Story

Description

The Broflovski's Chanukah celebrations are cut short when a Canadian couple named Harry and Elise Gintz appear at their front door, claiming to be Ike's birth parents. Even worse, they demand that Ike (whom they call "Peter") be returned to them. Horrified, Kyle's family takes the Gintzes to court. But the American court upholds the law created by Canada's new Prime Minister and the Gintzes take Ike back with them to Canada.

The loss devastates Kyle's parents. Kyle desperately tries to get the boys to go to Canada with him to retrieve Ike, but they're so engrossed in Christmas preparations that they refuse. However, when South Park's adults decide to give the money they were going to use for their family's Christmas gifts to the Broflovskis, the boys change their tune. Cartman is furious at Kyle, whom he threatens to beat up.

Kyle suggests that if they go to Canada and talk to the new Prime Minister, they can get Ike back in time to save Christmas. They book a flight on City Airlines (owned by City Wok owner Tuong Lu Kim) for "sixty-two dorra," which gets them four seats on a decrepit Cessna 432G, piloted by Lu Kim himself. The plane craps out over Canada and Lu Kim bails out, leaving the boys to crash land the plane.

The plane smashes into the ground, and the boys emerge into a colorful Canadian world, eerily similar to the Wizard of Oz. The Canadians speak in rhymes, dance, and act like Munchkins. They also meet Scott the Dick, who tells them they aren't welcome in Canada and will never get Ike back.

The boys start down Canada's one and only road in an effort to reach Ottawa, where the Prime Minister resides. En route, they pick up a Mountie riding a sheep (because the P.M.'s new laws took his horse away); a French-Canadian mime who wants to appeal a law banning the drinking of wine; and Steve, a Newfoundland resident who's angry that sodomy's been banned. They're also hounded by Scott the Dick, who follows their every move.

The rag-tag group finally reaches Ottawa and confronts the Prime Minister, who appears as a gigantic holographic head. As Kyle pleads his case, Scott the Dick shows up with Ike and his birthparents, intent on foiling the plan. The Prime Minister states that all his laws will remain in force forever, then incinerates Kenny with death beams from his eyes.

Stan pulls back a mysterious curtain to reveal none other than Saddam Hussein, crouched over the console that controls the holographic head. Saddam is quickly taken away and all his laws are declared null and void. The Gintzes have a change of heart and return Ike to Kyle.

But not everyone is happy. Cartman announces that it's officially Christmas Day and they're all still in Canada, without presents. Furious, he tries to kick Kyle's ass. Kyle halfheartedly punches him in the nose and Cartman immediately starts crying.

The Canadians hold a gigantic Christmas parade with the boys as honored guests, riding on Santa's sleigh. But Stan is still a bit sad, because having to spend all this time in Canada made him miss out on any chance of having a Christmas adventure.

What I Learned Today

"Family isn't about whose blood you have in you, family is about the people who cared about you and took care of you. We're not the same blood, but I love my little brother. We've taken care of him because he needed us to, and that makes us more family than anything."

Memorable Quotes

• "Canadian Christmas, it's the best! We drink and dance and show our breasts!" Canadians
• "Please sit back, relax, and enjoy your shitty flight." Tuong Lu Kim
• "Mr. Garrison, every Christmas you suggest we get rid of all the Mexicans, and every Christmas we tell you no!" Mayor McDaniels
• "We know you have a choice of airlines, and it looks like you made the wrong one." Tuong Lu Kim
• "This is Canada! We only have one road!" Canadian
• "It wasn't enough for you people to kill Jesus, now you have to kill Christmas too, huh?" Cartman
• "Changing your mind is a Canadian custom we hold quite dear." Harry Gintz
• "Well, I didn't want to say anything, Kyle, but maybe this is what your family gets for being Jewish at Christmas time." Cartman
• "This is it, Kyle. You and me. We're throwing down, right now!" Cartman
• "Excuse me is this an invansion?" Canadian Doctor
• "Don't mind that guy hiding in the spider hole, that's just my friend." Saddam Hussein
• "It's Christmas day and I'm in Canada." Cartman

Characters

Stan Marsh

Kyle Broflovski

Eric Cartman

Kenny McCormick

Ike Broflovski

Gerald Broflovski

Sheila Broflovski

Mayor McDaniels

Mr. Garrison

Chef

Liane Cartman

Tuong Lu Kim

Character Debuts

Harry and Elise Gintz, Ike's biological parents.

Elise Gintz

Harry Gintz

We also meet Rick, the proud Canadian Mountie; the French Canadian Mime; and Steve, the "Newfie."

Rick the Mountie

French Canadian Mime

Rick the Mountie

Prime Minister of Canada

Character Returns

Scott the Dick, last seen in Season 2's "Not Without My Anus," makes his mean-spirited Canadian return. Much like last time, he plays the American-hating villain.

Scott the Dick

Body Count

Kenny gets killed for the first time since returning to life in "Red Sleigh Down"

Kenny McCormick

Character Departures

This was Saddam Hussein last appearance in South Park and hasn't been seen since.

Saddam Hussein

Locations

Park County Airfield

Original Songs

After crashladning in Canada, the boys are treated to the joyful "Canada Friends Loves You." As their journey continues, the boys are treated to more Oz-like tunes: "Follow the Only Road In Canada", "French Canada," and finally, "Canadian Christmas."

Behind The Scenes

Where Did The Idea Come From

Saddam Hussein was caught the Sunday before this episode aired, providing the perfect ending to the story. It was the seventh season's final reference to events in Iraq. "I think you could really call this the Iraq war season," Trey said.

Pop Culture References

Shout Outs

The boys' visit to Canada is an extended parody of The Wizard of Oz, with Saddam Hussein serving as The Great Oz, Scott the Dick as a the Wicked Witch of the West, the boys sharing the role of Dorothy, and the three quirky Canadians who join them serving as Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Lion. A few Canadian songs even parody music from the classic film.

Pwn'd

Saddam Hussein, who was both captured by Canadian forces and lampooned yet again on South Park. This was the second time during the series that he tried to take over Canada, the first being in "Not Without My Anus." For this episode, animators even used a new picture of Saddam post-capture (with full beard), instead of his old clean-shaven look.

Bonus Factoids

Pointless Observations

This episode gives us a nice glimpse of the Broflovski's celebrating the first night of the Jewish holiday, Chanukah.

We learn a good amount about Canada here: There is only one road in the entire country, their cars and bicycles have square wheels (as do most things), and that their country was devastated during the infamous Cola Wars.

Some popular Christmas toys in South Park this year: Sprinkle Time Make Your Own Marshmallow Factory, the John Elway Doll with Karate Chop Action, and the 2001 Okama Gamesphere (as seen in "Towelie").

Season 7

e1 I'm a Little Bit Country

e2 Krazy Kripples

e3 Toilet Paper

e4 Cancelled

e5 Fat Butt and Pancake Head

e6 Lil' Crime Stoppers

e7 Red Man's Greed

e8 South Park Is Gay

e9 Christian Rock Hard

e10 Grey Dawn

e11 Casa Bonita

e12 All About Mormons

e13 Butt Out

e14 Raisins

e15 It's Christmas in Canada