Rick And Morty, Deeper Than The Average Cartoon

A running theme in the series Rick and Morty is the human condition and how the character’s believe nothing matters.

That bleak yet hilarious motif is what makes this science fiction obsession more than just some gross, shock humor induced show that fans of Adult Swim’s content are used to.

One half of the duo, Rick Sanchez, makes the show come to life with the invention of an interdimensional portal gun.

Now, able to travel through an infinite number of timelines and dimensions, he sees that nothing is truly special. He copes with the realization in a rather harmful way by simply drifting through life, passing his time going on misadventures with his grandson Morty.

This is where the seeds of toxicity are planted.

Episode six of the third season, titled  Rest and Ricklaxation begins with Morty in school about to ask his dream girl, Jessica, out on a date. Suddenly, Morty is interrupted by his grandfather taking him by the arm and asking him to join him on a quick adventure.

Morty reluctantly agrees and goes on the adventure which takes a couple of days to complete. After their adventure, both characters enter Rick’s battered spaceship and began to breakdown in their own way (cursing, crying, screaming). Both come to an agreement that they need a vacation after the traumatic events.

Then the show jump cuts to our protagonists having a relaxing day at an unnamed space spa. When they encountering an employee, they enter what is called a “detoxifier” which is like a sauna, and when they leave it they’re completely detoxified of their bad selves.

Now healthy, Rick puts on his seatbelt and excuses his belches. Morty gains confidence and has an extroverted personality. Their toxins however, have taken their own from. Now they are green and vile looking versions of our heroes.

For Toxic Rick, his narcissism has become concentrated, meaning that he claims things such as “I control the universe!” and “If God exist, he’s me!”

Toxic Morty on the other hand believes he is a worthless person and lacks self-esteem.

Through a series of events and trickery, Toxic Rick and Morty escape their prison and fight their “healthy” selves. Toxic Rick decides to make the whole world toxic. Healthy Rick and Morty face off against their toxic selves and win.

They do this not by destroying them but by having them rejoin their bodies, reverting them to their original state from the beginning of the start of the episode.

This theme of trying to be better versions of ourselves while tackling the tough reality that nothing ultimately matters is repeated throughout the series, with this episode being a more obvious approach to it.

Rick, as toxic as he may seem, is actually a very loving and caring person when the situation calls for it. That philosophy may not seem so apparent because the show is primarily a comedy, but it’s something that we all must realize. Despite life being short and slowly coming to an end, we all have some degree of care and compassion for something or someone.

After saving the world, the duo is back like clockwork. Morty in school and Rick pulling him out of it, only now they have a deeper appreciation for life.

There’s a message that viewers take from this: Don’t kill the bad things about you, acknowledge them and be better as you are.