It is rare to come across a show so emotionally and cognitively impactful. Rick and Morty takes the dry and dark humor I am so fond of and thematically puts it to supreme use. There were so many moments in this show that had me thinking about its plot days afterwards. Moments even had me close to tears for its commentary on the modern family and its trans-dimensional analysis of the meaning of life. The sincerest times are played out in full stride to the soundtrack of artists such as Mazzy Star and Belly. Episodes reflect the satirical nature that the writers of the show possess. Just about every episode is a parallel or descendent of another work (i.e. Raising Gazorpazorp = Raising Arizona, Lawnmower Dog = Lawnmower Man and Roiland’s previous project Dogworld which is harkened to in the episode). The show itself is a parody of Doc and Marty from the Back to the Future series. However, Rick and Morty accomplishes another level of existential questioning through use of satire, characters, and situational irony.
Every character is appropriately developed to his or her own purposes and emotions. There is nothing that feels too out of place here. Our title characters really drive the show in their foil. Morty is the perfectly generic high school “loser” who is mediocre at everything. Rick is exceptional, and uses Morty for his various adventures. Rick, in his obnoxious drunken demeanor, impacts Morty permanently in many ways. Morty turns from a shy teenager to an apparently sprouting man in his assertions and character. Rick is also further explored to have mental health problems. It is in the relationship the two share that both achieve some level of symbiosis. Summer is your average spiteful, older sister and teenage girl. She has some glimmers of developing humanity, through the season, conversely. The mother, Beth, is the protector of the house and of Rick. She holes him up in their house out of love. She is a horse surgeon, and all around badass with some apparent issues in her marriage. Jerry is the lazy, salesman type who instigates continuously throughout the show. All main characters come together to create another great dysfunctional family of lore.
Great television creates a narrative epic that is simple in concept, but intriguing to endure. While watching Rick and Morty, there is always an impetus to drive onwards and see what kind of crazy scenarios pop up next. It has not gotten to the level of Game of Thrones assuredly yet, but it definitely maintains that momentum. The show is heavy at times, but worth the watch. There is such great emphasis on scientific solutions to philosophical questions that makes the mind bend and pleasure and lament. This is surely one of the great animated shows of our time, perfectly meta and precisely emotional.
10.0 / 10.0
