Kung fu Rick in a Kung fu Battle, Broh
Rick and Morty S9 Ep 3 Review
I’ve never been that into martial art movies, but I do appreciate the culture behind them and their impact on pop culture. Given that, I suppose that it was inevitable that they would be a target for parody from Rick and Morty at some point. And I have to admit, I think that this was a pretty funny parody of kung fu movies. Mostly because it’s just like the show to deconstruct the mystique using science, and for the trouble to start because of two stubborn old men.
Man, I need to make sure I don’t end up like Rick if I make it to his age.
Boob World foiled again
So, Rick is finally going to take Morty to Boob World like how he’s been wanting to since season four, so they stop at Trader Joe’s to get some snacks for the trip. But then Rick’s ship apparently bumps into the car being driven by this old an who looks like a martial arts master from those old kung fu movies. And when Rick refuses to apologize or cooperate, he gets hit with a death punch! If he takes five more steps, then his heart will explode unless he apologizes!
Of course, this is Rick we’re talking about. So rather than apologize or die, he looks for an out, first by walking backwards to avoid the curse, and then by using science to undo it. And when Morty tries to mediate an apology, the kung fu man, Lin Siu, gives him the death punch!
Really, should we expect anything less of Rick at this point? In the first season, he met the Devil running a thrift store, and proceeded to remove the negative effects of cursed items he sold. When his vat of acid plan failed and Morty called him out on it, he manipulated Morty into a situation where it had to work. Rick refuses to admit when he’s wrong no matter what! But if he did, there wouldn’t be much of a show, would there?
In any case, it turns out that the kung fu man, Lin Siu, is no better. He hit Rick’s ship on purpose to force them into conflict because that was the only way he can interact with people. But it was all worth it, though, getting to see the three parody old-school martial arts movies, complete with the hokey names and everything! And then it gets crazier when the god of punching shows up and angrily tries to kill them or teach them a lesson or something. I don’t know. At that point, I was just thinking how this was like something about of a shonen battle anime. They make up in the end and it’s all good.
The Day Jerry Committed Cringe
The b-plot of the episode, though, might have been even funnier thanks to how cringe it was. The new pool that Jerry got for the family needs cleaning, and he refuses to hire the cleaning guy Beth wants because he makes him insecure about his masculinity. In a nice parallel to Rick, he instead upgrades their pool bot to do the job better. Then it become self-aware, attracted to Jerry, and they somehow have s**. And then the robot tries to kill the pool guy for being a homewrecker.
Honestly, it’s both sad and hilarious to be reminded of how pathetic Jerry can be at times. But it’s those moments that make us appreciate it when he actually steps up. And he somehow does that again by tricking the yandere robot, I think. I don’t know; the whole thing was pretty cringe on my part! But at least he got the pool clean in the end, and everyone got to enjoy a pool party!
As someone whose family once had a pool in our backyard, I can appreciate the sight of a pool party.
This was a fun little episode, as far as I’m concerned. No major lore, no depressing ending. Just fun. I doubt I’ll remember it that well, but that’s fine by me. I was just happy to see the homage to old fashioned kung fu movies, bad attack names and everything.
I Give Rick Fu Hustle a 4/5
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