People can be overly, bordering on extremely fickle when it comes to the franchises that form the foundation of their fandom. Even if you can’t relate, you possibly know someone who gets a tad touchy when their favorite television show, sports team or celebrity becomes the topic of conversation. While the opinions from the audience, including everyone from casual viewers to critics is an expected result of any creative work, it isn’t often that the creation gets to share their take.
But leave it to an individual who is both egotistical and existential to make sure his personal opinion is known. This is exactly what Rick Sanchez does during the opening title sequence of the 7th episode of season 6 of the television series Rick and Morty.
If you’re unfamiliar with the cartoon, Rick and Morty is the creation of Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland that airs as part of Cartoon Network’s night time segment of programming. After 20 years missing, scientist Rick Sanchez makes an unexpected reappearance into his daughter’s life. Now married, Beth, along with her husband Jerry and their children Summer and Morty welcome “Grandpa Rick” into their home as a guest. The series details the unpredictable, at times improbable events members of Smith family, specifically Morty, have come to expect on an almost daily basis since Rick arrived. See, Rick was already something of a scientist before he left, and while he was away Sanchez became an interstellar, interdimensional traveler.
During his travels through the infinite, Rick expanded on his knowledge of technology, biology, chemistry and the very fabric of reality. Which he continues to utilize and experiment with from the confines of the lab he created inside the Smith family garage. As the series progresses the reason for Rick’s departure – and why he came back – is revealed: both have more to do with hate than love.
Not Directed by Ron Howard
For the most part celebrities enjoy and endeavor to maintain the adulation of their audience. Even fictional characters must maintain a level of appeal among the masses, but one individual who is normally unbothered by what others think of his actions or antics is Rick Sanchez. Rick is the kind of person who after receiving a chorus of boos from the audience at Heistcon – a convention dedicated to the art of heisting – in Season 4’s One Crew Over the Crewcoo’s, simply responds with “Your boos mean nothing, I’ve seen what makes you cheer”: Rick is a man who could care less, something that he repeatedly states and exhibits by his callous treatment towards his friends, family…everyone. The President, the Pope, no one is safe nor is any institution sacred in the eyes of Rick Sanchez.
Over seven seasons Rick and Morty has shown its audiences many out of this world bizarre and unbelievable things, but we’ve really seen that Rick reveres very little. Making it a surprise to hear someone whose actions speak loud – and regularly endanger the lives of entire civilizations – offer anything other than a dick joke and accompanying belch. Someone whose advice or encouragement will come mixed with doses of cynicism and narcissism.
Throughout the series Rick’s mistreatment of Morty makes it obvious that he isn’t a role model, nor does he want him to look up to anyone according to Vindicators 3: The Return of Woldender. Or a model parent, since he not only clones his daughter but he also sends one of them off to space without knowing which. Then again, as part of the Adult Swim block of cartoons, most people would recognize that Rick and Morty isn’t intended for all audiences. And if you knew the tree this acorn fell from, and if you don’t you may want to avoid it, you’d know it could have been way worse.
Prior to airing as Rick and Morty, the adventures of the angry scientist and awkward teen were first known by another name. In the years leading to the partnership with Cartoon Network, Harmon and Roiland met at the Channel 101 film festival, of which the later was an entrant. In 2006, the animator submitted a webisode titled The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti. The cartoon follows an adventure between neighbors, a elderly scientist named Doc Smith and a young boy named Mharti McDonhalds, after Mharti’s kite gets stuck in a tree.
Watching the episode it’s immediately noticeable that Rick and Morty maintains some of the DNA of this early animation work of Roiland, mostly the characters visuals and Rick’s vulgarity, but it also makes a few substantial alterations. For starters, the main characters’ names and relationships change, plus Rick and Morty added additional family members Beth, her husband Jerry and Morty’s older sister Summer. Also the show removed any implied association with the film Back to the Future, other than a joke in a later season. This may be why while Doc used his time traveling ship to save Mharti’s kite, fans of the Cartoon Network series have heard Rick repeatedly express it is something he doesn’t do. However, one thing viewers have come to see Rick do is clone, a story element which was part of House of Cosby, an early work of its creator.
In this instance the Michael Keaton film Multiplicity is the blueprint, with multiple clones of Cosby, each with different personalities – and even powers – are the main characters. It’s easy to see how much each of these two early works provide the basic framework for things like the Council of Ricks or any of the other multi-dimensional, edge of existence traveling adventures or incidents Rick and Morty find themselves in.
As well as the show’s episodes tendency to take a closer look at – and often lampoons – nearly every piece of the media and the society that inspired and idolizes them.
The Right To Take Anything You Want Seriously
They all aren’t called Booger Aids, so it’s safe to say Rick obviously wasn’t in charge of naming the episodes of Rick and Morty. Instead, every episode contains some clever wordplay on a familiar phrase or film name that somehow coincides with the episode’s overall narrative. A name like Full Meta Jackrick seems to suggest that the show’s creators are examining the dehumanizing aspects of the entertainment industry, particularly how creations – and by extension their creators – are treated in the trenches of TV Land. The episode focuses on an attempt by one of Rick’s previous antagonists, an arrogant, self righteous character known as Story Lord who is still struggling to come to grips with how their last encounter ended.
