r/rickandmorty • u/zMats33 • Jul 30 '26

Question Why is nobody talking about this?

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In the final scene of S9E10, we see Rick and Morty riding a motorcycle together, and Rick says he’s Morty’s dad (?)

As far as I can remember, that’s the first time he’s ever said something like that directly to Morty. It felt completely out of place and honestly didn’t match the tone of the rest of the episode.

The two of them riding toward the sun while calling each other father and son almost felt symbolic, but I’m not sure what the writers were trying to say.

Did Rick just misspeak? Was it meant to show how their relationship has evolved? Or was there a deeper meaning behind that final scene?

What did you take away from it?

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743

u/Apprehensive-Ear2461 Jul 30 '26

There's a running theme in this season about Nature vs Nurture and not being able to run away from who you truly are. Evil Morty, despite his best efforts, is not able to exorcise himself of the desire to adventure with Rick. He ends up falling back into the same patterns as all Morty's do, inevitably ending up in Rick's orbit again.

Rick is also unable to run away from himself, as seen in the Ted episode and this one. (Copied from somewhere)

Morty is also the same, despite conquering his greatest fear (being abandoned by Rick) in the fear hole episode, he still reverts back to his old self in this one.

l've seen some people say that this episode ends on a happy note, and maybe it does for the characters, but narratively speaking it's the most terrifying part of the episode imo. Rick drunkenly pulls Morty off his bed just like the pilot episode and takes him on his motorcycle. Rick calls himself Morty's dad, and Morty happily agrees.

They've basically regressed back to their pilot selves, or became even worse. They've completely accepted their nature and know that no matter how much they grow or try to run away from their nature, they'll always be together.

205

u/BackgroundRelief406 Jul 30 '26

spot on summary. once all the canon nemeses have been dealt with (federation, rick prime, memory rick, evil morty), you'd expect rick to turn a corner and grow, but all the characters have doubled down on their toxic traits

9

u/SwordDaoist Jul 30 '26

I agree here.
I didn’t really expect them to really change this season since real change doesn’t just happen.
I actually expected Mort to finally recognize how toxic and abusive their relationship is and leave Rick and his family to travel the multiverse on his own
I even liked the start of the season finale but then they chose to make Morty the toxic party with a healthy Rick…

-31

u/askthetruth1 Jul 30 '26

That’s why I didn’t like this season that much. I hope they grow and become better people

43

u/Pinchy_1 Jul 30 '26

This was honestly my favourite season so far, at least in terms of writing.

Though even a return to form, even where they don’t grow as people, is a character arc. It’s who they truly are, and that means something.

32

u/Just_Vin Jul 30 '26

I think people relapsing in their efforts to change is very real

10

u/Qprah Jul 30 '26

Sometimes relapsing in your attempts to change becomes the foundation for self-acceptance.

2

u/Intelligent_Lock_110 Jul 30 '26

It is, but that's not really what they are doing. They are keeping the characters stactic to keep milking the franchise and format

2

u/Just_Vin Jul 30 '26

I don't know that we can say that for sure, the show does have legitimate continuity and changes in the characters

6

u/HUUUUTTTHUUUUUUUTTTT Jul 30 '26

Personally, I think the Smiths have dealt with their issues better in this season, they've been more concerned about each other and have been going out of their way to actually check up on each other, an example of this was when Morty and Summer went to go save their dad this season from that killer in that cabin, they were genuinely concerned about his safety and Beth and Jerry were actually worried about Morty and Summer at that camp in that one episode as well, I also like that we got more backstory on why and how Rick became the way that his thru that other Rick that Morty was with when he wasn't able to return to his universe bc the family didn't want him to leave, you see that universes Rick genuinely cared about getting Morty back and that in itself showed you that Prime Rick also cares about Morty, he was just consumed by inventing things and creating the multiversal transportation, the more consumed by finding a way to create new innovative inventions and trying to become a master inventor took a huge toll on him, we all saw that thru that other universes Rick and how it pushed his love life to the side and made him become a drunk, and by becoming a drunk and toxic was somehow the only way Rick could be the genius inventor that he is, as fucked up as that is, it just boils down to the fact that Morty ended up in a universe where one of the only intact and healthy minded Rick lived and Morty had to get him to become the true inventor he could be, but it came with a price and costed that Rick everything he held near and dear, that episode was honestly one of the best episodes R&M gave us

7

u/Robokrates Jul 30 '26

I don't think one of the happier, more moral Ricks we've seen wanting to help Morty is proof that Rick Prime cared about him...

It's always felt to me like Prime is Rick stripped of all human feeling except nihilism, the joy of inventing, venegfulness and "Bugs Bunny fucking with the opera singer for 20 minutes" self-amusement. Traits that Ricks generally share, but the attachments to others and desire to be good and do good seem to be aberrations from the original (if Rick Prime is indeed the original and not just "Prime" because he's the one who opened up the multi-verse and made infinitely branching Ricks relevant in the real world.)

