At the start of season five, Jessica realized she no longer wanted to “be the object in another’s story.” I questioned if Morty would eventually learn the same with Rick, especially with his character growth. Kudos to creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland for tying that complex theme into an episodic season that’s more serialized than audiences were lead to believe.
Yet, even with that praise, my reaction to season five is a mixed bag. Here’s the breakdown:
EXPERIENCE NOW 🤩:
- E1 MORT DINNER RICK ANDRE – I appreciate how RICK AND MORTY can tell an effortless multiverse time-bending story without overexplaining it like LOKI
- E2 MORTIPLICITY – Morty boldly states, “We are going to kill God,” as this episode questions life while paying homage to EX MACHINA/HIGHLANDER.
- E10: RICKMURAI JACK – The latest season may have come to a close, but it 100% “hit the ground running with a Citadel episode.”
EXPERIENCE WHENEVER 😊:
- E3 A RICKCONVENIENT MORT “the chick,” and this entire episode needed a dialogue pass.
- E4 RICKDEPENDENCE SPRAY – RICK AND MORTY literally go below the belt with the latest episode about Morty’s sperm.
- E8 RICKTERNAL FRIENDSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MORT – Rick’s goal was simple – save Bird Person so he can process his grief like a normal person by “drinking and being an asshole.”
- E9 FORGETTING SARICK MORTSHALL – Audiences should enjoy Morty’s torturous fun as a Portal Boy, and Rick’s soaring mash-up of DARK CRYSTAL meets Hot Topic.
EXPERIENCE NEVER 🤮:
- E5 AMORTYCAN GRICKFITTI – “Never follow hell demons to a second location; it’s always hell.” Yup, that’s what this week’s episode is – hell.
- E6 THANKSPLOITATION SPECTACULAR was an over-stuffed edition that I didn’t want to go back for second helpings.
- E7 GOTRON JERRYSIS RICKVANGELION – I’ve had enough of the over-the-top action, and I’m ready to be hit in the feels like this show used to do. And if that fails, maybe it’s time to take that trip to “Boob World?”
THE RESULTS:
The challenge this season was the show lacked any real LOL humor. There are glimmers of hope, but for the most part, season five “didn’t cut the chut.”