Rick and Morty is a science fiction show about a drunk scientist named Rick Sanchez who takes his grandson Morty on interdimensional adventures. It is also, almost always, a show about being lonely and angry and trapped in your own mind. The two impulses do not cancel each other out. They make the show what it is.
Trailer, via Adult Swim.
Rick and Morty’s Premise
Rick Sanchez is a genius-level alcoholic who built his own portal gun and travels through parallel universes to steal things he wants. Morty is a shy, anxious kid who mostly gets dragged along and has to clean up after his grandfather’s messes. Their relationship is the engine of the series, and it runs on resentment, affection, and occasional genuine tenderness.
Comedy That Stings
The humor is sharp and often cruel. Characters get hurt, die, and are casually erased from existence without much ceremony. The jokes land because they are delivered with a deadpan sincerity that makes the cruelty feel real rather than cartoonish.
Multiverse Jokes
The show leans heavily on multiverse theory for its premise, and it is constantly throwing new versions of characters at you. Some episodes are pure gags, others are genuine emotional stories. The best ones manage both at once.
Animation Style
The animation is clean and readable, with a distinct visual style that mixes simple shapes with grotesque character design. The show looks professional without going too far toward slickness.
Rick’s Character Arc
Rick starts as a total jerk and slowly becomes a more sympathetic character over the course of the series. This arc is subtle and effective, even when it contradicts the show’s stated philosophy that people are meaningless.
Morty’s Character Arc
Morty grows more confident and less passive as the show goes on, though he remains the show’s moral center. His growth is slower than Rick’s, but it is just as important to the show’s overall shape.
Running Order
| Season | Episode Count |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | 10 |
| Season 2 | 10 |
| Season 3 | 10 |
| Season 4 | 10 |
Key Facts
- Premiere: December 2013
- Creator: Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon
- Network: Adult Swim
- Score: 9.0/10
Final Verdict
Rick and Morty is a show that rewards attention and punishes apathy. It is not for everyone, but for those who stick with it, it offers some of the sharpest, most inventive comedy on television. The show’s willingness to be genuinely dark while remaining funny is rare, and it is why the series has endured.
It is not perfect. Some episodes are forgettable, and the show’s commitment to its nihilistic worldview can become exhausting over long stretches. But the highs are high enough to forgive the lows.
9 of 10.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
