The second South Park special, "South ParQ Vaccination Special" pokes fun at numerous subjects, mocking everything from pandemic life and vaccination envy to divorce arrangements and child activism. The hour-long episode debuted on March 10, 2021, and is the follow up to "The Pandemic Special," which aired September 30, 2020. While the previous hour-long episode offered an honest — if goofy and crass — look at the emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, "Vaccination Special" turns its satirical gaze at life in 2021 so far.

By some accounts, "South ParQ Vaccination Special" is South Park season 24, episode 2 — although other reports suggest that the hour-long episodes are separate from the upcoming season. Season 23 ended in December 2019, and the following installment was delayed due to the pandemic. South Park is known for its quick production and reliable release schedule: a new season has debuted every year since the show premiered in 1997. The fact that South Park season 24 is delayed is telling; like "The Pandemic Special," "South ParQ Vaccination Special" reflects both trying times in the world at large, as well as the more personal struggles of South Park creator, director and writer Trey Parker.

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"Vaccination Special" features South Park's unique brand of surreal, irreverent humor and biting satire to mock various subjects. From exaggerating the frustrations with the vaccination rollout to shining a light on the problems of bipartisanship in the media, there are ample references in "Vaccination Special" for audiences to relate to.

The Pandemic (In 2021)

South Park Stephen Linda Stotch

The most obvious topic of satire in "South ParQ Vaccination Special" is the pandemic itself. The show parodies the reality of living with COVID-19 restrictions in 2021: kids being kept home from school while other students attend class wearing masks; social distancing protocols; frustrated adults desperate for their social lives back; and even a surprisingly earnest portrayal of school teachers frustrated that they aren't considered essential workers. Most importantly, South Park shows the exasperation of people who just want the restrictions to be over — best encapsulated in Craig's despondent response to seeing his tutor murdered: "guess 2021 is gonna be just like 2020." 

South Park even satirizes the desperate state of the hospitality industry by showing the once-popular restaurant Raisins abandoned and in disrepair — while the local Walgreens has been elevated to hot-spot status, thanks to its exclusive vaccinations. Like the previous special, this extended episode had subtle fun with the gripes people have with each other — like conservatives refusing to wear masks and others wearing them as "chin diapers."

Vaccination Rollout & Response

South Park Vaccination Special Trailer: Everyone's Obsessed With Shots

The crux of "South ParQ Vaccination Special" is the town dealing with the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, with the barriers to receive the shot being satirically compared to an exclusive nightclub — complete with a tough bouncer enforcing a "list" of people allowed entry. The local Walgreens pharmacy even gets a red velvet crowd-control rope!

Senior Citizen Stereotypes

South Park Vaccination Seniors

From "Grey Dawn" to "Cash for Gold," South Park often pokes fun at senior citizens while also subverting stereotypes, positioning the eldest segment of the population as oppressed — yet capable — people desperate for some fun and freedom. This is particularly true in "Vaccination Special," which gleefully presents the elderly gloating about their exclusive vaccinations and living a carefree life that the rest of South Park is denied. In the hour-long episode, the elderly take on rebellious behavior typical of teenage rebel characters — doing donuts on their motorcycles, traveling in gangs, and driving in a convertible with the top down. One elderly woman even extorts the core kids, taking on a hilariously against-type villainous role.

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Post-election Trump

Mr. Garrison in South Park - South ParQ Vaccination Special

The longtime character Mr. Garrison became a stand-in for President Donald Trump in South Park, with his appearance being altered in season 20 to more closely resemble the divisive political figure. "Vaccination Special" sees Mr. Garrison return to his original design as he attempts to move back to South Park and reintegrate himself into the community. Just as President Trump's approval ratings were at an all-time low by the time he left office, Mr. Garrison finds himself hated by the town. The story is a thinly-veiled parody of real-life Trump's actions after leaving office.

QAnon Conspiracy Theorists

South Park QAnon conspiracy

After returning to South Park in "Vaccination Special," Mr. Garrison finds himself embroiled in the QAnon conspiracy theory, thanks to the actions of Mr. White. South Park mocks the beliefs of QAnon conspiracy theorists, showing Mr. White ignoring very clear information from the "chosen one" Mr. Garrison, choosing to look for a convoluted "clue." The parody critiques the QAnon movement for its willful delusions. The conspiracy theory board also has some fun Easter eggs for fans — like an image of show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone from their movie BASEketball and the phrase "whale on the moon?" — a reference to the controversial South Park episode "Free Willzyx."

2021 Storming of the White House Capitol

South Park Capitol Hill Insurrection

The QAnon conspiracy theorists in Mr. White's basement are based off of the figures who stormed the White House on January 6, 2021. The shirtless man with the fur headdress, facepaint, and QAnon flag is based on Jake Angeli, an insurrectionist whose outlandish behavior and appearance during the attack made him the face of the insurrection. The rest of the group are generally based on the general appearance of other insurrectionists, such as the paramilitary vests, fed hats, and "Q" shirts.

News Coverage, Politics, and Bipartisanship

South Park news

A repeating gag in the South Park special is the escalating hostility between Tom the news anchor and Chris the field reporter. Almost immediately eschewing journalistic objectivity, Chris begins the feud when he paints the Kommunity Kids as heroes ("Robin Hoods") for stealing the vaccines — a transparent bid to win favor in order to be given "a shot" from them. He then takes out his frustration on Tom when he cuts him off. Later, when the other kid group, "Lil' Q Ties," shows up, Chris points out the similarities between the two groups, fueling Chris' rage. The gag criticizes both the bipartisanship of the news media in America as well as the general self-righteousness and lack of objectivity that fuels political division.

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Pandemic Divorces (the "Broship")

South Park Broship

One of the subplots of the South Park special is how the stress of the pandemic is putting a strain on the Cartman, Stan and Kyle "broship," with Kenny caught in the middle. The arc is a clear parody of the well-documented marital issues tied to the lock-downs and quarantine, with the friendship standing in for a marriage and Kenny taking on the role of the oblivious child the adults are fighting over.

Child Activism Groups

South Park Lil Qties kommunity kids

When the children find themselves involved in the adult feud over vaccinations, they are split into two groups: the Kommunity Kids and the Lil' Qties. In both cases, the children exploit their "cute" factor to win over the adults in a broad satire of real-life child activism groups. This is a subject South Park has tackled many times before (like the season 3 episode "Rainforest Shmainforest"), shining a light on how adults are often behind these groups, which may or may not be as they appear. In the case of Kommunity Kids and Lil' Qties, both groups are pawns of adults with differing agendas.

South Park Itself (& Nostalgia)

South Park special Mr Garrison Mr Hat

After 23 seasons, not every episode of South Park has aged well, and the show's self-aware jokes acknowledge this. Mr. Garrison's return to his original form (complete with Mr. Hat) is a bittersweet conclusion to his story that leaves other characters asking whether or not they can realistically expect things to return to normal. Mr. Garrison offers some words of wisdom about building relationships—which could be interpreted as the show acknowledging its need to change and give the public what it wants: in this case, the return to the show's "classic" format.

South Park has been increasingly experimental in its later years, adopting season-long arcs and addressing hot-topic issues. Could the cryptic scene with Mr. Hat indicate that Parker is doing a soft reboot of his show? Possibly, but Mr. Hat's return to South Park is likely also tied to the show's larger criticism of nostalgia, similar to the use of "memberberries" in season 20. The desire to return to the way things were in the past — whether it be a marriage or an ideology — is both futile and dangerous. At the very least, the fourth-wall-breaking gag of Mr. Garrison talking to the animators at the very least pokes fun at the South Park's own silliness and self-deprecating tone.

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