Good to see that South Park are back with another season – the 21st – and the first episode, White People Renovate Houses, is no letdown, with a fun commentary on the changing nature of employment, the pervasive nature of AI systems in the home and the Confederate battle flag.
Matt Stone and Trey Parker said they have real problems writing the show because it's hard to satirise Donald Trump, so they aren't going to bother, leaving the show with an 'elephant in the room' scenario which could have completely sunk the episode. However, the storyline with Cartman and his girlfriend, something which is reaping the fruit of seeds sown last season but never really rang true, is perhaps the best thing about the episode. There is no wholesale takedown of the border wall, though that is dealt with in the house reconstruction sequences. Nor is there a heartfelt response to Charlottesville, which could have been dealt with by Kyle and his "I've learned something today" speech, but there was a clever "both sides" line which I think I'll need to watch the episode again to appreciate fully.
It's a mixture of clumsy and brilliant but ultimately satisfying with the feeling better is to come.
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