Top 10 Times Rick and Morty Said What We Were All Thinking
#10: Rick’s Views on School
Top 10 Times Rick and Morty Went Too Far
“Pilot” Many people benefit from public education, but it’s not the right atmosphere for everyone; and even the best students probably wonder what the point is from time to time. Well, Rick, as a full-time mad scientist, has the answer. Rick’s right in that it’s not a popular opinion, but he nails the mundanity of everyday school life. When it comes to math, how many of us still use algebra or calculus in our daily lives? While he is normally mild-mannered, one day Morty just can’t help himself during a lesson on fractions. This clever one-liner may win the admiration of your peers… but probably not the appreciation of your teacher.
#9: Rick’s Deepest Desire
Top 10 Times Rick and Morty Broke the 4th Wall
“The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy” With all Rick’s inventions, gadgets, and access to space travel, you would think he could find anything in the universe he wanted – except maybe personal fulfillment. However, it seems he does have one impossible dream, one unachievable desire, one wish perhaps invisible to his conscious mind. When he and Jerry go through a spaceship checkpoint, Rick gets stopped; apparently he has cybernetic enhancements (big surprise) and could be a threat. Therefore, the alien guard “neutralizes” him with an injection that removes all violent and confrontational tendencies. When Jerry asks if he’s all right, Rick responds plaintively. Ah, Rick, don’t we all… Alas, while cookies may be common in the cosmos, James Camerons are not.
#8: A Lesson Best Left Unlearned
Top 10 Times Rick and Morty Committed Murder
“Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat” We already know Rick’s views on formal education, so it’s probably not too surprising that after a horrific event, in which Morty goes on a murderous rampage and Rick has to destroy several versions of Morty and himself, he doesn’t get philosophical; he just says, “There’s a lesson here, and I’m not the one that’s going to figure it out.” A lot of frustrated teachers have probably wanted to say the same thing! To be fair, maybe Rick’s not being lazy; maybe he actually wants Morty to learn something. Unfortunately, Morty seems to find most of Rick’s education traumatic rather than informative, and Rick is often too drunk to remember what happened. So… we guess it’s up to the viewers to find the lesson. If there is one. Maybe, “Don’t trust evil death crystals?”
#7: Summer’s Views on Camping
Top 10 Best Summer Moments on Rick and Morty
“Childrick of Mort” Most kids have probably been in this position: their well-meaning parents, teachers, or mentors decide to take the youngsters camping in the wilderness. And eventually, most kids, even the outdoor type, start to miss the perks of society. Leaving behind home comforts like showers, refrigerators, and beds? Abandoning all electronics and Wi-Fi access? And in return, sleeping on the ground, being pelted by the elements, and getting bitten by bugs? No thanks! Well, Jerry is one of the well-meaning parents who tries it, and Morty and Summer are the kids who hate it. Summer sums up the concept as, “Camping is just being homeless without the change!” On the whole, we can’t say she’s too far off.
#6: Rick’s Views on Marriage
Top 10 Times Rick Crossed the Line on Rick and Morty
“The Wedding Squanchers” Rick has a cynical attitude regarding love, romantic relationships, and marriage; he believes love is fleeting, and therefore all marriages are doomed to fail. So when he gets a wedding invitation from his old friend, Birdperson, Rick has no intention of accepting. The rest of the family encourages him to go, but he argues, “Weddings are basically funerals with cake. If I wanted to watch someone throw their life away, I’d just hang out with Jerry all day.” Ouch! A fatalist view of love and a devastating insult combined in one depressing package. On the other hand, given that almost half of all marriages in the US end in divorce, perhaps he has a point. But if everyone gave up on love and focused on science, as Rick advises Morty to do, it would be difficult to perpetuate the species.
#5: Meeseeks Therapy
“Meeseeks and Destroy” One of Rick’s most amazing inventions is the “Meeseeks Box,” which produces an infinite number of cheerful blue servants named Mr. Meeseeks. They help with a task or problem, then vanish once the issue is solved. Beth has been struggling with regret; she feels unfulfilled and that she never really got to pursue her dreams, so she asks Mr. Meeseeks for help. For a supposedly simple-minded creature, he gives her some sage advice. Be honest–don’t feel you have to suppress your independence just because people depend on you. How many parents watching have needed to hear that? Even in an obnoxious squeaky voice.
#4: The Trauma of Generations
Top 10 Times Rick and Morty Tackled Serious Issues
“The ABC’s of Beth” When Beth starts telling Summer about a childhood friend of hers who disappeared and was presumed killed, Summer cuts her off–she’s heard the story already, and doesn’t want to hear it again. Annoyed by this complete lack of sympathy, Beth says that it was a traumatizing experience–something Summer’s generation wouldn’t understand. Summer knocks that curveball out of the park by saying, “Bitch, my generation gets traumatized for breakfast.” Older generations often seem to think younger ones have it easy. It’s true that the former have had to deal with World Wars, Cold Wars, and even a fake “War of the Worlds.” But with pandemics, climate change, and everyday violence, there’s definitely plenty of trauma to go around.
#3: Morty’s Views on Existence
Top 10 Times Rick and Morty Parodied Pop Culture
“Rixty Minutes” Another of Rick’s crazy inventions are the “Interdimensional Goggles,” which show people what their lives could be like in alternate realities. Beth and Jerry see a lot of different possibilities, but Summer has almost none; she realizes that in most of her parents’ alternate lives, she wasn’t born. In fact, they never intended to have her–even in this reality. Her conception was an accident. Summer is devastated, and decides to run away. But Morty stops her and reveals that he doesn’t belong in this reality, either; after a terrible accident, he and Rick had to flee their original reality and come to this one. He finishes with a bleak, but oddly comforting statement. Thankfully, Summer does.
#2: Morty Gives It to Rick Straight
Top 20 Rick and Morty Characters That Got Killed Off
“Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender” Rick’s not the easiest guy to get along with; he always has to be the smartest person in the conversation (and usually is). So even when he traps himself and Morty in a deadly escape room he built while drunk, Rick never loses his unwavering arrogance. The trap was intended for an alien hero group called the Vindicators, who also get caught and aren’t doing too well. When Rick starts bragging that he was right all along about the Vindicators being morons, a fed-up Morty responds with this brilliant rebuttal: “When you’re an a**hole, it doesn’t matter how right you are–no one wants to give you the satisfaction.” While this is something that many people undoubtedly need to hear, sadly, it probably won’t change their behavior.
#1: To Live Is to Risk It All
Top 10 Times Jerry Was A Badass on Rick and Morty
“Rickmancing the Stone” Throughout the series, a sort of dark running joke is that Rick has no hesitation in taking Morty on difficult, disturbing, and downright dangerous adventures. Sometimes it seems like he doesn’t care about anyone in the family at all. But that’s not entirely accurate. At one point, when Morty is upset after a narrow escape, Rick casually lets slip his deepest philosophy. In his view, if you’re not in danger, you’re not really living–so by putting his grandchildren in danger, Rick may believe he’s helping them become stronger, smarter, and more appreciative of life. He also wants help stealing things, of course; but to his credit, Rick hasn’t gotten Morty erased from existence… yet.
