RJ Writing Ink

Rick and Morty S7 Ep 4 Review

Last year, Rick and Morty went through a series first with the episode “Analyze Piss.” That episode saw the initial antagonist, Pissmaster, kill himself after Jerry publicly beat him up. Adult Swim had to put up a disclaimer at the front warning people of what would happen, and it showed. The episode played it with so much dark drama, even Rick felt bad for him. I didn’t think that we were going to get another episode as heavy (or disgusting) as “Analyze Piss” for a while. However, Adult Swim proved me wrong. The show’s new episode “That’s Amorte” didn’t just double down on the subject. It upped the disgusting factor to the point where I might be able to eat a certain food for a while without thinking about this episode. It also happened to be, by a wide margin, the best episode of the season to date. And it all revolves around…spaghetti.

Do You Know Where Your Food Comes From?

The episode starts off deceptively cheerful, with the Smith-Sanchez family coming together to enjoy Rick’s “Spaghetti Thursday.” The spaghetti he serves is so delicious that it puts everyone in a good mood. However, in true Rick and Morty fashion, that joyful atmosphere’s shattered when Morty learns something horrible: Rick’s been getting the spaghetti from the bodies of dead people.

As Rick reveals, there’s a planet of aliens that look exactly like humans. The one difference is that when they commit suicide, their insides turn into the most delicious spaghetti ever made. The Smith family’s joy comes at the expense of someone else’s misery and death, and this planet doesn’t even realize it. They’ve never even heard of spaghetti. Horrified at this, Morty decides to tell the Spaghetti people the truth. 

On the surface, it seems like the morally right thing to do. However, Morty should know by now how easily this can backfire on everyone. There was the fiasco with the Snake Planet back in season four, and more recently, everything involving those solar knights. It runs counter to the lessons that Morty should’ve learned. In his defense, though, he just found out he’s committing cannibalism, so he’s understandably not thinking straight. 

Spoiler alert: his good intentions backfire, and this is where the episode gets interesting. 

Soylent Green and the Right to Die

Instead of being disgusted at this revelation, the leaders of Spaghetti Planet get an idea. They get people who, whether because they’re already dying or lost all hope, are willing to kill themselves and have them consent to having their remains turned into spaghetti. It works, too; the spaghetti’s as delicious as ever, as Morty finds out.

The right to die and the choice to end one’s life are things with major moral and ethical concerns surrounding them. If someone’s suffering from a terminal illness and they know they’ll die from it, do they have the right to end their own life rather than die a slow and painful death? And what about people so driven to despair that they choose to commit suicide? We should strive to help people in the latter case, but what about the former? Rick and Morty doesn’t have the answer, but it does use it to make people think.

Unfortunately, when their new export proves more popular than they can make, the Spaghetti Planet takes things too far. As Rick and Morty discover, their leaders deliberately turned their planet into a miserable dystopia to encourage people to kill themselves. In a grim nod to its infamy as a place of suicide, the alien equivalent of the Golden Gate Bridge has its safety nets replaced with sieves. 

No, I’m being serious. The Golden Gate Bridge is the most used suicide site in the world. Look it up!

Unfortunately, Morty’s attempts to come up with a moral alternative to this issue backfire, and with the secret out, aliens go around and verbally encourage the Spaghetti People to commit suicide. It’s disturbing, yet, at the same time, morbidly funny. 

As usual, though, it’s Rick who ends up solving everything by reminding the universe of one, key thing. And this is where the episode truly shines.

We Shouldn’t Cheapen the Value of Lives Ended

Rick knew that as long as people wanted that spaghetti, the cycle would never end. However, he, in his own messed up way, also knew that these weren’t just products waiting to be sold, but real people with their own stories. Thus, he finds a terminally ill man who’s willing to end his life if it will end the spaghetti trade, and he broadcasts his entire life for the universe to watch. They see this man’s entire life story, all its ups and downs, from start to finish as his life comes to a peaceful end. And then…they puke. 

What Rick did was a brilliant way to resolve the episode’s conflict. When people go to slaughterhouses and look in the eyes of the animals that die for them to eat, they can feel immense guilt and even swear off eating meat altogether. It’s easy to enjoy something when you don’t know the cost of what goes into it, and thanks to Rick, everyone finds the spaghetti to be in poor taste. In other words, ignorance is bliss. 

