While it is better that Rick and Morty season 7 is happening, the critically acclaimed Adult Swim hit could have ended with the season 6 finale in terms of story and character. When the news that Justin Roiland, the co-creator of Rick and Morty, was charged with domestic violence, the future of the Adult Swim hit seemed uncertain. Roiland had voiced both title characters in the massively successful series since the show debuted in 2013 (although his involvement in the writing of recent seasons of Rick and Morty was reportedly minimal). In late January 2023, Adult Swim confirmed that the network had severed its ties to Roiland, but clarified that Rick and Morty would continue production.While replacing Roiland as Rick and Morty’s lead characters could be tricky for the network, this decision was ultimately the right call. Dozens of creatives would have been left unemployed by the cancelation of the show, and canceling Rick and Morty due to Roiland’s actions could have reinforced the inaccurate notion that a show’s original creators are its sole creative influence. Instead, producing Rick and Morty season 7 without Rolland’s involvement gives the large staff behind the series a chance to shine. That being said, in terms of story, Rick and Morty’s season 6 finale could have been a good ending for the series.
Rick and Morty’s Season 6 Finale Mirrored Earlier Endings
Outside of Roiland’s real-life dismissal, season 6’s finale is a surprisingly strong ending for Rick and Morty as a whole. Rick’s wild attempts to drag Morty into his newest mess resembled season 3’s ending, while his loss of his family’s respect recalled the end of season 4. Rick and Morty’s season 6 finale mirrored the pilot's opening in the most pointed and interesting parallel of the episode. In the Rick & Morty pilot’s cold open, Rick attempts to get Morty on board with a potentially lethal scheme he has concocted, only to then pass out drunk before almost annihilating all of humanity. In the season 6 finale’s closing scene, Rick successfully convinces Morty to help him seek out Rick Prime.
From everything that viewers have seen in Rick and Morty season 6 so far, there is every reason to believe that Rick dedicating more of his life to tracking down Rick Prime will only lead to further bloodshed and disillusionment. However, Morty is too overwhelmed and tired to fight Rick’s mania in Rick and Morty's season 6 finale, resulting in him glibly signing up for this grim plan. Rick’s season 6 arc comes to completion in this scene as he abandons any pretense of self-improvement and shows Morty that he is secretly more unstable than ever. Under his uncaring facade, Rick is not only invested in vengeance but consumed by it.
Rick and Morty Season 6 Answered the Show’s Oldest Question
Since the show’s pilot, Rick and Morty has repeatedly dangled the prospect of Rick’s redemption in front of viewers only to then snatch it away at the last second with a goofy twist. With the ending of Rick and Morty season 6, episode 10, “Ricktional Mortpoon’s Rickmas Mortcation,” the show proves once and for all that Rick can’t get better, no matter what methods he tries. Rick seemingly improved massively as a caregiver and mentor to Morty in the preceding episode, only for this version of the character to turn out to be a more thoughtful Rick clone in the finale.
While Rick and Morty season 6, episode 9 was divisive among critics and fans thanks to this rapid reinvention of Rick’s character, it at least seemed to prove that Rick could change. Putting aside questions of whether this change was handled well or realistically, the episode implied that Rick had the potential to be a better person, while the finale pointedly undid this twist. With the revelation that the more reasonable Rick was not the show’s real main character, but rather a clone programmed to be more considerate, Rick and Morty season 6 answered whether Rick would ever be redeemed with a definitive no.
Rick and Morty Rejected Season 5’s Finale Promise
Not only was inter-dimensional travel reinstated midway through Rick and Morty season 6, but Rick also didn’t change over the season. Rick and Morty season 6 didn’t follow through on the season 5 finale’s apparent promise to fundamentally change the show. As if to underline this, Rick and Morty season 6’s dark stinger featured the return of Mr. Poopybutthole, who has seemingly changed and improved in the time since viewers saw him in the season 5 finale. However, the stinger soon proved that all of this apparent change was superficial and meaningless, a twist that reflected the episode's story of Rick dragging Morty into another never-ending, likely deadly plan.
Why It’s Better That Rick and Morty Season 7 Is Happening
In practical terms, it is good that Rick and Morty season 7 is happening despite Roiland’s dismissal. This way, the show’s creators can keep their jobs and fans get more episodes. In terms of story, however, this news is even more promising. Rick’s redemption arc is still kept alive instead of ending on a distinctly downbeat, and the character’s potential growth is more compelling than ever. After Rick and Morty’s season 6 finale, it is less likely than ever that Rick will become an outright heroic figure who is redeemed. However, he can improve his relationship with Morty, and could still learn from the Smith family’s improving dynamics.
The fact that Rick will not become a good guy overnight doesn’t mean that the character can’t undergo some meaningful growth in Rick and Morty season 7. Most of the episodes in season 6 mocked the very idea of Rick changing and leaned into the character’s obstinate nature, but this doesn’t need to hold back season 7’s potential character arc. Especially after the season 5 finale promised a major change that never really materialized, Rick and Morty season 7 can now follow through on this. As a result, Rick and Morty season 7 could end up being the best thing to happen to the series in years.