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Rick and Morty Season 8 Review: A Mind-Blowing Return to Adult Swim

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As a devoted fan, I must admit that Season 8 of this Adult Swim show has been nothing short of exhilarating. After such a long wait, the anticipation was sky-high, but the creative team certainly didn’t disappoint. They’ve consistently taken our expectations to new heights since day one. What began as a somewhat trippy adult animated series has morphed into an utterly bizarre spectacle, and Season 8 has managed to push those boundaries even further, leaving me in a state of constant awe and occasional shock.

The four episodes shared with the media demonstrate that Dan Harmon, one of the co-creators, and Scott Marder, the showrunner, haven’t been idle on their achievements. Rather than enjoying the show’s success, they seized the opportunity offered by the long break to essentially begin anew. In terms of scale and unabashedly dark themes, Rick and Morty Season 8 is as immense and bold as the series has ever dared to be.

Rick and Morty Season 8 Arrives With New Storytelling Possibilities

The Show Continues to Change Locations & Realities

One might assume, given seven seasons filled with tales about space exploration, parallel universes, and clones among other peculiarities, that Rick and Morty would be exhausting its supply of original concepts. However, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. The eighth season initiates with a narrative twist, daring in its storytelling, while simultaneously reacquainting viewers with the characters (a strategic move given the extended break). Intriguingly, a whole mythology is unveiled within just the first episode of the season, and it’s intriguing to say the least.

As we delve further into the series, each episode takes us to fresh universes and alternate realities. Though Morty often remains a secondary character, the unique twist is that these episodes never feel like mere replicas of past adventures. While there are nods to previous journeys that die-hard fans will recognize, the creators manage to avoid any sense of repetition in terms of plot or premise. In fact, the criticism often leveled at the season is simply that it’s challenging to keep pace due to its innovative and fast-paced nature.

In their second appearances as characters, actors Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden are effectively embodying Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith; they seem to have perfectly captured the roles, with believable delivery of key elements such as Rick’s sharp one-liners or Morty’s high-pitched outbursts. Spencer Grammer and Sarah Chalke deliver strong performances in their roles as Summer Smith and Beth Smith respectively, with Grammer, who previously starred in Chicago PD, delivering a standout performance in the Season 8 premiere. Chris Parnell continues to bring an ideal level of innocence to Jerry Smith. The usual ensemble of renowned stars returns, including Kari Wahlgren from Spider-Man and Nolan North from Uncharted. From a production perspective, the show remains consistently high-quality.

Rick and Morty Season 8 Includes Interesting Character Dynamics

The Interplay Between the Smith Family Is Worth Watching

Despite the comedic antics in space, Rick and Morty Season 8 frequently delves into the complexities of the Smith family dynamics. Interestingly enough, at times, Rick – with all his inventions and insults – can seem less captivating compared to the other characters. The series initially delves into the relationship between Beth and Summer, a familiar disenchantment about their societal roles which eventually develops into something more genuine and heartfelt. Additionally, there are tender instances between Morty and Summer that not only enrich their bond, but they offer Morty moments of respite. Jerry is less developed among the main characters, but he’s always been somewhat detached from the family’s core issues.

The success of the show hinges upon the audience remaining engaged with the Smith family’s storylines, and this is evident in both major and minor aspects. In this season, the writers continue to devise innovative methods to place Morty and Rick in grave danger (it’s astonishing how many times they manage to put them in harm’s way). However, there are also subtle jokes that highlight the impact of their adventures on the family, like forgetting about a character entirely within an episode. To ensure we remember they are a family, the writers subtly remind us of their bond despite their individual journeys. The humor becomes more enjoyable when it revolves around everyday matters.

In Season 8, Rick and Morty encounter various alternate versions of themselves as they journey through different realities. Although the core storyline remains consistent, there are some intriguing twists, and the temporary characters who appear in each episode are thoughtfully developed. These characters add depth to the standalone stories, making them feel more self-contained. While there’s a larger plot at play, it doesn’t overshadow the individual episodes, allowing viewers to enjoy Season 8 without worrying about remembering past events.

Rick and Morty Does Rely Too Often on Some Familiar Elements

Viewers Will Know What to Expect at Certain Moments

The primary issue with Rick and Morty Season 8 is that it occasionally overuses certain tropes that have grown repetitive within the series. While each episode presents fresh storylines and backdrops, there seems to be an excessive reliance on material derived from Rick’s character traits. Fans are well aware of these characteristics by now – but hearing Rick or his variants utter phrases like “I want to go somewhere where ‘racism is cool'” can become tiresome. However, Season 8, Episode 3 stands out as it subtly reminds viewers that there’s more to Rick than just being as wrong as possible.

There seems to be a shift in tone with Rick and Morty’s eighth season, as some viewers find fewer instances of genuine laughter or enjoyment compared to earlier seasons. While Jerry continues to provide moments of humor through his cluelessness, these attempts are often met with rejection by the family. The series has evolved into something more akin to drama than comedy, deriving entertainment value from its creativity and boldness rather than humor. Despite occasional dark themes and predictable elements, Rick and Morty remains engaging and never fails to keep viewers on their toes.

Rick and Morty Season 8 premieres May 25, 2025 at 11:00 p.m. on .

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2025-05-19 16:05

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