Rick and Morty season 5, episode 8, "Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort" has a handful of key revelations, and a specific scene with the show's famous portal gun explains why Rick is so cynical. The beloved animated series from Adult Swim has followed Rick Sanchez and his grandson, Morty Smith, since 2013. Their colorful misadventures together always make for entertaining viewing, but the series' latest installment features Rick on more of a solo quest.
Ironically for someone as self-centered as Rick, he spends the episode desperately trying to save a dying Birdperson within the fan-favorite character's own mind. "Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort" is another surprisingly tender Rick and Morty episode, one where the titular character proves that he cares about someone else. And he cares much more than his nihilistic outlook has previously made it seem. In addition, the younger versions of himself show that he wasn't always as jaded and disaffected as he often comes across throughout the series.
There's an important point in the episode where Rick explains the unending possibilities that his portal gun allows for. He tells Birdperson about how they could always transport themselves to a universe where they actually lost the previous battle, or another where they won in a different way, or even one where the fight never took place. He excitedly concludes that "none of it matters." Unfortunately, this revelation damages his dynamic with Birdperson, who replies that their relationship isn't worth his integrity. But, it's a layered Rick and Morty moment. The nihilistic epiphany seems to be when the past Rick fully embraces his signature cynicism. In his eyes, he realizes that his successes and failures are meaningless in the grand scheme of things--that there's no need to fret about, or feverishly work to better, life's outcomes. After all, a universe where he and Birdperson find themselves victorious is just as real as another timeline where the Battle of Blood Ridge doesn't end in their favor.
It's an interesting notion, one that's far more in line with the vibe that the show is known for. To some, the moment might be less ostensibly earnest than the rest of Rick and Morty season 5, episode 8, where Rick works to save his dear friend. And there's some validity to that. This could possibly be when the far-less-cynical, younger version of Rick starts to become the more jaded iteration of himself. But it's a paradoxically hopeful message, as well. It taps into one of the beliefs behind existentialist philosophy (which the show has always had definite threads of): that life is inherently meaningless, but meaning can be found within whatever purpose one ascribes to their existence.
Rick realizes he's free to do what he wants, in the universe of his choosing. It's the beginning of his descent into cynicism, but it's also a moment of liberation, which allows him to grow into the version of his character that Rick and Morty fans know and love. It's unfortunate that the moment of candor and honesty complicates his friendship with Birdperson, but it also gives viewers a glimpse behind the curtain in regard to how Rick's character has been molded.