The recent release of the Season 8 teaser, along with news from series co-creator Dan Harmon that the Adult Swim series has been greenlit for even more seasons, might be the best gift any Rick and Morty fan could get this year.  It even beats out a lightsaber.  Actually, with this year’s NY Comic Con announcement of at least 12 seasons of Rick and Morty, the teaser coming in the 12 month of the year, plus the fact the last episode of Season 7 aired 12 months ago, it feels like a mysterious force is behind it all.  Then again, as Rick would probably say, this may simply be a subconscious attempt to make it seem like there is some sort of connection.  

Meanwhile, given the duo has been adventuring for 7 seasons so far, you’d think the bond formed between Rick and Morty would be unbreakable.  But the show, which when it debuted portrayed Rick as a recluse that was reluctant to let anyone in, ended last season with an episode that made it obvious Morty still sees him that way.  

Of the many Rick-diculous admissions made during Rick and Morty’s 7 seasons so far, Sanchez’s statement that he doesn’t sequel isn’t completely accurate.  But then again he’s usually too drunk to remember.  To be fair, if you omit the Citadel adventures, Rick is right as neither he nor Morty make it a habit of revisiting past haunts.  With the exception of course Blips and Chitz and Boob World.  But, that doesn’t mean the many exotic locations and outrageous creatures featured throughout the series are all simply one-offs.  For example, while we see a few Plutonians early in the series in episode 2, Rick and Jerry actually visit Pluto later that season.  Which leads to a crack from Rick regarding Jerry’s Pluto adventure during season 7’s A Rick in King Morty’s Court.  

Considering how much of the series Rick and Morty centers on the concepts of time, travel and the continuum – contrary to another one of Rick’s claims –  that makes a lot of sense.  In fact, across the run of the animated series, which features voice actors Harry Belden, Ian Cardoni, Sarah Chalke, Spencer Graham and Chris Parnell, there have been countless examples of either a future setup or a callback to a detail in another episode.  

So, while it may be impossible – and even unhealthy – to get into the minds of the series producers, consider this simply a series of Interdimensional Cable pitches to entertain audiences with some speculation about what lies ahead for Rick and Morty.  

PaRicktal Guidance

Usually with a show like Rick and Morty it would be impossible to pinpoint the one considered the most controversial.  However, it could be argued that Season 7’s Rise of the Numericons deserves to be among the top contenders.  But, unlike some others that might make the list, for example Analyze Piss, this particular episode dares to do something totally unsavory  – it doesn’t feature Rick in it at all.  It’s almost as if the entire episode exists on some other portion of the Central Finite Curve.  

Although to be honest, over the years Rick hasn’t always been there for his family.  Whether it is “abandoning” young Beth or ditching them all on Tiny Planet in The Wedding Squanchers episode.  But although Sanchez has a history of bailing, over the past seven seasons audiences have seen him slowly soften his unapproachable stance, lower his shields and show up to support each Smith family member, even Jerry.  A really good way to display this transformation would be to have Rick engage in some adventures in baby – make that grandbaby – sitting.  

Enter Morty Jr. and Naruto Smith.  The children of Morty and Summer haven’t been seen since season 1 and 5 respectively, so it’s about time to catch up on them as by now Naruto would be a toddler and Morty Jr. would be thirty-something.  This would be a perfect opportunity for Rick to impart a bit of his oft-cynical, sometimes sensible opinions about life and existence onto his grandchildren.  Of course, in order to even the score and give Sanchez a solo episode, the setup would include a distress phone call from Beth instructing him of some type of excuse that requires him to check in on the kids.  Whether the reason is real or made up, this episode would not only give the rest of the Smith family a break from cleaning up after Rick.     

Morty’s WondeRick

Somehow, between all of the outlandish adventures the Smith family engages in, Beth has to hold down a 9 to 5 job.  Because since Rick doesn’t seem eager to patent his portal gun or any of his other inventions, someone has to make sure they keep a roof – and garage – over all of their heads.  So as Jerry works on his second book, maybe Morty can also help out.  And since his last job was at the horse hospital where Beth works, why not let his next job involve his mom – and that episode – too.  

When a series of disappearances of male students is linked to a mysterious new family restaurant that appeared overnight, Rick immediately assumes it’s the work of Summer’s old boss – the devil.  But when Morty applies for a job in order to investigate, both he and Rick learn the true origin of the eatery.  Donning the creepy, H.R. Pufnstuf inspired costumes the rest of the staff “wears”, this episode could feature a first person perspective as Morty ventures into the bowels of the establishment.  With a recipe that is equal parts That’s Amorte and ABC’s of Beth, this episode is guaranteed to be finger licking good.  

Y Mort

Of the many character traits that Morty exhibits, his naivety is easily the one that annoys Rick the most.  In fact at times it appears the majority of their adventures are designed by Rick to stop Morty from being so overly impressionable.  But then again, Morty is still a teenager so you have to expect that every so often his testosterone fueled brain will take over.  How else can you explain Morty Jr…or Naruto?  Actually, considering those two situations, it’s safe to say Morty tends to let his other head do the thinking when it comes to the ladies.  

