Review: South Park ‘The Cissy’
Spoilers Below:
This South Park was a doozy. It not only improved from last week’s episode but actually improved last week’s episode. Let’s get right into it.
Cartman, fed up with not being able to find an open stall in the South Park Elementary boys bathroom, declared he was “transginger” and proceeded to use the girls’ bathroom instead. The principal scolded him, saying he doesn’t even know the meaning of the word. (“Yeah huh, it means I live a life of torture and confusion because society sees me as a boy but I’m really a girl.”) Mr. Garrison advised the principal to just give Cartman whatever he wants, due to the particular topical issue and the fact that nobody who would hear about this story on the news would know Cartman is just a little jerk. As a solution, the school remodeled the janitor’s closet into a private bathroom for him. Shortly after, Wendell (Wendy) also began identifying as transgender and began using the executive bathroom as well, much to Eric’s (or Erica’s) dismay. Others followed.
In the alternate storyline, South Park lampooned SPIN magazine in the best possible way. If you’re not aware, SPIN recently criticized the show for their portrayal of musician Lorde as a 45-year-old man. In reality, though, the joke was really that Randy Marsh had to dress up as Lorde because they couldn’t get the real one. Seizing this opportunity (and taking advantage of the fact that the turn-around for South Park episodes is astonishingly quick) Trey & Matt put together a plot about Randy actually being the real Lorde, even getting a visit from a SPIN reporter with a name curiously similar to the real writer’s.
The two storylines merged when Stan confronted his dad about being Lorde, and Randy revealed that he began identifying as her to use the women’s bathroom at work. This also caused an issue, and Randy stopped being Lorde, and started being depressed.
In the end, Sharon came in as the voice of reason and solved everything. In her own words (to Lorde): “I’d tell her not to let people change who she is. I’d tell her that if people are making fun of her, it’s probably because they lost touch with being human. I’d tell her to keep on doing what she does because when someone’s not allowed to express who they are inside, we all lose.”
South Park Elementary got rid of the special bathroom and decided to let the students use whichever bathroom with they feel most comfortable in. Anyone who has a problem possibly sharing a bathroom with transgender people will have to use a special designated bathroom “designed to keep them away from normal people who don’t care.” You know, cissies.
In Case You Missed It:
1) Again, what is this about Butters’ suspension? I want answers!
2) Also again, since when do South Park seasons have continuity between episodes?
3) Cisgender: those that aren’t transgender; “normal” people (according to Mr. Mackey.)
4) Thanks for the Breaking Bad reference. I miss it too.
5) Was that Will Forte in the record exec’s office? And the real Lorde?
6) Butters: “Just hold it. That’s what I do now.” Also: “He is not a girl. He is not a man. He is something you will understand. But he would die for me.” Hmm.
7) The “Other” bathroom sign is an outline of Cartman.
8) “You’re watching E! Entertainment News; that’s how low you’ve sunk.”
9) “You just going to drink beer alone all day?” “It’s okay, it’s gluten-free.”
I was totally blown away by this episode, for a few reasons. Although we’ve seen South Park put together a quick episode a few times before, most notably after the 2008 Presidential Election, (hell, I was even impressed that they quickly subbed Kirk Cousins for RGIII in the premiere) this was remarkably impressive. They literally made an entire episode based on a review of last week’s episode. Six days to air, indeed.
Not only that, but they took a sensitive social issue – transgender equality – and made one of the best arguments and statements I’ve ever heard, while delivering it in the best way possible: a South Park episode.
Yeah, it was funny. Yeah, there was tons of bathroom humor (the majority of it took place in some sort of restroom) and we got to see Cartman scheme and raise hell, but all this was just icing on the cake. It wasn’t one of the funniest episodes ever, and it didn’t need to be. South Park once again proved that it’s relevant, witty, intelligent, and yes, funny – all while taking a swipe at an article that showed the writer was anything but those things.
Your move, SPIN.
