You’re Only as Old as You Feel

This is a momentous day for all…the readers of this blog, the privileged few.  My first proper review. Some may remember some time ago I wrote an article on a local pub of mine, I personally don’t really consider this a review, it was more of an angry rant mixed in with some slander, and a pinch of death threat. None the less, today I am actually going to attempt to write a proper review, in the words of my generation, OMG! I’ve spent a little time reading around, looking for what type of style I want this piece to conform to, I came to the conclusion it was either going to have to be the Empire style (review a really shit film and call it gold, just to get some exclusive access to James Cameron), and then of course there is the wildly offensive and simile heavy, scathing review, in which you’ve been so offensive that the only reason anyone invites to review their shit again, is because it gets good readership, or as I call it the AA Gill. I’m going for something in between.  

[SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t seen this week’s South Park…well I am going to ruin it for you, so either continue reading or click on some of my ads.] The mid-season finale of South Park this week was entitled ‘Your Getting Older’, and invited us to Stan’s 10^th Birthday. Now, because I am incapable of spending the next few sentences explaining the opening like an interior decorator describing the soft furnishing she’s chosen, let’s just cut the shit. Stan starts disliking things he used to like, and is diagnosed with cynicism. Randy (Stan’s Dad) tries to stay youthful by embracing the sounds of tween wave music. And Sharon (Stan’s Mum) is on her period. We all know what it’s like to get older (except of course you Benjamin Button-mofo!), and Stan is no exception this episode saw him turn on the music he loved, the food he loved, and LA Noire, for Stan it’s all just a big pile of shit. Sadly, it only gets worse for the salt shaker of a boy. After a growing tension between the two Randy and Sharon are getting a divorce and it’s through an unusually serious and emotional conversation that the couple have, that we hear what may define the shows future and what will define this episode. Sharon talks of being bored, and unable to carry on. Much like a Lemony Snickett story, South Park has been the home to 15 years of bizarre, sycophantic, and damn hilarious characters and stories, but it is possible the events of the recent episode signify the last season of the show…ever!   

I don’t want to sadden you too much so we will continue; my highlight of the whole episode has to be the cynical old men, the saviour of britches everywhere, and more possibly the closest thing to two characters that resemble Parker and Stone, to ever appear on the show. After a few questionable episodes this season, Parker and Stone have really pulled it back, the execution of this mass shitting was perfect, yes that is correct, a near perfect episode. Funny yet meaningful, this episode may indeed be the beginning of the end, but until that day comes I can say with pride, I consider myself a devout resident of South Park.