South Park Retcons a Major Plot Hole With Surprise Thanksgiving Special Return

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I was so excited to see a familiar face return in South Park’s latest Thanksgiving special! It was a really clever way to fix a plot point that’s been bothering fans for a while now. With Season 28 potentially being the end of the road for the show, it’s cool to see them not only looking forward and setting things up, but also taking the time to tie up loose ends and answer questions that have been building up over the past few years. It’s been 12 years since they did a full Thanksgiving episode, and it was a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday!

The animated series South Park often kills off characters only to bring them back years later, and 2024 has already seen a few of these resurrections. The latest episode of Season 28 officially marks the return of Ned Gerblanski, who hasn’t been prominently featured since a 2019 episode. This return actually changes some details of his earlier, minor appearances. The episode also confirms that Ned is still injured, finally addressing a long-standing question from fans about his condition.

South Park Confirms Ned Is Still Injured

In the fourth episode of South Park‘s 28th season, titled “Turkey Trot,” Saudi Arabia sponsors the town’s annual Turkey Trot race, attracting participants eager to win the prize money. Among those competing are Jimbo and Ned, and their return to the show makes it clear Ned is still recovering from injuries sustained during the ManBearPig attack. Viewers will recall Ned was seriously injured by the global warming stand-in back in Season 22’s “Time to Get Cereal,” and was last seen in a wheelchair at the end of “Bike Parade” later that same season.

Interestingly, Ned appeared perfectly healthy in later episodes. He was seen celebrating with the town in South ParQ Vaccination Special and prominently featured in the Season 26 episode, “Japanese Toilet.” In both cases, he looked as he did before his injuries. Therefore, his return in Season 28 not only shows he’s continuing to recover, but he’s also been given a completely updated appearance.

South Park Is Not Afraid of a Retcon

South Park is known for dramatically changing past storylines and character arcs to reflect current events. This year alone, the show fully integrated Donald Trump into its universe, leading to significant shifts for characters like Randy Marsh and leaving viewers wondering what will happen next.

One of the things fans continue to appreciate about South Park is its willingness to adapt. The show also generally respects its own established history, even while being willing to playfully change things if it serves the story. Sometimes inconsistencies are simply overlooked, or even retroactively adjusted—like a minor animation error—if it makes for a funnier or more compelling episode. This adaptability is a promising sign for the show’s future.

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2025-12-01 03:40