Rick & Morty Season 7 Already Set Up Rick C-137’s Greatest Mistake

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Rick and Morty season 7, episode 5.

While Rick and Morty season 7, episode 5 finally killed off a major series villain, the show wasted no time setting up Rick’s next major potential mistake. When Rick and Morty season 5, episode 10, “Rickmurai Jack,” revealed Rick’s tragic backstory, the tale was tragic for two reasons. Obviously, Rick Prime murdering Rick C-137’s family was horrifically cruel. However, Rick losing his humanity as he devoted his entire life to hunting down and killing his nemesis, a quest that proved fruitless, was equally devastating. Rick not only lost his family, but he also lost any purpose beyond getting bloody revenge on Rick Prime.

As such, Rick and Morty season 7 episode 5’s Rick Prime death came as a surprise, but not a relief. Rick C-137’s life was defined by pursuing Rick Prime for so long that, when Evil Morty handed him his nemesis and Rick C-137 beat him to death, he felt nothing but numb. Unfortunately, Rick’s egotistical streak might lead him to react badly after this disappointment. At the end of season 7, episode 5, “Unmortricken,” Evil Morty gave Rick C-137 an ultimatum that the antihero could view as a dare, knowing the character’s troubled history of self-destructive pursuits.

Rick C-137’s Evil Morty Revenge Would Prove His Worst Flaw

Rick Seeking Revenge On Evil Morty Would Be Inexcusable

Evil Morty clearly didn’t begrudge Rick C-137 at the end of “Unmortricken,” but he did firmly tell him and Morty not to come after him as it wouldn’t end well for them. Rick’s next revenge quest seems almost inevitable after this comment since it is unlikely that the character will take that challenge lying down. Now that Rick and Morty’s Rick Prime storyline is over, Rick’s hubris is his greatest enemy. He got everything he wanted thanks to Evil Morty’s intervention, so his seeking out Evil Morty again would be nothing but egotistical self-destruction. This makes it all the more likely, knowing Rick’s history.

Rick has a terrible tendency to act outside his best interests, something that Morty, Jerry, and the rest of the show’s characters have criticized from time to time. Rick might be a genius, but his inability to let anything go has almost killed him before and it could again. In the case of Rick Prime murdering his wife, it was easy to sympathize with Rick C-137’s decision to spend the rest of his life trying to hunt down her killer. However, now that the man who killed Diane is dead, Rick C-137 has no excuse to seek out Evil Morty except for his own dangerous arrogance.

Rick C-137 Could Still Make A Face Turn

Rick and Morty’s Antihero Could Always Become Better

Already, the post-credits scene of Rick and Morty season 7 episode 5 proved that Rick and Morty‘s lead might have known a much better life if he had given up on his revenge quest years earlier. As such, season 7 might see Rick take this idea to heart. The idea of Rick becoming a more heroic version of himself has been set up numerous times. In season 6, episode 9, “A Rick in King Mortur’s Mort,” he invented a more understanding clone of himself, and in season 6, episode 6, he was willing to sacrifice himself to save the dinosaurs. He’s not as villainous as Rick Prime, despite Rick Prime’s attempts to convince him otherwise.

As such, Rick C-137 could let his beef with Evil Morty go and move on with his life in season 7. Rick C-137 can’t claim to hate Evil Morty who, despite his increasingly inaccurate moniker, helped Rick C-137 trap and kill Rick Prime. While Rick and Morty season 7 seemed to set up a dark Smith family twist involving Rick, it now seems like the show is giving Rick an opportunity to choose a lighter path thanks to Evil Morty. The question is whether he can manage to enjoy life now that he no longer has a revenge quest, or if he will seek out Evil Morty to destroy him himself.

Evil Morty Is The Perfect Rick C-137 Enemy

Evil Morty’s Disinterest In Rick Makes Him An Ideal Foil

Evil Morty is an ideal Rick C-137 enemy because, unlike his predecessor Rick Prime, he has no interest in fighting Rick. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter before season 7 was released, series co-creator Dan Harmon talked about wanting more episodic, standalone adventures in the show. Rick and Morty’s early seasons were full of these adventures and the series could now focus on these lighter, more playful storylines if only Rick could learn to swallow his pride and leave Evil Morty alone. Rick and Morty season 7’s post-credits scenes show how goofy the series can be, but only if Rick and Morty’s hero swallows his pride.