The China Probrem
From South Park Archives
| South Park episode | |
|---|---|
| “The China Probrem” | |
 Cartman and Butters dressed in "Chinese" style. | |
| Episode no. | Season 12 Episode 8 |
| Original airdate | October 8, 2008 |
| Season 12 March 12, 2008 – November 19, 2008 | |
| |
| | |
| ← Season 11 | |
| List of all South Park episodes | |
"The China Probrem" is the eighth episode of the twelfth season of South Park. It premiered the second half of the Fall season when it aired on October 8th 2008 on Comedy Central.[1] In Canada, this episode aired on October 17.
Spoiler warning: Plot details follow.Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Spoiler warning: Plot details follow.[edit] Plot
Cartman is having a nightmare about the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and wakes up fearing China will take over America due to their advanced technology and population of two billion. He awakens his mother, who comforts him, but Cartman is certain the Chinese are coming.
At the bus stop the next day, Cartman tells his plans to stop the Chinese to Stan, Kyle and Kenny but they do not listen. Stan states Kyle should at this point tell Cartman to stop being racist, but Kyle states he cannot do so and leaves.
In his home, Kyle states he cannot believe that they let the raping of "a friend" occur, and that they should have done something rather than just run away. Stan tells Kyle that they have to move on.
At his house, Butters is having a bath, but Cartman enters stating that Butters must help him or the Chinese will attack and kill both his mother and father. Butters joins Cartman and they form the American Liberation Front.
That night, Kyle has a nightmare about the raping. It is revealed that he is in fact referring to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and how bad the plot was - especially due to the fact there were aliens in it. He believes Steven Spielberg and George Lucas "raped" Indiana Jones.
The next day, it turns out that Stan, Kenny, Clyde and Jimmy feel the same way (Butters did not - he actually enjoyed the film) and help Kyle who has gone to the Park County District Attorney in an attempt to take Spielberg and Lucas to court. They manage to convince the Attorney that their case should be carried out as he feels the same.
Cartman and Butters have gone to P.F. Chang's in stereotypical Chinese dress and appearance and attempt to find out the Chinese's plans. They end up holding everyone hostage with Butters holding a gun after they are asked to leave for bothering a Chinese family, and soon the police turn up. Cartman believes they have come to stop the Chinese but they have actually come to stop him and Butters.
At the police station, Sergeant Yates refuses to pursue the case and says he has not seen the film. He asks if any of his colleagues have, and Mitch has and upon remembering he breaks into tears along with the others who watched it.
The police then arrest Spielberg and Lucas who have been raping a Stormtrooper in similar fashion to the visions characters have been having involving Spielberg and Lucas physically raping Indiana Jones.
Cartman decides he cannot let America lose its dignity even if they can stop the Chinese after Butters constantly shoots people in the genitalia - albeit accidentally. Leaving the restaurant with Butters, the police and everyone else drops the case after hearing Spielberg and Lucas have been arrested. Confused by everyone breaking into tears, Cartman and Butters leave, the latter stating he thought the film was good.
[edit] Continuity
Both Spielberg and Lucas previously appeared in the sixth season episode "Free Hat"[2], and were subsequently killed. Once again they are portrayed as villains who attempt to ruin movies, and once again it is part of the Indiana Jones franchise. In "Free Hat" they attempted to remake Raiders of the Lost Ark after having made a more politically correct and unpopular version of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back as well as similar versions of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Saving Private Ryan.
But as we said: Kenny McCormick maybe is not the only one who can return to earth after death.
The restaurant P.F. Chang's also reappears here, having previously been shown in the tenth season episode "A Million Little Fibers"[3] as Towelie's workplace and in the eleventh season episode "More Crap", being where Randy would eat and train to grow his crap.
[edit] Cultural References
All of the scenes where George and Steve are raping Indy are references to different films with a rape scene:
- Boys Don't Cry (lines only)
- The Accused
- Deliverance
A Howard the Duck pinball machine is also present in the second rape scene.
[edit] Reception
The episode premiere drew 3.7 million total viewers, 2.5 million in the 18-49 demographic. This was up 21% from the previous fall's debut and topped all of cable during its time period. It stands as the show's most-watched fall premiere since 1999.[4]
IGN's Travis Fickett gave the episode 9 out of 10 points, praising both storylines and writing that "[t]he show is as funny and as smart as ever — and it's back at just the right time."[5] 411mania's review, written by DC Perry, criticized the episode for using material that felt dated, but described it as "pretty solid" and gave it a rating of 7.3 out of 10.[6]
The episode's rape scenes caused some controversies. The Telegraph's Catherine Elsworth wrote that Parker and Stone seemed "to have taken the taboo-busting to a place even hardened South Park watchers have found hard to go".[7]Nikki Finke reported that her knowledge was that Paramount, which owns the Indiana Jones franchise, had no intention to protest against the episode, but, in the words of an insider, "[wanted] it to go away".[7][8]
[edit] References
- ↑ [1] South Park Studios Episode Guide - 1208
- ↑ Episode 609 - "Free Hat" - original airdate July 10 2002
- ↑ Episode 1005 - "A Million Little Fibers" - original airdate April 19, 2006
- ↑ Hibberd, James (2008-10-10). "'South Park' rape episode draws record viewers". The Live Feed. Retrieved on 2008-10-19.
- ↑ Fickett, Travis. "IGN: The China Probrem Review". IGN. Retrieved on 2008-10-13.
- ↑ Perry, DC (2008-10-08). "The South Park Review 10.8.08: The China Probrem". 411mania.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Elsworth, Catherine (2008-10-12). "South Park episode angers viewers with scenes of Hollywood titans raping Indiana Jones", The Telegraph (Los Angeles). Retrieved on 13 October 2008.
- ↑ Finke, Nikki (2008-10-09). "UH-OH! Paramount Unaware 'South Park' Hated On Spielberg & Lucas & 'Indy 4'; UPDATE: Everyone Just Plans To Ignore It". Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily. Retrieved on 2008-10-14.
[edit] External Links
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