When the creators of South Park—Trey Parker and Matt Stone—announce they’re tackling generative AI and deepfakes, you already know things are going to get messy. In Season 28’s Episode 3, titled “Sora Not Sorry”, the show delivers its most unhinged, up-to-the-minute commentary yet, weaving together revenge porn, political sex scandals, and the collapse of trust in digital media. The result is equal parts hilarious, gross, and strangely urgent.
Chaos by Design
The episode kicks off with a scene that is so disturbingly absurd it immediately resets the rules: a clip of Santa Claus urinating in a little girl’s face. But the twist is that this obscene scenario was created by elementary school Star Kid Butters Stotch using a new generative-video platform called Sora. What begins as a playground prank spirals quickly into a full-scale epidemic of AI-fabricated videos involving beloved cartoon characters—think Totoro from Studio Ghibli, Bluey the puppy, and Popeye the Sailor—they all get dragged in by the algorithm of cruelty.
In parallel, we follow the familiar but continually evolving ordeal of Eric Cartman, who finds himself abducted by tech magnate Peter Thiel and held captive in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, the political storyline rumbles on: Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are embroiled in a twisted love triangle involving Satan himself—a subplot of sexual absurdity, conspiracy, and power that reaches a peak when a leaked sex-tape is dismissed as “just another AI fake.”
Together, these strands collide in the kind of un-hinged but pointed mayhem only South Park can deliver: kids controlling the narrative with fake videos, society unable to tell what is real, and political figures exploiting chaos for control.
What It’s Really Saying
What lifts this episode beyond simple shock value is its undercurrent of genuine critique. The central villain isn’t a cartoon character—it’s the idea that we no longer know what is real, and that the tools meant to liberate us are being weaponized to humiliate, confuse, and dominate. When characters like Kyle and Stan attempt to intervene, they aren’t just playing side roles—they represent the dwindling voices of reason in a digital age gone haywire.
And in true South Park fashion, the satire doesn’t stop at teen pranks or deepfakes—it escalates into the corridors of power. The Trump/Vance absurdity acts as a grotesque mirror: when even the most influential figures can claim something is “just AI,” what hope do ordinary people have? What is left when even truth becomes a commodity?
Style, Tone & Impact
Visually and narratively, the episode feels more layered than many prior outings. The youthful chaos of Butters and classmates' bleeds into the adult world of White House intrigue and tech magnates, and the tone moves effortlessly between juvenile gross-out comedy and sharp political satire. It retains the frenetic pace South Park has always thrived on, but charts new territory: digital warfare, intellectual property theft, generational disconnect, and the weaponization of innocence.
Critics have responded with surprise and some visceral revulsion. One reviewer noted that the Trump/Vance sex scene was “one of the most disturbing visuals in this or any season.” It’s uncomfortable, and perhaps un-comfortably relevant.
Final Thoughts
“Sora Not Sorry” may not be for every fan of the show—it rewards those who stay with South Park through decades of irreverence—but it stands as a reminder that even 28 seasons in, Trey Parker and Matt Stone still believe deep satire can matter. In a world where anyone can fake reality, this episode asserts that the only thing left to fight for is what we do know—our bodies, our voices, our stories. And maybe, if we push back, a little dignity.
Whether it becomes a classic of the series remains to be seen. But it’s easily one of the most forceful entries in recent years—so sharp you’ll flinch, so absurd you’ll laugh, and so timely you’ll remember this moment long after the credits roll.
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