Photo credit: screenrant.com
Summary
South Park season 27 faces challenges in continuing to portray Mr. Garrison as Donald Trump, as the relevance of this character diminishes following the election. The series is expected to engage with the political climate around the 2024 election cycle.
As South Park progresses into its 27th season, it finds itself in a tricky position regarding Mr. Garrison’s portrayal of Donald Trump. The show’s evolution, particularly since its inception in the late ’90s, reflects a significant shift in focus from crude humor and shock value to more pointed social and political satire. Initially recognized for its nonsensical and provocative style, the series began concentrating on satirizing current events beginning from season 4. This transition solidified South Park as a heavyweight in the realm of satire while still leaving room for development.
In recent seasons, South Park explored more serialized storytelling, particularly in seasons 19 through 21, which marked a departure from its traditional episodic format. However, the reception of these changes has been mixed, and it seems unlikely that season 27 will continue down this path due to the criticism of its serialized efforts. For instance, season 20 hinged its narrative on the assumption of a Hillary Clinton victory in the 2016 election, a scenario that did not materialize and ultimately rendered the season’s conclusion confusing and disjointed. This context adds complexity to the overarching narrative challenges that South Park now faces.
South Park Season 27 Can’t Replace Mr. Garrison’s Donald Trump
The Satirical Series Has Relied On The Character For Nine Years Now
Initially, the creators of South Park utilized Mr. Garrison to embody Donald Trump, believing him an unsuitable yet fitting character for the controversial politician. Over the past nine years, Mr. Garrison, characterized by his outrageous and brash demeanor, effectively mirrored the bombastic nature of Trump, particularly during the latter’s campaign. However, South Park season 27 can’t easily replace this character portrayal as Garrison’s satirical representation has reached a plateau. The initial humor and relevance diminished once Trump gained office, limiting further comedic exploration.
The depiction of Mr. Garrison’s Trump was a satirical critique of American political discourse. While South Park often courted controversy, the character illustrated a reliance on shock humor, making it increasingly difficult for the series to provide relevant commentary during Trump’s presidency.
South Park Season 27 Will Struggle With Mr. Garrison’s Trump
The Political Caricature Worked Better Before 2016’s Election
Although Mr. Garrison served well as a proxy for Trump during the election campaign, his role complicated the show’s commentary as it transitioned into the Trump presidency. Notably, the series has displayed a reluctance to engage with current presidents, as illustrated by its avoidance of satire focused on Joe Biden. In contrast, past presidents like Bush and Obama were frequently parodied, albeit often more for their media personas than their political actions. This intricate dynamic renders Mr. Garrison’s character particularly challenging as a vehicle for political critique.
The ambiguity around the relationship between Trump and Mr. Garrison muddied the waters for the show’s satire. South Park never clearly delineated where Garrison’s character ended and the parody of Trump began, which hindered the show’s ability to critique Trump effectively during his tenure. This lack of clarity has also led to a perception of potential hypocrisy in using an established character for contemporary political commentary, amplifying the challenge for season 27.
South Park Season 27 Can’t Avoid Mr. Garrison’s Trump
Season 26’s Finale Already Acknowledged Season 27’s Focus
Given these complexities, South Park should ideally move toward a more straightforward parody of Trump for clarity and to reestablish Mr. Garrison’s character. However, nearly a decade into this portrayal, the series faces difficulty in transitioning away from its established character dynamic. Season 26’s “Spring Break” episode hinted at the ongoing entanglement of Garrison’s character with Trump, illustrating Garrison’s lingering aspirations to return to his past identity. This brief moment of self-reflection raises the question of how the show will navigate the upcoming political landscape.
With Donald Trump already established as the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 election, South Park season 27 cannot afford to disregard him. Unlike the previous special that managed to bypass Biden, Trump, and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, the new season must address the prevailing political narrative. Given the 2024 election’s prominence in the news cycle, it is crucial for South Park to engage with the unfolding events.
South Park Season 27 May Avoid 2024’s Election Altogether
2020’s Election Went Unmentioned Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic
Nevertheless, the notion of South Park completely omitting a significant election is not entirely unprecedented, as demonstrated in 2020 when the series deliberately avoided addressing the election due to the pandemic context. If season 27 arrives during the latter months of 2024, there’s a possibility it might sidestep the election narrative entirely—a move that could alienate its audience and undermine the series’ reputation for timely social commentary. Ignoring current events in a politically charged climate would risk rendering the new season irrelevant.
Given the show’s history of tackling pressing political issues head-on, it would be more fruitful for South Park season 27 to embrace the complexities within the Garrison/Trump character than to turn a blind eye to the 2024 election. As the series has avoided robust storylines surrounding President Biden, a failure to engage with the most critical political landscape in modern America could leave South Park feeling stale and uninspired. Therefore, it is crucial for the new season to find a way to balance its established character while confronting the realities of the political landscape head-on.
Cast Trey Parker, Matt Stone
Release Date August 13, 1997
Seasons 26
Franchise(s) South Park
Source
screenrant.com