Rick And Morty Betrayed Its Most Important Episode’s Message Only 4 Years Later And Will Continue To Do So In Season 8
Although Rick and Morty has evolved a lot over the years, it has maintained its quirky yet charming personality alongside its meta humor, but the series betrayed its most important episode's message in season 7. Naturally, Rick and Morty has undergone several changes throughout its seven seasons, with significant departures and new ideas all impacting the franchise. Still, despite some fans claiming the show isn't what it once was, the animated hit remains one of the most talked about projects on TV and has an eighth season in the works, proving it's still popular over a decade after its debut.
Unfortunately, holding on to a core theme has been difficult for Rick and Morty, not just because of all the changes, but because its very nature forces it to constantly adapt. Although there is an overall narrative, the series consists predominantly of one-shot episodes focusing on a single adventure, meaning the story doesn't explore a single key issue like most traditional TV shows. However, the franchise frequently tries to convey important ideas, and while one of Rick and Morty's best anthology episodes outlined an important message, it has since been contradicted, which looks likely to continue in season 8.
“Never Ricking Morty” Was About How Rick And Morty Doesn’t Need Overarching Stories
The Episode Highlights The Clichés Of Large Scale Narratives
Season 4, episode 6, "Never Ricking Morty" saw the protagonists overcome Story Lord, who tried to milk Rick and Morty for their endless story potential. Strangers told tales about Rick Sanchez throughout the episode, highlighting how exciting each adventure could be, but it also poked fun at the need for an overarching narrative. In order to help their breathing, the titular characters inhaled "emergency continuity", a blatant joke about fans who obsessed over characters like Evil Morty coming back to help progress the overall plot. There were also jokes about having to be grounded and immersive, further continuing this gag.
While the creators are obviously aware of how important the larger narrative is, the show has always been about standalone adventures, something "Never Ricking Morty" appeared to remind the audience of. Many of Rick and Morty's best episodes have simply been one-offs, and while some did introduce fan favorites who have since been brought back, it's the creativity of not overthinking a wider story that helped them stand out. With the message not so subtly indicating that the series didn't depend on an overall plot, it has been a major surprise to see the later seasons betray this concept.
Rick And Morty Ended Up Relying On “Canonical” Stories Anyway (Especially In Season 7)
Overarching Story Episodes Have Become An Integral Part Of Rick & Morty
Even though season 4 hinted at the series not needing overarching stories to excel, Rick and Morty later relied on them, with season 7 in particular being carried by its canonical episodes. Season 6 started and ended with episodes about the Citadel and Rick Prime, with season 7 also heavily prioritizing the show's two main antagonists. The latest installment failed to really shine when it wasn't focusing on the overall story, as "Unmortricken" and "Fear No Mort" were by far season 7's best outings, both of which focused on the death of Rick Prime and the aftermath.
Although the series isn't necessarily producing a much larger number of canonical episodes than it did previously, the standalone adventures seem to be dwindling in quality, yet the more narrative-driven stories are performing exceptionally well. Rick Prime's death won't impact Rick and Morty season 8 much despite being a huge loss, as Evil Morty is still around, suggesting there could be a heavier reliance than ever on these sorts of tales.
With season 7's finale emphasizing Rick and Morty's character development, it seems inevitable there will be more canonical episodes down the line.
Perhaps the recent focus on the high-stakes lore was simply an attempt to conclude the Rick Prime arc, but with season 7's finale emphasizing Rick and Morty's character development, it seems inevitable there will be more canonical episodes down the line. The departure of Justin Roiland made the most recent batches more experimental considering it was a new era for the show, but season 8 will be a big test as to how well the franchise can mix overarching and standalone episodes.
Rick And Morty Season 7 Was The End For Rick Prime (But Not For Evil Morty)
Scott Marder Confirmed There Are Future Plans For Evil Morty
With Rick Prime being killed off in season 7, it seems like his journey is over, but Evil Morty is still around and will likely be back in 2025. Despite Rick and Morty having plenty of tricks that can prevent a character's death from being permanent, the Rick Prime arc has run its course, and given how important his demise was to Rick C-137's story, keeping the antagonist dead feels like the right move. However, the show isn't without an antagonist, as according to Variety, Rick and Morty writer, Scott Marder, claimed there are still big plans for the character.
We can expect to see him in the future. We certainly have plans and grand designs with him, for sure.
Given he is arguably Rick and Morty's most powerful villain, fans will undoubtedly enjoy seeing him back in action, as he has gained a huge following over the years. Alongside being a fan favorite, his ability to outsmart Rick and the tools he has at his disposal to cause major problems make him incredibly compelling. Even with Rick Prime out of the picture, the franchise still has plenty of overarching story potential assuming they want to continue going down that route, and Evil Morty seems to be a huge part of those plans going forward.
Rick And Morty’s Future Will Be A Mixture Of Canonical & Standalone Episodes
Dan Harmon Suggested Rick & Morty Will Continue To Mix Its Overall Narrative With One-Off Adventures
Rick and Morty's new era could still signal plenty of changes in the future, but as of now, it will continue to consist of both canonical and standalone episodes. The series has always done a fairly good job of balancing the two, as the more story-driven tales certainly felt like a breath of fresh air among the show's regular one-off adventures. Recently, there has been a struggle with getting the balance right, but Dan Harmon's confirmation to Variety that there will be serialized stories alongside returning fan favorites means things won't be changing too drastically despite the show's rebirth.
Dan Harmon and Scott Marder confirmed that Rick and Morty has been renewed for seasons 11 and 12 at Adult Swim.
Mixing both forms of storytelling is the best format Rick and Morty can pursue, as it gives fans the best of both worlds. The one-off trips to random planets and introduction of new characters would feel meaningless if there was never any connection. However, the show following one continuous narrative would risk getting too serious and lose some of the charm that makes Rick and Morty so special. Hopefully, the franchise can recapture the magic of the earlier seasons, and continuing the "vibe and flow" style will surely help make the future look more promising for the series.
Source: Variety
Rick and Morty is an animated science fiction series that follows the eccentric scientist Rick Sanchez and his impressionable grandson Morty Smith as they embark on perilous adventures across space and alternate dimensions. The show explores the impact of these exploits on Morty's tumultuous family life and personal challenges.
- Network
- Adult Swim
- Cast
- Spencer Grammer, Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Sarah Chalke, Kari Wahlgren, Dan Harmon, Maurice LaMarche, Tom Kenny, Dustin Ybarra, Dana Carvey, john oliver, Werner Herzog, Stephen Colbert, Nathan Fillion, Danny Trejo, Christian Slater, Logic, Jordan Peele, Nathan Fielder, Melique Berger, Tony Hale, Joel McHale, Ian Cardoni, Harry Belden
- Showrunner
- Dan Harmon
- Seasons
- 8
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
