Going Down to South Park 07.03.04: Clubhouses

Posted by Jerome Cusson on 07.03.2008

I should have organized this so I could have done the firework episode this week. Just click here to ready about clubhouses and an exploration of love.

Before we begin, here is your George Carlin clip of the week. This week, George Carlin is a modern man.



So after the greatness of last week’s episode, I get to discuss the birds and the bees and how clubhouses are a rite of passage for every boy with a tree in his yard. Onto the show.

The kids are enjoying recess and the boys are playing some sort of game of war-like game. Cartman is playing a Bosnian and isn’t playing all along. So Cartman is left to play with himself. Stan and Kyle think of other things to do, but are quickly interrupted by Wendi and her friend Bebe. Wendi wants to set up Kyle and Bebe but in order to do that, Stan had to build a clubhouse. Back at the house, Randy Marsh is enjoying some Terrance and Phillip. Terrance is having trouble farting. Kyle and Stan ask their dad how to build a clubhouse. Even Stan’s dad realizes what the deal is, that the girls want to play a game of Truth or Dare. Stan’s mom comes in and yells at her son for watching T&P, not realizing of course it was Stan’s dad the whole time. Stan’s dad goes to help his wife find her wedding ring in the garbage disposal. Stan and Kyle watch a cartoon and observe how dirty it’s getting. I don’t get it.

Randy and Sharon Marsh don’t seem to be getting along while Stan and Kyle work on the clubhouse. Kyle is still in the cooty phase while Stan is ready to make out with Wendi. Cartman laughs at how stupid this idea is and Kyle points out how they can make girls cry. So Cartman and Kenny decide to build their own clubhouse. Kenny is the worker and Cartman and the foreman. Stan is in the kitchen trying to get a cookie, but his mom is definitely having some self-esteem issues.

In Mr. Garrison’s class, they’re ready to talk about American history. That would be a first. Mr. Twig is still his sidekick, and Kyle asks when Mr. Hat is coming back. Garrison says Mr. Hat is gone and is never coming back. Stan and the others are still talking about clubhouses as Wendi wonders when it’s going to be done. Bebe sends s note through various channels, including a still unnamed Butters , to Kyle. Garrison thinks Stan and Kyle are writing notes because he’s clearly an idiot. Boys don’t pass notes. Anyway, Stan reads “his note” to Kyle and it’s about how Kyle has a great ass and whatnot. The whole class laughs at him, and you really can’t blame them for that.

After an act break, Mr. Mackey lectures Stan on his skylarking…hey, Mackey’s word, not mine. Randy and Sharon arrive. There’s clearly some problems in this marriage as they keep interrupting each other. This turns into a therapy session with Stan being forgotten. The child walks out. Elsewhere, Kenny and Cartman admire their horribly built clubhouse. Kenny goes to find chicks while Cartman watches (the good old Mike Adamle hosted) American Gladiators. Kyle and Stan work on finishing their clubhouse. Bebe and Wendi walk by and Kyle’s ass is admired. Stan and Kyle clearly haven’t thought this through. This naturally leads to Stan going to Chef for advice on the intricate deals of “Truth or Dare.”

Cartman is watching more Fat Abbot and he doesn’t get it either. Kenny gets back and has found some chicks, These girls are running away and need a place to stay. Cartman calls Stan and talks trash. Stan wants his dad to help finish the clubhouse, but Randy has moved out and his parents are getting divorced. Sharon has already met someone else, and he’s a tool named Roy. Stan points out how fast this is happening. I agree.

The girls complain about their lives at home and the boys anxiously wait while hoping to play Truth or Dare. Cartman identifies with them on some level. Kyle and Stan are done with their clubhouse, but Stan has to go visit his father since he has visitation. You know, this is moving kinda fast. Stan sees his dad, and the man obviously is goint through some sort mid-life crisis. He’s got a sports car, sunglasses, and an earring. Stan begins to see the hypocrisy of this whole divorce thing. Their time together is very short and Randy doesn’t spend much time with his only son.

After an act break, Kyle and Stan are ready to play some Truth or Dare, although Stan seems far more eager. Kyle wonders if Stan actually wants to play with the girls. The girls arrive and Kyle says dare first like a moron. Wendi dares Kyle to kiss Bebe. Kyle doesn’t want to kiss her, but Stan plays the “Cartman will beat us” card. A fine card to play in this situation. Kyle and Bebe kiss, and young Broflovski runs out. Stan then says dare and, fucking Roy comes into ruin everything. He’s been on the show for five minutes, and I can’t stand him.

The girls continue complaining about their moms, and Cartman gets yelled at by his mom to come to bed. The girls invite a couple guys over, and one could assume this clubhouse is gonna be a loveshack. Bebe sees Kyle on the corner and breaks up with him. Were they even going out? This show is giving me whiplash, it’s moving so far. Bebe goes off with Clyde.

Roy and Stan make continue to argue. Sharon says her number one concern is her son, but it really isn’t. Stan watches some Fat Abbot and gets some advice about what to do with his step-dad. I think it goes to far, but what the hell? Cartman’s clubhouse is now holding a party, a party Randy attends. Stan has his mom meet in his clubhouse. As it turns out, it’s a set-up for Sharon and Randy. They play Truth or Dare. It’s icky. They make up. Roy is hung up by his legs.

Wendi, Bebe, Stan, and Clyde play Truth or Dare. When Stan says dare, they dare him to jam a stick up his peehole. Okay, ow. And we’re out. Roy is still hanging out to dry over the credits.

The “Screw You Guys, I’m going home” for best line/moment of the episode:

Cartman: That’s fine. I like playing with myself. I play with myself all day long.

The Pip moment for worst line/moment of the episode: Sharon and Marsh’s break-up, divorce, and make-up take less than 25 minutes. What the heck is that all about?

The “Oh My God, they killed Kenny!” moment: Kenny is killed by by a mosh pit. For the first time ever, Cartman says “Oh my God, they killed Kenny!”

Luckily Kyle walks by and says the “You bastards” part.

The 411: This episode features of the fast paced plots of all time as Trey and Matt explore the concept of love. We get to explore the feelings of a number of different characters. While Stan is motivated by wanting to kiss a girl, Cartman is just motivated by wanting to beat Kyle and Stan. I know what was trying to be accomplished by the divorce storyline, but it really just moved too fast for my liking.

Final Score:  6.5   [ Average ]