The fifth season of Rick & Morty finished with a huge bang. The return of Evil Morty was a huge highlight for viewers of the show who have been theorizing his whereabouts for ages. The finale ends on a massive cliffhanger with this version of Morty escaping into a portal. Season 5 introduced many new characters, making the Rick & Morty universe feel larger than ever.
As fans anxiously await the arrival of the sixth season sometime this year with no official release date yet, now is the perfect time to look back at some of the series' best one-off characters. Many perished in their only appearances, but a select few laid the groundwork for a future return.
Mr. Nimbus - Season 5 Episode 1
Mr. Nimbus left quite the impression on fans. Jokingly referred to as Rick's "nemesis," Mr. Nimbus' flamboyant personality and lack of social awareness make him all the more hilarious. He also gets the attention of Jerry and Beth, who seek to get a little more "familiar" with him. His ability to control law enforcement is also just hysterical.
Despite having major differences with Rick, Mr. Nimbus proves to be a useful ally by the end of his appearance, rescuing Morty, Rick and Jessica from the clutches of an evil cyborg civilization. Even though his appearance was brief, Nimbus' ridiculous abilities and quirky personality really resonated with fans and hopefully, he will return in a future season, when his mysterious origins with Rick can be further explained.
Tony - Season 4 Episode 3
Potentially the most absurd entry on this list, Tony’s entire arc is surprisingly poignant, though it's riddled with toilet humor. The episode revolves around Rick's secret utopian bathroom, which is compromised when he notices Tony used it at some point. Upon catching him, Rick threatens to kill him, but Tony tells him about his late wife and confesses he used the toilet because he's a "shy pooper."
As the story progresses, there is more and more insight into Tony's life, making him one of the show's most compelling characters. While there's a lot of levity, Rick & Morty also deals with real issues, and here it is loneliness and isolation. Upon learning Rick’s backstory in season 5, it makes sense how much the two have in common, especially since Rick lost his wife, as well. Tony was a well-developed character in his short screen time thanks to good writing and a fantastic voice performance from Jeffrey Wright.
Supernova: Season 3 Episode 4
Initially introduced as a member of the superhero team The Vindicators, Supernova goes down a dark path in her first and only appearance. While the Vindicators may be powerful and fight to save worlds, Rick resents them and views their methods as inferior to his.
Supernova established herself as a well-developed character with a drastic change. While she and her team posed as righteous heroes, deep down, they were very flawed, which Rick was easily able to exploit. Her story is an interesting cautionary tale and proves that upsetting super-powered beings may not end well. While it is unknown where she goes off to, a revenge story featuring her would make for a great story!
Fart: Season 2 Episode 2
Fart was a near God-like being, composed of gas, and he was ordered to be killed by Krombopulos Michael. Upon having a disagreement with Rick over helping Michael kill the alien, Morty rescues Fart, which results in the unnecessary deaths of many.
Fart's popularity as a character boomed exponentially with the song "Goodbye Moonmen," which turned into a huge meme. Fart's easy-going personality and wise nature are what make him so likable. The moral implications of this episode also make it so interesting because it shows how good of a person Morty is, but also how naive he can be. Fart is the perfect example of why one shouldn't blindly trust everyone they meet.
Nick: Season 5 Episode 9
After spilling portal gun fluid on his hand, Morty is connected by portals with a mysterious person named Nick, who also spilled some on his thigh. At the start, Morty opens up to Nick about his difficulties with Rick, and the two bond over it, but things quickly go sideways as it's revealed Nick is a patient at a psychiatric facility.
During his battle with Morty, Nick offers valuable information on his past with Rick. While Morty views Nick as an antagonist, he's very misunderstood which makes him so compelling. Longtime viewers of Rick and Morty know that Rick can sometimes be the worst. Nick isn't so much of a villain, but more of a misguided soul. Hopefully, one day, his experiences with Rick will be uncovered.
Morty's Girlfriend: Season 4 Episode 8
Appearing in the iconic "The Vat of Acid Episode," Morty's unnamed girlfriend is perhaps the most tragic character on this list. In the episode, Morty is given a "save point in time" device by Rick. Morty and his girlfriend's relationship is played out during a lengthy, over-the-top montage. Unfortunately, their relationship is short-lived, as things never end well for Morty.
Jerry accidentally presses on the device, causing Morty to lose his save point, and losing his girlfriend in the process. Morty's girlfriend is yet another sad tale for him, who continues to endure hardships. While her character says very little, her appearance left a significant emotional impact. Perhaps one day, Morty can finally have his happy ending with her.
Planetina: Season 5 Episode 3
Planetina and Morty join the long list of Rick & Morty's doomed couples. Clearly derivative of Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Planetina initially seems like a nice, principled superhero, but things aren't as they seem. Alison Brie gives a tremendous performance as she is able to exhibit both the soft and later, more unhinged sides of the character.
Much like Nick, Planetina is also very misguided. Initially very heroic, she takes on extreme measures as she begins to see a lot of corruption. The episode is a defining moment in Morty's life, with him being forced to break someone's heart and not the other way around. Fans took a strong liking to the character, as her motivations are understandable. Despite her actions pushing boundaries, viewers almost want to root for her. As a show rooted in humor, it was a nice change of pace to get a deeply dramatic story, and with her ending being open-ended, it would not be a surprise to see her return.
Zeep Xanflorp: Season 2 Episode 6
Zeep is a one-time Rick & Morty character that is rarely ever talked about despite being one of the show's best. Zeep is the perfect parallel to Rick. Xanflorp exists in Rick's Microverse only to act as his car's battery, a truth Zeep has to come to terms with.
Zeep’s intelligence rivals that of Rick’s. Things could have turned out differently had Zeep managed to escape in Rick's ship. Though his intelligence is close to Rick's, he will unfortunately never reach his true potential due to the constraints of living in a microverse or as Zeep calls it, a "miniverse." While Zeep hasn't been seen since season 2, he would make a great antagonist should he ever return.
Bruce Chutback: Season 5 Episode 5
Another entry from season 5 which introduced many memorable one-time characters, Bruce is simple, laid-back and just hilarious, without much effort. Bruce is just an average guy but he pressures Morty and Summer to take Rick's "car" for a joyride, which turns into a galaxy-sprawling adventure.
Most characters in the show are usually shocked by Rick's tech or the sight of aliens, but Bruce isn't fazed at all. Bruce is a man of very few words, but each time he speaks, it's always something funny. Due to their similar resemblance, many fans have theorized that he may be Jerry's secret son. Hopefully, the legend of Bruce "Chutpants" continues in a future episode.
Krombopulos Michael: Season 2 Episode 2
There are few characters in the Rick & Morty universe that are as recognizable as Krombopulos Michael. In the short amount of time he has, Michael establishes himself very quickly. He's an extremely well-trained assassin, has a wife, is friendly and thoroughly enjoys killing.
While he shows no mercy to anyone, no matter what, he still maintains a quirky and chipper demeanor, an unexpected trait for a hired killer, which fans loved. Unfortunately, Krombopulos Michael's untimely demise makes the chances of him returning unlikely. Should a day come where Krombopulos Michael returns, all Rick & Morty fans shall rejoice.