'Rick and Morty' Season 4 Episode 6's well-executed iconoclastic story was not worth abandoning its humor
Spoilers for 'Rick and Morty' Season 4 Episode 6 'Never Ricking Morty'
The tendency of ‘Rick and Morty’ creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland to be iconoclastic in their storytelling has been a huge part of why the series has found both global and cult popularity. But is there a point where that has to stop? Season 4 Episode 6, 'Never Ricking Morty', begs that question.
The high-concept science-fiction animated comedy series was never one to care for conventions of storytelling. Which is not to say it doesn’t understand literary devices. Dan Harmon’s work in ‘Community’ is a long thesis on examining, understanding and manipulating various tropes and devices. In ‘Rick and Morty’, stories like ‘Interdimensional Cable’, its sequel, and ‘Morty's Mind Blowers’ have had fun with mish-mashing tropes and running with multiple independent storylines.
In that sense 'Never Ricking Morty' is a worthy spiritual successor. It breaks down the idea of anthologies and unrelated adventure, and in a way finds a meta way to criticize its own structure and that of many other shows. But in doing so, it makes the episode too complicated to be enjoyable.
It’s technically sound in what it does. In fact, it’s a highly skilled execution. It hits every note perfectly. It takes down both the idea of passing the Bechdel Test, the futility of technically passing it, and then criticizes the ironic value in such an exercise. It takes down the idea of god as a literal deus ex machina in stories and saving the protagonists of such stories. It even utterly disregards the idea of putting too much value into canons.
In every possible way, it is an iconoclastic exercise that’s magnificently executed. It’s like a guitar solo where the guitarist shreds, taps, plays complicated arpeggios and does so masterfully. But the question that can be posed there -- does technical proficiency translate into art -- is similar to a question that can be asked of the creators of ‘Rick and Morty’: does a well-executed episode automatically imply that it’s funny and enjoyable?
The sad answer to both questions is “no”.
Despite the tremendous feat achieved by ‘Never Ricking Morty’ -- taking a gigantic dump on all possible formats of a story --, it doesn’t let the viewer enjoy it. In an attempt to be high-concept, it forgoes a tenet that is crucial to the success of the show: humor. Earlier seasons of ‘Rick and Morty’, especially the first two, found a fandom because it balanced out high-concept science fiction with equal nihilistic ramblings and equal parts absurd humor. It’s why the episode at Shoney’s works. It’s why the wedding of Bird Person and Tammy works. It’s why the “Show me what you got” intergalactic musical reality show works. It’s why the miniverse episode works.
This does not. Not in any way that’s reminiscent of how this show was. This, by no means, is a condemnation of all the whole of season 4. Rather it's a lament on the show's attempt to outdo itself when there really is no need for it.
'Rick and Morty' airs on Sundays at 11.30 pm ET.
