Film Theory: Rick's Final Chance! (Rick and Morty Season 4)

In the

season

4

final

e of Rick and Morty, Rick has this epic anime-inspired duel against the Phoenix persona, the reborn BP, now he's pee and Rick, for the second time in the

season

, gets rekt, also highlights the detail funny about him drinking from his flask and immediately leaving his digestive tract, it was probably just there to help him process the alcohol more effectively anyway, long story short, I'm not surprised Rick didn't die, we've seen him survive catastrophic injuries before, but I'm more surprised Rick didn't shoot. bring out a secret weapon, no, no, that secret weapon, it's disgusting, get your mind out of the gutter, no birdman telling us that Rick's catchphrase, Wubba lubba dub dub, means I'm in a lot of pain, please help me, In fact, it's in Birdman's own language, so if Rick suddenly said this in his

final

moments, does that mean the Phoenix persona is softening and giving up the fight against his friend?

No, too cheesy for the show now, if they had realized their mothers had the same name now, that would have been awesome. Hello Internet, welcome to

film

ing.

theory

the show that will last forever one hundred seasons movies and theories movies in theories 100 one hundred episodes theorizing about movies and theories and also television and YouTube

theory

and sometimes even book theory comic comic comic series comic series that's the thing movies in 300 years is the a certain part about all this like one hundred years, one hundred years until the heat death of the universe Rick and Morty one hundred years, movies and theories, the heat death of the universe maybe you have to be drinking whatever is inside out of Rick's flask to be able to pull off a rant like that anyway it was worth a try Citadel of Theorists It's no secret that I've long been a big fan of Rick and Morty and all things clever, but Season 4 well, I must say that in the end it really saved itself for me.

I'll admit I didn't love the first half of the season, sure I appreciated the cat mystery, the honey maze references, and the introduction to the world of snake jazz, but overall a lot of the character relationships that made this season were missing. program. It's very special to me, but now that the season is over I can honestly say that this was probably at least the most significant season that's ever happened and not because of the clones or Tammy's return or the face-hugging aliens, but because the season focused on The characters search for identity. It was very much like the second act of a three-act play.

We have established who our main characters are in the world they live in and in Act 1, and now we see the problems introduced into these people's lives, we see the With the toxicity that exists within these relationships, we learn that those who some Once they were the butt of our jokes they could be the best. This was a season where characters evolved, changed, and found new identities for themselves and those who can't grow were ultimately abandoned. behind, but where this all gets really juicy is that season 4 not only represents an identity crisis for each and every one of our main characters, but also the identity crisis that the show itself faces, in front of the people who they do it and understanding everything.

Here's what gives us a hint of what we can expect from season 5, so sit back in your laser-proof Wranglers and pour yourself a nice Windies iced Chinese because it's time to ride with Matt Pat's invisible theory, it's a new The fourth season of the franchise sees each member of the Smith family searching and/or questioning their place in the world or, I suppose, the multiverse for Morty. His unquestionable identity throughout the show has been that of a sidekick to Rick. It's easy to forget, but season three ended with Rick. and Morty punching the president so they can spend a little more time playing Minecraft together.

There sure have been hints here and there that their relationship might be on the decline. He abandons everyone he left you to rot in a world he ruined just because. I don't care, so if you really want your grandpa back, grab a shovel, the one that won't let you down is buried in your backyard, but season four really took it all the way in episode one, the glass episode. death, we see more new things, choose not to. reviving Rick instead of choosing to keep him dead and prioritizing his death in old age and his loving arms episode 3 the heist episode shows him opting to skip multiple adventures with Rick to pursue his own dream of writing a dragon pilot episode about the Netflix Heist is about Morty going on self-directed fantasy adventures in which he proves himself more capable in a world where Rick's technology is useless until, of course, the show abandons that really cool angle and just gives Rick divine powers, once again, not great.

