South Park - The "Black Friday" Arc

Today is a review/resume of the most recent "arc" in the series South Park. The Black Friday Arc. 

I call it an arc because it is 3 episodes following the same plot. For those familiar with the show, very rarely the story continues to another episode. The first time it happened was in the first season finale "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut" continuing to "Cartman's Mom is Still a Dirty slut" leaving the cliffhanger on who was Eric Cartman's dad from one to another. One of the best episodes are in Season 11 when we have the "Imaginationland" arc with 3 episodes, Imaginationland 1, 2 and 3. For those who watched these episodes, you probably never thought that any other episode, or string of episodes, would beat it. Until now.

Season 17 episode 7 "Black Friday". This episode starts the arc, Black Friday is coming (pun not intended) and the children conclude that they must join forces to buy 80% off next gen consoles. But they must face a dire choice: PS4 or Xbox One? That would determine who would be playing with who, and if they could lend games to each other. During a make believe in the genre of Game of Thrones they turn into two factions, one for each console. Then like the show that is the web of conspiracy and betrayal ensues. Butters is a newcomer to the show and he is always perturbed about the number of penises in the show. Cartman is most of the time seen in a garden talking about betrayals with another character, while an old man always shout to stop talking abut betrayal in his garden. This becomes one of the most funny running gags in the arc.

In meanwhile Randy is doing a part-time job at the mall security, using the excuse for some holiday cash, but his plan is to be inside the mall before the doors open to gain some advantage. As the time to open doors becomes near, the leader of the security is killed by a custommer revolted about lining for Black Friday, and so Randy becomes the captain of the mall security, and decides to stand guard for his pride, instead for a big ass flat TV.

Every book of A Song of Ice and Fire

The news of a console war in colorado reach the Sony CEO, who makes a special bundle for selling the PS4, the "Brack Friday Bunduru", which includes four game controllers, a map of Japan, a $100 rebate, and the ability to pre-order Metal Gear Solid V. The episode ends with Princess McCormick, Kenny plays a princess in the make believe world, who was in the Xbox One faction turning to the PS4 one, catching the viewers off guard with the cliffhanger, in a Game-of-Thrones-esque way.

Then follows the "A Song of Ass and Fire" episode, more and more customers make line at the mall, as Randy stands as Captain of Security. Cartman refuses to accept Kenny as a princess and enters contact with Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer, who refuses to take part in the console wars, and wishes a more peacefull way to sell the consoles. This plan quickly falls into ground as Bill Gates murders him and takes control of operations. He allies with Channel 9, as a bloody black friday would make great views for the channel. One of the reporters betrays Bill Gates and informs the Sony CEO of the plan, so it would make even more blood, and a more great piece of news. The Sony CEO then goes to Kenny, and give him a brooch, making him a Japanese Princess.

 No one saw that coming. 

In the meanwhile Cartman sends Butters to George R.R. Martin house to know future plots, as a way to defeat Kenny. Eventually they met, but Martin only talks about penises. Black Friday is also delayed one week, and has 96% off for the first 100 customers, makin the crowd outside the mall grow even more.

I recall more boobs, must be selective memory.

The final episode is called "Tities and Dragons" and is the conclusion of the arc. Cartman bow to Kenny, as he can't win the wars. He comes with the plan to rent the adjacent Red Robin for a wedding, as it is linked to the mall. This is just a plan to betray the Ps4 faction and lock them inside the Red Robin. Stan comes to know of Cartman's plan while in a walk with Cartman on the old man's garden, and the old man shouts Cartman's plot as revenge. Cartman gets Stan grounded so he can't attend the wedding. Kyle talks to Stan, and Stan breaks they're friendship. Eventually Kyle tells everyone of the PS4 faction and the betrayal is stopped. Then Bill Gates and Sony's CEO appear and get into a fist fight, with Gates winning, and as such, he wins the console wars.

During the wedding, the opening cereminy of the mall is made by George R.R. Martin who starts to talk about his penis, eventually showing it, instead of opening the doors. This makes a custommer slice his pennis off. The raging mob enters the mall as Randy's forces try to protect the mall.

Maybe it would make him write faster

At the aftermath, there's a sea of blood in the mall, as the kids go and get their Xboxes. In the end the kids can't forget about the image of Sony's CEO head being bashed into a wall and think "why do we need videogames? We can use our imagination" as he grabs a stick, an ad for the upcoming game South Park: The Stick of Truth appears, ending the story.

These are probably my favourite episodes of South Park, as I read all the A Song of Ice and Fire Books, and watched the 2 first seasons of the show. The betraying, Kenny as Daenerys like character, the alliances, the Security Mall as the Night's Watch, The Red Robin Wedding...there's so much references and puns about that universe that is hard not to like it if you know George Martin's series. In my opinion even if you don't watch South Park, but you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you should watch it. Like now, or now. Now is probably best.

Art - 4/5 - The usual art of South Park, but during the third episode  it's also used shoujo manga like art, wich made me laugh hard.

Soundtrack 5/5 - It is used music like Game of Thrones during the arc, japanese mahou-shojo like themes, and of course the weiner version of Game of Thrones opening sequence.

Excitement - 4/5 - The episodes are good. Between the second and third it took 2 weeks and it seemed like years, as the expectation was high.

Plot 5/5 - I don't know how but South Park never disapoints in plot, and joining Game of Throne's web of betrayal and deceit, made it even better.

Black Friday Arc gets a 18/20 bunduru.