That first meeting with Story Lord took place during the Season 4 episode titled Never Ricking Morty. In that adventure, Rick and Morty find themselves trapped in an anthology by Story Lord. Story Lord’s plan consisted of accessing the untapped creative potential that Rick and Morty’s interdimensional adventures produce to power his own story; eventually propelling him past the fifth wall.
After Story Lord’s machine pulls out several plots in the form of clips that even Rick admits could have been canonical, Rick remembers there is one narrative that runs contrary to the show’s direction. This distraction allows Rick and Morty to escape, while leaving Story Lord trapped in one of history’s most enduring stories. Meanwhile, the audience learns the entire adventure took place in a pocket universe in a toy train Morty gave Rick as a Christmas gift.
Along with giving audiences Rick and Morty’s first major antagonists, Never Ending Morty capitalizes on this cartoon’s cross dimensional concept to again take advantage of a commonly used television trope. Whether you love or loathe the use of clip shows, unlike other shows Rick and Morty’s writers are able to use the series portaling premise to present the trope in some truly untraditional ways. First, after almost two decades encountering other worlds, species and dimensions, Rick has gained a broader appetite and greater appreciation for what he considers entertaining. For example in Rixty Minutes – an episode Season One – Rick, frustrated by the type of shows the Smith family finds fascinating, makes a few tweaks to the cable box.
Don’t Tell Me How To Enjoy Things
Thanks to some crystalized xanthenite, Rick is able to offer everyone a glimpse at what the galaxy is watching through a series of short segments that includes things like a preview for the movie 2 Brothers Alien Invasion Tomato Monster Mexican Armada Brothers Who are Just Regular Brothers Running In a Van From An Asteroid And All Sorts of Things: The Movie.
As you can no doubt tell from this title alone, unlike the typical use of the clip trope these interdimensional clips don’t contain Rick or Morty – or any other Smith, except Jerry. Instead, along with Season 2 episode Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate, the episode features a menagerie of one-off characters, locations and concepts including a preview for Jan Quadrant Vincent 16. These are two Rick and Morty bottle episodes – the first taking place in the Smith home while the second occurs in an alien hospital waiting room – and just like us, this is the first time the Smith family (or even Rick ) are seeing any of these clips.
Another way the series transforms the clip trope is as Rick says during the eighth episode of Season 3, presenting clips you never saw. However, over the show’s seven year run so far this technique is introduced in various ways. In the case of Morty’s Mind Blowers, rather than rehashing a series of situations the audience has already seen, the Season 3 episode gives the audience a collection of completely unseen exploits of Rick and Morty. This happens again in both Rickfending Your Mort and Rickternal Friendship of the Spotless Mort, although in these instances the “clips” also include the other Smith family members and Rick’s friends. Meanwhile, Season 2’s Total Rickfall finds the entire family struggling to figure out fact from fiction after a species of alien parasites infiltrates the Smith home and begin to assume identities of one-off characters, each claiming to be part of the family’s lives. With each one offering clips to establish their connection to the Smith clan, it’s a mystery to even Rick which memories can be trusted.
Along with the mysteries of the Universe, another mystery of each season of Rick and Morty involves the evolving nature of the show’s opening credits. Similar to a television show’s clip episode, the opening credits tend to show the main characters in familiar settings.
Like other series, Rick and Morty uses an evolving title, with every new season bringing a fresh sequence – typically 5 clip scenes – featuring Rick and members of the Smith family. The mystery of each season’s opening is discovering which are actually canon versus those that merely serve to hype up the series with a glimpse of something only the Smith family would find themselves involved in.
This is because after watching just a few episodes of Rick and Morty, a show that covers topics that range from comparing a battery with empowerment to consumerism with life and death, all under the guise of sci-fi adventures involving an alcoholic, old scientist and a hormone driven teen, you can’t help but embrace that endless possibilities surrounding the Universe.
Or the possibility of seeing any one of the outlandish scenes from the opening credits at some point, due everything the series has shown us thus far.
Previously On Rick and Morty
Speaking of which, although most episodes of Rick and Morty feature a teaser or cold open before the opening credits, what takes place in Full Meta Jackrick is a departure from the others. The typical teaser for Rick and Morty episodes presents a setup that seamlessly segways into the main plot. In Full Meta Jackrick, however, it takes on the form of the “Previously On” trope – clips from earlier episodes of a show. But this time, much like Total Rickfall and Never Ending Morty, the events didn’t occur. Or did they?