The episode Primordius Morty becomes the leader of glory, so an episode of Lian in the vat of acid sees the limitations of Rick's plans and confronts him. Are you dying of dementia? When did you become so arrogant tonight and in both? Episodes 9 and 10 are Morty and Summer saving Rick's life instead of the other way around. Up until this point, Rick's scientific magic has always seemed like a solution to Morty because every time they mess up they can just teleport or change realities, but Rick and his bag of t

rick

s are empty Morty throughout the seasons, but especially here in season 4, he has learned that they are simply a means to avoid living a real life.

They are irresponsible. It's a lesson that is reinforced in that vat of acid episode when Morty learns through video of him. game style reset button that life can be reset constantly is meaningless and that it is the consequences of our actions that ultimately make life worth living living without consequences is great but then I started to wonder what I'm for living, we are who we are thanks to the concert. Morty rejects Rick's offer to find out which Beth is his real mother in the finale. It is he who turns his back on Rick's deception in favor of living a more normal, and therefore more meaningful, life.

The season started with this R and everything about Rick and Morty. We adventured together for another hundred years, but at the end of the season Morty decided to be his own person outside of Rick's influence. Now that's a character. Arc Morty and Summer we work together, that's our heart. Summer is coming at her identity from the opposite direction. She's usually on the outside of Rick and Morty's adventures looking in, but like Marty, she's also looking to establish a new, independent identity like any normal teenager. During season four, we see her trying new things to help define who she is.

He inexplicably carries a toothpick in his mouth it's a toothpick I'm a toothpick now get used to it are you that desperate for something trying podcasts that go from game to game on the Love Finders app what a stupid name for that thing or just walking in in snake jazz? snake, yes, it's also clear in episode 1 that she still feels left out and wants to be part of the Rick and Morty duo, she just jokes with you, just to see if you pay attention to me, but over the course of the season we see the summer she becomes her own woman, she rules the glories of civilization, she becomes an all-powerful archer, she saves Rick's life several times at the end of the season, she has found herself strong and independent, she is happy to be Morty's sister and she no longer needs With Grandpa's approval, she acknowledges that her family was living a fairly normal life before Rick came along and upset it, and she's already over him breaking it up, as she puts it in her last line of the season.

Grandpa Rick, don't drag us down just because you're losing control Summer's desire to be a part of Rick and Morty's adventures was never about finding ways to act, the universe was always about being included now you realize that he can team up with Morty, he can have that inclusion without the destructive weight of Rick's baggage. Of all the interesting plots and subplots in season four, one that flew under the radar almost the entire time was the revitalization of Beth and Jerry's mayor. The third season ended with Jerry back in the family and Rick on the defensive and now just one season later.

Even Jerry has found a new identity. He is no longer the worm we saw him in the second season. He is now finding strength against Rick and is beginning to reassert himself as the family man, as long as he was ever truly the family man. To start, let's be honest throughout his entire season of adventures, we see him save his own life, we see him lead a civilization, we see him save Beth's life, we see him save Rick's life in a charming way. Jarry saves the day by managing only one with a decent heart, most important of all, although Jerry is realizing that he doesn't need to be the hero to be useful, he may not have had soulmates on the love finder app , but Beth chooses him anyway, he might be a glorifying idiot. camping but his s'more stick ends up saving Beth Jerry is aware that he is a what, but he has made peace with the idea that Beth and her family are all he really needs to be happy and when you look at that self-actualization in Compared to Rick's endless misery and cynicism, he can never truly be happy.

Jerry is the one who really comes out on top. Well, I was impressed, Dad, he saved my life. No thanks to you, which brings us to Beth, who in season four faces the most literal identity crisis. her as she continues to deal with the idea that she might be a clone and, although we don't see her much this season, even Beth has a clone identity arc; Otherwise, she transforms from the insecure, dissatisfied woman who tried to numb her pain in previous seasons to a confident mother. I'm a mother to you until you turn 18, even if they put me in prison for being a non-consensual mother and a skeptical but ultimately loving wife, look on the off

chance

that you use the gap I didn't use it, did I?

