Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 8 Review- The Vat of Acid Episode

Rick Sanchez, I knew you were a sociopathic monster that cares little besides himself, but dang, man. The “Vat of Acid Episode” hammered home how petty Rick can be. That’s what everyone who’s watched it says, and I see no reason to argue with that. Comedic sociopathy aside, the “Vat of Acid Episode” hammered home an important point for me. That point being how far Rick will go to keep Morty under his toxic influence.

The Vat of Acid

So, as the title implies, the episode starts with Rick and Morty trying to escape a shady deal gone wrong by jumping into a vat of fake acid with breathing tubes and wait for the bad guys to leave. They don’t leave, they stick around and talk, and it looks like the “Vat of Acid Episode” is going to be a one-note joke with Rick and Morty having to wait it out. Then Morty loses patience, they shoot the guys, and Morty tears into Rick over the fact that he. was. WRONG.

If you remember “Morty’s Mind Blowers”, Rick erases any memories that make him look stupid in front of Morty. It’s how he maintains the image that he’s a freaking god in Morty’s eyes and keeps him under his toxic influence. Rather than admit he made a mistake and shatter the image he’s cultivated in Morty’s mind, Rick decides to reinforce it in the cruelest (and funniest) way possible.

One Big Setup

Spoiler alert, but Rick indulges Morty and gives him a remote that acts like the “save and load” function in a video game. As a gamer, I find this as a nice jab at gamers who save scum so they can indulge in crazy actions without consequence. Once he gets bored, Rick cruelly reveals the truth behind the remote: it doesn’t rewind time. It shunts him to a branching reality, kills the Morty there, and puts him in. Then when Rick resets everything, Morty has to deal with all the consequences of all his horrible actions. In hindsight, we should have seen this twist coming given how much Justin and Dan hate time travel. It doesn’t stop the reveal from being hilarious, though.

That’s not the funniest part, though. The funniest part is that this whole “Vat of Acid Episode” was Rick putting his grandson through this ordeal to set him up with only one way out: a vat of fake acid. He did all this out of a petty need to prove that he’s right!

There’s only one other time I’ve seen a cartoon character resort to such twisted lengths over something so petty: Eric Cartman in “Scott Tenorman must Die.” I thought that was one of the darkest things I’ve ever seen in a cartoon. I mean, Cartman tricked a kid who crossed him into eating chili made out of his parents. Yet Rick made Morty responsible for offending everyone possible and committing all sorts of horrible actions, INCLUDING CANNIBALISM WHEN HE GOT STRANDED IN A PLANE CRASH!

Morty Got (and lost) A Girlfriend

Yeah, in one iteration, Morty got a cute girlfriend with glasses and they were very happy together. Then went on a plane trip that crashed in the mountains and they had to eat the dead to survive. It was just like the book Alive, which tells the real life story of a plane crash in the Andes with the exact same scenario. One of the writers admitted the story traumatized him as a kid!

Morty and his girlfriend survive, only for Jerry’s stupidity to send him back to before they met. If it weren’t so funny, this would be so hilarious.

Never Make Fun of Rick. EVER.

People are saying that this is one of the best episodes Rick and Morty has ever done, and I have to agree. It’s my second favorite of the season and at least in the top five of the show. The way the writers mislead everyone until the end to reveal it to be the set-up to a punchline is crazy and hilarious. And the moral of the whole “Vat of Acid Episode” is that Rick hates being told he’s wrong and will do anything to prove otherwise. Considering how this is the guy who took down an intergalactic government because they crossed them, we shouldn’t be surprised. Still funny, though!

I Give “The Vat of Acid Episode” a Perfect 5/5

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P.S.- I hate Jerry as much as Rick does now.

Solar Opposites Season 1 Review

First, I want to say sorry that I didn’t put up my review/recap of the new chapter of One Piece yesterday. I apologize, it’s up now. Secondly, the reason why I was quiet this weekend was that I was watching Hulu’s new show. It’s called Solar Opposites, it is made by Justin Roiland, and it’s hilarious!

What’s it About?

