While Rick & Morty’s infamous “Giant Incest Baby” gag was undeniably a joke that pushed the boundaries of good taste, it was also a surprisingly clever plot that allowed the Adult Swim hit to indirectly illustrate both the depths and the causes of the Smith family’s dysfunction. Over the years, Rick & Morty has been criticized for numerous recurring issues. Despite the show’s popularity and critical acclaim, Rick & Morty earned criticism for female characters with little depth or agency, poor handling of sensitive subjects, and just straight-up off-color jokes.
While the last may not seem as serious as the previous two points, a lot of Rick & Morty detractors cite the show’s tendency to go too far with its gross-out jokes as a substantial issue with the series. A look at the IMDB ratings of maligned outings like “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim's Morty” (season 4, episode 4) or a glance at reviews of “Rickdependence Spray”(season 5 episode 4) prove that a meaningful contingent of viewers believe Rick & Morty’s grossest gags do the show a disservice. However, there is an argument to be made that the most envelope-pushing joke ever featured on Rick & Morty was also secretly an effective piece of character development.
As far back as the show’s origins as The Animated Adventures of Doc & Mharti, Rick & Morty has been no stranger to potentially offensive content. Early seasons of the series feature throwaway references to STDs and sexual assault as well as an extended scene of molestation, the sort of dark humor that would become less commonplace as Rick & Morty progressed. However, even within this context, viewers had every reason to find the Giant Incest Baby plot of Rick & Morty season 5 gross and off-putting. The joke centered around a brother and sister accidentally conceiving a child and that alone put off a lot of critics and fans alike, judging by online reactions to the episode. However, for viewers who could look past the shock value gag, the storyline was also secretly a clever summation of Rick & Morty season 5’s overarching themes.
The Giant Incest Baby Plot Explained
In the much-hated “Rickdependence Spray,” Morty accidentally creates super-sized, murderous versions of his sperm that begin rampaging across the world. He is understandably too ashamed to admit his actions and, as a result of his reluctance to confess his role in the disaster, his sister Summer offers to supersize one of her eggs to distract the killer sperm. This results in the inevitable occurring by the episode’s end, prompting a goofy 2001: A Space Odyssey reference and a lot of shocked reactions from viewers when the Giant Incest Baby floats off into space during the stinger.
The Plot Underlines Morty’s Biggest Flaw
While it may seem outlandish to claim that anything meaningful can be gleaned from such a pointedly silly story, the Rick & Morty plot avoids the issues that plague South Park’s worst jokes by grounding this absurd gross-out plot with consistent characterization. Morty’s biggest problem is the combination of shame and insecurity that he constantly feels, with both of these frustrating issues often dragging him down and either derailing his efforts at heroism or leading him to regrettable decisions. Morty’s reticence around admitting his role in the killer sperm saga may indirectly lead to the Giant Incest Baby’s conception, but a lot of the character’s nagging sense of inferiority comes from Rick’s mistreatment of him. Without this issue, the Giant Incest Baby would never have happened, proving that the goofy plot line serves as foreshadowing for the Rick & Morty season 5 finale’s dark revelations about Rick’s reliance on Morty’s subservience.
Rick & Morty Season 5 Mocks The Smith Family’s Failures
Throughout Rick & Morty season 5, the Smith family attempt to work together at numerous points, and the show often makes these efforts look like they will pay off in a wholesome manner. However, because the Smiths have never meaningfully addressed the problems underlying their relationships with each other, these attempts instead always end in disaster. Even the best intentions fail when the family isn't being honest with each other, as proven by Summer’s well-meaning gesture resulting in the creation of the Giant Incest Baby. This theme is echoed in “Mortyplicity" (season 5 episode 2), which sees countless interchangeable versions of the Smith family fail to survive a battle between clone clans because they can’t effectively communicate. This further foreshadowed the extent to which Rick’s manipulation of the Smith family poisons their attempts to form healthy bonds, resulting in frequent disasters when they attempt to unite in a common cause.
The Giant Incest Baby Is Rick’s Fault
From the beginning of Rick & Morty, Rick has kept Morty down and terrorized his family to ensure his life stays comfortable. The season 5 finale reveals the horrific extent of his actions, but they are present every time he mocks Morty’s failures, puts down Jerry, and gaslights Beth. Rick & Morty's pilot episode underlined the massive intelligence gap between the characters and made it obvious that their dynamic was inherently unhealthy, but the plot of season 5 was the first concerted effort that the series made to depict the Smith family trying and failing to work around Rick’s toxic influence. Morty would have been more equipped to explain himself (albeit still embarrassed) if it weren’t for Rick’s constant demeaning of him, while Summer wouldn’t have jumped the gun with her plan had the family’s communication been in a healthier state. However, if either character was in a healthy, stable place, they would likely also want nothing to do with Rick.
The Giant Incest Baby Gives Rick & Morty Fans What They Want
In Rick & Morty's tragic season 5 finale, Rick’s dark machinations are laid bare once and for all, and the extent of the character’s amoral villainy is made clear. However, before that, the Giant Incest Baby plot shows that a feckless, self-centered antihero like Rick will inevitably reduce the lives of those around him to chaos over time. While critics and fans alike delight in Rick’s successful exploits and cunning plans, the natural conclusion of exposing the Smith family to his awful influence is incidents like the Giant Incest Baby. Thus, the plot becomes a perfect representation of the chaos that Rick’s arrogant attitude causes his loved ones and a reminder to Rick & Morty viewers that the character’s egotistical actions have a discomfiting material outcome.