No, but it's building a civilization with his father that really sets the turning point in his character's search for identity. At the beginning of episode 9, we see old Beth look on as she delights in the praise Rick gives her. These children may not be mine, but you. You're definitely my little steampunk overlord, and yet halfway through the episode, Rick bails on her just like he did on her when she was a kid to prove that he's a god against another god, which ultimately backfires and, in turn, it almost makes Beth leave Jeri as the only one. one to save her at the end of this episode.

Beth's season arc is pretty much complete. Well, I was impressed, Dad, he saved my life. Not thanks to you. And this culminates in the season 4 finale, where we come face to face with Beth's clone. or the original Beth, honestly the episode doesn't give us much clarity in promoting her pocket video game, Morty's after the episode may have called the space math clone Beth in the game, regardless of Beth concluding it doesn't matter. I'm sure you'd love for us to need that from you, but I don't care what's in that file. They have both discovered that her identity is defined by not needing Rick's approval.

They are strong in their own way and those ways are not. including him leaving us with Rick himself, who was in pretty bad shape at the end of the season. Oh pat yourself on the back here because I called the end of the season not too much because I also made a video about how Rick I didn't actually clone the method and anyway Rick is left broken and alone at the end of the season exactly for the same thing we've been talking about with all the other characters because, instead of finding a new identity like everyone else, Rick refuses.

For a change, he recognizes that he's a jerk to everyone and everything around him, but he just doesn't do anything about it. He thinks putting it out with a lamp by calling him directly is enough, but at least he isn't anymore. This is him in season 3. bad father to the max here now compare that to his realization at the end of season 4 I'm a Terrible Father Rick historically was comfortable with the fact that he wasn't a good father because he convinced himself that nothing matters. He's not entirely wrong about that, when humans are just a small speck of dust in an infinite universe, yes, our actions don't make sense on a scientific level, but when you're not looking at the objective reality of the universe and instead you approach down. at the family level towards the subjective reality in which we all live well, then we are all the center of our little universe and it is there where you can find true meaning, true purpose and true happiness, that is, when your actions literally make There a world of difference, but will Rick ever be able to grow up and see that is the fundamental question hanging over the rest of this show?

Well, our characters are having a lot of identity crises throughout the story.fourth season, but does that really tell us anything about where the show is going, yes, a lot because the identity crisis the characters are having clearly reflects the discussion the show's creators are having about their identity throughout this season. season; This was the first season produced after the series was picked up. for 70 more episodes and the pressure of how to handle so many more installments of the series while still maintaining what made this show great in the first place is the central arc throughout this entire season because, don't get me wrong, Rick and Morty are meta. and breaking the fourth wall is nothing new, it all goes back to the pilot episode, but it's never been as specific as it was in season four.

Almost every episode that aired has some deconstruction of what it means to make Rick's show. and Morty is most obvious in the Story Lord episode that we already covered in great detail, but there's a lot more and it all has a common theme: the debate over whether to make the show serialized or episodic, serialized television tells a single story from the beginning finally Usually in chronological order like Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad it starts in the middle of those series and you don't have a clear idea of ​​what exactly is happening. Episodic television is often considered more formulaic and the events of one episode don't really affect everyone. the other episodes around it think that the simpsons or seinfeld or most seasons South Park stuff happens, but there is always a reset button at the end of the episode, it is a debate that is established from the first episode of the season, sometimes we end it with this rant. we'll do classic things, you know, other times we'll do anything, a direct callback to a very similar speech that occurs at the end of the show's pilot episode when nothing mattered and everything was meant to be in fun and that's just not it.

All in this same episode that begins the fourth season, we have fascist Morty openly declaring that he wants to have fun with classic adventures like the old days. You know it would be a big help if you could say more than what you don't want to say. like mr. Meeseeks okay, now we're talking about the fascist Morty serving as the voice of fans who didn't like the more serialized route the show took throughout season three or the season told an arc about the breakup of Beth and Jerry and the fallout with the The rest of the family and Rick basically respond tell me something you like is clearly a surrogate for the feelings of the show's creators.

