(S11E02) I think the basic idea behind this episode is summed up by the "straight" priest at Camp New Grace when he informs the "confused" residents of the camp that they are like paper clips, and that like paper clips, God wants them to be straight, nevermind the fact that they were created "not straight" to begin with. At the end of the episode, Butters also sums it up nicely when he says, "I wasn't confused until everyone started telling me I was."
The episode's stance on the delusion that homosexuality is something that can be cured is clear, but like the best South Park episodes, there were many other layers. If Butters was like the rest of the kids at camp and actually understood why he was there, the episode wouldn't have worked nearly as well. By being genuinely confused about what was happening, the adults who were trying to "fix" him seemed even stranger.
At Camp New Grace, the young gay campers learn to "pray the gay away," and while it's not like these camps haven't been satirized before, South Park's portrayal was extra savage, and extra funny. I cracked up every time they showed a kid committing suicide, not because suicide is funny, but because those scenes so viciously and poignantly showed why it might not be wise to tell a depressed kid there's something wrong with him.
All in all, not a bad episode, though I think it was an easy topic for the likes of South Park. I liken this episode to watching an all-star basketball game: it was a slam dunk, and it was fun to watch, but I did pretty much get exactly what I was expecting.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-15-2007 @ 11:59AM
Yayaja said...
Awesome episode. The part where they open3ed the door to butters' first accountabilibuddy (great word, and gets even better when the camp manager says that butters is "accountabilibuddyable"), only to show him hanging, was hilarious. Also, I loved the part where cartman tried explaining the picture to his mom. I slipped and my mouth landed on his penis and at the same time I thought of something really funny and I looked at the camera LOL
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3-15-2007 @ 12:07PM
CaptKahunah said...
Cartman's explanation to his mom was not nearly as funny as her response... "these things happen."
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3-15-2007 @ 12:15PM
Bill said...
I loved the line where Butters' dad goes "A secluded camp where lots of bi-curious boys are all put together? That sounds like a good idea!"
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3-15-2007 @ 12:24PM
Kurifurisan said...
The best was Mr. Mackey coming in with the message from Eric's Mom.
"uh Eric...you Mom called she said Do not show the picture. Kyle's mom wsa right. He didn't have it after all. I found it under your desk. She said you 'd know what that means. ok?"
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3-15-2007 @ 5:36PM
Marc said...
Good episode, but on the heels of last week, it didn't compare. Last week was one of the most brilliant episodes in a few years, so following that is like following Melinda and Lakisha on American Idol.
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3-15-2007 @ 12:47PM
Amy said...
I like how Butters' Accountabilibuddy only responded with scripture, like he had been so brain washed that he couldn't even have a conversation, or that he was too afraid of his own words/thoughts that he had to rely on scripture. Either way, the show was genius, and the suicides were hilarious! (possibly the first time "suicides" & "hilarious" appear in the same sentence!)
It would have been fun if they had put in an "appearance" by Rev. Tim Haggard who, after three intense weeks in a real-life program, claimed to have had the homosexuality drilled out of him.
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3-15-2007 @ 1:48PM
rick cokely said...
"It would have been fun if they had put in an "appearance" by Rev. Tim Haggard who, after three intense weeks in a real-life program, claimed to have had the homosexuality drilled out of him."
lol... Camps like that often have to fill in the cracks and push harder and deeper, reach around and give those kids what they need. Hard and fast, soft and easy, it takes time, but eventually the reward will come.
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3-15-2007 @ 3:15PM
Josh said...
Regarding Amy's comment: Heh-heh..."drilled."
I love South Park and Butters is my favorite character, but even I have to wonder how much more he can go through before he goes postal on the whole town.
The day he takes out all his aggression on Cartman is going to make for a great episode. They should just show him beating the crap out of him for 30 minutes straight..
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3-15-2007 @ 11:10PM
GhaleonQ said...
While I didn't enjoy the episode very much (it was more like seasons 9-10 more than last week's 5-8), but, as Captain said, the callback to Mrs. Cartman's promiscuity was nice, as was the one to Mr. Stoch's sexuality.
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3-23-2007 @ 3:33PM
shawn said...
Where's the review for Lice Capades?
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6-07-2007 @ 5:38PM
April said...
Personally, this episode was the only one I've found enjoyable of the recent season.
Butters is my favorite character (Meh, he's close enough) and seeing him go to the 'bi-curious' camp was hilarious. I couldn't help but go, 'Aww!" for Bradley.
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