The ‘Interdimensional Cable’ episodes of Rick and Morty have always split the fandom down the middle in of what constitutes a good episode of the show, but one comic book proves that each ‘Interdimensional Cable’ episode was leading up to a big twist (one that even Rick didn’t see coming).
‘Interdimensional Cable’ episodes are seemingly improvised skits that play out as Rick and Morty flip through the endless channels broadcasting from across the multiverse. While these short breaks from continuity are entertaining, they have no impact on the main story arcs of the show. So far in the Adult Swim animated series Rick and Morty, there are two ‘Interdimensional Cable’ episodes. The first is the season 1 episode titled, “Rixty Minutes” and the second was the season 2 episode titled, “Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate.” During both channel-surfing adventures, Rick and Morty didn’t really do anything aside from watch television where the shows they watched were the main focus of the episodes.
In Rick and Morty #47 by Kyle Starks and Puste, Rick and Morty plop down in front of the T.V. just as they had done in the two previous ‘Interdimensional Cable’ adventures, only this time, there are definite real-world impacts. After turning the channel from a show about alien infant cage fights, the Smith family stumbles upon a program that is just two aliens sitting in chairs, staring at each other. While Summer wants to quickly change it, Rick is intrigued and keeps it on this channel. Unfortunately, Rick discovers that that was a huge mistake. After a few moments of silence, the two aliens turn towards the camera, look through the television and address Rick Sanchez by name, then they opened up a portal into the Smith’s living room using the interdimensional cable box as a directional beacon. The aliens were hunting Rick as they were attempting to steal any technology related to time travel, and while Rick can usually make quick work of his enemies, these villains had telekinesis as well as the ability to create force fields. These abilities made them a formidable threat that couldn’t be taken down by physical force.
This issue is a huge twist for fans familiar with Rick and Morty’s past ‘Interdimensional Cable’ episodes as it is a complete subversion of their expectations. Fans have been led to believe that any adventure involving interdimensional cable will be one that doesn’t really involve Rick and Morty, as fans are watching the comedy sketches with them rather than watching Rick and Morty go on an adventure themselves. While this storyline begins that same way, it quickly throws Rick and Morty out of the spectators’ seats and into the action. This throws both the titular characters and the readers completely off guard.
In a way, the two previous ‘Interdimensional Cable’ episodes were preparing fans for this inevitability by following the comedic rule of three: establishing a rule, reifying that rule, then breaking the rule. The first two episodes established that Rick and Morty were as involved in the ‘Interdimensional Cable’ episodes as fans were, making those episodes not really matter in of overall continuity. However, this comic issue made those ‘Interdimensional Cable’ episodes matter as this one finally broke the rule established by the two previous storylines and gave Rick and Morty an adventure that was way more impactful than channel surfing and is one that every fan can enjoy.
