08 May 2020
Marco Gandolfi
One of the most overused words in TV series criticism right now is “absurd”. There are many shows that air in a given year and many of them are very ambitious and unusual, with a complex, hard to swallow scenario. Having said all that, there are many variants of the absurd adjective when we want to describe the latest season of the Rick and Morty series.
And you may wonder how this series became so influential and changed the perspective of the adult cartoon series? Well, here’s an anecdote we absolutely adore that shows how influential this show has become. Back in 1998 McDonalds launched a limited edition of the Szechuan dipping sauce to tie in with the release of the famous Mulan cartoon. Very soon the sauce was withdrawn from sales, but one man never gave up hope that it might return. Justin Roiland, the co-creator of the Rick and Morty series and his love for the sauce became a running joke in the writers’ room. With their witty and surreal scenario, the sauce soon became a major plot point in the next seasons.
McDonald’s used the popularity of the show as a publicity stunt and brought Roiland’s favourite dip for one day back in 2017. The sauce was sold out immediately, and the demand was so high that in some cases the police had to react and deal with the angry fans. Other industries have also used the opportunity to create products that will relate to the characters of this series. From board games to toys and online games-the hype got real and big. Indeed, the industries recognised the potential and brought this series at the front line of fame and popularity.
The second half of season 4 has premiered on May 3, bringing out new and fresh material to discuss. Even if you only saw a few episodes or short footages of Rick and Morty, now’s the perfect time to get back on track. The show as we know it does not give you a clue in terms of understanding what is going on at times. Again, Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty, inspired by Doc and Marty from Back to the Future go on crude and grotesque adventures through space and time. However, as the jokes keep on coming and the characters start to grow on you, you find that this cartoon wants to show you another perspective. From the existentialism and depression to the pressure of over-achieving, this carton explores far deeper subjects than those you probably assume.
If you consider adding it to your list of shows to watch, we’ll number a few reasons why you should approach Rick and Morty in a new light. The first one is the surprising character development. The dynamic between Rick and Morty appears very straightforward. On the one side is Rick, a control freak genius who wants to have complete power over the space, time and events. He takes his introvert, shy and stuttering grandson Morty, as a companion on his adventures. This move is not caused by the wish for bonding, but so that Morty’s consciousness can act as a shield that protects Rick’s mind from enemies. Most episodes parody famous movies like Total Rickall, Rattlestar Ricklactica and One Crew over the Crewcoo’s Morty. The episodes take things a step further, spinning out the central concepts of the famous titles until they reach a breaking point.
The possibilities for the sci-fi genre are seemingly endless, and yet so many sci-fi stories cover the same topic. This is why Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon’s Adult Swim series Rick and Morty has been a breath of fresh air since its debut in 2013. The show has well-thought-out premises and situations that stay even after the episode ends. Its sharp, dark and funny sense of humour offers a variety of ridiculous and hilarious situations. You may not immediately connect and think of empathy when it comes to Rick and Morty, but it’s there and you will feel it. Creators are not afraid to approach difficult matters and taboos with real and tough emotions. That is what makes Rick and Morty far more than a strange sci-fi and uncanny adult cartoon series.