Well bois, we did it. After two years of waiting, Season 4 is upon us. Hopefully you spent that time doing something productive instead of just sitting around and shitposting like an incel. If you haven't already watched the season premiere, I suggest you do so before reading this analysis. Working (and legal) link here: https://www.adultswim.com/videos/rick-and-morty/
Roiland and Harmon clearly put their time into making this premiere well worth while. I didn't know what to expect after waiting 2 years, but I definitely wasn't expecting something this grandiose, and was not disappointed.
Our misadventures begin as has come to be expected at this point: at the breakfast table. This time around, however, the remnants of family drama in season 3 are at the forefront of the scene. Rick is no longer "Completely in control" of the family as he was in the beginning of season three, and is clearly still peeved about it, but I will touch more on that later.
As the episode progresses (without too many spoilers), we see firsthand some dynamic character changes. Firstly, Morty is no longer the helpless, pathetic 14-year-old from previous seasons. He has grown increasingly cynical of Rick and forgoes all caution, striving only to satisfy himself, no longer playing the role of a mindless sidekick, as is reinforced also by the new family relations.
At the same time, Rick experiences closure to the old way the Smith family functioned. It becomes clear that his threat of always switching to a better reality is rather empty as he is repeatedly cloned into alternate realities, where he experiences Ricks and Morties who take on exotic roles, from hardcore fascists to insect killing wasps. Wasp Rick tells C137, "When you're born that big an asshole, the least you can do is have a little empathy. Now come have dinner with my family." As C137 has dinner with the Wasp Smith family, he undergoes some self-reflection as he sees how well the Wasp Smiths get along and agree with each other. "We're Wasps, not Monsters," Says Wasp Rick.
"I guess I don't have it as bad as I thought," says C137 to himself.
After a wild battle sequence involving a Giant holographic Rick made flesh, the episode concludes with the gang deciding that it is important to both plan ahead and live in the moment, a theme we will likely see repeating later this season.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
- The creators successfully managed to make light of extreme left/right wing politics that have arisen in the US today. Not only were these themes appropriately handled, but were comedic regardless of the viewer's political ideology, a feat which is rarely seen today.
- Many references of lore were used throughout this episode. Whether this will continue throughout Season 4 is yet to be seen, but it was refreshing to see the levels of continuity in which the creators will go to.
- As was implied by Rick's multiple reality shifts, we will likely see multiple Ricks again this season, and possibly Evil Morty.
- Despite previous concerns, the show remains as edgy, charged, and graphic as ever, which should please many hardcore fans
- The show continues to break the fourth wall on a semi-regular basis, again continuing themes from previous seasons.
- Mr. Goldenfold is still one of the most iconic and humorous characters in the series, in my humble opinion.
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