Rick and Morty’s Most Divisive Episodes Justify Its Original Premise

Although most of Rick and Morty’s episodes are critically acclaimed, the show’s most divisive outings have consistently proven that the series has a recurring plot problem. Rick and Morty has enjoyed critical success throughout the show’s seven seasons, and even the show’s most maligned outings are relatively well-liked. There are only a small handful of Rick and Morty episodes that are considered misfires by critics and fans alike. However, all of these contentious episodes have one thing in common, and this recurring issue proves that Rick and Morty’s central premise is surprisingly rigid, allowing little room for the show to change its formula.

Although Rick and Morty’s season 7 finale challenged this, the series typically focuses on Rick over Morty. It is easy to see why, since Rick is a tortured super-genius with almost god-like powers, whereas Morty is a dim-witted high schooler who follows him on his intergalactic adventures. By definition, Morty is Rick’s sidekick, and the show has often deconstructed the limitations of his role in its storyline. Evil Morty’s entire backstory hinged around him rebelling against Rick’s attempts to control his existence, a meta-gag about the ways in which Morty’s story is only engaging if it is an accessory to Rick’s plot.

Rick and Morty’s Most Divisive Episodes Center Morty’s Antics

Episodes that focus on Morty as their hero tend to struggle

However, even though the series has mocked this issue, all of Rick and Morty’s most divisive episodes prove that the series still needs its reliable formula. Season 6, episode 9, “A Rick in King Mortur’s Mort,” received middling reviews from critics upon release and since, with many noting that Rick’s supportive attitude toward Morty and Morty’s central role in the story dragged the outing down. The similarly maligned season 5, episode 4, “Rickdependence Spray,” and season 4, episode 4, “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim’s Morty” both featured plots about Morty accidentally starting an adventure and Rick helping him undo his mistakes.

In fairness, these episodes had issues beyond straying from Rick and Morty’s typical formula. “Rickdependence Spray” and “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim’s Morty” alienated some viewers and reviewers with their raunchy humor alone, with jokes about a Giant Incest Baby and dragon orgies proving too much for some fans. Similarly, “A Rick in King Mortur’s Mort” saw Morty repeatedly threatened with castration, a juvenile gag that was funny at first but soon felt like something from the show’s messier, more immature early seasons. However, the biggest issue with all these Rick and Morty episodes was Morty himself and his personality.

Rick Was Rick and Morty’s Original Antihero

Rick’s dynamic, proactive characterization means his stories move faster

Rick and Morty’s Most Divisive Episodes Justify Its Original Premise

Morty is a more passive character than Rick and this quality, which makes him a perfect sidekick, consistently derails episodes that focus on the character. Originally, Rick was the one who dragged a reluctant Morty into his misadventures throughout seasons 1 and 2, not the other way around. Even when Morty did cause problems of his own volition, as in season 1, episode 6, “Rick Potion No. 9,” or season 2, episode 9, “Look Who’s Purging Now,” it was by using Rick’s inventions and weapons. Rick and Morty’s characters react to Rick, and attempts to invert this formula often fail.

Rick and Morty Needed Morty To Follow Rick

The Adult Swim hit required a main character who was decisive

Summer, Space Beth, Beth, Morty and Rick in Rick and Morty season 7

“A Rick in King Mortur’s Mort,” “Rickdependence Spray,” and “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim’s Morty” all proved that Morty isn’t proactive enough to ground a storyline. This resulted in plots that felt slow and predictable, as Morty was unable to act when faced with challenges and usually froze or turned to Rick for guidance. This is why Rick was initially the show’s original main character as, despite all his flaws, he is nothing if not a proactive figure. Rick can be relied on to progress a plot unlike Morty, which is the same reason that Rick and Morty season 7’s Summer episode worked.

Season 7, episode 7, “Wet Kuat Amortican Summer,” featured Rick in a supporting role, but it was mostly told through Summer’s perspective. Unlike the Morty-centric outings mentioned above, this episode succeeded largely because Summer is a more dynamic character than Morty. Summer accidentally fused herself with Morty and initially did the same thing Morty would have done, running to Rick for help. However, when Rick couldn’t help, she traveled to an alien planet, partied, got kidnapped, and staged a daring rescue of Morty before Rick could catch up to her. It’s a story that wouldn’t have worked with the meeker Morty.

Rick and Morty Season 7 Didn’t Solve This Problem

Morty’s first solo episode was met with mixed reviews

Jerry and Morty sittng on the floor surround by art supplies in Rick and Morty

Summer’s episode showed that she shared Rick’s feckless attitude, making her an ideal alternative protagonist for the show. In contrast, season 7, episode 8, “Rise of the Numbericons: The Movie,” failed to recapture this success precisely because Morty can’t convince as an action hero. This is primarily because he acted as Rick’s docile foil for years. The only episode not to feature Rick, this Morty-focused entry into the series earned a paltry 4.5 on IMDB. The rest of the season never dipped below 6.5, reaffirming that Morty’s episodes don’t earn the same praise as Rick’s episodes thanks to Morty’s comparative indecisiveness.

Rick and Morty Season 8 Can Still Center Morty

The season 7 finale proved that Rick and Morty can focus on Morty

Morty looking nervous and Rick looking determined in Rick and Morty.

Although all this evidence is stacked up against Morty, the character still has potential as a protagonist. Not only can Morty be a good main character, but one of the show’s most recent critical successes proves just how great a Morty-centric episode can be. The season 7 finale, “Fear No Mort,” took place entirely in Morty’s mind and was deservedly popular with viewers and critics alike, proving that the show can pull off this approach. This was arguably Rick and Morty season 7’s best story, with Morty finally addressing his fear of branching out on his own.

When Morty went into a hole that showed the user their greatest fears, he envisioned a world wherein Rick’s dead wife returned and Rick no longer needed his sidekick. It wasn’t until the ending of “Fear No Mort” that Morty discovered Rick hadn’t joined him when he jumped in the hole, meaning he already lived in a world where his grandfather saw him as replaceable. Instead of terrifying Morty, this realization freed him to become his own person. This episode proved that Morty’s stories can be as engaging as Rick’s plots provided Rick and Morty takes the character’s development seriously.