In this case the clips are the work of a character named Previous Leon. It turns out the caterpillar looking creature is working with Story Lord, choosing to aid the antagonist by using his ability to tap into a character and access their limitless supply of stories. Once Rick becomes aware they are again trapped in a situation orchestrated by Story Lord, he reveals to Morty (and the audience) that everything they just witnessed was the result of Leon using his powers. At this point Rick instructs Morty to hang on as he grabs onto an escaping Leon, as the scientist realizes that their only hope of escaping is by making it past the opening credits.
As the two protagonists cling to Leon in an effort to escape the teaser, they notice and begin to comment on the sequences they see taking place as they fly through the opening credits. Over the familiar opening tune you can hear Rick advise Morty to shut his eyes during the flying squirrel segment.
Next, Morty questions why they were wearing old-timey clothes in reference to a scene taken from this very episode’s teaser created by Leon. This is followed by the Smith family, including Space Beth, marching in a parade holding a Rick float. In a truly amusing meta moment, Morty asks why Jerry is wearing a suit after seeing his dad as Flamingo Dad, the answer not coming until the season’s next episode: Analyze Piss. In a few seconds Rick realizes they’ve almost made it through, before the title comes to an end.
But before the duo escape the Previously On, something unexpected and unprovable happens. Full Meta Jackrick was the seventh time the opening had aired in season six, yet none of the opening credit clips had appeared until this episode. As I already mentioned, one also appears in episode eight. The other three clips haven’t shown up anywhere, although the parade could have taken place in episode 10. As for the previously undiscussed opening credit clip, after Full Meta Jackrick’s opening, its canonical significance becomes important given the rare distinction it receives from Rick. Despite his disgusting and dishonest nature, you have to admit Rick does have very defined and distinguishable tastes and interests. He also doesn’t sugarcoat things nor does he shy away from expressing his personal preferences and points of view. Rick is critical of everyone from his son-in-law Jerry to God, not afraid to extend a middle finger to either while yelling “Fuck You.” Not even the mad scientist himself is safe from criticism, with Rick admitting that Froopyland wasn’t his best work.
For something to get the same amount of praise that Rick previously reserved for Pirates of the Pancreas, it must be something special.
But before the duo escape the Previously On, something unexpected and unprovable happens. Full Meta Jackrick was the seventh time the opening had aired in season six, yet none of the opening credit clips had appeared until this episode. As I already mentioned, one also appears in episode eight. The other three clips haven’t shown up anywhere, although the parade could have taken place in episode 10. As for the previously undiscussed opening credit clip, after Full Meta Jackrick’s opening, its canonical significance becomes important given the rare distinction it receives from Rick. Despite his disgusting and dishonest nature, you have to admit Rick does have very defined and distinguishable tastes and interests. He also doesn’t sugarcoat things nor does he shy away from expressing his personal preferences and points of view. Rick is critical of everyone from his son-in-law Jerry to God, not afraid to extend a middle finger to either while yelling “Fuck You.” Not even the mad scientist himself is safe from criticism, with Rick admitting that Froopyland wasn’t his best work. For something to get the same amount of praise that Rick previously reserved for Pirates of the Pancreas, it must be something special.
Hearing anything encouraging from Rick is something, ask Summer. According to Rick nothing matters, something he attempts to explain to Beth and the family in The Rickchurian Mortydate: anything they are experiencing is happening infinite times. After years carrying the burden of his younger self’s loss, and his repeated exposure and encounters with the infinite, it is as if Rick realized that no one thing, person or moment matters more than any other: if at all. Rick has come to recognize the insignificant, significance of our existence. This in turn makes each of Rick and Morty’s adventures and the series a solid, self-referential story, that doesn’t always take itself – or anything – too seriously. Rick and Morty’s creators clever writing introduces us to characters like Tag Man who shows up at the end of Full Meta Jackrick as the Hulk to that episode’s Self Referential Six. This shows that for Rick and Morty, even the tag – the end credit scene for a show – provides an opportunity to continue the episode’s main story. Or even a lesser arc as was the case when A Rick in King Mortur’s Mort used its tag to take on a plot from the teaser. It is this kind of attention to detail and continuity that keeps Rick and Morty captivating. From repeated references to pirates or even eye patches that serve as a reminder to Rick’s phobia, or the reminder of what could have simply been Jerry’s one-off visit to Pluto.
Then there’s Snowball, who could have just been another one-off character after the show’s second episode, keeps appearing in the dining room picture only to show up in the battle scene that Story Lord’s machine pulled from Rick and Morty in Never Ending Morty. You may not believe it was canonical, but since a couple of portions of that clip showed up – specifically the Rick and Phoenix Person fight, even if it was a little different – can you ever really write any scenario off when it comes to Rick and Morty. You just have to wait on the multiverse.
So while other fans of Rick and Morty are awaiting news and the release of Season 8, I am still waiting for an episode that contains the final opening credit clip from Season 6. Whether it is called Ricker for Smort’s or something else, I’m sure the episode featuring the melting margarine Morty has got to be something amazing.
Especially if Rick is willing to label it the “Best Episode.”
Off The Top Of My Head And Out Of My Mind 
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