WARNING: Contains spoilers for Rick and Morty season 5, episode 2, "Mortiplicity."
Rick and Morty season 5 episode 2 provides another reminder that the series has one overarching villain - and it's none other than Rick himself. If there's one consistent theme the show has, it's showing Rick's antics ultimately playing out in his favor, even if these schemes also provide some hurdles along the way.
And Rick's failures often still ultimately show him in a light that, to many viewers, appears more cool than intrinsically flawed. Events like the creation of Pickle Rick and the scientist's failed relationship with the hivemind entity Unity are intended to highlight the deep inner turmoil and pain that is an integral part of his character - yet this is easily hidden away from some, as the focus on interesting fights and surreal scenarios makes the reveals about Rick's inner workings less interesting. Even when the genius scientist has stooped to using his heightened intellect for days to try and stop someone from using his private toilet, the hilarity of the situation often takes away from the implications they possess.
Rick and Morty season 5 episode 2 manages to combat that by having an episode that essentially hinges around recognizing how Rick is his own worst enemy, and how many of the worst scenarios the Smith family lands themselves in are entirely his fault. The plan to have decoy families to keep the scent off the true family isn't an inherently bad one - but Rick's assumption the decoys will never gain true sentience, and will never create clones of their own ultimately leads to a chain reaction of chaos. The fact that almost every Rick is incapable of finding a peaceful solution to confrontations with these versions of himself - solely because every one of them wants to believe they are the true Rick Sanchez - is something the scientist should have anticipated given they are based on him, but his superiority complex appears so potent that he even underestimates literal copies of himself.
Though it's entirely likely the episode existed only to show a flaw in Rick's armor and provide a hilarious premise, the episode could well also serve to continue one of the most interesting of Rick and Morty's ongoing plots. The end of the episode reminded viewers that Space Beth exists - a version of Beth who may or may not be the real Beth, given Rick cloned his daughter and then sent one version off into space in order to allow her to live out her dreams without abandoning her family. With this context, the fact that almost every single Rick immediately decided to kill all other versions is likely a fact that could traumatize both Beths, as it's clear he cloned his daughter and wiped her memory knowing the two may want to kill one another if they met.
It's no secret in the series that Rick Sanchez is massively emotionally damaged - but this usually comes in the form of him inconveniencing those around him, or through witnessing painful moments where his depression becomes vividly apparent. Rick and Morty season 5, however, has already shown him being effectively outsmarted twice in the span of two episodes; first by Mr. Nimbus, and secondly by copies of himself. It's strange to say that seeing an old man get beaten up by a Namor knockoff and then different versions of himself bodes well for the future, but it does raise the potential that this season will allow for a far more human look at the character - as learning to accept his flaws and fallibility as a human seems to be a root issue for Rick.