If you haven’t heard, here’s the premise of the show. These four aliens flee the destruction of their home planet and crash land in suburban America. They have to fix their spaceship and get off-planet before their organic computer, the Pupa, evolves into its pure form and terraforms Earth into a replica of their home and kills everyone. Too bad most of them want to mess around on Earth.

Leading the group is Korvo, voiced by Justin Roiland. He’s Rick, but not as deep-sounding or as cynical. He’s the only one dedicated to their mission and acts like he hates humans and Earth. Yet deep down, he can’t stop from getting enamored by aspects of Earth culture. 

Next is Terry, played by Thomas Middleditch. He’s the eternal optimist who loves everything about Earth and just wants to enjoy it. He doesn’t realize how much stress he causes Korvo and how no one likes him or his group. He’s hilarious. 

Then we have Jesse and Yumyulack, their kids? They’re called replicants, we don’t know what that means, but they act like the kids, so that’s what we call them. They’re super smart and argue like siblings and about what’s good on Earth. Jesse’s the more optimistic one who tries to see to the good in everything. Meanwhile, Yumyulack’s the cynic who acts like a jerk to everyone. They also shrink humans down and keep them in a glass wall that will come up later. 

Lastly, there’s the Pupa, their sentient computer in the form of a pet. That’s pretty much what it is, too: a pet. It gets into trouble when everyone’s not looking and acts like a pet, except when it evolves, it will kill everyone. 

Blending Multiple Shows

If I had to describe the humor and structure of Solar Opposites, it would be like this: it’s a mixture of the fun and black comedy of Rick and Morty and Invader Zim with a plot structure similar to Regular Show. Let me explain.

Since Solar Opposites’ made by Justin Roiland, it’s got a lot of the same humor as its sister show. However, it doesn’t wax existential or philosophical like Rick and Morty, choosing to focus on the improvised comedy Justin Roiland’s famous for doing. Also, while it’s got a lot of the same sci-fi and black comedy of Rick and Morty and Invader Zim, it’s nowhere near as dark. Yeah, the aliens are jerks to humans, but at least half of them don’t realize they’re jerks. That’s what makes their antics so funny.

Speaking of antics, here’s where the comparison to Regular Show comes in. The plot of an episode of Solar Opposites follows the same basic formula:

1. The aliens get invested in some mundane things about Earth’s culture.
2. Korvo may or may not resist at first, but then joins in by saying its part of their mission (which it’s not)
3. They use their technology to take said mundane interest to extremes and cause problems.
4. They then have to resolve the said problem before returning things to regular and remaining unpopular and hated by humanity.

It reminds me of a lot of the structure to Regular Show. That show focused on some mundane task the cast had to do and get into some surreal situation as a result. Or maybe I’m the only one who sees the similarity.

The Best Dang Sub-Plot I’ve Seen in Years

By its nature right now, Solar Opposites is a very episodic show with little continuity. It’s only in its first season, so that’s expected. The one thread that ties the episodes together is this recurring sub-plot that I call “The Wall.”

Jesse and Yumyulack (mostly Yumyulack) use a shrink ray to shrink down humans they think are jerks (so, for very petty reasons). They keep them in a system of interconnected terrariums in a wall in their bedroom, hence its name. The shrunken people end up building a Mad Max-style society led by a man called the Duke. 

The story of the Wall plays out during the whole season as members of the shrunken society fight in a civil war for control. Everything culminates in the 7th episode, which is by far the best in the series thus far. It focuses on the people in the Wall with the aliens doing a background plot with them stealing a bear. I’d tell you how it ends, but I don’t want to spoil it for you because it’s fantastic!

Go Watch Solar Opposites

We all have a lot of free time now since society’s come to a halt because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you’re looking to kill two-and-a-half hours, then watch Solar Opposites. It’s on Hulu, and it’s a hilarious, softer version of Rick and Morty that, ironically, has as much foul language. I love it.

I give the first season of Solar Opposites a 4.8/5 

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Click here to see my review of the latest Rick and Morty episode

Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 7 Review- Promortyus

So, I’ve never actually seen any films from the Alien franchise, but I know the premise. Monstrous aliens that reproduce by injecting hosts with parasitic embryos that hatch by exploding out of their victim’s chests. Something like Alien is easy pickings for the likes of Rick and Morty, and that’s just what happens in their newest episode, “Promortyus.”

