Back to the Cold War

"Back to the Cold War"
South Park episode
Episode no.Season 25
Episode 4
Directed byTrey Parker
Written byTrey Parker
Featured music
Production code2504
Original air dateMarch 2, 2022 (2022-03-02)
Guest appearance
Endre Hules as Sergei Shoigu
Episode chronology
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South Park season 25
List of episodes

"Back to the Cold War" is the fourth episode of the twenty-fifth season of the American animated television series South Park. It is the 315th episode overall of the series, and premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on March 2, 2022.[1]

The episode, which focuses on Mr. Mackey's preparation for nuclear war, and Butters Stotch's preparation to compete in a dressage tournament,[2][3][4] is the first scripted television episode to reference the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine,[2] which was launched six days prior.[5] "Back to the Cold War" episode also references the Cold War-era films WarGames, Red Dawn, and Rocky IV, as well as other aspects of 1980s culture, such as piano neckties and large boomboxes.[3][6]

  1. ^ "South Park's 25th season continues Wednesday, March 2nd at 8 pm ET/PT on Comedy Central with 'Back to the Cold War'" (Press release). February 28, 2022. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022 – via Comedy Central.
  2. ^ a b Knolle, Sharon (February 28, 2022). "'South Park' Goes 'Back to the Cold War' in Episode About Russian Invasion of Ukraine". The Wrap. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Pedersen, Erik (February 28, 2022). "'South Park's Mr. Mackay Prepares For Nuclear Attack In '80s-Nostalgic 'Back To The Cold War' Promo". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Parkel, Inga (March 1, 2022). "South Park: Characters prepare for nuclear warfare in brand new trailer". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Zinets, Natalia; Vasovic, Aleksandar (February 23, 2022). "Missiles rain down around Ukraine". Reuters. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference AVCaffrey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).