Summary
- Rick and Morty has gained a dedicated following due to its subversive themes, mind-bending twists, and layered storylines.
- The show balances situational comedy with character growth, and both Rick and Morty have experienced significant development throughout the series.
- Several standout episodes, such as "Rickmurai Jack" and "The Rickshank Redemption," offer compelling story arcs, deep character exploration, and moments of comedy that make them among the best in the series.
Rick and Morty has enjoyed incredible success over the last decade, but there are some episodes that stand out from the rest of the pack. The irreverent animated series aimed at a more mature audience has won a long list of accolades for its subversive themes, mind-bending twists, and layered storylines. The series plays heavily into parody culture with many episode titles being an altered version of famous film and TV show titles, and this combination of deep storytelling and engaging viewers nostalgia and fondness towards other shows has resulted in a dedicated fanbase.
Rick, the mad time and space-bending scientist, along with his fairly ordinary teenage grandson, Morty, go on a series of absurd, often disgusting, and sometimes growth-inducing adventures throughout multiple universes, across all of space. While animated shows are often known for their lack of growth and development for their main characters, instead choosing to focus on disconnected, situational comedy episodes, Rick and Morty treads back and forth across that line at will. Rick has opened up a lot over the last six seasons and much of his background is steadily being revealed. Likewise, Morty has gone from the clueless, submissive sidekick to a fairly determined and independent young man.
10 "Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerry" - Season 4, Episode 10
On the point of story development, Rick and Morty season 4, episode 10 offered a massive pay-off to long-term fans after a block of filler episodes that didn't seem to move the story anywhere new. This episode revisited loose ends from multiple previous episodes like Space Beth, set up some big story arcs for the following seasons with the return of Birdperson, and continued to deliver the punchy, laugh-out-loud moments that Rick and Morty is known for.
9 "Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mind" - Season 5, Episode 8
This episode revisits the Birdperson character in order to continue revealing more of Rick's story. Including how he came to be the nihilistic, twisted scientist that has been present throughout the show. As Rick starts to let some of his affection and care towards friends like Birdperson in an attempt to save them, we learn more about the soul-crushing incidents that jaded him and made him the cynical person he became.
As always, Rick and Morty season 5, episode 8 delivers on the comedy side, but even more deeply, it builds up the protagonist by going back in his timeline through the lens of a close friend. Beautifully told and incredibly well- put together, this episode packs a ton into one episode, and that's perhaps it's one weakness, the pacing was a little too quick. Still, it earns its place among the best Rick and Morty episodes of all time.
8 "Rickmurai Jack" - Season 5, Episode 10
Just two episodes later, wrapping up Rick and Morty season 5, "Rickmurai Jack" sees tensions in the Citadel coming to an all-time high. Rick needs to be brought out of his anime superhero era by Morty who convinces him that he is ignoring bigger issues. The pair go to the citadel and come face to face with none other than Evil Morty who had appeared in earlier seasons and been absent for some time. Evil Morty is then able to step into the Central Finite Curve which connects all the different realities and spreads his evil influence throughout. This season finale leaves things in a fairly bleak moment, and creates the best cliffhanger of the series to date.
7 "Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind" - Season 1, Episode 10
The next entry in this list comes from much earlier in season 1 but is connected to the previous listing. Rick and Morty season 1, episode 10 sets the foundation for much of the series' rules and relationship with a multiverse and inter-dimensional travel. This is the first episode to introduce the Council of Ricks and the long-term antagonist, Evil Morty, as well as setting up mysteries like who killed 27 Ricks from across the dimensions and how are they connected to the main Rick. This is one of the first really gripping episodes of the series that really sets the tone for everything that follows.
6 "The Vat of Acid" - Season 4, Episode 8
This episode focuses more on a solo plot with Morty as Rick creates a "save point" device that gives him the ability to redo anything in his life, even avoiding death. The episode deals with the moral obligation to learn from one's mistakes and improve and gives the example of Morty simply rewriting parts of his life to avoid obligations, responsibilities, and even the most minor mistakes. When Morty finds love with his potential soulmate, it looks like he could settle into a better life and enjoy whatever the future holds. But in a cruel twist of fate due to his accidental use of the machine, that life and love are erased forever and Morty ends up making it impossible to ever earn that relationship back.
5 "Meeseeks and Destroy" - Season 1, Episode 5
One of the most memeable episodes of the series that introduced a fan-favourite character comes early in Rick and Morty, season 1, episode 5. Mr. Meeseeks is a being purely created to serve and help their user. When a Mr. Meeseeks is created, it lives until the completion of it's single task and them promptly disappears. Unfortunately, the Smith family aren't great at using Rick's inventions as intended and the story derails when Jerry creates a Mr. Meeseeks and gives them an extremely difficult task, helping Jerry improve his golf skills. Jerry's ineptitude proves too much, and Mr. Meeseeks calls in another to help him, and that goes on and on... The chaos and clever interplay of this story as well as the introduction of Mr. Meeseeks to the series make it one of the all-time greats.
4 "Pickle Rick" - Season 3, Episode 3
Another episode that resulted in a hugely popular character variant is "Pickle Rick". In order to skip out on a family therapy session, Rick turns himself into a pickle. That's it. That's the premise. The absurd premise spirals out of control quickly when Pickle Rick is knocked down a drain and has to come up with elaborate ways to get himself back to his lab and return to his human form. The wackiness, the ingenious innovations from Rick, and the impressive commitment from Rick to avoid commitments to his family come together to make this episode one of the absolute best of the series, just narrowly missing a spot in the top three.
3 "The Rickshank Redemption" - Season 3, Episode 1
Kicking off season 3, "The Rickshank Redemption" revisits several older storylines such as the Council of Ricks, Cronenberged Earth the colonization plot from Rick and Morty season 2, episode 10, "The Wedding Squanchers", this episode has it all. This episode also sparked one of the biggest real-world impacts from the series which led to a collaboration with McDonald's to bring back Szechuan sauce for a limited time. This episode provides a little bit of a redemption arc for Rick as he destroys the Galactic Federation before later episodes see him avoid responsibilities (see the above entry), but it does a lot to move the story forward and deserves it's place as number three on this list.
2 "Total Rickall" - Season 2, Episode 4
"Total Rickall" stands out as the best solo story, somewhat disconnected from the overarching plots, of the entire series. Merging ideas from films like John Carpenter's The Thing and Total Recall, the Smith family is invaded by an alien entity that implants itself in the family's memories and makes them believe that they have always been there. The characters that join the family are completely absurd ranging from the now infamous Mr. Poopybutthole, to a unicorn, a living pencil, a few of the most famous monsters from classic horror, and dozens of others.
The family genuinely believes each of these creatures is a member of their close family and when they need to start eliminating imposters, the emotions run high. This episode delivers everything that Rick and Morty promises in spades. Surreal comedy, a wide range of emotions, and incredibly coherent storytelling for the most unusual concepts.
1 "The Ricklantis Mixup" - Season 3, Episode 7
Rick and Morty season 3, episode 7 again revisits the Citadel and follows the developing stories of multiple Ricks and Morty's. "The Ricklantis Mixup" touches on a number of high-brow, politically charged concepts like poverty, LGBTQ+ rights, police violence, and politics at large. Despite the weight of some of it's themes, it still manages to feel like a wonderfully playful and mischievous episode which drives the story further along. The episode's ability to play with so many concepts and turn it into a fun and outrageous part of such an absurd animated comedy is an incredible accomplishment that places it firmly as the best episode of Rick and Morty to date.