So much time…so little Rick and Morty
Rick and Morty are back! As they continue to trip galaxies and dimensions, Rick is finding that returning to his family could have consequences. Now, Beth, Jerry, and Summer all are part of Rick’s life and Rick’s actions are having an effect on them…like it or not! Rick and Morty are going to face some of their darkest times and Morty even could be pushed to the edge…but Morty might just have to push back!
Rick and Morty—Season 2 aired on Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network from July 26, 2015 to October 4, 2015. The adult cartoon series continued to receive positive reviews.
They’re co-dependent!!!!
I wasn’t sure about Rick and Morty when I started to watch the first season, but it turned out to be enjoyable once you got into the swing and style of the show. Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 ended, and despite enjoying Rick and Morty—Season 1, I might have liked the second season even more.
Rick and Morty feels like it more birthed out of Family Guy than South Park (which is not a ringing endorsement from me), but what makes it more like South Park instead of Family Guy is the smart, tightly scripted episodes that dive into high-brow science-fiction concepts that generally pay off. There are episodes which feel a bit like pandering (like the Purge episode or the second TV channel episode), but even these episodes manage to generally redeem themselves by being more reflective than something like Family Guy. The jokes are fast and furious and more jokes land than miss throughout the series.
Why must someone like Mr. Poopybutthole who only brings happiness pay?
I also like that despite being called Rick and Morty that the season gets deeper into the family dynamic of the series. Summer is a more frequent character and the relationship of Beth and Jerry is often a point of contention. The season does end up being all about family and that is what makes the ending even more poignant (but you know that Rick must have some sort of plan).
The first season, I had a lot of problems with the vocal work for the series. Rick’s belching grumbling still kind of gets on my nerves but having acclimated to it. Morty’s high pitch voice still reminds me of Mr. Bill, but it also fits the doomed persona of the character. Morty is never going to succeed. Chris Parnell and Sarah Chalke play the hapless parents while Spencer Grammer is Summer. The season features a ton of guest voice actors including Alan Tudyk, Alex Hirsh, Jim Rash, Gary Cole, Matt Besser, Werner Herzog, Chelsea Kane, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, Jemaine Clement, Andy Daly, Christina Hendricks, Keith David, Patton Oswalt, Matt Walsh, Steven Colbert, Kurtwood Smith, and Battlestar Galactica alums Tricia Helfer and James Callis as husband and wife (killers of course).
Families suck…
The jokes of Rick and Morty often go hand-and-hand with the visuals of the show. It is here where the show feels more like Family Guy. The weirdness and oddity of the show is the humor (something Family Guy often gets right), but there is more reason behind the weirdness of the visuals in Rick and Morty. The prime example of this would be “Total Rickall” where the family’s memories continue to produce stranger and stranger characters…and Mr. Poopybutthole pays the ultimate price.
Rick and Morty is a fun show. It is smart and well crafted which makes it easy to watch in a quick sitting (there are only ten episodes for the season). The season ends in a cliffhanger which leaves you wanting Rick and Morty—Season 3 immediately (something the show creators even mock in the final episodes post-credits).
Rick and Morty—Season 2 Complete Episode Guide:
“A Rickle in Time”
2.1 A Rickle in Time Airdate: 07/26/15
Rick, Morty, and Summer have unfrozen time six months after their party, but a crisis in consciousness leads to a fracturing of space and time…and all the other Ricks, Mortys, and Summers must work together before their realities collapse. Meanwhile, an accident after a trip for ice cream has Beth and Jerry rushing to save the life of a deer.
“Mortynight Run”
2.2 Mortynight Run Airdate: 08/02/15
Rick is teaching Morty how to drive his ship and Jerry has tagged along. When Morty learns Rick has sold a weapon to an assassin, Morty sets out to save the target, and he could make a friend along the way…but Rick just wants to play games at Blips & Chitz. Jerry finds himself at a daycare for Jerries from all different dimensions.
“Auto Erotic Assimilation”
2.3 Auto Erotic Assimilation Airdate: 08/09/15
Rick, Summer, and Morty run into a former girlfriend of Rick’s named Unity who has taken over an entire planet with her hive mine. As Rick enjoys himself, Summer and Morty question if Unity is violating the lives of the people that she has overtaken. Jerry and Beth discover an alien prisoner in a hidden room under the house.
“Total Rickall”
2.4 Total Rickall Airdate: 08/16/15
When an alien organism invades the home and assimilates into the family, Rick, Morty, Summer, Beth, and Jerry find them questioning who and what is real an implanted memories…and the organism wants to escape!
“Get Schwifty”
2.5 Get Schwifty Airdate: 08/23/15
When a Cromulon appears above Earth, Rick and Morty accidentally end up saving Earth with the song “Get Schwifty” only to have Earth entered in an intergalactic music competition Planet Music…or face destruction. Jerry, Beth, and Summer find a new religion forming in their town to worship the giant heads.
“The Ricks Must Be Crazy”
2.6 The Ricks Must Be Crazy Airdate: 08/30/15
A dead batter on an alien plant has Rick and Morty diving into the hidden world powering Rick’s battery where Rick is god…unfortunately, Zeep Xanflorp has had a similar idea for his people. Beth is left with the ship protecting her, but it could prove fatal.
“Big Trouble in Little Sanchez”
2.7 Big Trouble in Little Sanchez Airdate: 09/13/15
Rick puts himself in a clone to become Tiny Rick to stop a vampire outbreak at Summer and Morty’s school…but finds being Tiny Rick is more fun than being an old Rick. Beth and Jerry go to counselling on an alien planet, but their relationship is something that has never been seen!
“Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate”
2.8 Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate Airdate: 09/20/15
An accident lands Jerry in an intergalactic hospital…forcing him to make a big decision about the fate of the galaxy. While Rick, Morty, Summer, and Beth wait for Jerry, Rick hooks up the alternate reality TV to entertain them.
“Look Who’s Purging Now”
2.9 Look Who’s Purging Now Airdate: 09/27/15
Rick and Morty find themselves stranded on a planet celebrating “The Festival”…a Purge like event that has Morty tapping into a darker side. Jerry tries to reach out and connect with Summer.
“The Wedding Squanchers”
2.10 The Wedding Squanchers Airdate: 10/04/15
Rick and his family are invited to the wedding of Birdperson and Tammy, but a wedding surprise has Rick, Morty, Beth, Summer, and Jerry on the run.
Related Links:
Rick and Morty—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Rick and Morty—Season 3 Review and Complete Episode Guide
