Although Rick and Morty season 8's release date is highly anticipated, but the show’s comeback isn’t as fraught with tension as its last season premiere. Rick and Morty season 7 was the first to feature new voice actors for Rick and Morty after original series star and co-creator Justin Roiland was let go due to domestic violence allegations.
There was a lot of debate over how Rick and Morty should recast its title characters before season 7 began, so the premiere was an important proving ground. Bizarrely, season 7, episode 1, “How Poopy Got His Poop Back,” ended up sidelining Morty entirely as the outing focused its plot on largely forgotten side characters. By Rick and Morty’s season 7 finale, the show was achieving its highest IMDb ratings in years. However, the premiere’s risky trick is that season 8 still should not repeat.
Rick and Morty Season 8 Shouldn’t Open With An Episode That Sidelines Rick or Morty
Season 7’s Premiere Barely Even Featured Morty
As surprising as it may sound, “How Poopy Got His Poop Back” wasn’t the first time Rick and Morty started a season with an episode that sidelined Morty. Beginning new seasons with episodes mostly devoted to obscure side characters is something of a tradition in the series. Season 3, episode 1, “The Rickshank Rickdemption,” mostly focused on Rick tricking Cornvelious Daniel to escape his incarceration, while season 5, episode 1, “Mort Dinner Rick Andre,” was about Rick and Mr. Nimbus’s longstanding rivalry.
The fact that “How Poopy Got His Poop Back” was all about Mr. Poopybutthole, of all people, was a fun way for Rick and Morty season 7 to prove that the show wasn’t worried about establishing its new voices for Rick and Morty. However, season 7’s ending means season 8 can’t repeat this approach. In season 7, episode 10, “Fear No Mort,” Morty faced his greatest fear and realized that he had been defining his life path based on Rick’s approval. He vowed to become more self-reliant, ending his dependency on Rick.
Rick and Morty Season 8’s Premiere Should Focus On The Main Duo’s Dynamic
Season 7’s Finale Changed The Pair For Good
Morty has promised to become more self-motivated before, but any changes to his dynamic with Rick have been temporary. Fortunately, “Fear No Mort” offered Morty a level of character development he has never received before, meaning season 8 can properly change the pair’s dynamic for good. This would be a welcome change, since Morty acting as Rick’s glorified sidekick has been getting old for some time now. “Fear No Morty” putting the pair on a more even footing was an exciting development.
If season 8’s premiere ignores Morty in favor of a Rick-centric story co-starring some minor ing characters, it will feel like the show hasn’t substantially changed its approach between seasons.
This more level playing field is the biggest change Rick and Morty season 8 needs to pick up on. While there may be more Rick and Morty sequel episodes in the outing, it shouldn’t feel like business as usual. If season 8’s premiere ignores Morty in favor of a Rick-centric story co-starring some minor ing characters, it will feel like the show hasn’t substantially changed its approach between seasons.
Rick and Morty Season 8 Still Needs A Mr. Poopybutthole Cameo At Some Point
Season 7’s Post-Credits Stinger Left His Story Unresolved
Rick and Morty season 8 needs to prioritize Morty’s independence, even if this means fewer zany plots following Rick and his friends. That said, viewers still need to find out what happened to Rick and Morty’s ing cast, specifically the beleaguered Mr. Poopybutthole. When viewers last saw him, Mr. Poopybutthole disregarded his recent character development to swap places with a version of himself from an alternate dimension.
Eventually, viewers need to find out whether Mr. Poopybutthole’s wife realized he was a fraud who portal-hopped into a new reality to get back into his old life. However, this plot doesn't need to take up a whole episode. Rick and Morty season 8’s Morty storylines should take precedence, while the show can use subplots and post-credits stingers to check in on characters like Mr. Poopybutthole.
Following up on the promise of the deservedly acclaimed “Fear No Mort” should be the show’s highest priority now, and this means giving Morty a more substantial lead role.
It was a funny, daring decision when “How Poopy Got His Poop Back” focused on Mr. Poopybutthole, even though viewers had been wondering about Rick and Morty’s new voices for months. However, by the time season 8 premieres, viewers will have long since acclimated to Rick and Morty’s new voices. Following up on the promise of the deservedly acclaimed “Fear No Mort” should be the show’s highest priority now, and this means giving Morty a more substantial lead role. Thus, Rick and Morty season 8’s premiere can’t sideline one of its title characters solely for the sake of surprising viewers.
Source: IMDb
Rick and Morty
- Release Date
- December 2, 2013
- Network
- Adult Swim
- Showrunner
- Dan Harmon
Cast
Summer Smith (voice)
Justin RoilandRick Sanchez / Morty Smith
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Bryan Newton, Dominic Polcino, Anthony Chun, John Rice, Stephen Sandoval, Jeff Myers
- Writers
- Tom Kauffman, Wade Randolph, Eric Acosta, David Phillips, Erica Rosbe, Sarah Carbiener, Matt Roller, Michael Waldron, Caitie Delaney
- Franchise(s)
- Rick and Morty
- Creator(s)
- Justin Roiland, Dan Harmon
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