This is such a great way to end the episode. It warns people that sometimes, not knowing how something’s made is better than knowing. More than that, though, it serves as a poignant reminder of why the topic of suicide should be discussed more. Whether it’s about a person’s right to end their own life or what we can do to help those who feel the need to end it out of despair, this should be talked about more. And while Rick and Morty does use it for its messed-up sense of humor, it also cares enough to warn people of what’s being shown, and how we can help those suffering. 

Finally, a Good Rick and Morty Episode

By a wide margin, this was the best episode of the season thus far. This is what I want out of Rick and Morty! Now they need to keep that momentum going for the rest of the season. And to think all of this happened because of spaghetti.

I don’t think I can eat spaghetti for a few weeks without thinking about this episode…and I love that.

I Give “That’s Amorte” a 5/5

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Rick and Morty S7 Ep 3 Review

Rick and Morty is now three episodes into its seventh season, and the drop in quality is becoming more and more noticeable. Moving to the post-Justin Roiland era seems to be taking its toll on the show, even if the new voice actor’s seem to be giving it their all. The most glaring issue is the fact that Morty’s barely done anything thus far, with the first few episodes focusing on Rick with other characters. While this could be an attempt by the show to change up the formula by pairing Rick with other people, there are limits to how far this can go. Case in point, this week’s episode focuses on two adults that Rick has important, somewhat dysfunctional, relationships with: President Curtis, and his therapist, Dr. Wong. 

Also, Unity the hive mind from season two comes back.

After getting called into deal with yet another one of President Curtis’ problems, Rick has to deal with an even bigger matter at hand: the President wants to date his therapist. Understandably, Rick feels this is a step too far and tries to prevent that. Things get out of hand, though, when the President uses the state of Virginia achieving utopia as an excuse to get Dr. Wong involved. Which proves to be a mistake when it’s revealed that the utopia is the result of Rick’s ex, the hive mind Unity. 

Is Unity an Unnecessary Appearance?

Despite ghosting him all the way back in the second season, Unity came to Earth because she heard he resumed his hunt for Rick Prime. Being Rick, he brushes off her genuine attempts to reach out to him because he’s hurt and doesn’t want to be hurt again. However, it feels a little less than necessary. They could’ve included any character from Rick’s past and gotten the same denial of help from him.

Then again, had it been anyone else, then the episode wouldn’t have been able to work when President Curtis hijacks the Virginians in Unity’s hive mind. 

Over the course of the series, the love/hate relationship between Rick and President Curtis has become a major part of the show’s story. Both are men with unlimited resources, incredibly stubborn, and have a hard time admitting their shortcomings. In this case, when Curtis tries to hit on Wong and she bails due to seeing him for the man-child he is, he doesn’t take it well. Tired of no one liking him, he uses Unity’s hive mind to make everyone like him, forcing Rick and Unity to intervene. None of this does any good at impressing Dr. Wong, though, who remains as unflappable as ever.

A Concerning Decline in Quality?

To be perfectly honest, this episode wasn’t that good, which is concerning, since we’re now well into the season. Morty wasn’t involved once again, and having Rick and President Curtis fight again seems a bit tired at this point. The one good thing about this episode is that it shows why Dr. Wong is the Smith Family’s therapist. Even when faced with an end-of-the-world scenario, she maintains a calm, monotone manner of speaking. More importantly, she manages to talk Unity into helping Rick by pointing out something that almost no one else notices: Rick is changing for the better. It’s at a snail’s pace, but he’s doing it. 

That said, I don’t think Dr. Wong is cut out to get more involved in Rick’s adventures, by virtue of her job. The moment she becomes involved in Rick’s life in a non-professional manner, she loses her agency as one of the few people Rick listens to. At least she managed to get the President to admit he needs therapy, though.

I Give “Air Force Wong” a 2.5/5

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Rick and Morty S7 Ep 2 Review

Rick Sanchez and Jerry Smith couldn’t be greater polar opposites even if they tried. Rick’s a super-genius who can travel the multiverse at his leisure. Jerry’s the average Joe that married his daughter and represents the mediocrity that Rick despises. Yet as the show’s proven over the years, when they’re put into situations together, they mesh well. Jerry keeps Rick grounded, and Rick helps Jerry man up more than he would otherwise. It’s a genuinely fun dynamic to watch, and their last adventure at the fortune cookie company was a highlight of Season 6. The people writing Rick and Morty seem to enjoy making Rick and Jerry episodes, because this week’s sees them get closer than ever in a Freaky Friday-esque scenario. Now, they’re Burger and Fries!

