South Park

To some people lacking perspective, imagination, or a sense of humor, South Park may seem a vulgar piece of kitsch with no value whatsoever, just rubbish and lowest common denominator entertainment. Most people, however, will find South Park interesting, bringing unique and usually fascinating perspectives to current issues that are relevant to us. In other words, underneath all the swearing, vulgarity, and for some people, perhaps even kitsch, there is very often an interesting idea, a way of looking at things differently and uniquely, a combination of things that we would never have thought of. Sure, the presentation is always very far-fetched, and the situations are pushed to extremes. However, this is an animated TV series and a comedy cartoon, so it works. Even for a person who can look away from everything that offends and repels other stuffy intellectuals, this series can be a true gem. Plus, this is a treasure for all the other people (myself included) who can laugh at fart jokes and want to have fun. (2015.04.02)

The worst animations in the world, the stupidest stories, vulgar and stupid dialogues... Simply a brilliant animated series on which it is necessary to take a stand. Mine is – razor-sharp satire, uncompromising, absurd, teetering on the brink of infantile stupidity – but it's balanced so masterfully that I fell in love with a bunch of dirty brats from an American town. Kenny is wonderful proof of God's insidiousness and cunning. South Park is proof of how far human invention can go. I know that I'm going to end up in hell and forced to have sex with Saddam for watching South Park enthusiastically... I hate you, Kenny!!! (2004.02.11)

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” This applies not only to The Dark Knight but also to series. After a quarter of a century, South Park has offered up a tremendous number of things that deserve our admiration – from amazing jokes, frantic twists and brilliant storytelling, through the testing of the limits of television entertainment for an adult audience and the gradual development of the show’s technical production to meet a weekly schedule, which enabled it to address topical issues, to the grandiose transformations of the concept and its own world and the rules thereof (as in the brilliant 14th season reflecting, among other things, dark and gritty superhero movies). However, it is also appropriate to acknowledge that all of these many highlights are a thing of the past. It could generously be said that South Park, like The Simpsons, which it has criticised many times, has inevitably become another perpetually running series. But it’s not just that the novelty has worn off, the boundaries have been broken or the audience has become desensitised. Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s creation stayed on top for a surprisingly long time because it was able to evolve, transform and reflect itself. Nevertheless, in recent years it has unfortunately become apparent – or even worse, it has been denied – that South Park is no longer progressively iconoclastic, but simply boastfully coarse, and that it doesn’t disturb the status quo, but lives off of it and needs it for its own survival. (2022.08.21)