The Last of the Meheecans

"The Last of the Meheecans" is the ninth episode of the fifteenth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 218th episode of the series overall. "The Last of the Meheecans" premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on October 12, 2011.^[1] The plot references illegal immigration to the United States across the Mexican border.

Plot

The boys play "Texans vs. Mexicans" at a sleepover at Cartman's house, a game in which the "Mexicans" (led at first by Butters, and then Kyle due to Butters' poor leadership skills) attempt to elude the "border patrol" (led by Cartman) and cross the border into Texas (Cartman's backyard). All of the "Mexicans" do so, winning the game, much to Cartman's irritation. However, Butters is not among his teammates, having been lost, and when Cartman later realizes that Butters is not present, he realizes the game is not over. As Butters' teammates begin searching for him, Cartman's team resume protecting the backyard.

As Butters tries to find his way back, he is struck by a passing car. The couple in the car, believing Butters to be a Mexican immigrant named "Mantequilla" (Spanish for "Butter"), take him to their home and employ him as a stereotypical Mexican servant, giving him menial jobs to perform such as cleaning windows and washing dishes. However, the couple eventually abandons Butters at an El Pollo Loco restaurant, believing that Butters needs to be with his "own kind" to be happy. Inside, Butters regales the staff with tales of his imaginary exploits. The staff recognize him from "missing" posters put up by his friends, and believing him to be someone famous, they start to question the value of their new lives in the United States. They misinterpret Butters' desire to "cross the border" and rejoin his friends as a desire to return to Mexico, and a mass exodus of Latin emigrants soon begins. As more and more Mexicans leave, Americans realize they cannot keep up with their new found menial labor tasks, creating a labor shortage and damaging the U.S. economy.

Cartman joins the United States Border Patrol as a volunteer, where he is instructed to stop Mexicans from crossing the border, regardless of the "semantics" of which direction they are traveling. Butters, as "Mantequilla", is hailed as a hero in Mexico and is credited with instilling a sense of national pride in the Mexican people. However, he soon becomes homesick and attempts to return to the United States. While attempting to cross into the United States, Butters is spotted by border patrol agents, who are overjoyed in their belief a Mexican wants to enter the United States and make no attempt to stop him. But recognizing Butters, an enraged Cartman tries to prevent him from crossing the border. But with the Border Patrol's help, Butters successfully eludes Cartman and re-enters the United States, winning the game. When the children are reunited at Cartman's house, Cartman once again pouts over his loss of the game, as the gang rejoices at Butters' return. When Butters suggests he be leader next time, Stan and Kyle suggest that while he is a great Mexican team player, he is not a great leader of Mexicans. In response, Butters stands up and gestures with his hands, causing Mexicans everywhere to chant in response, loudly enough for the boys to hear them.

Reception

Ryan McGhee of The A.V. Club graded the episode a B+, stating, "'The Last of the Meheecans' isn’t really about immigration reform so much as it's about the narcissistic viewpoint that America must be, as a point of irrefutable fact, the best place in the world to live. For some, that’s a fairly ballsy thing to say, but the way in which Parker/Stone say it bypasses political grandstanding and casts their gaze instead on our supposed understanding of those that have immigrated to America and currently live/work here".^[2]

References