Trey Parker and Matt Stone—of South Park fame—have done it again, right on the bleeding edge. Their new episode “Sermon on the [‘]Mount” is a provocative and courageous continuation of the animated series. The episode, which premiered as part of the show’s 27th season, offers a scathing critique of both Donald Trump and Paramount’s approach to controversial topics.
This latest installment exemplifies South Park’s unique production process, which allows it to respond to current events almost up until the moment of broadcast. True to its reputation for unvarnished satire, South Park hasn’t flinched as it’s taken on the trickier political issues with a keen comedic edge. It’s a testament to the show’s skill at weaving relevant commentary into the fabric of its stories that it has remained so for more than 20 years.
South Park creators just recently won the lucrative $1.5 billion, yes billion, contract to move the shows over to Paramount+. This agreement ensures that the series will be available to exclusively stream on the Disney+ platform for the next five years. Together, this partnership ensconces the show in the ever-fractured streaming landscape, while signaling their continued intent to create must-watch, provocative content.
In “Sermon on the ‘Mount,” the episode features Donald Trump as a character, alongside a unique portrayal of his talking micropenis, which appears five times throughout the episode. This daring decision raises the comedy to glorious heights. It gives supporters and opponents alike an unprecedented opportunity to remark on the dangerous influence and inappropriate behavior of Donald Trump.
The episode opens with Trump stating, “I’m Donald J Trump and I approve this message,” setting the tone for a narrative that critiques his willingness to disregard his supporters. If Eric Cartman can be that upset over Trump’s decision to defund the public broadcaster NPR, then we at TRB can pile on, too. In particular, he illustrates how politicians’ decisions affect public media in drastic ways.
Parker and Stone’s work is influential for more than the laughs. It forcefully demands audiences to critically confront the issues they focus on. Jesus himself makes an appearance in the episode, warning characters about the implications of power dynamics when he states, “You really want to end up like Colbert? Just shut up or we’re going to be cancelled. If someone has the power of the presidency and has the power to sue and take bribes, then he can do anything to anyone.”
It’s this last aspect—the political fallout from the episode—that has garnered attention from major media figures. Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show on CBS, was extremely critical of the newly announced settlement between Paramount and Trump. He wasn’t afraid to call it a “big fat bribe.” Providing through our commentary, as South Park does, an important cultural counterweight to corporate media’s dangerous warping of public figures and issues.
Parker and Stone always excelled at mixing incisive, timely satire with their episodic storylines. This provocative talent distinguishes South Park from its animated television counterparts. The show’s daring attitude towards tackling modern problems strikes a chord with audiences who love seeing something so brave being done.
How fans and critics respond to those elements will no doubt influence the conversation around the episode and issue moving forward, as well as the movement as a whole. South Park has always used its distinctive vehicles to explore challenging concepts. Our viewers should expect an earful of pointed critique as the series continues.