Having been disappointed with the first season episode ('The Ring'), which I felt lacked real depth and subtlety, I though this episode delivered that lost promise.
It begins with an obvious 'super-hero' imitation, where Cartman has adopted the persona 'The Coon' (a raccoon reference...not what was expected!!) Indeed, there was very little dangerous in this episode, and I think this is a step forward for the writers. There was no need to shock, or surprise...no real need to make everything overblow or ridiculous. We were given back the funniest South Park characters, and their alter-egos (Professor Chaos, Cartman's new evil super-hero identity).
The episode focused on intrinsically good story-telling and intelligent jabbing at a genre which has recently been overly-milked by Hollywood, and has almost become an imitation of itself. Well-rounded, well voiced and very well shot, the episode was backed up by a cleverly over-the-top musical score and ambiguous ending.
Well done Trey Parker and Matt Stone; you have made a return to form with great storytelling, intelligent writing and some brilliant pieces of continuity. I was very happy to see references to past episodes, something some recent series have lacked.
An 8/10 - South Park reaffirms itself as being a subtle form of comedy, and, in my mind, the funniest cartoon on television.
It begins with an obvious 'super-hero' imitation, where Cartman has adopted the persona 'The Coon' (a raccoon reference...not what was expected!!) Indeed, there was very little dangerous in this episode, and I think this is a step forward for the writers. There was no need to shock, or surprise...no real need to make everything overblow or ridiculous. We were given back the funniest South Park characters, and their alter-egos (Professor Chaos, Cartman's new evil super-hero identity).
The episode focused on intrinsically good story-telling and intelligent jabbing at a genre which has recently been overly-milked by Hollywood, and has almost become an imitation of itself. Well-rounded, well voiced and very well shot, the episode was backed up by a cleverly over-the-top musical score and ambiguous ending.
Well done Trey Parker and Matt Stone; you have made a return to form with great storytelling, intelligent writing and some brilliant pieces of continuity. I was very happy to see references to past episodes, something some recent series have lacked.
An 8/10 - South Park reaffirms itself as being a subtle form of comedy, and, in my mind, the funniest cartoon on television.