Mexican Joker
| Industry | Marijuana cultivation |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | South Park , United States |
| Products | Marijuana |
Mexican Joker marks the premiere of the 23rd season of the American animated series South Park. As the 298th episode in total, it debuted on Comedy Central in the United States on September 25, 2019. This installment offers a satirical take on ICE detention facilities alongside commentary on the debates surrounding the 2019 film Joker.
Plot
Randy Marsh showcases his expanding Tegridy Farms marijuana business by conducting a tour. When he notices a drop in sales, he uncovers that residents, including Stephen Stotch, have started cultivating their own marijuana. In response, Randy pushes the South Park city council to prohibit private marijuana farms. After his proposal is dismissed, he publicly criticizes South Park and joins forces with the corporate giant MedMen, leading to his partner Towelie’s departure in disagreement.
Simultaneously, Eric Cartman contacts Kyle Broflovski just as ICE agents conduct a raid on the Broflovski household, detaining the family due to suspicions linked to missing passports. At the ICE detention center, officials recognize Kyle’s Jewish identity and hasten his release to avoid allegations of racial bias. Kyle expresses concern over the emotional damage suffered by detained children, fearing one might evolve into a Mexican version of Joker. The agents become fixated on uncovering this possible threat.
Cartman is brought to the detention center after Stan arranges for his arrest following threats made against another child. Pretending to empathize with Kyle’s situation, Cartman aligns with Kyle’s escape plan. Meanwhile, explosions devastate private marijuana crops throughout South Park, with authorities attributing the destruction to Mexican Joker.
To avoid detection, Kyle has the detained children wear blankets made from aluminum foil shaped like yarmulkes to mimic Jewish head coverings. This triggers a flashback in the lead ICE agent, who then kills fellow officers and frees all detained children, believing this action will stop Mexican Joker from emerging. Randy rejoices as Tegridy Farms experiences a surge in sales.
Reception
Chris Longo from Den of Geek awarded the episode 2 out of 5 stars, expressing disappointment: "The wholesomeness of Tegridy feels lost to me. Amid so much negativity in the world today, why couldn’t we just preserve our Tegridy? Sigh. I’m uncertain where this storyline is headed but I’ll return next week despite that."
John Hugar of The A.V. Club assigned a "C+" rating, commenting that the episode "attempts too many things simultaneously and ends up feeling uneven and fragmented." He highlighted that earlier serialized seasons introduced plot elements more gradually before resolving them later.
Laura Bradley from Vanity Fair provided a more favorable critique: "This premiere contains a rare spark—quiet yet occasionally snarky conviction. Being South Park, don’t expect sentimental moments or sincere lectures anytime soon—but it appears that finally, South Park has discovered its own way to express righteous anger."
Alyse Wax at Collider offered mixed remarks, noting: "The show hasn’t changed much except it seems less shocking now. Its social commentary has dulled somewhat as real events edge closer to comedy. However, this season’s commentary starts stronger than recent ones (such as those about trolling or election storylines)."
External links
- "Mexican Joker" Watch the complete episode on South Park Studios