Warning: Spoilers ahead for Rick and Morty season 7, episode 5!

Summary

  • Rick Prime's death opens up new storytelling possibilities for Rick and Morty, allowing for more freedom in the direction of the series.
  • Rick Sanchez is left empty and without purpose after achieving his goal, forcing him to find a new direction in life and potentially leading to significant character change.
  • Evil Morty may become the new main antagonist, providing an opportunity for Morty to have his own overarching story and go through character development.

Rick and Morty's latest twist involving Rick Prime grants the show the opportunity to explore its main characters more deeply. Rick and Morty season 7, episode 5, "Unmortricken," seemingly made the decision to kill off one of the show's biggest antagonists, Rick Prime. He has been a driving force behind some of Rick and Morty's main storylines for many seasons and held a huge influence over Rick Sanchez's life. While the show had been steadily building toward a showdown between Rick Prime and Rick C-137, the show pulling the trigger on killing Rick Prime is a bold one that could completely change what the future of the series looks like.

Although Rick and Morty season 7's Rick Prime twist came as a surprise, it allows the show a clean slate in of storytelling. While there are other crucial characters who could feed into the show's overall narrative, there is more freedom about where the series goes next. The season hasn't focused much on the overall story so far, meaning the next few episodes may return to one-off, individual adventures. However, even through these adventures, Rick and Morty can go deeper in exploring the main characters and adding extra layers and complexities to their personality that they haven't tapped into before.

Rick Sanchez Will Need To Find A New Purpose After Rick And Morty Season 7's Twist

Despite Rick and Morty's season 7 episode 5's best gags giving audiences a laugh, it also showed Rick Sanchez looking empty and without purpose. After finally killing his life-long enemy, Rick isn't satisfied and will now need to find a new purpose. While the character doesn't seem filled with regret or remorse, achieving a goal he'd been chasing for so long now leaves him with no clear future story. This isn't just from an audience perspective, but Rick looks to be struggling with the prospect of what's next, going about his life as normal with an empty feeling inside of him.

If Rick Prime is truly gone, Rick will be forced to find a new direction in life, and this could see the character significantly change. He may become more family-focused, cherishing what he still has after losing his wife in every dimension. On the flip side, he could become more bitter, and with Rick Prime gone, he may start to see himself as the most superior Rick, turning him into the man he hated. Whatever direction his character goes, in Rick and Morty season 7 episode 5's ending sets up a whole new arc for the character that should add some fresh ideas and make Rick even more interesting.

New episodes of Rick and Morty air Sundays on Adult Swim.

The Show's Focus On Evil Morty Could Tease More Depth For Rick's Grandson

Evil Morty tinkering with portal gun next to Morty Smith in Rick and Morty

With Rick Prime's death, Evil Morty will likely become the main antagonistic focus of the show, which may tease more depth for Morty Smith. Morty has already had plenty of development throughout the series, but it could be time for him to have his own overarching story. Most of the plot has focused on Rick, with his reputation spanning multiple dimensions. Rick Prime was his personal enemy that he had to defeat in order to complete this arc. Now, Morty could find himself in a similar position. While he doesn't have too much history with Evil Morty, it could become the driving force behind his change.

They spend a lot of time around each other in this episode, which could be the start of a shift in the series. Focusing more on Morty and giving him a more nuanced story may force some of the deeper changes Rick went through onto him. Morty could become more obsessive, perhaps reminding Rick of what he went through and flipping this dynamic. Likewise, Evil Morty could completely alter Morty's view of Rick and turn the two against each other. While a personal story involving Morty and Evil Morty hasn't been developed yet, episode 5 may have tested the water with the two interacting and teased some new character developments.

Why Now Is The Perfect Time To Reinvent Rick And Morty's Characters

Rick flying in a ship with Morty in Rick and Morty

With the departure of Justin Roiland, now is the perfect time to reinvent Rick and Morty's characters. Roiland voiced both Rick and Morty, so changing the characters' overall presentation would help the new voice actors. It's impossible to take away some of their key traits, yet altering Rick and Morty throughout the story will give the new performers a chance to put their own spin on the characters. Rick completing this big character arc in Rick and Morty season 7, episode 5 offers the perfect opportunity to reinvent the character, and the show could easily do the same with Morty.