Before the current season of “South Park” began, Trey Parker and Matt Stone promised that they were going to leave politics and especially President Donald Trump behind. However, the second episode of the current season, “Put it Down” features the president’s tendency to make alarming tweets. The episode also touches on North Korea, fidget spinners, texting while driving, and childhood suicide. It ends with a musical number. Some spoilers follow.
Tweek is higher strung than usual
The episode features the return of Tweek and Craig, the two boys who are thought to be a gay couple, who aren’t really but seem to be acting as though they are.
Tweek is obsessed by the idea that Kim Jong-un is going to obliterate South Park and thus him personally, with a nuclear missile. He is also terrified that President Trump is going to provoke him into doing it.
Craig suggests that Tweek try a little cupcake diplomacy. Kim, who seems to be a fellow who likes pastries, responds very well – at first. However, President Trump reacts with a series of increasingly bizarre tweets that suggest that Tweek is personally going to settle North Korea in an unmentionable way, that cannot be stipulated in this article. Kim responds by launching a missile test over Tweek’s house. Neither Craig nor the fidget spinner seems to help.
Cartman’s latest attempt to draw attention to himself
In the meantime, Eric Cartman, still estranged from his girlfriend, starts making threats that he is going to kill himself. These threats are not serious but are rather attempts to draw attention to himself in a “suicide prevention week.” Cartman is highly irate when PC Principal informs him that this week is “distracted driving week.” Oddly enough, the town of South Park needs such an occasion.
Too many people are reading the latest tweets from the president while driving, causing horrendous carnage amongst the local children.
And the message for this week’s episode is…
“Put it Down” seems to have an actual message that goes beyond the fact that life in 21st Century America is pretty absurd. The episode ends with a musical number about the need to not obsessively look and use handheld electronic devices.
The practice only leads to trouble, whether it is distracted driving, a president who likes to troll the world with alarming tweets, or young, excitable boys who take those same messages too seriously. Put down those smartphones and look around at the wide world. You will be happier, nuclear war may be avoided, and a lot of kids crossing the street will live longer.
