The Cissy

"The Cissy"
South Park episode
Episode no. Season 18
Episode 3
Directed by Trey Parker
Written by Trey Parker
Production code 1803
Original air date October 8, 2014
Guest actors

"The Cissy" is the third episode of the eighteenth season and the 250th overall episode of the animated television series South Park. The episode premiered on October 8, 2014 on Comedy Central. The episode explores the culture of transgender individuals and gender identity.

Plot

Getting tired of the stalls in the boys' room being occupied, Eric Cartman puts a bow on his woolly hat and claims to be transgender – which he pronounces "transginger" – in order to use the girls' toilets at school. Principal Victoria is unimpressed, but Mr. Garrison advises her to give in to avoid the scandal Cartman is almost certain to cause. The girls however are disgusted at Cartman's presence in their toilets, so the school compromises by installing a very fancy transgender toilet in the janitor's room.

Meanwhile, following the previous episode "Gluten Free Ebola" in which Randy Marsh appeared to impersonate Lorde for the children's party, it is now revealed that Randy actually is Lorde, who does not otherwise exist. Randy is struggling to keep this secret from both his wife Sharon, who finds fishnet stockings in his jeans, and from a suspicious Spin magazine reporter named Brandon Carlile.

Wendy uses Cartman's private bathroom by claiming to be transgender herself, using the name "Wendyl". Cartman is furious at losing his private room and takes it out on Wendy's boyfriend Stan by saying dating her/him makes him gay. Stan, now confused, attempts to discuss gender identity with his father, but Randy misunderstands and instead reveals to Stan that he is Lorde. He explains that he started using the women's bathroom at work out of convenience, pretending to be a woman, but eventually found the bathroom to be conducive to creating music. He even shows Stan how he uses home studio software to make himself sound like a girl on a song called "Feeling Good on a Wednesday". This leaves Stan even more confused. At the Geological Survey, Randy/Lorde's boss proposes a separate bathroom to appease the other women at the office; however, Randy/Lorde says the bathroom is critical for his/her musical creations.

E! News reports that Lorde is abandoning music and Spin will reveal the singer's secret. Cartman teases Stan about his gender confusion issues, coining the insult "cissy", based on the term "cisgender". Sharon comforts Randy and indirectly encourages him to continue to express himself as Lorde. Randy completes another, more personal song with lyrics that include "just push, push" and "help me unload the car". Enjoying the music, the female geologists decide to accept Randy's transgenderism, and Brandon Carlile (the Spin magazine reporter) deletes his exposé on Lorde. The school decides to get rid of the transgender bathroom and allow anyone to use the bathroom with which they are most comfortable, thus foiling Cartman's plans. For those who are bothered by transgender people, a new designation is made to keep them away from the normal people who do not care: cissy bathrooms. Forced by Butters to use that bathroom, Stan begins to appreciate it and sings a song similar to Lorde's.

Reception

The episode received a B+ from The A.V. Club's Eric Thurm.[2] IGN's contributor Max Nicholson gave the episode an 7.5 out of 10.[3]

Slate's Christin Scarlett Milloy lauded the episode's approach to transgender issues, noting, "when it comes to trans in mainstream media, it seems the tables have finally begun to turn".[4]

Lorde reacted positively towards the episode, posting praise for the themes and humor of the episode on her Instagram account.[5]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/47957/20150221/sia-confirms-involvement-south-park-lorde-parody-chandelier-singer-figured-royals-artist-would-find-funny.htm
  2. ↑ Thurm, Eric (October 8, 2014). "South Park: "The Cissy"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  3. ↑ Nicholson, Max (October 8, 2014). "South Park: "The Cissy" Review – Lorde is a 45-year-old Male Geologist". IGN. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  4. ↑ Milloy, Christin Scarlett (October 9, 2014). "South Park Takes on Trans Issues ... and It's Great". slate.com. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ Payne, Chris (October 9, 2014). "Watch Lorde Return to 'South Park' & See Her Reaction". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2014.

External links