**Contains Spoilers of South Park Season 20 Episode 1: Member Berries**
South Park season 20 Episode 1 is finally with us and aired just a few hours ago. In the UK it aired on the 16th of September 2016 at 10:00 pm on Comedy Central (channel number 112 on Sky, 132 on Virgin Media, 148 on Freeview and 307 on Plusnet, HD channels are also available).
If we are forced to pen an opinion on the episode, it was good, but as massive South Park fans we expected it to be great, because we know that Trey Parker and Matt Stone can deliver such sensational quality. There is also unfortunately the fact that this is an American show, and whilst that isn’t an issue, the format of the show is currently dedicated to vigorously mocking current events, and some of those events, just aren’t news over here. Yes us Brits, know that Donald trump and Hillary Clinton are slugging it out to be the next president once Mr Obama leaves, but most of us have no clue who Colin Kaepernick is, why he wants his quarter back or why he plays “football” with a rugby ball.
The show was left on a cliff-hanger and we will have to wait until next week for the second instalment to see how the story continues, but so far the main news stories mocked by the show, seem to be the presidential election, Kaepernick’s protest, the black lives matter campaign (who over here are just people who like to stop planes taking off), JJ Abrams and even the Zika virus was mentioned.
The episodes consist of the girls volley ball team sitting down during the American national anthem before a game to protest the constant trolling they are receiving on social media by an unknown troll called Skankhunt42. For the majority of the episode, Eric Cartman (Who’s wearing a Token’s life matters T-shirt) is believed to be the culprit.
Credit: South Park Studios
Meanwhile Mr Garrison (as Donald Trump) and running mate Caitlyn Jenner realise (after seeing the polls) that they actually stand a chance of winning the election, however they have no clue what they their plans will be once they are in office. Garrison exclaims: “When we actually get into the White House what are we going to do?” Both thinking the other had a plan. It is at this point they decide to sabotage their own efforts so that Hillary Clinton can win, unfortunately for them without success. A theme from previous episodes, Giant Douche (Mr Garrison) VS Turd Sandwich (Mrs Clinton) is also revisited as once again Americans realise that their choices are to vote for either a Giant Douche or a Turd Sandwich, the same as every election.
Credit: South Park Studios
JJ Abrams is tasked with re-engineering the national anthem in order to re-unite the country and in an attempt to lose popularity in the polls Mr Garrison decides to not stand up during its first reveal, unfortunately for him Abrams announces the anthem by saying you may sit, stand or take a knee to appreciate it, thwarting anyone with an intent to protest.
Credit: South Park Studios
Kyle vows to uncover the internet troll Skankhunt42 (still believing it is Cartman) but at the very end of the episode we discover it is in fact his own dad, Gerald Broflovski as we see him log into a computer using the username once his son has gone to bed. We don’t know yet why he has gone down this dark path, we will have to wait until next week.
Credit: South Park Studios
Oh and the citizens of South Park discover Member berries; a new super fruit that helps you mellow out and relax and Cartman makes the tiny mistake of forgetting girls don’t have balls. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below on the return of South Park and don’t forget to share.