They are the ones who beg fans to stop complaining about everything and instead offer them something productive, something they like, some constructive criticism. about the creative decisions that are happening on the show, so the first episode of season four sets up this arc about the identity of what the show is and we see this debate play out throughout most of the other episodes. in the vat of acid episode we get. this trading video game style saving device, yes Morty, I saw it in Futurama, so you don't do anything unless it's original to the first few seasons.

Rick and Morty didn't have to worry about being unoriginal because it introduced us to new characters that established their own style, but now the show's creators have to keep making decisions about whether characters and stories should come back, how original they should be. their concepts, and we're seeing those debates literally take place on screen through the voices of these characters in that same episode we also get this line there's no such thing as a bad idea Morty it's about execution this discussion about there being no Bad ideas is a common theme in groups of creative individuals even making fun of what many consider to be the weakest episode of the series Morty wanting a dragon is not an idea I'm not talking about, I'm constantly throwing ideas at them Rick and We are not even thinking about this whole sequence.

It's not just two characters arguing, it's a writers room debating what can and can't be an episode of this show, it's a debate that we also see embodied in other episodes by Jerry's mysterious cat mid-season, a cat which literally represents everything doesn't need an answer and we just have fun when Jerry asks why the cat can talk, we have another writers room, we ask quickly why are you talking, why should that matter, why shouldn't it matter, of course, There is the episode of Lorde's story that literalizes the fear that The writing team has to drain Rick and Morty of all the potential of their story, even the final episode of the season has a reference to this ongoing tension.

The way she lived on Tammy serialized as the evil Morty and the birdman are too important to the quote-unquote plot of this. show and therefore, in Rick's terms, they are over-serialized, they can't be episodic characters, they just have to participate in episodes that are part of the serial narrative. Every character in that last episode talks at some point about their arc and how important their arc is to the season, so how does it all come together? What conclusion does the program reach? What is the show's meta arc for season four? Well, we turn to that vat of acid again.

The episode in it Morty embodies both halves of the serialized versus episodic debate (its reset button). gives him the literal ability to be episodic where the consequences don't matter, he's literally pressing a reset button, but he himself is a continuous serialized entity that continues on all of those different timelines and, having lived on both sides, he arrives at this Conclusion, any program can be random. smart, funny, but it's the constant threat of these characters, their relationships, the dramatic stakes that run through their lives, those are the things that make Rick and Morty such an exciting show to watch, it's the consequences of these characters' actions the ones that matter, we'll watch every episode of Here, before drafting the plot in any way, no, certainly not, Rick and Morty can have his cake and eat it too, he can intersperse episodes about fascist hobo snake terminators and, from time to time , bring back birdman or evil Morty or mr.

Meeseek, so the identity that the creators of Rick and Morty have decided is what Rick preached in the first episode of the season moderation on both sides, so what does all this mean for the eventual season 5 that will arrive in three years? Well, we will probably continue to see the continuation of the development of our story. Morty and Summer will team up for more adventures. Hell, it might feel more like Summer and Morty than Rick and Morty, and Rick will be out on the outskirts, all alone. more solo adventures, maybe revisiting people and places from his past while trying to prove himself a good friend, heck, a good person somewhere in his past and you know what, I don't think he'll find it, he'll find that almost everyone You have a bad taste in your mouth from your interactions with him.

He has been knocked down a few pegs throughout this season. He still needs to be taken down a few more to finally force that real change. The art of the season will probably have to result in Rick's arrival. Return to the family a changed man or the family forced to forgive him in some way and to do that you really need Rick's selfishness to be shattered and then the family can finally reunite and be stronger together as a unit or you know. who knows, maybe Rick will never redeem himself, maybe he'll just be a tragic figure doomed to his own misery or they'll spend the next ten episodes doing nothing, after all, they have 60 more episodes left to watch.

I could also spend some time with more stupid Morty the dragon adventures before getting into that heavy serialized stuff, they had to drag out the story for a long time, but hey, that's just a theory, a movie theory and it cuts you off.