South Park Season 28 Finally Addresses Fans’ Biggest Complaint in Halloween Episode

For years, South Park fans have been vocal about one major complaint: that the once-chaotic, satirical show had become too political for its own good. After decades of irreverent humor and pop-culture mockery, many felt the animated series had lost its edge by leaning heavily into political commentary. 

But during the show’s Season 28 Halloween special, The Woman in the Hat, there was a surprising twist. In a classic meta confession, the show takes aim directly at that criticism, breaking the fourth wall and outright admitting that “South Park sucks now.”

The episode begins with Stan Marsh being forced to move into his grandfather’s retirement home after his father, Randy Marsh, loses his job at the USGS during a government shutdown. While Stan is venting his frustration, he remarks that the show is no good now, and it is because of all this political shit. 

Moreover, in an attempt to make the show better, the kids create a “South Park Sucks Now” crypto meme to escape from the retirement home. Not only is the show mocking internet culture, but the episode also highlights how it is grappling with its own self-awareness.

Where Is South Park Going With Satan & Trump Storyline?

While Stan and the kids deal with their existential crisis in the retirement home, the episode also continues South Park’s latest political fantasy arc: the bizarre Satan and Donald Trump storyline that has stretched across multiple episodes.

In The Woman in the Hat, Satan becomes furious after finding out that Trump has demolished the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom. He initially had thought that Trump was going to build a nursery for ‘their’ baby. 

While Satan is angry, the work in the east Wing leads to the unleashing of a wrath, which is basically a ghost shaped like Melania Trump. The ghost’s presence triggers chaos as Satan demands answers, setting up a bizarre spiritual subplot involving a White House seance attended by political figures like Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, and Brendan Carr.

Moreover, what is a particularly disgusting gag, Pam Bondi’s nose is constantly covered in Trump’s feces, a visual metaphor for her political loyalty. Meanwhile, a secondary storyline follows JD Vance and Peter Thiel, who are plotting to kill Satan and Trump’s hybrid child.

While the episode still engages in political absurdity, the self-awareness layered throughout suggests creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are deliberately re-evaluating their approach.

When Will the Next Episode of South Park Season 28 Release?

A still from the series | Credits: Paramount+

Though The Woman in the Hat technically aired as part of Season 28, its release followed a turbulent period for the show. The team had previously delayed the Season 27 finale, following controversy surrounding an episode that parodied conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was later assassinated in real life.

Given that chaos, fans were surprised to see the Halloween episode arrive early in Season 28.

The next episode of South Park Season 28 will be released on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET on Comedy Central. It will be available to stream the next day on Paramount+.

Well, what do you think about this season so far and the show’s self-criticism? Let us know in the comments below!

South Park can be streamed on Paramount+.