How was it? Meh.

Rather than show how Rick and Morty got into their latest adventure, “Promortyus” starts right in the middle. With the duo getting rid of face-huggers and escaping the Glorzo’s (the Alien people). It’s a novel approach that still gives viewers the chance to figure out what’s happening. The problem is that it’s not that impressive. I remember an episode of Phineas and Ferb doing a whole story in reverse. Plus Family Guy did something similar with their 200th episode. 

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about what I did like about the episode. Spoiler alert, but I did like the plot twist of Summer being the leader of the Glorzos. It’s unexpected but also funny. Plus, when Rick and Morty are destroying the Glorzo civilization, I like how they deliberately avoid making a 9/11 reference. Nineteen years later, and it is still too soon. They then backtrack by making a Pearl Harbor visual gag. Which begs the question: at what point does a collectively traumatic event become safe to joke about? Don’t care, not getting involved. 

This wasn’t the best episode of the season. I still say that goes to “Rattlestar Ricklatica” and how absurd it was. It was a good episode though. However, if you’re looking for something else fun to watch, then I urge you to check Justin Roiland’s new show, Solar Opposites, on Hulu. Check out my review of the first season here!

I Give “Promortyus” a 3.5/5

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Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 2 Review

Harley Quinn’s back in the game and she’s on a warpath! After season two opened with the villains carving up Gotham and putting her on ice (literally), the clown princess vows to take them all down and rule the city. She’s off to a great start, having killed Penguin. Now she’s going after Riddler’s new school, Riddler U! It’s back to college for Harley Quinn

Welcome to Riddler U

So, despite Gotham being cut off from the outside world, somehow Riddler has access to electricity and clean water. Neither of which Harley’s Crew have. So Harley and Ivy sneak into Riddler U to figure out how he has that. Too bad they stick out like sore thumbs since they haven’t been to college in years.

Ironically, the member of Harley’s Crew that helps the most this episode is Clayface, who Alan Tudyk is killing it as! His hammy nature and dedication to acting helps him fit right in at Riddler U. Nobody questions him as “Stephanie” as they chalk his/her mannerisms to college drama. He’s actually the one who learns how Riddler’s got power:

TRUST ME, THIS IS A VERY ACCURATE IMAGE REGARDING RIDDLER’S POWER PLAN

Meanwhile, Psycho and King Shark try to get a water purifier for the hideout. However, they run afoul of Two-Face and Bane’s men. As a result, they get chased across Gotham in a Mad Max inspired vehicle. There’s not much to it, but it’s still funny

Out With the Old Gordon, In with the New Gordon

Last episode we saw Gordon hit rock bottom as he lost everything he knows. Batman’s missing, the GCPD’s joined up with the villains, and his wife divorced him. As a result, he’s now sponging off his daughter Barbara at Riddler U and eating chips out his chest hair. Gross.

That’s right! Barbara Gordon makes her big debut this episode as a student at Riddler U. While she’s every bit as capable as she is in most media, the show makes it how her worldview contrasts with those around her. Whereas her Dad’s a cynic who’s given up all hope, Babs is this wide-eyed idealist who still wants to make a difference in the world. So even though they supervillains, she jumps at the chance to help Harley and Ivy take down Riddler.

I personally like this version of Barbara Gordon. She’s sunny and optimistic in a world where everyone seems to be acting like a jerk. She doesn’t even swear. However, she’s also naive, as she lets the Gotham Girls take Riddler. Still, as Harley notes, the whole experience lit a fire in her. As a result, she becomes Batgirl and sets out to clean up Gotham.

I can’t wait to see if she can save the city or if Gotham breaks her. Either way, this is going to be fun!

I Love This Show

So, Harley’s now taken down Penguin and the Riddler and has clean water and electricity. It’s only the second episode, though, so I can imagine plenty of ways for things to go wrong for her. However, if the episodes remain as strong as they are here, then I think that I’m going to be entertained for quite some time. Plus, this episode sets up a future dynamic between Batgirl, Harley, and Ivy and I can’t wait to see it pay off!

I Give “Riddler U” A 4.5/5

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