Warning: Contians SPOILERS for Rick and Morty season 7, episode 10!
The Rick and Morty season 7 finale is a pretty wild ride, and while it seemingly wrapped up its story by the end of the episode, this theory states that Morty never really left the Fear Hole. The Fear Hole is the main antagonist of the Rick and Morty season 7 finale, with the titular duo spending most of the episode attempting to figure out how to get out of the trap. Luckily, they discover how to do it at the end of the episode, with it seeming as if they walked out of the Denny’s having conquered their fears. However, Rick and Morty may not be telling the truth.
Rick and Morty season 7 is finally here, with the highly-anticipated continuation of Adult Swim’s beloved animated sci-fi series now concluded. Rick and Morty season 7 was a pretty wild ride, with the season containing both wacky one-off adventures as well as developing the show’s overarching story, even killing off Rick Prime in the process. Heading into the final episode, fans were eager to see how the finale would set up the future of Rick and Morty. Surprisingly, the finale’s story was pretty self-contained, although this theory states that the ending of the season 7 finale has some pretty major implications for the show.
How Rick & Morty Season 7’s Fear Hole Works
The Rick and Morty season 7 finale introduces the Fear Hole as well as its rules, with how the story device works being explained in-depth. The Fear Hole is a hole contained within the Denny’s bathroom that allows anyone to enter it. Upon entering it, the Fear Hole allows its user to conquer their greatest fear, using various illusions to do so. For Morty, the Fear Hole simulates an incredibly realistic version of the real world, along with many of the real-life people who are part of Morty’s life. The Fear Hole doesn’t tell Morty what his greatest fear is, and figuring this out is part of the Fear Hole’s game.
The Rick and Morty season 7 finale establishes that the Fear Hole feeds on the people inside of it the longer they are inside, with them presumably dying after being in the Fear Hole for too long. Morty can be seen becoming malnourished as he attempts to conquer his fears, although this could be part of the Fear Hole’s simulation. It isn’t known how long the Fear Hole has been around for, but its video introduction is on a VHS, meaning that it has at least been around for a few decades. However, according to the photo board, very few people have actually escaped the Fear Hole.
Rick & Morty Never Know If They’re Still In The Hole (Despite Leaving Multiple Times)
Rick and Morty quickly conquer Morty’s fear at the beginning of the episode by using Rick’s devices to defeat some shadowy illusions, with the duo promptly exiting the hole. Rick and Morty return home to continue living their lives when a past version of Rick and Diane shows up in their living room. This leads Rick and Morty to the conclusion that they are actually still in the Fear Hole, with the memory of them leaving the Fear Hole actually being part of the illusion. Rick and Morty exit the Fear Hole countless times throughout the episode, proving that they never really know if they have left.
Rick and Morty leave the Fear Hole at one point content with the idea that they will never know if they’ve left, causing them to live their lives as normal. The episode shows Rick and Morty living through decades of their lives, with Morty going to college, graduating, and becoming middle-aged. Upon growing older, Morty realizes that he looks exactly like his father. This is apparently one of Morty’s fears, with Rick and Morty snapping back to the Fear Hole after this montage. This goes to show that the Fear Hole can simulate decades of one’s life, making its illusions even more powerful.
Rick & Morty May Still Be In The Hole After The Season 7 Finale
Although the Rick and Morty season 7 finale shows Rick and Morty leaving the Fear Hole, one theory states that they may still be inside of it. After all, the Fear Hole simulates Rick and Morty leaving it in a variety of ways, with it turning out to be part of the Fear Hole’s illusion each time. Rick and Morty even admit that they will never know if they have left the Fear Hole, meaning that Rick and Morty season 7’s ending could still take place within it. Expanding on this further, it is possible that the rest of Rick and Morty could take place within the Fear Hole.
Rick & Morty Conquer Multiple Fears, Meaning Morty’s Final Fear May Not Be The Right One
Morty conquers all kinds of fears in an attempt to escape the Fear Hole in the Rick and Morty season 7 finale, meaning that the final fear Morty conquers may not be the right one. While in the Fear Hole, Morty conquers his fear of being excluded from social groups, his fear of rejection, and his fear of being replaceable, each of which isn’t enough to allow him to escape. Morty is seemingly only able to leave the Fear Hole after conquering his fear of being reliant on Rick, with this purportedly being Morty’s greatest fear.
However, it is possible that Morty could have an even deeper fear, one that still keeps him trapped within the Fear Hole. Morty seems to have gotten over his troubles with Rick throughout seasons 5 and 6, so it’s weird that retreading this ground again would be the key to Morty escaping the Fear Hole. It’s impossible to say what Morty’s true greatest fear is, but it could be something other than his reliance on Rick.
Rick & Morty Being In The Hole Follows A Long-Standing Series Trend
It’s possible that Rick and Morty could reveal that Morty is still in the Fear Hole years later, as Rick points out in the episode. This would actually be a perfect twist, as it follows a long-standing Rick and Morty trend. The show has had a habit of paying off storylines years after they were set up, such as the Alphabetriums’ battle with the Numbericons and Jerry being left at the Jerry daycare. The Fear Hole storyline could easily be concluded in a future Rick and Morty season, wrapping up the story of the season 7 finale.