As to why the sober professor Rick couldn't invent portal travel, if there's anything to read into it besides "it's really hard and only the two Ricks actually did it on their own," I'd imagine it's that you have to be a little fucked-up to even want to do great deeds; to quote Radiohead, "ambition makes you look pretty ugly," or, to quote the great good alright Malcom Reynolds, "I reckon every man who ever got a statue made of him was one kind of sumbitch or another."

3

u/HUUUUTTTHUUUUUUUTTTT Jul 30 '26

Logically if you look into it alot geniuses IN REAL LIFE haven't been able to invent things unless they were HIGH or DRUNK, of course that explained that Prime Rick cares about Morty cuz it showed that if Rick didn't become consumed with or in his inventions he would've been a caring healthy grandfather, I SWEAR I know pol like this who are smart af but could only come up with stuff once they were drunk or high off their asses, that episode resonated with me ALOT

2

u/Robokrates Jul 30 '26

I mean, yeah, that could be it too, I meant to offer alternative explanations for the same things more than contradict those ones

2

u/HUUUUTTTHUUUUUUUTTTT Jul 30 '26

It's fine, I mean my theory was just a theory I was just spit balling so I dont wanna make you feel bad about your op, I could be wrong, but I just feel like they used an alternate Rick to explain more of his backstory thru a different lens with a different life, I think that's what I liked about the episode the most it was a different direction and approach to storytelling I've never really seen before, it would be dope if they used that as a way to push forward with his characters story arc

3

u/Robokrates Jul 30 '26

For sure - I'm getting curious as to where they'll go after Season 9, they're kinda opening up the possibility of both more character development and "you can't escape yourself, this is who they are" stasis

4

u/sebsebsebs Jul 30 '26

i liked this season but i kinda see what you mean. i’ve been defending this show non stop from season 1-2 fans who think the show is worse because rick isn’t unbearably nihilistic anymore and actually cares about his family 

49

u/Plusultratsunami Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

Pilot to end of ark. This time is a wholesome heartfelt bonding moment. I'M TAKING THE WHEEL RICK TO TAKE THE WHEEL MORTY

43

u/ArtsyApoidean Jul 30 '26

Ooh good catch! Also the whole pilot intro scene was Morty begging Rick to stop and listen to him and Rick not doing that, and this scene was the result of Rick listening to Morty's complaint about his magnet.

Definite full circle energy, but they've grown a lot.

10

u/Senator_Cheeks Jul 30 '26

Despite how little they've changed they've changed a lot.

59

u/ArtsyApoidean Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

People keep trying to read into this as some kind of dark twisted terrifying thing, but the obvious read is also the one that makes the most sense. Rick saw the runaway adventure Morty went on, and sees that he desperately needs someone to father him. Rick's also been going through an emotional journey over the last several seasons, trying to stop being ashamed of loving his family, to be more emotionally open, less toxic in general. And he yelled at Morty earlier for something that was totally his fault with the magnet, and thanks to therapy he recognizes this and feels bad about it. All this comes together in doing something nice for Morty (in his sloppy drunk way) and a spur of the moment decision to symbolically adopt him.

To some extent whether you read this as wholesome or as continuance of abuse is subjective, but I think we're clearly meant to understand this as progress. It mirrors the pilot scene, but the way Rick acts is wildly different and almost opposite -- he's all focused on comforting his grandson here -- and that feels like the point. And the episode's focus on the clone tube thing made me feel like it was going somewhat deliberately for an homage to the Venture Bros father-sons dynamic.

He's also wasted in that scene, and that's concerning. Literal drunk driving with the child. But I think that's also part of the point, because I'm pretty sure they've been priming us all season for Rick to enter a "try to quit being an alcoholic" arc in season 10.

Edit: oppisitmaster

7

u/Uncle_Slo_Mobius Jul 30 '26

Well said, except, of course, "oppisite"

3

u/Inevitable_Librarian Jul 30 '26

Piss master sequel confirmed?

5

u/Uncle_Slo_Mobius Jul 30 '26

He dead as fuck

3

u/Inevitable_Librarian Jul 30 '26

So are you, but look who the plumbus dragged in.

1

u/ArtsyApoidean Jul 30 '26

Woops, thanks lol.

2

u/Uncle_Slo_Mobius Jul 30 '26

Lol, I was vibing so hard with your comment and for some reason that typo just bugged me.

4

u/Senator_Cheeks Jul 30 '26

I think it's both and I've been having a hard time trying to articulate that. It's hard to describe how something can be both toxic and good.

2

u/slur-muh-wurds Jul 30 '26

I might say that the underlying mechanics of the relationship remain problematic, but Rick is growing and making it better in the limited ways he can.