Burger and Fries are Born

The episode starts off with how Rick and Jerry’s interactions usually begin. Jerry asks for help with the mundane problem of Gene stealing his rake, and Rick gives him the bare minimum of attention. However, when Jerry says that he’d do way more with himself if he had Rick’s smarts, Rick gets offended. Wanting to show him how being smart wouldn’t change Jerry from being Jerry, Rick comes up with a solution that parallels the Freaky Friday scenario. 

In the years since it was published, plenty of works of fiction have come up with some version of the Freaky Friday story. I even reviewed one in an episode of The Owl House on this blog. It’s a fun way to demonstrate how two characters would react to the situations in each other’s lives, and often fumble at it. However, the story goes out of its way to explain how this one differs. They’re only swapping their minds, memories and personalities, while their inherent intellect and brains stay the same. Or, as Rick puts it, they’re keeping the hardware. Their dare quickly goes off the rails, though, when both get hurt and Rick’s garage AI has to combine their brains. 

What results from this are two people who aren’t wholly Rick or Jerry. Instead, each of them has various aspects of both Rick and Jerry, and not only do they get along well, they end up becoming best friends. They also take to calling themselves “Burger and Fries” to show they’re now their own people. 

A Unique Take on the Freaky Friday Story

This is a very creative take on the usual Freaky Friday story, even if Rick says it’s not like Freaky Friday. Instead of gaining a better perspective on each other, viewers are shown what Rick and Jerry would be like if they weren’t always at odds as much as they are. It’s a compelling idea, and one that’s been touched upon at various points throughout the series. A major part of me wanted things to stay like this. Even if Burger and Fries wouldn’t last past the end of the episode, having their friendship remain would’ve been interesting. Alas, it was not meant to be, as when Burger and Fries fuse into a single entity called “Jerricky” to save the family from mobsters, the writing’s on the wall. Before the episode’s out, their true personalities resurface thanks to the rake that Gene did steal hitting them on the head. 

No, really. That’s how they get Rick and Jerry out from beneath Jerricky. I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a funny way of doing it, but it seems like a lazy deus ex machina. That makes two episodes now where Rick and Morty has seemingly dropped the ball.

An Average, if Safe, Episode

The episode did have some redeeming features beyond the short-lived Burger and Fries, though. The whole mess started when Morty gets caught selling crystals in the Underworld. The sight of Morty acting unfazed as the mobsters try desperately to please him shows how experienced he’s become. He knows he can get out of that mess, or his Grandpa will do so, and acts like a badass. Seeing him not caring in this image makes it all worth it.

Plus, the stinger also reveals that Memory Rick still exists, albeit now he’s stuck inside Jerry’s head. Maybe more will come out of that down the road. As far as episodes go, though, this was pretty average. 

In other news, this episode doesn’t make it clearer if the new guys voice Rick and Morty or this is just Justin’s old lines. If it’s the former, then they’ve completely mastered their new roles.

I Give “Jerrick Trap” a 3/5

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Rick and Morty S7, Ep 1 Review

It’s only been a year since the last season of Rick and Morty, but it might as well have been an eternity. In January 2023, Justin Roiland’s reputation imploded overnight when reports came out about him being a perverted jerk. Adult Swim and Hulu cut ties with him, and, for a time, the future of Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites remained in doubt. Solar Opposites moved on without any problems, replacing Justin’s role as Korvo with someone else. Who would voice Rick and Morty, though? Adult Swim said that they spent months going through thousands of auditions, but otherwise, they remained tight-lipped about the recast. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that fans got a first taste of the people (yes, two people) who would be the new voices of Rick and Morty. Even after the final season trailer dropped, they still wouldn’t reveal the names of Rick and Morty’s new VA’s, keeping it a secret until the night of the premiere.

The question on everyone’s mind going into the new season is how the new Rick and Morty would do. While it’s too soon to call it, after watching the season premiere, Rick and Morty might be in good hands. Unfortunately, the episode itself wasn’t as good as other season premieres have been in the past. 

Mr. Poopybutthole Gets a Grip on Life

The premise around the season premiere, whose title doesn’t include a variation of Rick or Morty’s name in it, is simple. Mr. Poopybutthole, the Smith-Sanchez family’s longtime friend that Beth shot, has hit rock bottom. He’s lost his job, his wife left him and took their kid, and now he’s freeloading Smith family’s goodwill and getting drunk. Since Rick’s the only one refusing to do anything about it, the family dumps the responsibility of intervening onto him. In typical Rick fashion, he decides to half-ass it by getting together his friends (Birdperson, Squanchy, Gearhead) and Gene from next door, and they all go out on a drinking bender. Then, to make things even crazier, Hugh Jackman (played by himself) shows up and puts it in Poopybutthole’s head that he should try and win his wife back. Chaos ensues as Rick, of all people, ends up being the one serving as the voice of reason.

