One of the most consistent themes across Rick and Morty is the tension boiling inside Rick at any given moment. He’s the smartest guy in the universe, capable of inventing anything and outwitting anyone—but he’s also a drunk asshole who makes cruel decisions and regrettable mistakes.
Season nine of the Adult Swim blockbuster (io9 watched all 10 episodes ahead of writing this spoiler-free review) makes Rick’s flaws its main concentration, and while the writing, performances, and animation continue to be brilliant, there’s a darkness lurking that suggests Grandpa may never escape his ongoing existential torment.
Here’s the thing, though: Do we want him to? Who is Rick without his demons, after all? After defeating Rick Prime in season seven, “our” Rick spent season eight figuring out what life is like without his greatest foe. Season nine picks up that thread but doesn’t exactly progress with it; it now seems pretty obvious that Rick’s true nemesis is, and probably always has been, himself—literally himself, not a multiversal variant this time. That apparently bottomless identity crisis leads the character to some exceptionally grim places.
With Rick and Morty currently renewed through season 12, there’s plenty of room for Rick’s emotional growth (or whatever the opposite of “growth” is—decay, perhaps) to get further exploration. In the meantime, we get Rick at his most inebriated and reckless, torturing Morty and neglecting any and all responsibilities while flailing through a series of revenge schemes. “Everybody’s running from something,” Rick remarks in an early episode, and that sentiment propels much of the action, particularly as it pertains to our boozy protagonist.
Some familiar faces and references pop up. Boob World, Morty’s dream vacation destination and a perpetual show in-joke, comes back around. Listen carefully, “Get Schwifty” fans, for the Easter egg in Rick’s cell phone ringtone.
But for the most part, season nine charts new settings, foes, and sources of mental anguish. Here, the show’s creative strengths really shine; only Rick and Morty could mine equally operatic drama from a fender-bender in a Trader Joe’s parking lot, a drug that lets its high linger uncomfortably long, an alien planet whipped into revolutionary frenzy thanks to Rick’s interference (this happens more than once in very different contexts), an intergalactic summer camp for spoiled teens, and a wonderfully ludicrous situation wherein Jerry becomes just a little too confident.
Speaking of Jerry, with Rick dominating much of the season, there’s a bit less of the rest of the Smiths to go around. Jerry has some standout embarrassments, so this mostly affects Summer and Beth (and Space Beth); they get some funny asides, Summer in particular, but not nearly as much focus as they have in the past.
Rick’s adventure partner, Morty, is far more present—by now, fans are well familiar with the show’s fondness for “Morty thinks he’s doing the right thing but fucks up royally and Rick has to bail him out” plots, and there are some inventively executed variations on that across the season.
Still, we’re constantly reminded that this is Rick’s journey. He can solve any problem, reverse-engineer any Kill Bill-inspired kung fu punch, dominate any competition, and take over any freaky ecosystem, but more often than not, he’s too wasted to pick up the phone when his family needs him.
He may have started to realize how hurtful he can be, but—having dealt with Rick Prime, as well as his anguish over his late wife, Diane, in previous seasons—he’s also not quite ready to dig into the self-loathing that’s feeding all that anger and aggression. For that, well, we’ve still got seasons 10, 11, 12, and the oft-promised hundred years of Rick and Morty to come.
Oh, and one more thing: the Smith family has a pool now! So they do get to have nice things sometimes.
Rick and Morty stars Ian Cardoni (Rick), Harry Belden (Morty), Chris Parnell (Jerry), Sarah Chalke (Beth), and Spencer Grammer (Summer). It’s showrun by Scott Marder, who’s also an executive producer alongside show co-creator Dan Harmon.
Rick and Morty season nine arrives May 24 on Adult Swim. New episodes will be available to stream weekly on HBO Max and Hulu beginning June 15.
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