Then, in episode 3, “One Crew Over the Crewcoo’s Morty,” Morty is devoting himself to his creative interests and professional ambitions. The first episode centers on Morty displaying an exaggerated version of typical teen behavior: rebelling against the instructions of his elders and putting a chance to get with the hot girl he likes over absolutely everything else. In this season we’re seeing Morty assert independence like never before. Rick: “All hail his majesty, the saddest piece of garbage in the entire cosmos.” - Rick and Morty, 4x2Īfter the family turns on him at the end of Season 3, Rick is facing a humbled position in the Smith Household in the Season 4 premiere, “Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Repeat.” There’s a much greater threat to Rick’s status as patriarch, though, and that’s time-Rick is being confronted with reminders that (eventually) Morty will have to grow up. The truth is that the Smartest Guy in the Universe thinks Rick is a piece of shit. As we leave him alone on his toilet, his pre-recorded message for Tony gets turned back on Rick, ironically reflecting his own secret self-hatred and low opinion of himself. The episode ends with Rick failing to make progress and retreating into his insular habits. It clearly took something from you.” - Rick and Morty, 4x2īut Rick resists opening up to his new friend until it’s too late. Tony: “You want to take the one part of life that you truly think is yours and you want to protect it from a universe that takes whatever it wants. Tony also understands what it is to suffer loss- and pushes Rick to face his inner pathologies: Tony: “You know what shy pooping is, Rick? It’s a pointless bid for control.” - Rick and Morty, 4x2 Here, though, Rick’s threatening nearly half a million fly kids as leverage to track down Tony, the guy who used his toilet, doesn’t come off as somehow cool or above everyone else’s heads. Rick: “I’m a pickle.” Morty: “Rick, did you do this on purpose to get out of family counseling?” - Rick and Morty, 3x3 And as Michael Walsh wrote for Nerdist, the episode is “an unflinching reminder Rick Sanchez is not a hero anyone should be trying to emulate.” Often it can be hard not to admire Rick’s ingenuity, even when his behavior’s obviously unhealthy. The second episode, “The Old Man and the Seat,” centers on Rick’s paranoid protectiveness over his secret pooping spot. This season consciously shuts down those fans who want to be like Rick. Here’s our Take on the deeper meaning of the first half of Season 4.
Given that this show secured a 70-episode deal after Season 3, it’s important for Rick and Morty to pave the way for a sustainable future by managing unrealistic expectations and avoiding the fandom traps that can swallow up beloved TV shows in our day and age. Talking Cat: “Maybe it’s time you stopped asking questions and started having fun.” - Rick and Morty, 4x4 What we’re really seeing, though, is creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon doing some important re-centering-first, by bringing us back to earth in our estimations of Rick, and second, by sending some meta-messages to fans. īeth: “In many ways, things will be like Season 1 but streamlined.” - Rick and Morty, 3x10Īnd if you weren’t looking too closely, you might be tempted to say overarching character or plot development has been lacking entirely. The fourth season is an intentional return to the self-contained, reset-button-style episodes of the first season. This season deliberately discourages the temptation to glorify the guy or give him credit for more noble motivations than he’s actually shown. This character has always been presented as a narcissistic, toxic person-but that hasn’t prevented a lot of viewers from seeing the Smartest Guy in the Universe as a role model. Rick and Morty Season 4 makes a point of tearing down the myth of Rick.
In this video, we unpack everything we’ve seen in the first half of this season.
Rick and Morty Season 4 makes a point of tearing down the myth of Rick Sanchez, telling fans that the Smartest Guy in the Universe should not be anyone’s role model after all.