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So everything bad I said about last week’s review is now thrown out of the window, because “Insecurity” is probably the best episode the show has produced all season long, which in real time is like an entire year. I always think that any episode that removes itself from the ‘flavor of the week’ references and typical formula of schmaltzy speeches about morals, or making a point, are weaker than ones who stick to irreverent and ridiculous humor. Thankfully, this week brought some silly and smart jokes, and wrapped it up in an ever escalating storyline that connected it’s A and B plots into a masterful piece of comedy. I love when this show is on fire, and right now it is scorching.

We start off with a good premise, and a Cialis commercial that sets the tone. It only gets goofier, as Kyle’s parents wonderfully get involved in some role playing, including perfect music and horrible acting from Gerald. Ike catches more than a glimpse, and draws some pretty incriminating evidence of what happened. Every time they show the crayon note, I chuckled, only because of the giant penis Ike gave the UPS man. And if this incriminating action wasn’t enough, Randy eavesdrops in on the gossip, pouring his coffee into a plant (which had me in stitches), and tells the guys at the local bar. His realization and subsequent face were also great, and thus far, all of this is the start of an instant classic, and it only gets better from there.

One of my favorite episodes ever (of any show) is “Asspen”, and I was very surprised and glad to see the return of the mysterious mechanic. He adds a certain value to each episode he pops up in, and not only pushes the narrative forward, but does it in a creepy vibe that affects all of the characters he talks to. It’s this occult quality, and the fact that he isn’t overused, that makes him a great character, and he was great this time around. The milk man story, and phrases like “pounded like a mallard duck” all go to seal the deal: I loved this episode.

I could go on and on about everything I enjoyed, from Cartman’s assertion that Kyle is a “sneaky little Jew”, to Randy being suspicious of everything around him, not being able to turn off the home alarm, and ordering things on Amazon and forgetting you ordered them; there are a lot of relatable connections that makes each joke funny, because we’ve all been there before. The absurdism of the whole thing is absolutely outstanding, and I think there is something to laugh in every single scene. The milk man splashing milk in people’s eyes, Butter’s dad’s ambiguous feelings, the dramatic music, blankets and cocoa, InSecurity alerts and wacky passwords, Cartman being obsessed with his mom being raped (Oedipus complex much?), even the tracking shots of the people who work at Wolf Home Security, it all works. Especially my favorite part of the whole night, and the one thing that took it over the top: Bane.

If you thought it couldn’t get any better, they hit us with the Bane masks. Bane impersonations get me all the time, and I wanted to see more of them, but they did Tom Hardy justice by having Cartman use the old “authority” line. No half assed Batman jokes or getting off track, the writers stuck to the plot and it paid off. Firing on all cylinders, tonight’s episode was truly fantastic, and I saw it three times to be sure it held up on repeat viewings. It does, and I can confidently say if there are more episodes like this to come, they can renew this show forever and I’ll be perfectly content.

(More Bane would have given it a perfect score)

-Jared