South Park season 22 was a weird time to be a fan. Honestly, it felt like Trey Parker and Matt Stone were finally getting tired of their own formula, so they just decided to set the whole thing on fire. Remember the "South Park is Canceled" ad campaign? People actually thought the show was ending. It wasn't, obviously. But the vibe of the show changed in a way that some people still haven't forgiven.
This was the year of the Tegridy.
If you look back at late 2018, the cultural climate was a total mess. We were mid-Trump era, school shootings were (and are) a constant nightmare, and the "woke" vs. "anti-woke" war was reaching a fever pitch. Parker and Stone didn't just comment on it; they tried to serialize it again, following the mixed success of the season 20 Member Berries arc. It was a bold move. Some say it was a masterpiece of satire. Others think it’s when the show started sniffing its own farts.
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The School Shooting "Problem" and Dark Humour
The season kicked off with "Dead Kids." Most shows wouldn't touch a school shooting with a ten-foot pole. South Park did it by making it a background gag. That's the brilliance of it, kinda. Sharon Marsh is the only one who cares that kids are getting shot at South Park Elementary, while Randy and the rest of the town are just annoyed by her "period" or whatever excuse they use to ignore her.
It was a brutal commentary on desensitization.
Think about it. We see the SWAT teams in the hallway while the kids are doing math. It’s haunting because it’s not treated as a tragedy within the show's world; it's treated as an inconvenience. This set the tone for the rest of South Park season 22. It wasn't just about being funny anymore. It was about how incredibly numb we’ve all become to the absolute insanity of the modern world.
Why Tegridy Farms Changed Everything
Then came the weed.
"Tegridy Farms" is the fourth episode, and it shifted the show's DNA. Randy Marsh, who used to be the "relatable but stupid" dad, fully transitioned into the lead protagonist. He moves the family to a hemp farm because he’s "fed up" with the city. But let’s be real: Randy is just a greedy, self-absorbed jerk who found a way to monetize his midlife crisis.
This wasn't a one-off joke.
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The farm became a permanent fixture. For fans who loved the boys—Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny—this was a bit of a slap in the face. The kids were sidelined. Suddenly, we’re watching a show about agricultural regulations, vaping "pussy sticks," and Randy’s increasingly desperate business deals. It’s funny, sure. Randy fighting a giant vape cloud is peak South Park. But it also felt like the show was leaving South Park (the town) behind to follow Randy’s ego.
The Problem With Serialized Storytelling
South Park used to be "reset" every week. Kenny died, then he was back. The school blew up, then it was fine. By South Park season 22, that was gone. If something happened in episode two, it mattered in episode eight.
This makes for great binge-watching on Max (formerly HBO Max), but it’s tough for casual viewers. If you missed the episode about ManBearPig returning, the finale "Bicycle Parade" makes zero sense. You’ve gotta commit. Parker and Stone have admitted in various interviews, like those on the Nerdist podcast or during PaleyFest, that writing serialized seasons is a massive headache. They have to map things out, and they aren't really "planners." They're "six days to air" guys.
ManBearPig is Real (And He’s a Metaphor for Climate Change)
One of the best pivots in the season was the return of ManBearPig. Back in season 10, ManBearPig was a joke aimed at Al Gore. The show basically called him a nutcase for worrying about climate change.
In season 22, they apologized. Sorta.
"Time to Get Cereal" and "Nobody Got Cereal?" are two of the strongest episodes in years. They depict ManBearPig as a literal demon slaughtering people in the streets while the citizens of South Park argue about whether he actually exists. The satire here is razor-sharp. The town elders literally signed a contract with the demon years ago for "cars and cool stuff," and now the bill is due.
- The kids try to warn everyone.
- The adults play Red Dead Redemption 2 instead.
- The police arrest the kids for "inciting panic."
It’s a perfect allegory for the climate crisis. The show admits it was wrong about Al Gore, but it does it in the most South Park way possible—by making Al Gore an unbearable "I told you so" jerk who demands a formal apology before he’ll help.
The Amazon Two-Parter and the Death of the Mall
The season ends with a massive arc about Amazon. Jeff Bezos is depicted as a giant-brained alien from Star Trek, and the town is torn apart by the arrival of a fulfillment center.
It’s dark.
Josh, a worker who gets "folded" in a packing accident, becomes a symbol for labor rights, but even his strike is undermined by the town’s desire for "stuff." This is where the season really shines as a piece of social commentary. We hate the big corporations, but we love our Prime shipping. We want "Tegridy," but we’ll take the cheap option every single time.
The strike ends not with a victory for the workers, but with a parade. A bicycle parade. It’s such a weird, anticlimactic ending that it almost feels like a troll. But that’s the point. Nothing actually gets solved. The status quo is maintained because we’re all too distracted by shiny things to actually demand change.
What People Get Wrong About This Season
A lot of critics at the time, including some over at The A.V. Club and IGN, felt the season was too scattered. They weren't wrong. Jumping from priest scandals to vaping to climate change to Amazon is a lot.
But looking back with the benefit of hindsight, season 22 was actually ahead of its time. It captured the exact moment the internet became the "main character" of our lives. Everything is an outrage, everything is a joke, and nothing is sacred.
If you hated the Tegridy Farms stuff, I get it. It’s repetitive. Randy can be a lot. But the season’s willingness to tackle "The Unspeakable" (school shootings) and "The Inevitable" (environmental collapse) while still making jokes about Mr. Hankey being a bigot is pretty impressive.
Key Takeaways from Season 22:
- Randy Marsh became the protagonist. Whether you like it or not, the "Tegridy" era started here and lasted for several seasons (and specials).
- The ManBearPig apology was significant. It marked one of the few times the show actually walked back a previous political stance.
- Serialization stayed. Despite the challenges, the show leaned into the idea that South Park is a living, breathing world with consequences.
- Social commentary got bleaker. The humor shifted from "look at this weirdo" to "we are all doomed because we are selfish."
Is it Worth a Rewatch?
Honestly? Yes. Even the "bad" episodes of season 22 have something interesting going on. "The Problem with a Poo" is a fascinating, if messy, look at "cancel culture" through the lens of Mr. Hankey. It’s uncomfortable to watch, which is exactly what the creators wanted.
If you’re going back to watch it, don’t look for the "old" South Park. That show died somewhere around season 18. This is the "New" South Park—bitter, cynical, and weirdly obsessed with hemp. It’s a snapshot of a world that feels like it’s losing its mind, which makes it perhaps the most honest season they’ve ever produced.
The best way to experience this season is to watch the ManBearPig two-parter first. It’s the emotional core of the year. If you can handle the sight of a demon disemboweling people in a diner while a guy argues about his "right to ignore it," you’re ready for the rest of the season.
To get the most out of your rewatch, pay attention to the background details in the school scenes. The SWAT teams and bloodstains are always there, even when the plot is about something stupid like Butters getting a girlfriend. It’s that layer of background horror that makes season 22 stand out in the show's 25-plus year history.
Don't expect a happy ending. South Park doesn't do those anymore. Instead, expect a mirror held up to your own consumer habits and your own apathy. It’s not always fun to look at, but it’s definitely "tegridy."