One of the most consistent topics Rick and Morty every moment is a simmering tension inside Rick. He’s the smartest man in the universe, capable of inventing anything and fooling anyone, but he’s also a drunken ass who makes terrible decisions and regrettable mistakes.
The ninth season of “Adult swimming” blockbuster (io9 watched all 10 episodes before writing this spoiler-free review) focuses on Rick’s flaws and writing, performancesand the animation continues to be brilliant, there’s a lurking darkness that Grandpa will never be able to escape from his ongoing existential torment.
Here’s the thing, though: do we want it? Who is Rick without demons? After defeating Rick Prime in season seven, “our” Rick spent season eight figuring out what life was like without his greatest enemy. The season picks up on the ninth theme, but doesn’t exactly move forward with it; now it’s pretty clear that Rick’s real enemy is himself, and probably always has been—literally himself, just not the multifaceted version this time. A seemingly bottomless identity crisis takes the character to extremely miserable places.
with Rick and Morty currently renewed in season 12, there’s plenty of room for Rick’s emotional growth (or whatever the opposite of “growth” is—perhaps decay) to get more exploration. Meanwhile, we get Ricky at his most drunk and reckless, torturing Morty and neglecting any and all responsibilities as he runs off with a series of revenge schemes. “Everybody’s running from something,” Rick says in the first episode, and that sentiment drives much of the action, especially as it pertains to our loathsome hero.
Some familiar faces and references pop up. Morty’s dream vacation spot and Boob World, the eternal show with jokes, is back. Listen closely, “Get Schwifty” fans, for an Easter egg in Rick’s cell phone ringtone.
But for the most part, season nine shows new settings, enemies, and sources of mental anguish. This is where the show’s creative strengths really shine; only Rick and Morty Equally operative drama from a wing bender in a Trader Joe’s parking lot, a drug that allows him to stay high for a long time, an alien planet thrown into revolutionary frenzy thanks to Rick’s intervention (which happens many times in very different contexts), an intergalactic summer camp for little pampered teenagers, and a little situation. too rest assured.
Speaking of Jerry, Rick dominates most of the season, the rest of the Smiths a little less so. Jerry has some glaring embarrassments, so it mostly affects Summer and Beth (and Space Beth); They have some funny moments, especially Summer, but not as much focus as they have in the past.
Rick’s adventure partner Morty is more involved — by now fans are familiar with the show’s penchant for “Morty thinks he’s doing the right thing, but he’s pissed off like a king and Rick has to save him” plots, and there’s been some inventive twists on that throughout the season.
And yet we constantly remember that it happened Rick’s travel It can solve any problem, reverse engineer anything Kill Bill-inspired kung fu punch, dominating any competition and taking over any strange ecosystem, but often wastes too much time picking up the phone when his family needs him.
He may be starting to understand how hurtful he can be, but having dealt with Rick Prime in previous seasons, as well as his anguish over his late wife Diane, he’s not quite ready to discover the self-loathing that feeds all that anger and aggression. For that we still have 10, 11, 12 seasons and the often promised hundred years. Rick and Morty to come
Oh, and one more thing: The Smith family now has a pool! So they are do sometimes having nice things.
Rick and Morty Starring Ian Cardoni (Rick), Harry Belden (Morty), Chris Parnell (Jerry), Sarah Chalke (Beth) and Spencer Grammer (Summer). It is directed by Scott Marder, who is an executive producer alongside show creator Dan Harmon.
Rick and Morty Season 9 premieres May 24 on Adult Swim. Starting June 15, new episodes will be released weekly on HBO Max and Hulu.
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