South Park Season 28’s Divisive New Episode Doubles Down On Major Controversy

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Even though some people criticized season 27, the latest episode of South Park makes it clear the show will continue to offer its commentary on current events. Season 28, episode 4, titled “Turkey Trot,” marked the first Thanksgiving special in 12 years and centered around the town’s annual Turkey Trot event, breaking a long-standing trend.

I was shocked to learn how South Park funded their Turkey Trot! Apparently, the town was having trouble finding sponsors, so the mayor ended up accepting money from Saudi Arabia just to cover the $5,000 prize. And while all that was happening, the storyline with Cartman trying to build his race team – getting Tolkien to join Kyle, Stan, and Kenny – felt like a clear jab at a really important person in the US government. It was classic South Park – tackling a big issue with a hilarious, and slightly disturbing, plotline.

Pete Hegseth, a well-known figure from the Trump administration, appeared in an episode of South Park to rescue billionaire Peter Thiel. Thiel had been arrested after a previous incident where he kidnapped Cartman. The arrest happened because misleading AI-generated videos convinced the town’s police that Thiel was connected to a child exploitation ring falsely linked to the animated character Totoro from Studio Ghibli.

South Park Season 28 Episode 4 Brings Back Its Kristi Noem Parody

Although Peter Thiel made a cameo in the “Turkey Trot” episode, the main story wasn’t about the AI jokes planned for South Park season 28. Instead, the episode centered on Hegseth’s clumsy efforts to attack the town, with the Secretary of Defense prioritizing making content over developing a real plan.

The latest South Park episode harshly satirized Pete Hegseth, depicting him as a clueless, self-important, and ineffective character. The show highlighted his obsession with social media over real accomplishments and mocked his absurd claim that participants in a Turkey Trot were part of an “Antifa insurrection,” ultimately portraying him as a complete buffoon.

He wasn’t the only Trump administration official targeted in the “Turkey Trot” episode. Even though seasons 27 and 28 of South Park have had longer gaps between episodes, the show still references older ones. The Thanksgiving special included a joke that did exactly that.

In a recent episode of a television show, Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota, was portrayed as an unstable and violent character who repeatedly shot dogs. Despite not having watched the episode, Noem protested that the portrayal focused unfairly on her looks, which was demonstrably false given the episode’s content.

South Park Season 28 Episode 4 Doubled Down On Mocking The Trump Administration

The running joke about Governor Noem shooting dogs originated from a story in her memoir where she confessed to doing just that. This unsettling gag reappeared in the “Turkey Trot” episode when Noem’s state security team teamed up with Hegseth’s group, invading South Park in a clumsy effort to rescue Peter Thiel.

While attempting to shoot at runners participating in a Thanksgiving Day race, Noem accidentally killed a dog instead of hitting anyone. This failed attempt, reminiscent of a crude joke from the early seasons of South Park, saw Noem and Hegseth arrive in town and accomplish absolutely nothing.

Noem and Hegseth seemed more focused on making the Department of Homeland Security and the military appear strong on social media than on actually accomplishing anything. This criticism reached its height with a harshly worded song targeting Hegseth.

The music played while Hegseth needlessly used tear gas on people during a Turkey Trot race. Both he and his team were immediately removed from the police station by the chief. Noem managed to get away, but Hegseth was arrested, which set the stage for the final events of the story.

South Park Season 28’s Noem and Hegseth Spoofs Set Up A Larger Storyline

Hegseth and Thiel being arrested by the town’s police strongly suggests the season will end with a direct showdown between the town of South Park and a parody of the Trump administration. Although the show recently changed PC Principal’s character to make him an extreme Trump supporter, most of the town is upset by the disorder and foolishness that the show uses to satirize the Trump administration.

Over the past two seasons, South Park has consistently depicted Donald Trump, along with figures like JD Vance, Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth, and Peter Thiel, as antagonists. The show has moved away from portraying Trump as a complex character like Mr. Garrison and now presents him as a more traditional villain.

It looks like the current season of South Park is building towards a finale where the town itself will clash with members of the Trump administration. This mirrors how the TV show has been challenging authority in real life lately. Even though other shows have been canceled for criticizing the administration, South Park is continuing to push boundaries with its 28th season.

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2025-12-01 19:40