Early in SOUTH PARK's career, the laughs often came from a very straightforward parody approach -- usually classic Star Trek episodes were the source. This classic episode is the last time they would dip into Trek for plots -- in this case it is MIRI, even more than LORD OF THE FLIES, that inspires the vision of a world of children without adult supervision.
Countless small touches make this episode a gem -- note uptight Kyle cutting loose like Tom Cruise in RISKY BUSINESS, dancing to "Old Time Rock And Roll." Then watch how they take it beyond parody, going into a hilarious (and chilling) montage of adults being dragged off in chains while the children stage orgies and dance in their underwear.
Notice the way all the boys stretch -- Craig is compelling as cool, laid back "Spaceman Spiff" while Butters plays the fatuous, unflappable (but vaguely sinister) garage mechanic. Cartman is a superb Mayor, rattling off clichés with over the top intensity. ("You see what we're dealing with here!") Note that when he has the pretty young wife at knife point, he breaks into a chilling battle chant from CHILDREN OF THE CORN. ("Out-landah! We have your woman, out-landuh!") Butters has to calm him down, but later we see the Golden One make a daring plea for the love of John Elway in a savage ritual that has serious homosexual overtones. ("Take me, Mr. Elway!") Stan and Kyle never looked cooler or more dashing than as the Robin Hood like "outlaws" who defy the mayor, and Stan's story-telling about the Before Time raises goosebumps. (Listen to the kids in the background, their chanting is truly otherworldly.) Last but not least, the young husband's speech ("Parents -- birth givers -- they're your providers.") is pure Star Trek gold, a tribute to just how remarkable Gene Roddenberry's best writers could be.
Season Four was the season where SOUTH PARK truly changed, morphing from rough parody to sustained brilliance. This is how it was in the Before Time -- the long, long ago!
Countless small touches make this episode a gem -- note uptight Kyle cutting loose like Tom Cruise in RISKY BUSINESS, dancing to "Old Time Rock And Roll." Then watch how they take it beyond parody, going into a hilarious (and chilling) montage of adults being dragged off in chains while the children stage orgies and dance in their underwear.
Notice the way all the boys stretch -- Craig is compelling as cool, laid back "Spaceman Spiff" while Butters plays the fatuous, unflappable (but vaguely sinister) garage mechanic. Cartman is a superb Mayor, rattling off clichés with over the top intensity. ("You see what we're dealing with here!") Note that when he has the pretty young wife at knife point, he breaks into a chilling battle chant from CHILDREN OF THE CORN. ("Out-landah! We have your woman, out-landuh!") Butters has to calm him down, but later we see the Golden One make a daring plea for the love of John Elway in a savage ritual that has serious homosexual overtones. ("Take me, Mr. Elway!") Stan and Kyle never looked cooler or more dashing than as the Robin Hood like "outlaws" who defy the mayor, and Stan's story-telling about the Before Time raises goosebumps. (Listen to the kids in the background, their chanting is truly otherworldly.) Last but not least, the young husband's speech ("Parents -- birth givers -- they're your providers.") is pure Star Trek gold, a tribute to just how remarkable Gene Roddenberry's best writers could be.
Season Four was the season where SOUTH PARK truly changed, morphing from rough parody to sustained brilliance. This is how it was in the Before Time -- the long, long ago!