"South Park: The End of Obesity," released on Paramount+ on May 24, 2024, is the seventh television special in the series and the 328th episode overall. This special satirizes the frenzy surrounding new weight loss drugs, the machinations of the sugar industry, and the complexities of the American healthcare system through the lens of the show’s signature dark humor.
Plot Overview
The episode begins with Eric Cartman learning from a doctor that his obesity poses a threat to his health. The doctor recommends semaglutide, a diabetes drug known for its weight loss effects. Cartman, envisioning a future where he can insult people without facing repercussions about his weight, becomes fixated on obtaining the drug. However, his insurance company denies coverage, as it is only approved for diabetes, and the cost is prohibitive.
This leads Cartman, along with his friends Kyle Broflovski and Butters Stotch, on a bureaucratic odyssey through the American healthcare system. Their frustrating journey involves navigating paperwork, multiple healthcare providers, and endless waiting, all captured in a musical montage titled "Navigating the American Healthcare System."
Meanwhile, Randy Marsh notices the local mothers sporting toned midriffs and wearing crop tops, thanks to semaglutide. Mistaking it for a recreational drug, he joins their semaglutide-sharing parties. As Randy begins taking the drug, his wife Sharon feels insecure about her weight and starts taking "Lizzo," a satirical take on body positivity, prescribed by her doctor.
Driven by Cartman's need and the inaccessibility of semaglutide, Kyle decides to produce a homemade version, sourcing raw semaglutide powder from a factory in India. This endeavor draws the ire of a sugar industry cartel, represented by cereal mascots like Cap'n Crunch and Tony the Tiger, who see the weight loss drug as a threat to their profits.
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The situation escalates as the mothers, now without their semaglutide supply due to a government crackdown, resort to robbing pharmacies and attempting to steal Kyle's homemade supply. Kyle procures a truckload of semaglutide powder from North Carolina, only to have it carjacked by Randy and the mothers.
Randy has a change of heart and steals the truck back from the mothers, leading to a "Mad Max: Fury Road"-esque chase involving the boys, the mothers, and the cereal mascots. Randy stops Sharon from taking her first injection and confesses that he has been using semaglutide himself. He realizes that he loves her just the way she is, and they decide to forgo the drug and instead relive their college days.
At school, Kyle delivers a speech advocating for an end to fat shaming. Despite the positive reception, Cartman seizes the opportunity to unleash insults, knowing that his weight cannot be used against him.
Key Themes and Satirical Elements
- The American Healthcare System: The special delivers a scathing critique of the bureaucratic complexities and systemic failures of the American healthcare system. The episode highlights the difficulties individuals face when trying to access necessary medications and the frustrating runaround they often encounter.
- Weight Loss and Body Image: "The End of Obesity" explores the societal pressures surrounding weight loss and body image. The episode satirizes the extreme measures people take to achieve a desired physique, as well as the commercialization of body positivity.
- Pharmaceutical Industry and "Big Sugar": The special takes aim at the pharmaceutical industry's high drug prices and the sugar industry's manipulative tactics to maintain profits. The cereal mascots acting as mob bosses represent the cutthroat nature of these industries.
- Social Commentary: The episode touches on themes of class disparity, with the observation that "rich people get get Ozempic, poor people get body positivity." This line encapsulates the special's commentary on how access to healthcare and societal expectations differ based on socioeconomic status.
- The Character of Cartman: Cartman's desire to lose weight isn't driven by health concerns or self-improvement, but rather by a desire to avoid being the target of insults. This underscores his character's inherent selfishness and lack of empathy.
Humorous Elements and References
- Artistic License - Chemistry: Kyle's lab features a periodic table with several errors, including incorrect element symbols and missing elements.
- Continuity Nod: Cartman wears his Hawaiian shirt from "The Poor Kid" in the ending.
- Fan Disservice: Randy wearing one of Shelley's crop tops, exposing his gut.
- Musical Montage: The "Navigating the American Healthcare System" sequence is a humorous and accurate portrayal of the frustrations of dealing with the American medical system.
- Allusions: The opening sequence is based off the opening sequence of the 2004 film Dawn of the Dead.
- The song that plays at the party just before Randy arrives is "Family Affair" by Mary J.
- The scene during the "Navigate the American Health Care System" montage where Butters gets lost in a maze of upside down and sideways stairs leading to various medical buildings is a reference to Relativity by M. C.
Production and Reception
"South Park: The End of Obesity" is part of the deal between Trey Parker and Matt Stone with Comedy Central and Paramount+, which includes extending the series to 30 seasons and creating 14 feature films for the streaming platform.
The special has received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its sharp satire, relevant social commentary, and humorous execution. Lizzo herself reacted to being referenced in the episode, expressing amusement that her body-positivity ethos had reached the creators of "South Park."
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Cast and Crew
The special was voiced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
The End of Obesity: A Detailed Look
Cartman's Motivation and the Allure of Semaglutide
The special opens with Cartman facing a harsh reality: his obesity is a medical concern. The doctor's suggestion of semaglutide, a drug typically prescribed for diabetes but known for its significant weight loss effects, immediately piques Cartman's interest. However, his motivation isn't rooted in a desire for better health. Instead, Cartman envisions a world where he can freely hurl insults without being targeted for his weight. This twisted desire highlights Cartman's character flaws and sets the stage for the episode's exploration of societal attitudes towards obesity.
