South Park Season 21 Episode 7 – Doubling Down Review
by Emily Reuben
To be edgeless, "Doubling Down" is one of the smartest, most interesting episodes of South Park to have graced united states of america in years. Not only are at that place some genuinely funny moments and a great animation sequence towards the cease of the episode, merely "Doubling Down" manages to masterfully interweave comedy with expertly executed social commentary. If you're looking for the perfect analogy of the current state of America, this episode is for you.
I've mentioned previously that the relationship between Heidi and Cartman is difficult to sentinel and for multiple reasons. When the two start got together, Heidi essentially held Cartman back from his terrible means, thus making for boring television. Now, the ruthless erstwhile Cartman is back in action. Throughout the flavor, nosotros have witnessed Cartman existence outwardly despicable, manipulative, and downright menacing to his poor girlfriend. "Doubling Down" takes all of this to a new level of uncomfortable. This is the Cartman we all love to detest and have been missing.
Arguably, "Doubling Downwards" is the cruelest nosotros have seen Cartman since he tricked Scott Tenorman into eating his own parents. It's funny to think the simple notion of an abusive relationship is more than unsettling than grinding your enemy'due south parents into chili. Cartman can literally impale people and not come off as despicable equally he does in this episode because abusive relationships happen and so ofttimes and to then many people the episode hits closer to habitation. It'southward relatable and therefore more than scary.
While Cartman'due south actions towards Heidi are certainly the focal point of the episode, all of this is a blatant apologue for the political temper currently plaguing America. "Doubling Down" is largely a commentary on Trump's chop-chop deteriorating popularity and the defensiveness of his supporters.
The more Heidi is told Cartman is terrible, the more defensive she becomes. Is she stupid? Of course non. Cartman came into her life when she was at a low point. He seemed similar a gear up for her issues. After some reflection she can clearly see Cartman is awful, but when she is constantly ridiculed for the mistake of dating him, she refuses to bear witness her mockers right. This desire to maintain dignity makes her more vulnerable to Cartman's manipulative nature and thus fall victim to the bike of abuse. She would rather remain in a toxic, manipulative relationship than suffer the constant ridicule of her peers.
All of this is juxtaposed with sequences featuring President Garrison abusing his subordinates, obviously drawing a parallel to Cartman's abuse of Heidi.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone aren't being vague here. They assert firmly that yep, President Garrison (Donald Trump) is a dangerous idiot to almost people, simply making people who did vote for Garrison (Trump) constantly the butt of some joke merely makes them double downwardly on their stances. To these voters, he had appeared at a fourth dimension of vulnerability and preyed on that weakness, just as Cartman has done to Heidi.
What'southward and so interesting is that no matter what side of the political spectrum y'all fall under, the narrative refrains from attacking i specific group more than than the other. Garrison voters (Trump supporters) are viewed every bit dumb, but sympathetic. To Trey and Matt, yep, they made a dumb decision, only that doesn't necessarily mean they are stupid people. To contrast the supporters, those who voted confronting Garrison from the start lack empathy and reject to abandon the mental attitude of "I told you lot then". With an effect like this, information technology would be easy to take 1 side, just in typical South Park fashion, everyone is on the receiving end of criticism.
The show asserts that right at present, we are all in an abusive relationship with Mr. Garrison (Trump). "Doubling Down" is quick to remind us that the more than nosotros antagonize people for realizing a error and coming forward, the more likely they are to go dorsum to their abuser.
Featured image from South Park Archives
Southward Park Season 21, Episode 7: "Doubling Downwardly"
Amazing
"Doubling Downwards" is both funny and vivid. It's interesting to come across South Park handle the toxicity of calumniating relationships in such a powerful style while simultaneously making a socially relevant point.
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Characterization
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Allegory
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Humor
Emily is a Telecommunications (Film and Media Studies) major minoring in Japanese and Professional Writing in Emerging Media. Her reviewNetflix'due south ' Death Notation' grossly misunderstands why the original was a success and her feature commodity Studying Abroad in Japan: The weebs are incorrect won honorable mentions in the CSPA journalism awards categories for Entertainment Reviews and Outset Person Experiences. She is the 2018-2019 host for the Input 2 podcast. In the by, Emily has interned at WFYI Indianapolis equally a Product Intern and studied abroad in Japan.
Source: https://bytebsu.com/2017/11/14/south-park-season-21-episode-7-doubling-down/
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