‘South Park’ pushes boundaries again in bold Thanksgiving episode

South Park delivered a loud return to its familiar style in a new Thanksgiving episode that aired this week. The story centred on the town’s annual Turkey Trot, which faced new financial struggles after months of economic trouble within the community. Local businesses could not support the event, so the City Council accepted a surprising new sponsor that immediately stirred conversation. Saudi Arabia emerged as the backer for the 2025 race, and the decision set the tone for the episode from the very start.

The commercial for the Turkey Trot ran in a live action sequence that highlighted how much money was on offer. The top prize was five thousand dollars, and the ad also carried a strict reminder that critical remarks about the Saudi Royal Family were banned. The mix of money, rules and spectacle shaped the town’s reaction and pushed the story into classic South Park territory.

While the town prepared for the run, a separate storyline played out at the Park County Police Station. Pete Hegseth, who held the title of United States Secretary of War in the show’s universe, made a dramatic attempt to free Peter Thiel from custody. His entrance involved rappelling from the roof with two National Guard soldiers recording every moment on their phones. Hegseth delivered a lively monologue for his viewers as he described his attempt to extract what he called a person of interest.

Sergeant Yates refused his demands without hesitation and threw him out of the station, ending the attempt in seconds. The sequence brought a strong contrast to recent episodes, which focused heavily on Donald Trump. Those earlier stories placed the president in several exaggerated scenarios, including a deepfake video and comedic scenes involving senior officials.

This week’s episode moved back to the fast paced and outrageous style that made South Park stand out for decades. Trey Parker and Matt Stone built the story around sharp humour, political satire and chaotic timing. The writers also leaned into the show’s long running ability to push boundaries without changing its tone.

Comedian Patton Oswald recently spoke about why Trump has not openly criticised the series. He said that the president respects the sheer success and numbers behind South Park, and that this stops him from reacting the way he does with other shows. Oswald explained that Trump views entertainment through ratings and money, which keeps his attention on performance rather than the jokes themselves.

The new episode added fresh energy to Season 28 as the series continued its mix of exaggerated politics and sharp character comedy. Fans reacted across social platforms with clips from both storylines, and many praised the shift back to the town’s unpredictable antics.