To get to the main point, this wasn’t a good episode of Rick and Morty. It lacked the importance of last year’s premiere, which changed up the status quo as much as one can in this show. It isn’t even in the same league as the all-time great, “The Rickshank Redemption.” As fun as Mr. Poopybutthole can be as a character, he’s the kind best used sparingly. He’s been at his best when he’s commenting at the end of every season and the like. This didn’t use him to his full potential, and the episode suffered for it.

In addition, the episode ignores concepts that fans would’ve found way more interesting. This was the first time Squanchy appeared since the ill-fated wedding. Learning how he survived the Federation attack would’ve been interesting. We now see Birdperson’s daughter is going through an emo phase that he barely knows how to deal with. Why not focus on that? The show feels like it dropped the ball on a lot of things here, even there were a few good jokes.

The most egregious sin, though, is that it barely used Morty, denying us the chance to hear his new VA’s chops.

Meet Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden, the new Rick and Morty

The real draw of the entire episode, though, is something fans have wanted to know since Justin got fired: who’s voicing Rick and Morty now? We finally got our answer, and the best part is that they’re completely unknown.

Say hello to Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden, the new voices of Rick and Morty, respectively. Both of them are relative nobodies in the entertainment industry. Right after the first episode premiered, I went on Instagram and checked out Ian’s profile. It only cleared a hundred followers after I followed him. In other words, these guys have just been given the chance of a lifetime. If they play their cards right, this could send their careers into the stratosphere. 

While Harry didn’t get much of a chance to show off his work as Morty, Ian Cardoni did, and he excelled. You could barely tell that someone other than Justin Roiland was voicing him! He’s got my approval as a fan.

So, we’re now in the post-Justin era of Rick and Morty. The first episode wasn’t good, but at least we know the new Rick can hold his own. 

I Give “How Poopy Got his Poop Back” a 2/5

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Solar Opposites Season 4 Review

Last year, I forgot to write a review for the third season of Solar Opposites, or chose not to. Considering the fact that since then, Justin Roiland got fired, that might have been a mistake. However, I’m not making that same mistake. Especially since the show now has not one, but two interesting sub-plots going on. It’s no longer just The Wall that’s an interesting sub-plot for the series. Now there’s also the story of Glen and the Silvercops!

The Solar Opposites Can’t Stay Normal

At the end of the last season, the Pupa went berserk due to the lack of stability amongst the team. To keep them from doing that again, the Solar Opposites had to shun almost all their sci-fi stuff and live normal lives. They hated it, though, with a passion, and wanted nothing more than to go back to the sci-fi adventures they had. While they do try their best to keep that promise, by the end of the season, it’s for naught. Even when they try to avoid it, the sci-fi stuff keeps finding them. 

To the show’s credit, this season does make a concerted effort to have the Solar Opposites rely less on their sci-fi stuff. This results in them getting to get in and out of trouble on their own merits. It’s just that the stuff that keeps happening nessecitates their continued use of sci-fi. This lets the show keep its initial premise intact, albeit downplayed, a sign of it developing its own identity.

On that note, let’s talk about Dan Stevens replacing Justin Roiland as Korvo. At first, it felt jarring for me to listen to, but the way they do it is so clever, I had to respect how the show turned lemons into lemonade. After a while, Dan grew on me, too. Kind of like how the Wall grew on the fans.

Good Riddance to the Bowinian Church

Speaking of the Wall, that sub-plot continues to remain as entertaining as ever. When last seen, the Wall fell under the control of the Bowinian Church, a religion that worships Jesse as a god. In addition, their leader kidnapped Cherie’s daughter, Pezlie, to use as a messianic puppet by claiming she was a gift from Jesse. Naturally, Cherie’s furious at this, and willing to do anything to get her daughter back. Worse, the Church now controls half the Wall as this medieval cult, and their new leader, Sisto, is willing to freeze the whole Wall to gain control. 

