Official Description

Eric Cartman has been diagnosed with anxiety. Cartman just can’t deal with people any longer. They get in the way of what’s most important in his life.

Full Description

Cartman is speaking to the therapist about the issues he's had, and the realization that people suck. He complains that he only feels happy with his phone, but people keep distracting him. The therapist diagnoses him with anxiety.

At the school, PC Principal is called into Strong Woman's office. On the way in, he is stopped by Mr. Mackey, who checks that nothing is going on between the two anymore. PC Principal denies this then goes in to find Strong Woman struggling with the PC Babies, who are all crying over something one of them said. Angrily, she gives the babies to PC Principal to look after.

In a restaurant, Cartman is trying to enjoy his phone but is disturbed by the waiter and a man behind him. so he leaves. Outside, he is still disturbed by townsfolk trying to help him. After one warns him about almost getting knocked down, he finally snaps and yells at everyone, saying his anxiety has got worse thanks to them.

Cartman then discovers Buddha Box, a box put over the head that allows the user to play on their phone without being distracted. He uses this at school, noticed by all the kids. In the bathrooms, he convinces Craig to get one to help his anxiety. Cartman is told off by Mrs. Nelson and PC Principal for using it in school. He manages to convince the latter to get a Buddha Box to help with his troubles.

He uses this to deal with the PC Babies, much to the anger of Strong Woman. He gives her one but she refuses to use it until she gets annoyed by the kids. Once both of them have boxes on their head, the babies escape the house and, to a parody of the Muppet Babies tune, they make the world more PC. They first "protest" at Crunchy's Micro Brew for their offensive drink names.

The Boys play football at school, but keep losing because Cartman is too distracted with the Buddha Box to play in goal. When Kyle tries to complain, Cartman turns the tables, claiming that Kyle believes people with anxiety shouldn't be able to play in goal.

The therapist sets up an anxiety management group, with the anxiety sufferers still using their Buddha Boxes. Tweek is upset that Craig has changed, and Liane Cartman tries to tell Cartman that he has so much potential. Cartman complains that he doesn't even want to be here because of his anxiety.

PC Principal and Strong Woman go out looking for their babies, arguing over whose fault it is that they went missing. They go to the Park County Police Station to get help, but continue to defend PC Principal when people ask if he is the father.They sit and wait for help, and continue to use their Buddha Boxes.

The Boys visit Pi Pi's Splashtown, but once again, Cartman is too busy with his Buddha Box to get involved, causing a long line on the water slide. He shames Kyle for believing anxiety people should stay home. Kyle, in response, tells him everyone has anxiety, and they get over it. Cartman then gets an idea, much to the dismay of Kyle.

Cartman goes to City Hall to speak to the mayor about anxiety. He explains about the word Namaste, meaning "Fuck you, I have anxiety". He gets the mayor to give everyone Buddha Boxes, believing it will help.

The PC Babies, after protesting a building being built, end up making music for a record company. Their song, which is just them crying, is heard by PC Principal and Strong Woman, who come to get their kids. They discover they missed the babies' first protest because they were on their phone, and PC Principal has an idea.

The two have a PTA meeting, where PC Principal tells all the parents that he is banning phones and Buddha Boxes from schools. The parents, however, are all using Buddha Boxes, so none of them listen. The two then realize that, with no-one watching, they can be a normal family for once, and they do that in a montage, having a picnic and visiting Aspen.

Memorable Quotes

• "What's that?" Kyle
• "I think it's Cartman." Stan
• "I'm letting go of stress and being calm, like the Buddha." Cartman

Characters

Notable Cameos

• These characters made a notable appearance but didn't have speaking roles in the episode.
• Most notably this week, Cartman laughs at an image of Clyde and Butters on social media, but neither speaks in the episode proper.

Character Debuts

A number of townspeople speaking during this episode, but among the most interesting examples is a man seen sweeping outside Tele's Electronics...

Body Count

At least one townsperson is hit by a car during the final montage.

Costume Debuts

Locations

Songs

"Today" by Brad Paisley

Original Songs

• "PC Babies"
• "Waaaaghgh"

Continuity Nods

• Making his third appearance overall, the Anger Management Therapist is still Cartman's psychologist after all.
• Cartman mentions getting a message from a "Lawrence"... curiously, he previously was on the phone with a friend named Lawrence way back in season 17's "Let Go, Let Gov", though we've never seen him in the show.
• The boys' soccer team has the same coach in the far background as back in season 14's "Medicinal Fried Chicken.
• Mike the Front Desk Officer is back from season 18's "#HappyHolograms", but we get a much better look at his front desk here.
• Mr. Mackey inquires if PC Principal is still having innapropriate feelings in the workplace for a co-worker, having discussed this previously in "SUPER HARD PCness".
• Vice Principal Strong Woman gave birth to her babies earlier this season in "The Problem With a Poo".
• The boys return to PiPi's Splashtown, which was famously featured in season 13's "Pee".. you can even see many of the same minorities at the water park!
• During their montage at the end with their new family, PC Principal and Vice Principal Strong Woman revisit Aspen and you can even spot some characters from the iconic "Asspen" episode... wearing Buddha boxes of course!
• We can clearly hear Blaze's voice as PC Principal's secretary, though she isn't seen, continuing her role from "Tegridy Farms".
• At Mountain Records, you can spy not only a Brad Paisley poster, but also a poster for Gersploosh, the tween wave band central to the first act of "You're Getting Old".

Behind the Scenes

Where Did The Idea Come From

Pop Culture References

Shout Outs

• The PC Babies song and montage is patterned loosely on the theme song for the 1980s Saturday Morning cartoon classic "Muppet Babies".

Pwn'd

Bonus Factoids

Pointless Observations

• Cartman's new "Buddha box" seems to reference the religious founder and deity Buddha, a member of the Super Best Friends, whom Cartman also represents in South Park: Phone Destroyer.
  • Of additional note, Tweek Tweak seems to believe in buddhism to some extent and Dr. Alphonse Mephesto is a confirmed buddhist.
  • Furthermore, Tweek has been noted by many fans to suffer from anxiety, though the episode never addresses this.
• The Record Producer seen in this episode has the same body model, and a similar office, as the producer seen in "The Cissy", "#REHASH" and "#HappyHolograms".
• PC Principal and Vice Principal Strong Woman's babies are named... Riley, Bailey, Harper, River and Emory.
• This is the first time we see Vice Principal Strong Woman's home.
• Steve Black and Sarah Valmer have no lines in this episode, though are seen using Buddha boxes.
• We also learn that Officer Peterson's first name is Tony.

Errors and Goofs

Season 22

e1 Dead Kids

e2 A Boy and a Priest

e3 The Problem With a Poo

e4 Tegridy Farms

e5 The Scoots

e6 Time To Get Cereal

e7 Nobody Got Cereal

e8 Buddha Box

e9 Unfulfilled

e10 Bike Parade