Some spoilers for Panderverse.

In the most recent seasons and specials, I’ve noticed Cartman is becoming more rational and openly affectionate towards his friends. He’s still a little shit, but he’s losing a lot of his previous malice and worst child in the world traits.

In Post Covid, we were shown that Cartman does have the ability to change, value others, and unlearn his antisemitism.

In season 25 he openly admits he loves his friends and seems to genuinely cherish the time they spend together playing airsoft with no funny business or schemes.

In season 26, Cartman gets mad at Cupid Ye for going too far in his antisemitism and abandoning his (again seemingly genuine) goal of helping Stan get Kyle back. He also gets him to take his meds - which while in real life Kanye does have unmedicated bipolar, might still imply Cartman actively takes psych meds now.

Then in Panderverse, Cartman is talking to a therapist about his fears of his loved ones being replaced and does again refer to them as his favourite people. He’s able to level with Kathleen Kennedy and makes a real change in his thinking even calling her awesome at the end while being very affectionate towards his friends and even hugging Kyle.

It’s my theory that we might be in the homestretch of the show and knowing that, they are looking to at least somewhat redeem Cartman’s character towards a happy ending where he isn’t a bigoted hateful psychopath anymore. Thoughts?

  • Sasukuto@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    No. It’d too far gone at this point. I genuinely thought during the introduction of PC principle/his relationship with Hiedi was actually going to be some growth for him, but like if he is going to relaps back into it even after things went thar well for him then there is 0 hope for Cartman. He will never be redeemed, because in his mind there is no need for redemption.

  • Lagamorph@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Any kind of redemption arc will actually have been a long term plan by Cartman for some kind of personal gain.

    • seiggy@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Yeah, honestly, if this is supposed to be a “redemption arc”, it’s most likely only to set us up for him to fall even further. The hard part of making a character into a “monster” of a person, is that eventually it’s less shocking when they do something horrifying. If you make people think “oh, hey, maybe he’s turning his opinions around, and being less of a dick” and then slap them with that shocking behavior again, it lands much more effectively.

  • Zinko999@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I did find it weird that Cartman seemingly actually learned something in this special and didn’t fake it out for some other purpose like they usually do.

  • GodIsNotAiveChild@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Cartman getting a redemption arc would be like the gang from always sunny getting a redemption arc.

    In other words, impossible.