Had the show been more daring, it could’ve had done a big timeskip into the future and had Pezlie grow up as this puppet of Sisto. That could then have her become an enemy of her real mother and create this dramatic conflict. Thankfully, the show didn’t opt to do that, instead having the Wall plot focus on Cherie getting her daughter back without that drama. While it shows that Cherie’s willing to lie and decieve her own allies to get what she wants, we should cut her some slack. Her daughter was kidnapped and going to be brainwashed by this cult, and her allies weren’t willing to help her. A parent will do crazy things for their kid.

The conclusion for the Wall plot this season winds up being open-ended. While it does end on a somewhat positive note, there’s enough leg room for it to continue in the future.

If this is the end to the Wall plot, then it would make room for the Silvercops plot.

Glen and Silvercops are the New Thing!

Last season dropped a bombshell with the reveal of the Green Lantern-esque Silvercops. They’re supposed to be an elite police force protecting the universe from people like the Shlorpians. However, as shown in their interactions with the human-turned-castaway Glen, many of them turn out to be corrupt and self-serving, leaving Glen to die. Against all odds, though, Glen survives and makes it back to civilization.

Much like with the Wall plot before it, the show dedicates an extended period of time to Glen and the Silvercops, albeit only an episode and a half. Glen ends up finding a new family in space and witnesses once more how corrupt the Silvercops are. It’s a direct reference to the growing distrust of law enforcement in the present day, with many growing to fear or act outright hostile to police, especially those who have been marginalized. When push comes to shove, Glen ultimately opts to leave his new and fufilling life to get revenge on the Silvercops that wronged him. 

This story has a lot of potential in the works. Considering the enmity the Silvercops have for the Shlorpians, this could also tie back into the main storyline down the line. At the moment, though, it appears to be taking things slowly. Which is fine, since they just started.

Solar Opposites Can Go on Without Justin

When Justin Roiland was disgraced in January, many feared that the shows he helped create would crash and burn. Howver, given how good it remains in this new season, I think Solar Opposites has done a lot to alleviate people’s concerns. It’s in good hands with Hulu. 

Once again, though, the season ends with an evidently major shake-up of the status quo, with the Solar Opposites moving to another world. Could this mean restarting many of the plots from before? A new version of the Wall? Will the original Wallians now take over their house? It should be interesting to see how this turns out!

I Give the Fourth Season of Solar Opposites a 4.5/5

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Click here to go to the Solar Opposites Lessonalyzer. This is a real thing

Oh. My. Rick. Adult Swim did it. They actually did it. Justin Roiland is out of Rick and Morty! This is big news in the entertainment world, and could decide the success of not only Rick and Morty, but everything else Justin Roiland’s been a part of going forward.

Needless to say, my jaw dropped when I read the news.

Justin Roiland is Fired

For those who don’t know, a few weeks ago, NBC released an article revealing that Justin Roiland, the co-creator, and voice of Rick and Morty, was facing domestic violence charges. In addition, several women came forward saying that he had harassed them online in years past. The resulting backlash from fans was massive, with people turning their backs on Justin in a few short days. Justin Roiland went from being a beloved creator and voice actor to a pariah in a matter of days, with many wondering if the stuff he worked on would survive. 

Wonder no more. Earlier this evening, Adult Swim and Rick and Morty’s official Twitter account released a statement that was short but to the point: Justin Roiland was out of Rick and Morty. However, the statement also confirmed that the show would continue production, with his roles as the titular duo recast. There’s no word on the fate of his roles in shows like Solar Opposites, though. 

Rick and Morty Might Live Yet

This is absolutely big news. Like I said before, my jaw dropped when I heard this on Twitter, with multiple news sites reporting the same thing. Firstly, it means that the worse-case scenario has seemingly been avoided. Rick and Morty will continue without Justin Roiland. This should be a cause of celebration for fans of the show. On the other hand, there’s still the question of whether the show can last without Justin Roiland. He’s been the voice of Rick and Morty from the beginning; his voice is easily recognizable. Having to recast the titular duo so late in the game could be a major turn-off for fans. Then again, there’s no shortage of people online who do great impersonations of Rick and Morty. If worse comes to worse, Adult Swim can use AI software.

I honestly think that this is the best outcome we can get for the moment. Rick and Morty will continue for the time being, and Justin Roiland will reap the consequences of his actions. Even if he’s found not guilty, his career may never recover. Fingers crossed that Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites can continue without him, because there’s plot threads dangling that I want to see resolved!

