Review: Season 22 of “South Park” is a Testament to the Show’s Lasting Success

The animated series “South Park” began airing its 22nd season on September 26. While not the best season of the long-running series, it still proves to be a humorous and topical look at daily life through the lens of a small town in Colorado.

Following the previous season last year, this season again carries an episodic story structure after other recent seasons experimented with a serialized narrative. The continuity is much more subtle, and each episode can be enjoyed as its own self-contained story.

Through the use of the intentionally-crude cutout animation and vulgar writing; the show continues its trend of humorously skewering current events and popular trends. Some of the subject matter dealt with in this season so far include the frequency of active shooters and the scandals in the Catholic Church, as well as phenomena such as the vaping fad and the massively successful film “Black Panther.”

Even when dealing with touchy subjects, the series still hasn’t lost its appeal of dealing with things that are tough to talk about in a hilarious and brutally honest fashion. An episode that mocks the Roseanne Barr debacle with the character of Mr. Hankey also results in a surprisingly heartfelt send off for the character.

While many animated series targeted at adults have come and gone over the years, few have managed the consistent and lasting success that “South Park” has had over the last 22 years. Though the meaning of a cancellation tease on social media remains to be seen, it’s clear that Trey Parker and Matt Stone have plenty in store for this coming season.

Verdict: 4 out of 5 Stars

At a Glance:

South Park Season 22
Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on Comedy Central
Rated TV-MA