The latest news aboutSouth Parkseason 27 should be a relief, but I’m still sad to see the show’s release schedule change yet again.South Parkhas changed a lot since it was the R-rated cartoon that obsessed a legion of children in the late ‘90s. When I was growing up,South Parkwas mostly known for its unparalleled ability to upset teachers and parents. As I got older and was finally able to watch the series myself, the show morphed from a scatological, surreal cartoon into a thoughtful social satire.South Parkseason 4 marked this major change.
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AsSouth Parkstopped focusing on sheer absurdity and shock value and began centering on current events instead, the tone of the series changed.Some ofSouth Park’s best episodesstill spotlighted the kids and their wild misadventures, but the series became increasingly interested in topical news stories as they unfolded. In season 19, the show changed its premise again with a season-length serialized storyline. After season 23,South Parkonce again switched things up by releasing feature-length specials and shorter seasons instead of normal 10-episode seasons. Now,2025’s upcomingSouth Parkseason 27promises another big change.
South Park Season 27 Won’t Arrive Until 2025
South Park’s Creators Admitted They Need More Time
According to co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone,South Parkseason 27 will not air until 2025 at the earliest. Seasons 17-23 of the series featured 10 episodes apiece, but 2021’s season 24 consisted of two feature-length specials. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the show’s usual release schedule, butSouth Parknever returned to its pre-pandemic timetable in the years that followed. 2021 saw the arrival of two more specials, while 2022’s season 25 was the show’s shortest season ever.South Parkseasons 25 and 26 featured six episodes apiece, followed by two specials.
Since seasons 25 and 26 aired between February and March 2022 and 2023 respectively, viewers understandably expected that season 27 would likely arrive in February 2024. However, February came and went and there was no sign of the show’s return.South Park: The End of Obesityaired in late May 2024, marking the first time that the show’s creators released a feature-length special before the season premiere. There was no news after this release until a September 2024 interview withVanityFairsaw Parker and Stone reveal that season 27’s release was delayed until 2025 to avoid 2024’s election.
South Park Season 27’s 2025 Release Date Avoids A Major Problem
Mr. Garrison’s Donald Trump Stand-in Is Played Out
I’m not surprised thatSouth Parkseason 27 is delayed, even though this is the first time the series has not released any new episodes for a year in almost three decades on the air. As co-creator Matt Stone noted in the interview, evenSouth Park’s creators don’t know “What more we could possibly say about Trump.” I can see where the show’s co-creators are coming from, since the bombastic politician has been the subject of innumerable satirical takedowns in print, in movies, and on the small screen over the last decade. However, I’m still disappointed by the decision.
When Trump first announced his candidacy in 2015,South Park’s outspoken supporting character, Mr. Garrison, became the show’s stand-in for the politician.
Admittedly,South Park’s version of Donald Trumpis uniquely tough to write thanks to a decision the series made nine years ago. When Trump first announced his candidacy in 2015,South Park’s outspoken supporting character, Mr. Garrison, became the show’s stand-in for the politician. At the time, Trump’s election victory seemed unlikely, soSouth Parkreplacing him with Garrison wasn’t a problem. However, when Trump won the election,South Parkwas left in a tight spot. Garrison remained the show’s Trump equivalent, but the character never really worked, as he was neither an accurate Trump parody nor Garrison’s old self.
South Park’s Past Proves Skipping Elections Is A Good Idea
South Park’s Infamous 2016 Election Episode Failed
South Parkseason 27 arriving in 2025 means the series will sidestep the issue of bringing back Garrison’s Trump, since the event will be over by 2025. Even if Trump wins,South Parkseason 27 could ignore the president much like the show has ignored Joe Biden between 2020 and 2024.Not everySouth Parkstory works, andI’m certain skipping the 2024 election is the right choice forSouth Parkjudging by its most recent election coverage.South Parkignored 2020’s presidential election and the show’s infamously misguided 2016 election episode derailed an entire season’s storyline.
The rewriting ofSouth Parkseason 20’s final episodes was obvious even to a casual viewer like me.
South Parkseason 20’s serialized storyline centered on internet trolls, the perils of nostalgia, and the election campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Like many others,South Park’s creators admitted that they assumed Clinton would win the election and wrote season 20’s storyline accordingly. Instead, Trump won in an historic upset andSouth Parkseason 20 went off the rails. The rewriting ofSouth Parkseason 20’s final episodes was obvious even to a casual viewer like me, and I remember wondering why the show shaped its entire narrative around an event with an unknown outcome.
South Park Season 25’s Late Arrival Is Its Longest Break Yet
South Park: The End of Obesity May Prove Its Only 2024 Release
WhileSouth Park’s shorter seasonsaren’t perfect, I’m still always happy to see the series return to screens every year. As such, even though I understand why season 27 won’t arrive until 2025, it’s hard not to feel like this choice is an unfortunate letdown.South Parkseason 27’s delays make sense, and the show’s creators are correct to note that a season released in late 2024 would unavoidably need to focus on the election. However, this is theoretically the function thatSouth Parkfulfills in the adult animation landscape. Unlike its competitors,South Parkis uniquely timely.
South Parkseason 27 will premiere sometime in 2025 according to the show’s co-creators.
Each episode of the topical satire is famously written, produced, and animated in the five days before it airs.South Park’s legendarily fast turnaround time makes the show stand out, so I can’t see what the point of the show is if the creators now want to shy away from contentious, difficult news stories. It is hard to make the 2024 election fun, but this tricky satirical storytelling is what viewers come toSouth Parkfor. As such, it is tough not to feel likeSouth Parkseason 27’s delayed arrival is a case of the long-running series giving up on its purpose.
