Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Rick and Morty episode 4While Rick and Morty has been known to weigh in on real-life controversies, season 6 is potentially repeating one of its most infamous jokes that created a nationwide incident. Following the Smith Family's recent battle with their subconscious selves in "Night Family", it looks as though they missed one of the summer's most unfortunate pieces of ice cream-related news. As such, Klondike's Choco Taco may have become the new McDonald's Szechuan sauce.
During 2017's premiere episode of Rick and Morty season 3, Rick's past was explored and a joke was made that he craves the promotional Szechuan sauce McDonald's created for the 1998 release of Disney's Mulan. Likewise, the episode ended with Rick claiming that getting more of the sauce would his entire series arc. As such, this joke resulted in a variety of ridiculous eBay auctions by fans trying to get the sauce for themselves. Wanting to capitalize on the popularity, McDonald's attempted to bring back the Szechuan sauce as a one-day promotion. However, demand greatly outweighed the supply resulting in several disappointed and angry fans, eventually motivating McDonald's to bring back the sauce in greater quantities later that year.
Now, Rick and Morty season 6 references its own ability to influence real-life food drama once again. In the episode "Night Family", the Smiths use Rick's Somnambulator tech to have their subconscious selves do chores while they sleep. However, the Night Family gets tired of the work and starts fighting back, eventually taking full control of the Day Family until the very end of the episode. Upon waking up Rick looks online to see how long they were all asleep, horrified to discover that ice cream company Klondike controversially killed the Choco Taco, having revealed over the summer that they were officially ending production of the classic treat. Met with cries of anguish from the rest of the Smith Family members, it's pretty clear that Rick and Morty's writers don't want to say goodbye to the Choco Taco just like many others who've voiced their disappointment online and have tried to bring the dessert back to stores.
Klondike HAS To Bring Back The Choco Taco Now
It seems Rick and Morty might be trying to see if they can change Klondike's mind by adding their voice, and at the bare minimum is certainly referencing their past influence with McDonald's and the Szechuan sauce. Either way, the popularity and demand for the Choco Taco's return will likely grow thanks to this new reference, though how much remains to be seen. That being said, fans are already pointing to the "Night Family" episode online as evidence that the Choco Taco is still a beloved dessert that shouldn't be taken away.
While it remains to be seen if this episode will do anything to change Klondike's mind, one would imagine that similarly capitalizing on the Choco Taco's renewed interest and popularity would be pretty lucrative thanks to Rick and Morty. Just as long as the ice cream company is willing to make an ample supply. No one needs another Szechuan sauce crisis.