Grid Effect

I just watched last night’s South Park, and there really isn’t much to say about it. Other than it was much tamer than last weeks episode and it wasn’t terribly funny, mostly because it was trying entirely too hard to be controversial. And the fact it was so topical was almost detrimental to the punchline.

The basic plot kicks off with Cartman demanding a Nintendo Wii, which has been slated for release three weeks from the day he wants it. He decides to freeze himself so he won’t experience the twenty day wait the problem being Butters assumes he had died after the insitence from General Dissarray. So they forget about him, and Cartman isn’t discovered until the year 2546, 540 years in the future.
At South Park Elementary, they are forcing Mrs. Garrison to teach evolution against her will. She explains it dismissively and they are forced to bring in an evolutionary Scientist. Despite her protests to his assistance, they begin dating. And since she has not had a date since her sex change operation, she lets him coerce her into becoming an Atheist.
When Cartman arrives in the future, we discover that everyone is an Atheist at war with each other, and that the legion of Sea Otters are set to become the worlds new leaders. This is where they cut to commercial and we learn its a two-part episode set to continue next week.

This premise is funny in and of itself, and some of the characerizations were quality satire (Primarily, the evolutionary scientist), but there were few to no jokes. Clearly Parker and Stone think advocates for both Intellectual Design and Evolution are too stubborn, and they are very apt in mocking both sides, but it resonated so little. They spent so much time disparaging both parties for pushing their own beliefs, that this episode felt preachy in and of itself. The second part can definitely salvage the first. I thought the second part of last year’s “Cartoon Wars” was definitely superior to the first half. And like I said, the premise definitely works. So I am optimistic for next weeks installment.

Some decent lines:

“A couple of fish got together and had a retarded baby, then that fish had butt sex with a squirrel or something.” -Mrs. Garrison explaining her interpretation of evolution.

“This is the dawning of the Sea Otter” -The ring leader of the Sea Otters in a menacing tone.