The China Probrem (South Park)

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"The China Probrem"
Apparently, Trey Parker and Matt Stone hated Kingdom of the Crystal Skull so much that they decided to make this frightening episode.
Part of Season: 12 Episode Number: 8 (175th overall) Air Date: October 8, 2008 Writer: Trey Parker Matt Stone Brian Graden Director: Trey Parker Previous episode: Super Fun Time Next episode: Breast Cancer Show Ever

The China Probrem is the eighth episode in the twelfth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 175th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on October 8, 2008. It was the mid-season premiere for season 12, and was dedicated to Isaac Hayes, the voice actor of Chef, who died on August 10 of that year.

Plot

Cartman and Butters invade a P.F Chang's restaurant after Cartman becomes paranoid about the Chinese, while Stan and Kyle sue Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for rape.

Why It's No Better than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

1. The episode's subplot serves as an extremely vicious lash out towards Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but the way this episode chooses to bash it is very disturbing and unfunny. While the movie was mediocre, it wasn't traumatizing, additionally, there are a few people who actually does like the film, despite its shortcomings.
2. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are both depicted as vile, maniacal and vicious people to the point where it can be considered borderline defamation of the two of them, as it portrays them as evil sociopaths who like raping their own characters.
3. The subplot is somewhat of a rehash of "Jakovasaurs" and "Free Hat" as the latter episode also portrays Steven Spielberg and George Lucas as evil for constantly editing their own films.
   • Even more jarring is that the subplot even contradicts “Free Hat” as Spielberg and Lucas get killed off in that episode, but here they return alive without explanation.
4. The episode teaches a bad moral to viewers: if you are a fan of something then you are entitled to get everything you want from it and if you don't get it, then you should treat its makers like criminals.
   • This harmful moral basically encourages fans to become toxic, and it's especially relevant given how many viewers have lashed out at certain media like Star Wars' sequel trilogy, Game Of Thrones’ eighth season, The Hobbit movies, and The Last of Us Part II.
   • Furthermore, the episode was written with the intention to be against this type of behavior, with it supposed to be a "Take That" at those who claim their childhood was raped all because of a bad movie in a franchise that they grew up with. Unfortunately, with Sgt. Yates being the only character to call people out for this type of behavior (and the only South Park kid to like the film, Butters, being busy with the main plot), the episode instead comes off as supporting this toxic behavior.
5. There are too many rape scenes in the subplot as it has four of them, with the first three being all disturbing and unfunny as they show poor Indiana Jones being viciously assaulted by Spielberg and Lucas. One of which had an infamous shot showing George Lucas' face going red after he finishes assaulting Indiana Jones to imply he ejaculated which is needlessly disgusting and uncomfortable.
   • Said rape scenes also parody films involving sexual assault such as Boys Don’t Cry, The Accused and Deliverance by replacing its characters with Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas.
6. Plot Hole: Mitch, the cop who witnessed the third rape scene is not even present in the flashback when the rape occurred. How does he remember it if we did not see him anywhere in that flashback?
7. The main plot is not much better as it involves Cartman becoming paranoid of the idea of the Chinese taking over the world (Simply because of the 2008 Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony) so he and Butters break the law by holding a PF Chang's restaurant hostage and shooting two cops, all while wearing yellowface. They both become karma Houdini's for it even though they were close to being punished after Cartman surrenders.
   • Hell, the episode's title is meant to mock the Chinese culture and their accents.
8. When everyone hears about Lucas and Spielberg being arrested they forget about Cartman and Butters' crimes completely and let them off the hook.
9. The episode’s joke are repetitive and just consist of people getting raped and people getting shot in the groin.

Redeeming Qualities

1. The groin shooting joke although repetitive is funny on the first two occasions due to Cartman’s reaction to how Butters was shooting people and his argument with him over it.
2. Cartman’s nightmare in the beginning is entertaining given the great performance of the drummers in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

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Reception

The episode, despite getting a 7.7/10 on IMDb, became the center of controversy as many news articles condemned the episode, criticizing it for its portrayal of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and for its disturbing rape scenes.

Trivia

This is the first South Park episode that was produced in widescreen and HD; however, the season 13 premiere episode "The Ring" was the first to air in the said format. The moments where Steven Spielberg and George Lucas raped Indiana Jones was ranked at #1 on WatchMojo's "Top 10 South Park Jokes That Crossed The Line" video.

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