Although Rick’s character growth could hardly be called the picture of healthy adjustment, episodes of Rick and Morty like "Pickle Rick” or “The Vat of Acid Episode” were mostly focused on Rick's internal growth.

Whether his worldview was reinforced or challenged, Rick was usually the center of attention in these outings. However, season 7, episode 10, “Fear No Mort,” focused entirely on Morty and even revealed that Rick was barely in the episode during its twist ending. This proves that Rick and Morty season 8 will be the show’s most exciting outing in years. Finally, the series can now center on Morty’s character growth, as Rick has finally found his equivalent of stability.

Rick Handled His Unity Reunion Well In “Air Force Wong”

Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 3 Proved He Has Matured

Although he was despondent after the death of Rick Prime earlier in season 7, I knew that Rick would soon rebound and become more stable and ive of Morty than ever before. Even though season 6's finale made it clear that Rick’s search for Rick Prime had driven him to the brink of madness, season 7 immediately clarified that he wasn't as unstable as he may have seemed. In fact, as strange as it sounds, Rick was in a better place throughout season 7 than ever before.

It was season 7, episode 3, “Air Force Wong,” that truly convinced me Rick had changed and was ready to improve himself.

He dropped his obsessive search for Rick Prime to help Mr. Poopybutthole get back on his feet as early as season 7, episode 1, “How Poopy Got His Poop Back,” and reconciled with Birdperson in the process. Rick and Morty’s season 7 premiere proved Rick wasn't putting his entire existence on hold to search for Rick Prime, and was nowhere near as unhinged as he seemed at the end of season 6’s finale. However, it was season 7, episode 3, “Air Force Wong,” that truly convinced me Rick had changed and was ready to improve himself.

Rick Reconciled With The President and Dr. Wong In “Air Force Wong”

Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 3 Also Ended Two Long-Running Feuds

Not only did the show’s eponymous antihero return to therapy with Susan Sarandon’s Dr. Wong, but Rick reunited amicably with his old love interest Unity in “Air Force Wong.” This was early evidence that, aside from his pursuit of Rick Prime, he had truly matured as a character. When viewers last saw Unity in season 2, episode 3, “Auto Erotic Assimilation,” the hive mind left Rick because of his self-destructive, reckless behavior. Christina Hendricks’ alien explained that, although the hive mind was devastated to leave Rick, they couldn’t stand by and watch him waste his life.

Unity explained that they had been worried about Rick and, although he remained bitter about the breakup, Rick accepted their concern and reassured them.

Dejected, Rick attempted to take his own life in the closing scenes of “Auto Erotic Assimilation.” This was one of the darkest moments in Rick and Morty’s history, so the prospect of Rick reuniting amicably with the hive mind seemed about as likely as a Rick and Morty live-action movie. However, an amicable reunion is exactly what viewers got in “Air Force Wong.” Unity explained that they had been worried about Rick and, although he remained bitter about the breakup, Rick accepted their concern and reassured them.

Rick’s Season 7 Character Growth Came At The Perfect Time

Rick and Morty Season 7’s Later Episodes Ended Rick’s Biggest Story

Fortunately, Rick’s long-awaited character growth came about at the perfect time for the series. By killing off Rick Prime, Rick and Morty allowed the show to move on from constantly centering Rick’s tortured inner world. At first, episodes like “Auto Erotic Assimilation” were welcome surprises that proved Rick and Morty wasn’t as light-hearted and silly as it seemed and had some emotional depth. However, as Rick kept repeating the same toxic patterns over the years, it became harder to watch him manipulate his loved ones and seek out self-destruction.

Some of my favorite Rick and Morty episodes are the lighter, sillier misadventures that don't concern themselves with Rick’s internal world, and season 8 can provide more of these now that the Rick Prime plot is over. Killing Rick Prime didn’t grant Rick the absolution and catharsis he might have imagined for himself, but “Fear No Mort” proved that getting his late wife Diane back wouldn't have saved him either.

In the end, Rick needed to stop torturing himself and others over the hardships he faced in the past and move on. He couldn’t do that when he first met Unity, but his reconciliation with the alien hive mind proved he was on the right path. As such, it was another exciting development to see him finally get rid of Rick Prime later in season 7. Now, Rick and Morty season 8 can move forward with a newly hopeful title character.