Fault-Finding Kathleen Kennedy: South Park Strikes at the Divided Star Wars Fandom

Summary

South Park: Joining the Panderverse takes on the polarizing matters in Hollywood and the fractured Star Wars fanbase, addressing the controversies surrounding diversity and the critique aimed at Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

RedTeamReview commends the episode for satirizing Disney's tendency to project moral superiority, as well as individuals who relentlessly criticize Kathleen Kennedy, oblivious to their own portrayal in a humorous manner.

Gina Carano, who was dismissed from The Mandalorian, predicts that Kathleen Kennedy will respond by reprimanding the producers, anticipating an online backlash due to allegations of racism and intolerance.

The most recent South Park special, titled "South Park: Joining the Panderverse," takes aim at the divided Star Wars fanbase. This special is twice as long as a typical episode and addresses the growing diversity in Hollywood, concerns from Star Wars fans regarding Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and the ongoing strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. It was released on October 27th on Paramount+.

Providing a glimpse into Trey Parker and Matt Stone's perspectives on various controversial topics in Hollywood, the Joining the Panderverse special serves as a prelude to South Park season 27. Since its release, there has been a range of reactions to the special, including praise from @RedTeamReview on Twitter.

The praise specifically pertains to the dual criticisms of Disney's "virtue signaling" and those who single out Kennedy instead of addressing the wider issues within Lucasfilm. RedTeamReview also shared a clip from the episode where Randy Marsh comes to the realization that he can attribute all of his troubles to Kennedy, without having to confront his own shortcomings.

Some Parts Of Star Wars Fandom Are Taking South Park Seriously

While RedTeamReview hints at the presence of viewers who may assume South Park's critique of Kennedy was entirely genuine, evidence suggests that such viewers do exist. Gina Carano, known for her role as Cara Dune in The Mandalorian, expressed her own thoughts about the special and appears to have taken it seriously. See Carano's remarks below, via @GeeksGamersCom:

Carano's dismissal from The Mandalorian occurred following the completion of season 2, leading to the removal of her character from the show. The decision to terminate her employment stemmed from her posting various contentious statements on social media. Among her posts were remarks concerning Jeffrey Epstein, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Additionally, Carano drew parallels between the treatment of Republicans and the Holocaust. These actions have placed her in an exceptional position to utilize her platform in opposition to Kennedy.

Carano predicts that Kennedy will take strong political action against the South Park creators following the episode. She anticipates a public apology and "re-education" being demanded, as well as an onslaught from an "online mob" due to perceived racism and bigotry. Carano's serious consideration of the special reinforces the arguments made by South Park: Joining the Panderverse about the division within the Star Wars fandom.