Update: Justin also fired from Solar Opposites and Koala Man

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My Reaction to the Justin Roiland Controversy

Last week, NBC News reported that Justin Roiland, co-creator of Rick and Morty, appeared before the district court in Orange County, California, for a pre-trial hearing. According to the report, Justin faces felony charges relating to an incident from January, 2020, with a criminal complaint case being filed in May of that year. The alleged incident and complaint charge Justin Roiland with felony domestic violence, along with false imprisonment, involving a woman he was dating at the time. He was arrested later that year and released on bail. 

While no trial date has been set at the time of this writing, the news that the co-creator of Rick and Morty was facing criminal charges sent the Internet into a frenzy. While I have kept my head out of the ensuing flame war thus far, what I have seen isn’t very encouraging. Fans seem split, unsure thus far about whether Justin is guilty or not. Some are more concerned at how this is the first the public’s heard about this. In addition, many fans are worried about the future of shows like Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites. Justin’s their co-creator and plays the main characters on both. If found guilty and sent to prison, Adult Swim and Hulu could either replace his role’s with someone else or drop the show’s altogether. 

The Leaked DMs Make Things Worse

To make matters worse, this week, screenshots of supposed DMs between Justin and a minor surfaced on Twitter. The DMs depict Justin messaging a teenage girl and using incredibly vulgar and offensive words and phrases. 

Not helping matters is Kotaku’s report that Justin’s gaming studio, Squanch Games, was sued by a former employee for sexual harassment. While Justin himself was not involved, his status as CEO means he’ll still get the flak for it.

I went on Twitter to look at fan reactions to these further allegations, and the results are not good. Many fans are disgusted with Justin Roiland and plan to turn their backs on his shows. Some have even brought up the very real possibility that Adult Swim and Hulu could either cancel or choose not to renew Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites, and Koala Man. With Rick and Morty having recently finished its best season in years, the time couldn’t be worse.

What Do I Think? 

What do I think about all of this, though? I have been a fan of Justin Roiland for years, ever since I first heard him play the Earl of Lemongrab back on Adventure Time. I love Rick and Morty and think its one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, and Justin is hilarious as the titular duo. So, it begs the question: how do I feel about these accusations? Truth be told, I don’t know.

I don’t know enough about what’s happening, as this story only broke a week ago. More details will likely surface in the coming months, and I know that many fans will be paying attention to them, myself included. As we learn more, I’ll be able to form a better opinion on what’s going on. However, at the moment, I feel disappointed and sorry. I am disappointed that Justin might be the latest show creator to do stupid stuff like this. I’ve lost all respect for him if this is true.

More than that, though, I feel bad for the people who work on his projects. The people who work on things like Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites, and High on Life are all talented individuals who worked hard to entertain us over the years. Thanks to this scandal, though, the future of their work could be in doubt. They shouldn’t have to waste years of their lives because of the mistake of someone else like this. I want these shows to continue, but if they get dropped, I hope the people who work on them can continue working in the industry if they wish to. At least they deserve that much. 

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Rick and Morty S6, Ep 10 Review

Two steps forward, one step back; it’s a term I like to use when fictional characters undergo development only to backslide partially. I’m mentioning this because after watching the season finale of Rick and Morty, I feel like an idiot. In my previous episode review, I kept asserting Rick was improving and trying to be a better grandson to Morty. It turns out that Justin and Dan played us! However, because they played us, the season finale was so good. That, and it made some jabs at Star Wars.

Just because I love something enough to stick with it doesn’t mean I won’t offer criticism. In hindsight, you can compare that to what happens with Rick and Morty in the finale.

Never Give a Kid a Real Lightsaber Without Proper Training

It’s Christmastime for the Smith family, and Rick’s acting nicer than ever, even giving Morty an actual, working lightsaber as a gift. What should a dream come true, though, turns into a nightmare when a mishap sends the blade tumbling towards the planet’s core. Morty’s desperate attempts to get it back reveal that the “Rick” who gave him the lightsaber is a robot. After being called “boring” by Morty last episode, Rick felt betrayed. Thus, he replaced himself with a nicer robot decoy that could be the grandpa Morty wanted. Meanwhile, he’s returned to his obsession with Rick Prime.

This could’ve been an easy way for the writers to make all of Rick’s character development null and void. It would’ve reduced Rick and Morty’s relationship to its absolute lowest. It might have even made the Smith family regress as a whole. Instead, the show chose to have that still matter. Rick tried to be better but wound up backsliding, much to Morty’s indignation. Morty’s so mad, he refuses to ask Rick or Rickbot for help, turning to President Curtis instead.