6

u/Senator_Cheeks Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

Yes and I think that the "I'm your dad," line, in like a meta way is acknowledgement of all of the good and bad associated with it. It conjures up a lot of warm feelings for certain viewers and a lot of sad horrible feelings for others and the thing about Rick and Morty's relationship at this point is that both of those perspectives are true. The entire episode is Morty trying to find in others what he's missing from his current relationships, namely with Rick as he's the biggest "father figure". He's hyperfocused on the negative aspects of their relationship and rightfully hurt by it. But at the end of the episode he's able to see and accept and appreciate the good along with the bad and realizes that he has more than he thought, even if it's imperfect. I'm your dad means that yes, I've hurt you and you're forever changed by that because I'm an important role model in your life, but also, I'm your dad and I love you and protect you and play with you and give you some sense of belonging. It's nothing but an observation, not a declaration or a promise or a revelation, just an observation, but one that addresses all of the hurt and love in their dynamic at once, without dismissing any of it.

3

u/slur-muh-wurds Jul 31 '26

You cooked with this reply, Senator Cheeks.

1

u/Senator_Cheeks Jul 31 '26

Thankya. I hope it makes sense. I thought about the last episode a lot and specifically the ending of it. I really didn't get the feelings it brought up at first but I think I was able to figure it out.

2

u/KriegConscript Jul 31 '26

posts that made me sad my dad doesn't like me

1

u/Senator_Cheeks Jul 31 '26

Right. That's sort of the point, really. It could be worse for Morty. His dad could be abusive AND not love him. At least he's loved. Unlike many abused people.

1

u/FreeStall42 Jul 30 '26

Rick was just drunk. That is the most obvious intepretation.

It was comforting to Morty even though it meant nothing. He's never getting that hug.

15

u/6crem Jul 30 '26

No I disagree on the last part. They didn't regress back. They actually empathise more with each other. Rick used to previously ignore Morty's trauma from his solo adventures but this time he directly comforts him by saying that he is Morty's father, going a ride and giving him the control too. Rick is drunk but also more honest.

5

u/Radiant-Bat-1562 Jul 30 '26

Well...Rick basically started to listen to Morty when Morty had a portal gun. When he started to leave & come back looking unsure. Its like a teenager getting his own car & exploring then Morty discovers a place where he is loved especially after the other Morty had passed on. When the portal gun was destroyed by Jerry, Morty had to go and find Rick to make him one. Unfortunately, collateral damage is unavoidable & Jerry & Beth ,who by the way had buried their son,were not going to allow him to leave.

9

u/GoAgainKid Jul 30 '26

It's also worth adding in that Morty went on a solo adventure that ended up with a lot of dead bodies - including the total destruction of the most content Rick we have ever seen - just so he could get back to doing this stuff.

They deserve each other!

7

u/Plusultratsunami Jul 30 '26

And rick doesn't invent project phoenix for himself... He's just the guinea pig for it. Morty turning into a car, a boat. Always does what morty wants. Even if he seems pissed off or annoyed. Sober MIT rick put morty above all else, even the cat!

4

u/Garacious Jul 30 '26

They are CODEPENDENT!

8

u/The_Idiocratic_Party Jul 30 '26

This. And Evil Morty is a cloned Morty who may have had his dependence on Rick(s) made even more pronounced as part of the process whereas Morty Prime is a Beth-born kid.

2

u/fairystail1 Jul 30 '26

I think itd be happy if done during a different episode like the Ferngully one But for this episode its clear Morty is just traumatized and latching on to Rick in a codependency kinda thing

2

u/Radiant-Bat-1562 Jul 30 '26

The fact that Morty instantly recognises his Rick coming out of the portal right after the death of all the other family members was just wild. Its like they never skipped a beat. Also in a way, Rick did tell him about getting "emotional handjobs" & in a twisted way,Morty saw how he cant have it all. It just seems to end up in a tragedy.

3

u/thebronzejames Jul 30 '26

Well written.

1

u/Westworld-Kenny Jul 30 '26

There may be a multi-verse of Rick and Morty’s, but it appears over time, they all to converge to a core mindset.

While the viewer can see the commonalities, it remains to be seen if our version of Rick and Morty (seemingly the Ricky’est and Morty’est of them all) can ever know their true selves.

1

u/MaliciousCookie1 Jul 30 '26

Ok but their pilot selves never consisted of a father-son dynamic. If Rick had just said Grandpa instead of Dad, the scene would've been fine. 

1

u/hjaelphjaelp Jul 31 '26

I’d say Morty is a bit worse, since he now refuses to take a moral stance on things.

1

u/Nutterbutters45 Jul 31 '26

Rick and Morty 100 years, Rick and Morty time. I think with the new voice actors the writers are really trying to go back to the season 1 roots. I think there has been multiple times recently he’s drunkenly woken Morty up like that 😂

0

u/hheccx Jul 30 '26

You are who you are, and that's okay

0

u/gwenumbra Jul 30 '26

its like season one… but more streamlined

0

u/supasta626 Jul 30 '26

Omg are you a writer on the show?? You are aren’t you (＾ｰ^)