Premises for South Park have always been popular culture. However, one of the strengths of the series has always been the subtlety with which the writers showed their opinions towards the subject matter. This lacked both subtlety and real substance.
Amusing moments, no doubt. However, amusing in a chuckling way, not the 'laugh out loud' manner to which South Park fans have become accustomed. The last five minutes of the episode showed some depths of creativity and intelligence, however this did little to reflect the lack of depth of the rest of the episode. Caricaturing was grossly exaggerated, and not in an intelligent way. Over the top. Perhaps unnecessary.
A good idea ruined by an elongated beginning which never quite metamorphosised into a full episode. The major characters were marginalised, focusing too heavily on pop-culture references which could be lost on a large part of the audience.
However, let it be said that Cartman, albehim a peripheral character, was as ever amusing and insightful. What a shame that his intelligence was lost in a maelstrom of OTT zeitgeist humour.
5/10 - perhaps South Park has, as ever, set its standards incredibly high. However, most people should expect more from satirical writers.