Review of Dead Kids

'Dead Kids' sets it's self up as a take on the school shootings but like the apathetic characters in the episode it really doesn't have anything to say one way or the other. The characters really just don't care aside from Sharon. It's funny in a vintage 'South Park' way in just the brute shock value but honestly I think it's kind of lazy writing because the school shootings are more of background noise to the main plot they are interested in which is another Token/Cartman episode. The images of Butters as a hall monitor with an AR-15 are hilarious but thats about the height of the humor. Randy's inability to understand what is going on with Sharon ends up just being juvenile as it is a one note joke that wears out it's welcome. Randy also comes across as an incredible jerk which is unfortunate because even though he's insane I've felt he's always been written as a loving husband.

I've noticed over time that as 'South Park' has evolved that the character stand ins for creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have changed. It used to be Stan and Kyle but now I am beginning to wonder whether or not Eric Cartman has become the symbol for their take on the world. Cartman still by and large is the funniest character on 'South Park' but he was more effective when he stood out and was shocking. The whole plot is really just a joke about 'Black Panther' and instead of being an original take or joke it's just the same joke about black people loving 'Black Panther'. It really just comes across as Matt and Trey patting themselves on the back for being such clever misanthropes.