‘Rick and Morty’ has always been insane. This AdultSwim animation is one of the few good comedies that can take a very simple concept and twist it beyond your wildest imagination.
What you think an episode might be about based on the opening dialogue, always ends up being completely wrong as the writers take you on an unexpected, extremely hilarious journey.
The first half of the fourth season does not veer from this tried and tested format. Having debuted on 10 November 2019, it continues on the path laid out at the end of season three, with the characters dealing with some minor changes to their dynamics.
Beth and Greg are giving marriage another shot. A slightly less drunk Rick now has to respect Morty’s rights and ask him if he wants to go on adventures, and Summer seems to have some of the confidence and cockiness that was somewhat lacking towards the end of the last season.
But we still don’t, and might never, know whether the Beth in this season is the real Beth or a clone created by Rick. Sounds complicated? That’s because it is.
Although the new season keeps up with all the hijinks and insanity, it feels a bit disconnected. All the questions we had at the end of last season seem to be completely ignored by the writers as the plot moves on. Unlike before when the first episode of the new season would pick up literally moments after the last one ended.
In season four we wonder about Rick’s relationship with the president? Where is evil Morty?
The first episode toys around with the idea of the self-fulfilling prophecy and what happens when you know too much about the future, as Morty becomes attached to a crystal that lays out all possible scenarios.
The new season has some very clever and interesting storytelling. Stand-out episodes include ‘One Crew over the Crewcoo’s Morty’, which mocks adventure movies that overdo it with the plot twists, and ‘Rattlestar Rickactica’, which has, believe it or not, snakes in space, time-travelling snakes, robot snakes and a plot you have to pay close attention to if you want to grasp what is happening. It seems to be all over the place, but it’s actually extremely funny.
While the first half of this season doesn’t necessarily provide that belly-aching laughter from previous instalments, the unshakable bond between the space travelling duo is unmistakably one that will keep you coming back for more. At the same time, the audacity of the writers to push the boundaries and tell some seriously insane tales makes this show unique and keeps you watching.
It will be interesting to see what creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland come up with next for the rest of season four, if they ever announce a release date. Hopefully this is just the beginning of great things to come. This show has always been unconventional in the way it portrays the unlikely friendship between super smart grandpa Rick Sanchez and his unwitting companion and grandson, Morty Smith, so whatever we’ve seen so far, is probably very tame compared to what is yet to happen.
Catch ‘Rick and Morty’ on Netflix.
– @anne_hambuda on social media.
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