Review: South Park: Post Covid

Adult animated sitcoms that have had more than ten seasons or so traditionally like to throw in the “future” plots. The Simpsons seem to do it every season, Family Guy has done it a bunch of times with an increasingly depressed Stewie, and now South Park checks in with a surprising entry that kicks off over two dozen movies for the franchise that will air exclusively for Paramount+. To me, it looks as following South Park in a more grown-up setting will almost act as a Paramount+ spin-off all-the-while also continuing to do the same ol’ South Park that we know and love today for Comedy Central proper.

The idea is a good one, can Matt Stone and Trey Parker pull it off? Well, is South Park: Post Covid is any indication, ViacomCBS may want to consider doubling their recent investment. Set in a forty year future where some sort of variant of COVID-19 is still around, the little mountain town we’ve come to love is rife with what appears to be a nightmare utopia that acts as a sequel to “The Pandemic Special” and “South ParQ Vaccination Special” special Comedy Central airings that had premiered before it. In this go, Cartman, Kyle, and Stan have to reunite after decades apart so as to figure out who killed Kenny, and worse yet, who started COVID-19. Turns out, Kenny may have found the answer, but was killed before he can take action.

The new hour-long special is set against a back drop that showcases the most prominent South Park denizens in the “how they ended up in life” which, for some, is just downright awful. Worse yet, extreme politics on both sides have allowed China to be the leading super power of the world while we watch our country succumb to a meatless and lame future for us Americans. Watch in horror as even schools and hospitals have embraced the “plus” and “max” surnames that have dotted every streaming service today, and then what happens when the elderly are just not allowed to die? Well, we find out here, and the gags that are levied against me are in as much a quick succession as a busy Call of Duty map.

The underlying premise following the boys trying to solve a crime clearly shows It Chapter Two qualities, but also doesn’t forget the fact that this is South Park and the brains of the organization are looking at a future society that is heavily screwed over as a result of both sides. People who don’t want to be vaccinated are almost crucified for their beliefs just as much in the future as they are today, and Late Night host Jimmy Valmer is becoming increasingly frustrated because jokes have been more-or-less outlawed at this point, clearly Matt and Trey’s response to the recent Chappelle/Netflix controversy.

A number of strong themes show up here, and I love the hour because trying to do any of these plots on the normal 22-minute, and even the TV-hour time slots, often feel rushed and are heavily censored. South Park: Post Covid shows us a much more attractive franchise future that sees the brand go directly to streaming which provides for more ample time in story-telling laced with crass dialogue that hasn’t even been fully explored just yet. The ending makes me want more, and a special is supposed to happen for Christmas, making this a very happy holidays, indeed.