South Park‘s ultra-topical 19th season premiere incorporated a number of hot-button issues — including the supposed resurgence of politically correct culture, the notion of checking someone’s privilege, disgraced former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle, the Syrian refugee crisis, the Whip, the Nae Nae, fraternity hazing, and, of course, Caitlyn Jenner — the “Stunning and Brave” celebrity referred to in the episode’s title.
But even though most of the half-hour focused on overzealous social justice advocates, its most biting commentary was reserved for Tom Brady — the sorta-disgraced-then-undisgraced New England Patriots quarterback, and the focus of 2015’s long, looooong Deflategate scandal. Its take on Brady was both sharp and hilarious — unlike much of the PC stuff, which was a little more muddled. (Basically: The only people who really care about social justice in the South Park universe are white frat bros… maybe because the show was trying to avoid the criticism it would’ve gotten by painting women and minorities as self-righteous and obnoxious.)
Brady earns his first mention when Stan, Kyle and Butters approach a dejected Cartman, who has received four days of detention for his decidedly un-PC behavior. The boys urge Cartman to fight back, reminding him that the Eric Cartman they know “breaks the rules, and gets away with it.” Just like his hero: Tom Brady.
And what does Tom Brady do after breaking the rules? “Deny and subvert.”
Of course, it doesn’t end there. Cartman attempts to frame the school’s new, PC forward principal for a terrible crime; PC Principal responds by beating up Cartman while howling about how his crimes against social justice. (South Park is… not subtle.)
In the hospital, Cartman announces his intention to admit his wrongdoing, “take my punishment, and move on.” In other words: “I’m not Tom Brady.” Zing!
Then Cartman has a nightmare that casts him as Brady, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The general gist: Brady broke the rules, Goodell broke the rules in order to find out whether Brady broke the rules, and Bill Belichick’s been breaking the rules for years. Ah, football: America’s game.
In the end? Well, let’s just say that Cartman manages to embrace PC culture, persuade his longtime frenemy Kyle to abandon his principles in… and literally have his cake and eat it too. “It just seems to me like we all lost in this, and the only person who won was you,” Kyle grumbles as the episode closes.
“Hmm,” Cartman says, faux-thoughtfully. “And who does that remind you of, Kyle?”