From this point on, the episode starts throwing barbs at Star Wars and the fandom. If you’re a Star Wars fan, you know how divisive and toxic the fandom can be. People gatekeep it, insist that they’re the true fans, and refuse to acknowledge certain pieces of media and dump on it. They even have President Curtis dump on the Sequel Trilogy and how it wasn’t that good. Things like this make me wonder why I am a fan of the franchise. 

The answer: I know how it can be better, and so can Rick.

Rick Can grow, But He Also Needs That Closure

Like I said at the beginning, two steps forward, one step back. Rick has learned to let people in despite all the hardships he’s faced. However, he’s spent forty years looking for Rick Prime. That’s not something he can let go of, no matter how much he wants to. I may not like this obsession, but I understand where he’s coming from.

It’s like what I said about Star Wars. Even if things go bad with it, I’m not turning my back on it. I’ve seen what it can be when it’s good, and we’ve seen what Rick can be when he’s a good person. 

So, after a hilarious battle in space against the President (Rickbot doesn’t make it), Morty decides not to leave alone. He’s going to help Rick find Rick Prime. And that is where Season 6 ends

Let the Hunt Begin!

So, what do I think of the season finale of Rick and Morty? I loved it. I love the jabs at Star Wars, its varying degrees of quality, and the angry fans. I thought the Rickbot twist was the best of both worlds. And I love how Season 7 might see Rick and Morty start to hunt down the Rickest Rick of them all.

In addition, next year marks the show’s tenth anniversary. The fact that it’s still going strong after ten years is a testament to how great the show is. This season was one of the show’s best, and I’m hoping that next year can keep up that momentum. Rick and Morty forever and forever ten years of Rick and Morty!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

I Give “Ricktional Mortpoon’s Rickmas Mortcation” a 5/5

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Rick and Morty Season 6, Ep 9 Review

Season Six of Rick and Morty is almost over, and it is some of the best the show’s been in years. Not only is it as hilarious as ever, but it highlights the character growth the Smith family’s gone through since the show’s inception. Nowhere is this more evident than with Rick Sanchez himself. He’s learning to embrace attachments and that the people in his life matter. He’s even willingly going to therapy! He has slid back a few times, but overall, his growth has been consistent. And the season’s penultimate episode serves as a way to shut up those doubting his sincerity. 

And it’s all because Morty doesn’t want to lose a certain body part.

The Silliest Knights Under the Sun. Or On the Sun

The main premise behind the episode is a chance encounter leading Morty to join a knightly order that protects the Sun and becomes their leader. At first, it seems cool: they can live on the actual Sun and never have to die unless they want to. However, this comes with the caveat that they have to remove a certain organ that most guys don’t want to lose. Yikes.

Morty wisely decides to bail, but the knights prove so annoying that he has to drive them away by scientifically proving their beliefs are full of it. However, this backfires when it’s revealed that every planet has this medieval sci-fi society, and now they all want to be in charge. A Game of Thrones war ensues, and Morty just wants them to leave him alone.

From the outset, this entire premise didn’t grab my attention. I normally love this type of story, but it’s a very silly idea about very silly people doing silly and dumb things. As the show writers put it, it’s like dumping Morty into season six of Game of Thrones without any glossary and expecting him to care. Instead, the whole thing seems silly and dumb, and we know it is. I would’ve forgotten the entire episode were it not for one, crucial factor: Rick Sanchez…is being nice.

Rick Might Actually Be Changing

This whole season of Rick and Morty has seen Rick finally start to do something about his character flaws. He acknowledges how toxic his cynical mindset is and begins consciously trying to change it. And this episode shows him continuing the change in attitude we saw last week. 

While he initially mocks Morty’s interest in the knights, most of the episode sees Rick take a passive role in favor of his grandson. He makes no cynical remarks or disparaging comments; he just helps Morty like most grandparents would. The concept of Rick acting nice is so alien to Morty and to most viewers that both keep wondering, “what’s the catch, Rick? You can’t be doing this without some ‘I told you so’ moment set up.” That’s exactly what happened in the “Vat of Acid Episode“!

No, though. Rick is actually trying to be supportive of Morty. Getting called boring by Morty in the opening made him decide to roll with everything. Let Morty make his own mistakes and help out when it’s too much for him. It might be strange from Morty’s perspective, but it’s nice to see Rick sticking to his character arc.

