Summary

• Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Special dives deep into Rick's self-destructive tendencies and loneliness, with haunting reminders from past episodes.
• The inclusion of the toilet from "The Old Man and the Seat" serves as a tragic symbol of Rick's inability to let go of the past.
• Through heartbreaking moments like Tony's death, Rick is forced to confront his issues of pushing away those he cares about.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Special! Rick and Morty found a way to make that episode even more tragic.

In Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Special by Alex Firer, Fred C. Stresing, and Dean Rankine, Rick is finally moving out of the Smith Family garage, as he decided that, after ten years, Rick and Morty has run its course, and he’s ready to somberly retire in a nursing home. The comic uses this plot point to include a great number of cameos from fan-favorite episodes (practically every episode, actually), including one in particular: the toilet from “The Old Man and the Seat”.

As Rick is packing up his things to move out, readers are given a double-page spread of every possession Rick has been holding onto over the years. Among these items are some of the most iconic in the entire series, from Interdimensional Cable Goggles to Meeseeks Boxes. However, the standout item has to be the toilet from “The Old Man and the Seat”, as that’s a particularly dark inclusion in this otherwise fun collection.

Rick Kept The Toilet from “The Old Man and the Seat”

Rick held onto the object just to further torture himself over the tragedy

In “The Old Man and the Seat”, it’s revealed that Rick has an alien wildlife sanctuary with a single toilet in the middle of a serene forest. Rick is a ‘shy pooper’, and this ‘bathroom’ is the one place in the universe where no one can interrupt him. But more than that, the toilet that’s located there has only been used by him - or so he thought. Rick discovers that an alien named Tony has been using his toilet, and while he hated him for it throughout the episode, Rick and Tony actually developed something of a friendship.

Tragically, Tony died before the end of the episode, and after Rick pushed him away. Rick hated the idea that Tony used his toilet, but once Tony was gone, he sat on the toilet in quiet mourning, reflecting on how truly alone he is. And now, it’s revealed that Rick took that toilet home with him - a constant reminder of how he pushes away those he cares about.

The Toilet Isn’t The Only Time Rick Held Onto The Past for Self-Destructive Reasons

Rick and Morty season 6, episode 1 “Solaricks”

When Rick is sent back to his original universe in “Solaricks”, fans see his original home for the first time following Rick Prime’s attack on his family. It’s revealed that Rick used his god-tier tech to trap his neighborhood in perpetual stasis, representing his inability to move on. Not only that, but Rick also created AI that exists inside his old house with the disembodied voice of his wife, Diane. Rick manufactured his own personal hell, and to a lesser degree, he did the same thing by bringing the toilet from “The Old Man and the Seat” home with him.

It’s clear that Tony’s death left a major impact on Rick, especially since it represents a larger issue Rick still has to face within himself. Rick pushes away those closest to him, and then wallows in his own misery afterward without fixing the root problem itself. He’s working on it, something Rick and Morty fans are well aware of, but Rick will never allow himself to be happy if he doesn’t stop holding onto the mistakes of his past, including this toilet from “The Old Man and the Seat” - an already tragic episode that was just made even worse.

Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Special by Oni Press is available now.