's Randy!