Morty’s Member is Saved!

In the end, Morty realizes the only way to stop the pointless conflict is to sacrifice his member, or at least pretend he did. Thus, Rick helps him pull off an elaborate ruse to fool the Knights of the Sun. When that doesn’t work, though, they fake their own deaths ala Vat of Acid.

I found this callback to the “Vat of Acid Episode” to be extremely satisfying from a narrative standpoint. Before, it was a scheme of Rick’s that went wrong. Not only did he refuse to admit his mistake, he cruelly forced Morty into a scenario where his only out was the vat. In contrast, here they just fake their deaths. The Knights give up their silly practice in honor of Morty’s “sacrifice”, and despite knowing that Morty’s still alive, they decide not to do anything about it. I would too; it would make going to the bathroom so much harder.

In short, this whole episode felt incredibly silly and could be taken as a jab at how some beliefs don’t make any sense. The saving grace is that it shows Rick’s character growth isn’t a one-off thing, and that he intends to stick with it. However, with one episode left next week, we’ll see if Rick really can change. Fingers crossed. 

Also, apparently Jack Black guest-starred as one of those people fighting this episode. That’s awesome!

I Give “A Rick in King Mortur’s Mort” a 3/5

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Rick and Morty Season 6, Episode 8 Review

The moment this flashed on our screens last night, I wondered what Rick and Morty would do this time. They’re no stranger to tackling dark subjects. They’ve covered things that could traumatize someone in real life several times now but through the lens of black comedy. However, ‘Analyze Piss’ hits differently. Not only does it handle suicide with all the gravity it should get, but shows Rick trying to do the right thing for the sake of it. It’s the best episode of the season since the season premiere…and it revolves around something gross like piss.

Rick Goes to Therapy of His Own Free Will

Following another battle with Mr. Nimbus, Rick gets fed up with all the random D-list supervillains popping up trying to fight him. After talking it over with Dr. Wong, Rick challenges himself to ignore the villains for a week and see what happens. 

Firstly, we should talk about the fact that Rick willingly went to therapy, something he adamantly opposed in the past. He turned himself into a pickle to get out of it! If anything, this decision hammers home Rick’s character growth since the season premiere. He’s slowly accepting that there are people he cares about and that he doesn’t want to lose them, which he risks if he keeps giving in to these haters and trolls, who these weird villains serve as stand-ins for. 

Jerry Keeps Getting W’s this Season

In an even stranger twist, it’s Jerry who ends up taking the spotlight. When the Piss Master, a villain whose whole gimmick revolves around piss, makes a lewd comment about Summer, Jerry manages to beat the piss out of him! The next thing he knows, he’s invited to join a group of Green Lantern expy’s and using a mech suit to blow up a planet of Hitlers. No, I’m not joking. He blows up a planet of aliens who are all space Hitlers.

This whole season’s been filled with W’s for Jerry, honestly. First, he decides to stay with his Smith family of choice. Then, he scores with both Beth and Space Beth. Now, he’s managing to be an actual hero. Given how much of a punching bag he can be, good for Jerry. Too bad that “Analyze Piss” takes a dark and heavy turn.

‘Analyze Piss’ is a Heavy Look on Suicide

Despite promising to stay out of things, Rick takes pity on Piss Master after hearing how many people have railed on him online and decides to visit him. However, he’s shocked to discover that Piss Master committed suicide in his bathtub, all from being humiliated and ridiculed, thanks to Jerry. This was dark, and played for almost zero laughs. Piss Master was a man who wanted to prove everyone that he wasn’t a failure, only to die alone and miserable. It’s genuinely heartbreaking to watch.

What happens next, though, is both touching and disgusting to watch. Out of genuine kindness, Rick decides to disguise himself as Piss Master and embark on a spree of disgusting heroism so everyone will remember him as a hero. Dr. Wong even approves, saying it’s a good outlet, even when Rick admits he plans to fake his death so no one knows the truth.

Inevitably, things go awry when Jerry gets involved, ruining his own reputation and getting him kicked out. All Rick had to do was keep his mouth shut and let everyone think he was Piss Master, but he ends up blabbing to Morty, who tells everyone else. At least Piss Master won’t be remembered as a loser, though.

Overall, as gross as this episode was, I think it was the best episode of the season since the premiere. Rick’s really making the effort to be a better person, and it shows. Next time, though, just don’t have it involve piss. I can’t stand that kind of humor.

I Give “Analyze Piss” a 5/5

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