South Park - The Complete Nineteenth Season

As someone who began watching "South Park" by sneaking it past my parents in junior high, it's hard to believe that America's most controversial animated sitcom has been on the air for nearly two decades. Like "The Simpsons," or any show that lasts for such an extended period of time, Trey Parker and Matt Stone's gleefully vulgar satire has shown its age over the years. Despite its abundance of four-letter words and transgressive sense of humor, it almost began to feel like comfort food; breaking taboos in an enjoyably raunchy, but sometimes all-too-familiar fashion.

That's why "South Park: The Complete Nineteenth Season" feels like something of a revelation: Parker and Stone reflect on the series' own sense of relevance during an era in which society's increasing sense of political correctness has become far more prominent. The world has gone through several cultural shifts since the show first premiered back in 1997, but the desire to provoke through an unabashedly crude style remained intact. Yet, as our nation has steadily become more progressive, the offensive content of "South Park" can be perceived as even more "problematic" than it was twenty years ago.

Hence, the season begins with the arrival of a new character, PC Principal: a white, heterosexual bro who is so sensitive to the marginalization of others that he occasionally erupts into violence. By the first episode, "Stunning and Brave," even the sadistic Cartman begins to question his own morality, as if Parker and Stone are putting their own feet to the fire in regards to their sense of privilege. But "South Park" is never that simple, nor is it ever going to apologize for its perverse code of ethics, and the focus of the season quickly shifts to dissecting the hypocritical mentality of progressive politics as a trend. And that, in its own brilliantly paradoxical way, is where its progressivism lies.

This is perhaps best exemplified in "Tweek x Craig," in which the two characters are illustrated through various forms of yaoi (a Japanese form of artwork depicting romantic relationships between men) by the Asian girls in school. Ironically, "South Park" has become so tolerant of homosexuality that even when Tweek and Craig attempt to explain to everyone that they're not gay, they continue to be showered with affection for their "bravery." It mocks heteronormative society, but never maliciously: The town's ignorance, oddly enough, comes from a place of acceptance, resulting in one of the more radically subversive installments the show has constructed in recent memory.

Not that "South Park" has lost any of its mean streak when it comes to other issues, though. "Where My Country Gone?," centered on Mr. Garrison running for president with the hopes of keeping illegal Canadian immigrants out of the country, is an appropriately savage takedown of Donald Trump's bigotry. PC Principal becomes furious in "Sponsored Content" over the use of the word "retarded" in the school newspaper, only to find out that Jimmy, one of the "handicapped" (he prefers that term) students, believes his free speech is being violated. And a bunch of straight, Caucasian frat boys go on a hunger strike in "Truth and Advertising" after being accused of using their politically correct viewpoints as a method to get laid. (Their form of a hunger strike translates to not "eating pussy" for several days.)

With this assemblage of complex, hilariously inspired episodes, "South Park" doesn't just feel fresh; it feels more relevant than ever. And that's the highest compliment that I can pay for a show, particularly one that's brave enough to question the nature of its very existence in today's media. This is a must-have Blu-ray/DVD set for fans.

The bonus features include "#SocialCommentaries" for every episode, a season commentary from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, deleted scenes, and a trailer for the upcoming video game, "South Park: The Fractured But Whole."

"South Park: The Complete Nineteenth Season"
Blu-ray
$24.99
http://southpark.cc.com/blog/2016/08/17/season-19-blu-rays-available-now