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South Park: Imaginationland Episode III
by Brad Trechak, posted Nov 1st 2007 7:01AM
(S11E12) In the final chapter of this exciting trilogy, Cartman goes out of his way to get Kyle to suck his balls. Oh, and the government is trying to nuke Imaginationland.It's kind of ironic that Trey Parker and Matt Stone celebrate imagination so much yet loathe the institutions that produce it (specifically Hollywood). But that's a discussion for another time.The heart of this episode I feel was the fact that South Park itself is as imaginary as all the other characters that appeared in the story. I think this was shown when the screen turned white after the nuke was dropped, leaving only Butters to re-imagine the entire world. In effect, South Park is Imaginationland.
Of course, there is also the famous heartfelt speech that occurs in each episode (which originally was preceded by "I learned something today"). Of course, I find the question of what defines real to be imaginary. Chew on that.
I wonder what this says about Butters? Is he the most real person to inhabit their imaginary world?
I think the episode would have been more interesting if they ended after the nuke had been dropped and had Butters walk off the white screen. Next week, they could have rebooted and not explained how the world came back, much as they did back when Kenny died every week. The ending was kind of weak as it was.
Kyle, Stan, Cartman and Kenny have become icons in their own right and, like Santa Claus, Jesus and all the others will likely remain long after all of us are dead. Even if they go the route of Mutt and Jeff (whom I doubt the younger readers have even heard of).
Obviously, the entire battle scene was a complete rip-off...I mean homage to The Lord of the Rings.
I don't know about anyone else, but I totally marked out when Superman talked to Kyle. He's my favorite imaginary character ever.
The first "imagined" Santa reminded me of the clone Ripley from Alien IV.
The subject of rape is not humorous...unless it takes place in Imaginationland. The Christmas Critters raping Popeye was the funniest rape I've ever seen on TV.
I wonder if the line "Don't nuke our imagination, bro" came from that guy at the John Kerry speech saying "Don't taze me, bro."
Cartman's speech to Kyle in the hospital reminded me of General Zod's speech at the beginning of the first Superman movie. Zod says "you will bow down before me" and Cartman says "you will suck my balls".
Newly recognized imaginary icons: Cobra Commander. A werewolf. Rom the Spaceknight. The Fat Guy from the comic strip Asterix. Darkseid. Waldo. Pinhead. Robin Hood. The Cavity Creeps. The Pac-Man monsters. The Pillsbury Dough Boy. Frankenberry. Bullwinkle.
I'm going to put my favorite quotes of the episode in the poll so you can pick one for yourself. I have no idea how Trey and Matt are going to outdo this one for next week. Other than the ending, I thought this trilogy was the strongest storyline of the season.
| "I'm off." (Sound of Al Gore "flying") | |
|---|---|
| "What else belongs on a sundae, Kyle?" | |
| "Believe in Santa! Right now!" | |
| "We tried that! And Kurt Russell was raped by Christmas Critters!" | |
| "I'm hearing you in my imagination." "Oh, that makes sense." | |
| "Operation nuke the Imagination through the Imagination Doorway" | |
| "Why is it so easy for children to break into the Pentagon?" | |
| Another quote entirely |
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