There is one lady who did get away from Morty, and she helps highlight his general tendency to put people on a pedestal.  Although given how their last encounter in Vindicators 2 – or was it 3 – ended it’s doubtful he sees SuperNova in the same light as before.  Even if it was Rick’s Saw style setup that exposed the cracks, it was SuperNova who ultimately destroyed the heroic illusions that Morty held for the team.  Viewers haven’t seen her since Season 3 as she escaped during the confusion of Rick’s party.  However, SuperNova isn’t the only anti-hero who Morty may need to be on the lookout for.  

No one has seen Planetina since the end of Season 5’s A Rickconvenient Mort.  Her exclamation of “Fuck You” as she flew away is enough to indicate things did not end well between her and Morty.  So, what would happen if these two women, along with another woman who Morty discarded like a used sock, decide to unite against him.  After being stuck in a time crystal for several eons, Jessica had seen enough to know her and Morty didn’t have a future.  But what else did she see across the timelines, and how could that information affect Rick and Morty.  

For years critics have complained about the misrepresentation and disparaging portrayals of females in superhero comics and films.  With Rick and Morty’s tendency to be overly sexist and misogynistic, this episode would give the females of the series a turn in the spotlight.    

The Morty of the OpJerRick

While speaking of the one-off featuring Bird Person and Rick that occurs during the act break in Season 4’s Never Ending Morty, one of the train’s passengers states the scene isn’t the first time Rick and Morty has been a musical.  Between the time the two got Schwifty, the solo flight of Concord Jermaine Clement in Mortynight Run to the background scores in later seasons, there have been countless songs throughout the series.  However, you can hardly compare those few scenes to the act of transforming an entire episode into a musical like Buffy’s Once More with Feeling episode.  

But with Rick admitting to Beth in Childrick of Mort that he has vocal range, this season is a chance for him to prove his point.  Though in this particular instance it doesn’t have to be a one scientist show.  In fact, it doesn’t have to be the main Rick at all.  After the events of The Jerrick Trap, Memory Rick is now trapped in Jerry’s mind.  An accident involving Jerry leaves him comatose and Memory Rick trapped in a crumbling facade. In an attempt to escape this fate he launches into several musical routines, revisiting parts of Jerry’s past as a means of communication. As he does this it causes Jerry to break into songs in the real world.  Each melody provides insight into how a much younger Rick saw things. This would be a haunting tale given how Rick sees the Universe now.     

The Color Poopybuthole

Apparently, there are several individuals on the internet who would agree this episode should exist in some capacity.  However, rather than go down the route others are taking that would lead to an eventual confrontation between Wayne and Rick, perhaps it could align with another fan theory about the series.  But in order to do that, let’s first revisit what we know so far about this relationship.  

The first time viewers of Rick and Morty met Mr. Poopybutthole was as a dinner guest of the Smith/Sanchez family.  The story arc that was set up in Total Rickall features the family trapped in their house as they attempt to figure out who is real and who is a parasite.  Apparently, these creatures have the ability to enter minds and plant false memories.  Recalling their encounters with these “parasites” would then infect the others with the memory as well.  From Uncle Nicky to Twinkles, each member of the Smith family seemingly had someone special that was specifically implanted into their mind.  When it came to Rick, there was Pencilvester and Poopybutthole.  And while the lively pencil was finally erased by Morty, Wayne was spared despite being shot by Beth.  Since he survived this, many believed this proved PB was real.  

But, here is where things get interesting.  Over the series run there have been several instances, most notably in the Season 4 premiere, where Beth is shown to be a poor shot.  Is it possible that unlike her close range hit of Mrs. Refrigerator, her aim was off when it came to hitting Mr. Poopybutthole.  Then, in order to keep the “no bad memories” rule, PB didn’t press charges on Beth which would have caused considerable emotional and financial strain on the Smith household.  

Still not convinced, then consider his relationship with Rick.  Even though Rick got him fired from the university, PB referred to the karate fight setup in the episode One Crew over the Crewcoo’s Morty involving his students as funny.  Plus, for someone who is friends with the rest of Rick’s entourage, he doesn’t seem to have much history with them.  Some of the earliest encounters between Rick, Birdperson and Sqwanchy occurred as they took on the Galactic Federation.  While Gearhead wasn’t actually involved in the Battle of Blood Ridge with the rest, his brother died in the massive battle.  Rick gets to relive both the conflict and funeral while searching Birdperson’s subconscious in the eighth episode of Season 5.  If that isn’t enough evidence for the “no bad memories” rule, remember that PB wasn’t invited to Rick, Summer and Morty’s party at the end of Season 1 or Birdperson’s wedding that ended Season 2 either.  This makes it interesting that Rick would call on any of these characters to not have an intervention for PB.

In Rick’s absence, Mr. Goldenfold took Morty and Ice-T to school by teaching them that infinity ain’t s&*t without letters and numbers.  Not only is there an algebraic formula to represent it, but the infinity symbol – or lemniscate – is also known as the “lazy 8”.  But fans need Fear No Mort as given the show’s history, Season 8 of Rick and Morty will surely be anything but lazy.  There are still plenty of places left to explore and references to revisit; infinite possibilities.  

Who knows what “adventures” the two will embark upon since unpredictability is Rick and Morty’s penchant.    

Especially since, and quite humorously given their similarities to a certain 80s cinematic classic, where the two are going doesn’t have any roads.