While Rick and Morty’s most self-referential episode might be a personal favorite, I still find its message deeply ironic given the animated comedy’s subsequent trajectory. When Rick and Morty first began, it was one of the most episodic shows on TV. The events of one episode seemed to have no bearing on the story of the next, and this was part of the show’s anarchic appeal. However, even as early season 2’s premiere, I started to notice the series taking Rick’s poignant personality more seriously.
By the time Rick and Morty’s now-infamous “Pickle Rick” episode aired, I was fully invested in the show’s canon even if the Adult Swim hit barely hinted at Rick’s backstory. Despite this, I found it hilarious when season 4, episode 6, “Never Ricking Morty,” mocked the very idea of consistent canon with its self-aware plot. In “Never Ricking Morty,” Rick and Morty wake up on the "Story Train," a story device that was used by the villainous Story Lord to trap the duo.
“Never Ricking Morty” Was About How The Show Didn’t Need “Canon” Episodes
The Absurd Episode Mocked The Idea of Rick and Morty’s Canon
Story Lord wanted to use Rick and Morty’s story potential to break through the fifth wall, and he employed all manner of meta-tricks to achieve this. There were callbacks to old episodes, a deus ex machina, and eventually even a confrontation with the show’s creator. While ’s season 7 ending might have been more profound in of the main character's journeys, “Never Ricking Morty” did a fantastic job of mocking the ways that both episodic and serialized TV shows fall back on reliable patterns to make storytelling more convenient.
Rick and Morty even brought back characters like Evil Morty to parody the very premise of the series utilizing a multi-season antagonist as its big-picture villain.
As such, I was shocked when I realized upon a re-watch that Rick and Morty completely disproved the apparent message of “Never Ricking Morty” as the show continued. “Never Ricking Morty” implied that Rick and Morty didn’t need canon storylines to succeed, and the show even brought back characters like Evil Morty to parody the very premise of the series utilizing a multi-season antagonist as its big-picture villain. However, season 5’s premiere featured a nod to Rick’s backstory, and season 5’s show-shaking finale proved Evil Morty was a pivotal villain after all.
Rick And Morty Betrayed Its Message By Relying On Evil Morty And Rick Prime Again
Rick and Morty Seasons 5, 6, and 7 All Relied On Major Canon Plots
Not only did season 5, episode 10, “Rickmurai Jack,” reveal that Evil Morty was behind an elaborate multi-season plan to get revenge on Rick, but the series continued this storyline for another two seasons after the twist. “Rickmurai Jack” also finally explained Rick’s backstory, revealing that his wife and child were killed by an alternate version of himself years earlier. While ’s sequel episodes always existed, this outing was unique in that “Rickmurai Jack” set up a cohesive serialized plot that only made sense for viewers who had followed every installment.
I can’t help but find it ironic that Rick and Morty mocked the idea of relying on serialized storytelling only a season before it became the show’s new norm.
Earlier sequel episodes like season 2, episode 8, “Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate,” worked as standalone outings, but the saga of Rick, Evil Morty, and Rick Prime was fully serialized. This plot lasted three seasons, beginning in earnest during season 5’s finale and ending with Rick Prime’s death in season 7, episode 5, “Unmortricken.” Looking back, I can’t help but find it ironic that Rick and Morty mocked the idea of relying on this style of serialized storytelling only a season before it became the show’s new norm.
“Never Ricking Morty” Feels Weird Now That We Know Where The Show Is Going
Rick and Morty’s Future Will Continue To Balance Canonical Plots With Episodic Stories
It is bizarre to watch “Never Ricking Morty” with hindsight since Rick and Morty now balances serialized storylines and standalone episodes on a regular basis and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. According to a Rick and Morty season 8 may feature more standalone episodes since season 7 provided a fairly definitive ending to the Rick Prime plot, but the show still intends to utilize serialized storytelling going forward.
To be clear, I enjoy Rick and Morty’s serialized plots, and think that few of the show’s standalone episodes can compare to “Unmortricken” in of emotional impact. The format allows the series to tell bigger, more ambitious stories, which inevitably means these plots have higher stakes and feel more impactful.
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Rick and Morty season 8 can't simply return to its comfortable routine after season 7's ending, but this is secretly a good thing for the series.
That said, it is undeniably ironic that “Never Ricking Morty” wrings so many laughs out of the very idea that Rick and Morty would take itself seriously and attempt a big, series-defining dramatic plot. After all, it was only ten episodes later that the cartoon started its most dramatic story so far, and that plot continued for two full seasons of Rick and Morty.
Source: Variety
Rick and Morty
- Release Date
- December 2, 2013
- Network
- Adult Swim
- Showrunner
- Dan Harmon
Cast
Summer Smith (voice)
Justin RoilandRick Sanchez / Morty Smith
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Bryan Newton, Dominic Polcino, Anthony Chun, John Rice, Stephen Sandoval, Jeff Myers
- Writers
- Tom Kauffman, Wade Randolph, Eric Acosta, David Phillips, Erica Rosbe, Sarah Carbiener, Matt Roller, Michael Waldron, Caitie Delaney
- Franchise(s)
- Rick and Morty
- Creator(s)
- Justin Roiland, Dan Harmon
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