Plowing right alongside the previous episode in its continued mocking barrage of Trump & Company, the series sets sights on South Dakota Gov.
Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE at this point to similarly hysterical effect.
Noem Dog Story Turns Running Gag
The scene that stands out most in this episode is probably the Kristi Noem role-playing ice training with the video and a gruesome story about her needlessly shooting a dog point blank for allegedly being "dangerous," which is based on reality, [32:10].
The episode constantly revisits a darkly comic running gag where she is seen repeatedly killing dogs.
Since the real Pittsburgh-set show's governor authored her own account of the event and, not surprisingly, rubbed at least five constituents the wrong way, it's only added to her ongoing pariah-like status.
When ICE Raids and White Nationalism Collide on Your Mar-a-Lago Fantasy
After losing his job to education cuts, the school counselor, Mr. Mackay, signs up with ICE in this episode.
Heavily present is the raid where Si seizes his opportunity to run up and join the student-led Noem-mandated Boda searches, featuring a painful moment when she snarls, "Just hold down the brown ones!"
In the meantime, a subplot mocks conservative podcast culture. In response, an enraged Cartman decides to outdo him by becoming even more obnoxious and calling himself the "master debater" with the most offensive content.
When they end up at Mar-a-Lago, though, the absurdity continues as both Clyde and Mr Mackay are greeted by a jovial Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The two show up dressed in white suits, an allusion to Fantasy Island.
White House Dismisses the Show
However, the White House dismissed the episode after taking fire from South Park. A spokesperson said , "This is a dumb statement from Kathy Griffin… A) This show hasn't been on for over 20 years.
Studio Merger Behind the Scenes Tension
The series launch comes amidst industry churn in the wake of Paramount Global and Skydance Media's official merger.
The show's creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, bemoaned the deal as a disruption in their contract negotiations that delayed production on new episodes.
In a separate statement on social media, they slammed the merger as well: "This is a shitshow" and claimed, "We are working on new episodes now and hopefully you will get to see them somehow."
That same week, Paramount was skewered by reports CBS announced The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end — a development only to be read within efforts at rapprochement with Trump, most directly for stretching the merger approval.
The South Park guys are nothing if not defiant — and ahead of the curve.
