The following contains spoilers for South Park: The End of Obesity, now streaming on Paramount+
Summary
South Parkhas been steadily building up Eric Cartman towards a tragic fate that was first teased over twenty years ago — and specials likeSouth Park: The End of Obesityhighlight how it’s become inevitable. One ofSouth Park’s central characters and arguably one of the show’s most iconic additions to modern pop culture, Eric Cartman is one of animation’s most vindictive characters. A little boy with a vicious streak, several of episodes acrossSouth Park’s lengthy 27 season-long runhave focused on whether or not Cartman had any hope to change and grow as a person.
While some storylines have shown Cartman empathizing with others or gaining brief flashes of understanding for others, these are often short-lived bursts of emotion that don’t carry over into subsequent episodes. It allows the series creatives, likeSouth Parkcreators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, to use Cartman as an eternal satirical punching bag. This seems to be steadily pushing Cartman to a specific fate within the world ofSouth Parksuch as inthe ending ofThe End of Obesity, and it’s very similar to the ending for the character that was initially teased twenty seasons ago.
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Cartman’s Modern Choices Are Dooming Him To A Tragic Future
Eric Cartman’s decisions in stories likeSouth Park: The End of Obesityhighlight his resistance to growth, which other episodes have revealed will eventually doom him to a tragic fate. One of the core aspects ofThe End of ObesityisCartman seemingly coming to terms with his obesityand deciding to do something about it. This stems from his belief that he can’t be overweight and then mock others for their physical flaws. This prompts the other boys to try and help Cartman receive medicine to combat weight gain, only to be stopped by the insurance and sugar companies.
While most of the boys decide they should refrain from mocking obese people for their weight out of genuine empathy, Cartman interprets that as carte blanche to mock others regardless of his weight. Ignoring the lesson of the episode, Cartman lashes out at everyone and ends the special more or less happy but isolated from everyone else in his orbit. It’s consistent with Cartman’s characterization across the course ofSouth Park, whosebrief flashes of character change for Cartmanare often subverted in brutal ways. However, this is all building to a genuinely tragic fate for Cartman, which has been teased out in multiple episodes.
South Park Has Already Confirmed Cartman’s Fate
Despite his genuinely impressive intellect and craftiness, Cartman’s potential has been doomed since the early seasons ofSouth Park. The season 6 episode “My Future Self ‘n Me” revealed that Cartman could grow up to be a wealthy, successful business owner. However, Cartman’s suspicious nature leads him to double down on his terrible behavior, leading his future self to transform into an overweight and bitter mechanic. While it was largely played for laughs in season 6, the two-part Paramount+South Park: Post COVIDspecials made it tragic by revealing that Cartman could find peace. Converting to Judaism in adulthood could lead him to become a community leader, find a wife, and have children.
However, that version of Cartman was ultimately erased when they went back in time to reintroduce empathy to the town of South Park. While everyone else in town got a better life as a result of the change, the Cartman of this new timeline apparently never got over his worst qualities and ultimately became unemployed, bitter, and alone. The ending of the special and the subsequent episodes have underscored this potential future by showing characters who Cartman had previously beaten down like his own mother or Butters giving up on him, suggesting Cartman is heading directly to that tragic fate.
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Is There Any Hope For Cartman’s Redemption?
Cartman’s actions over the course ofSouth Parkhave steadily transformed the character into one of animation’s most vicious figures. He’s killed thousands over the years, both directly and indirectly. His failings are utilized as a key part ofSouth Park’s approach to satire, with Cartman’s involvement often used as shorthand for whatever societal element the show is mocking in any given episode. While some storylines have hinted at his potential redemption, it’s often for his own selfish goals or self-preservation instead of stemming from any genuine desire to grow as a person.
This plays into some of the underlying themes of the show, including Cartman facing consequences for his actions. While Cartman may win minor victories over other people in the town of South Park, most of his plots are undone and his schemes just as often blow up in his face. Cartman isSouth Park’s most consistent source of vindictive humor, but he’s also the target of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s views on societal ills. As a result, it seems impossible thatSouth Parkwill ever fully redeem Eric Cartman in a meaningful way.
South Park
Cast
South Park follows the irreverent misadventures of four grade-schoolers—Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny—that take place in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado. The animated series explores various social and political issues through its characters’ humorous and often absurd escapades.