The allure of semaglutide lies in its promise of effortless weight loss. Cartman's fantasies depict him as a skinny version of himself, confidently delivering offensive remarks without fear of retaliation. This reflects a common desire to avoid personal criticism and maintain a position of superiority, a theme that resonates with the special's broader commentary on body image.
The Labyrinthine American Healthcare System
When Cartman's insurance company denies coverage for semaglutide, he embarks on a quest to navigate the complexities of the American healthcare system with Kyle and Butters. This journey is depicted in a hilarious and poignant musical montage, satirizing the endless paperwork, bureaucratic hurdles, and frustrating delays that plague the system. As the trio travels from doctor's offices to clinics to insurance companies, they encounter obstructive bureaucrats and illogical procedures. Butters even gets lost in an Escherian-like maze, symbolizing the confusing and disorienting nature of the healthcare system.
The "Navigate the American Healthcare System" sequence is a microcosm of the challenges faced by many Americans seeking medical care. It underscores the systemic inefficiencies and the power imbalances that often leave individuals feeling helpless and overwhelmed. The fact that Cartman, Kyle, and Butters are ultimately unsuccessful in their initial attempt to obtain semaglutide highlights the inaccessibility of healthcare for those who cannot afford it or do not meet specific criteria.
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Randy Marsh and the Semaglutide Trend
Randy Marsh's storyline provides a different perspective on the weight loss drug phenomenon. Initially mistaking semaglutide for a recreational drug, Randy becomes entangled in the trend of local mothers using it to achieve toned midriffs. The special satirizes the superficiality of this trend, highlighting the pressure women face to conform to societal beauty standards.
Randy's adoption of semaglutide leads to humorous situations, such as him wearing one of his daughter's crop tops to school. This act underscores the absurdity of the pursuit of physical perfection and the lengths people will go to achieve it. However, Randy's storyline also touches on the potential dangers of unregulated drug use and the importance of self-acceptance.
The Sugar Industry Cartel
The introduction of a sugar industry cartel, composed of cereal mascots like Cap'n Crunch and Tony the Tiger, adds another layer of satire to the special. These mascots represent the corporate interests that profit from unhealthy eating habits and actively undermine efforts to promote healthier lifestyles.
The cartel's concern over declining sales due to the popularity of weight loss drugs leads them to engage in nefarious activities, such as attacking the Indian factory producing the raw semaglutide powder. This highlights the lengths corporations will go to protect their bottom line, even at the expense of public health. The portrayal of beloved cereal mascots as ruthless mobsters is a particularly effective form of satire, exposing the dark side of the food industry.
Kyle's Moral Dilemma and the Ending
As the special progresses, Kyle grapples with a moral dilemma: should he continue producing homemade semaglutide to help those in need, even if it means defying regulations and potentially endangering himself? Kyle's desire to help Cartman and others struggling with obesity is admirable, but his actions also have unintended consequences, such as attracting the attention of the sugar industry cartel and contributing to the drug's abuse.
The ending of "The End of Obesity" is bittersweet. While Kyle delivers a heartfelt speech advocating for an end to fat shaming, Cartman immediately exploits the situation by unleashing a barrage of insults. This underscores the limitations of social change and the challenges of overcoming ingrained prejudices. Despite Kyle's best efforts, Cartman remains a self-centered and offensive character, highlighting the complexity of human nature.
The special's conclusion leaves viewers with a sense of unease, recognizing that the issues it raises are far from resolved. The American healthcare system remains flawed, societal pressures surrounding weight loss persist, and corporate interests continue to prioritize profits over public health. "The End of Obesity" serves as a reminder that addressing these challenges requires systemic change and a shift in cultural attitudes.
Social Commentary on Body Positivity
The special offers a nuanced perspective on the body positivity movement. While the movement aims to promote self-acceptance and challenge unrealistic beauty standards, "The End of Obesity" suggests that it can also be co-opted by corporate interests and used to mask underlying health issues.
Sharon's experience with "Lizzo," a satirical take on body positivity, highlights the potential pitfalls of relying solely on feel-good messages without addressing the root causes of obesity. The special suggests that true body positivity should empower individuals to make informed choices about their health, rather than simply accepting whatever body they have.
The Visuals
The special employs several visual gags to enhance its satirical message. The recurring image of local mothers wearing crop tops after losing weight with semaglutide underscores the superficiality of the trend and the pressure women face to conform to societal beauty standards. Randy's attire in one of Shelley's crop tops is visually jarring, further emphasizing the absurdity of the pursuit of physical perfection.
The Escherian-like maze in the "Navigate the American Healthcare System" sequence is a visually striking representation of the confusing and disorienting nature of the healthcare system. The Mad Max: Fury Road-esque car chase in the climax is a visually chaotic and over-the-top sequence that reflects the escalating stakes and the absurdity of the situation.
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