Rick and Morty has 71 episodes across seven seasons, and the episodic structure of the show raises the question of whether there is a correct order to watch it. While Rick and Morty can be described as a sitcom, it’s difficult to fit it into any particular genre. Throughout seven seasons, Rick and Morty has played with a lot of tropes and deconstructed the very movies and TV shows that inspired it. Some Rick and Morty episodes have reputations that precede them, including the Emmy-winner “Pickle Rick,” whereas others can be considered underrated gems.
Most Rick and Morty episodes are standalone, meaning they do not require context from previous episodes to make sense. That said, as self-contained as Rick and Morty’s “classic adventures” can be, the show arguably becomes better when watched in order. Not only does Rick and Morty have a few overarching storylines that can go on for multiple seasons, but the dynamic between the characters changes throughout the show and works better if you have context about the entire series instead of just selected episodes.
A Lot Of Rick and Morty Episodes Are Self-Contained, But You Should Still Watch It In Order
Rick and Morty Is Better Experienced In Order
Starting Rick and Morty with classics like “Pickle Rick” or fan-favorite episodes like “The Ricks Must Be Crazy” is a valid way to jump into the show. It can be argued that most sitcoms, if not all of them, are designed in a way that every episode can be someone’s first and still make sense. Rick and Morty may not be the most traditional episodic comedy show, but it is still designed in a way that the majority of episodes have a clear beginning, middle, and end. In fact, some of Rick and Morty’s best episodes are standalone stories.
Episode Title
IMDb Rating
The Ricklantis Mixup
9.8
The Rickshank Rickdemption
9.6
Total Rickall
9.5
The Vat of Acid Episode
9.5
Fear No Mort
9.4
Pickle Rick
9.3
Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind
9.3
The Ricks Must Be Crazy
9.3
The Wedding Squanchers
9.3
Rickmurai Jack
9.3
Rick and Morty does have “lore-heavy episodes,” as in episodes that either pay off storylines from previous episodes or introduce concepts that will be important for seasons to come. For example, “The Ricklantis Mixup” is widely regarded as the best Rick and Morty episode, yet it is the culmination of a multi-season story that began at the end of the first season. This is why, despite the episodic nature of the show, watching Rick and Morty in order is still the better option. You get to see the characters evolve and how the dynamic between them changes.
The First Episode Of Rick and Morty Sets Up The Family Dynamic & The Show's Premise
Rick and Morty’s Pilot Tells Everything You Need To Know About The Show
While there are plenty of great Rick and Morty episodes that will cause a good first impression, the best starting point is episode 1. Rick and Morty’s pilot is not one of the show’s best episodes, but it does set up the family dynamic and the premise of the series. It quickly lets viewers know what kind of person Rick is, and what his adventures with Morty will be like. Rick and Morty has evolved a lot since the pilot, and there are moments from earlier seasons that didn’t age well, but watching it in order is still worth it.
The raunchy adventures in time and space continue as Rick and Morty has been green-lit for a landmark 8th season, and updates are already pouring in.
Many of the best Rick and Morty episodes come from the earlier seasons. There is even a somewhat nostalgic perception that Rick and Morty never achieved the same heights from the first two or three seasons, although the show has had some amazing episodes since then. When recommending Rick and Morty to someone, some episodes stand out as obvious picks. However, even if you have already seen certain episodes, starting the show from the pilot and going through the whole series in order is a great experience.
Some Of The Best Episodes Of Rick and Morty To Watch On Their Own
Rick and Morty Has A Lot Of Great Standalone Episodes
Rick and Morty’s highest-rated episodes are not necessarily the best ones to watch on their own – “The Ricklantis Mixup” is perhaps the best example of it. That said, a lot of great episodes can be watched on their own even if you have no context whatsoever of the show. This is particularly true for the first two seasons, in which Rick and Morty had little to no overarching stories and most episodes were standalone adventures.
Season 1, Episode 5, “Meeseeks and Destroy”
Season 1, Episode 8, “Rixty Minutes”
Season 1, Episode 9, “Something Ricked This Way Comes”
Season 2, Episode 1, “A Rickle In Time
Season 2, Episode 4, “Total Rickall
Season 3, Episode 3, “Pickle Rick”
Season 4, Episode 8, “The Vat of Acid Episode”
Whether Rick and Morty should focus more on “lore episodes” or standalone adventures is a question the show itself has acknowledged, particularly in “Never Ricking Morty.” Returning characters such as Evil Morty usually draw a lot of attention and are quite popular, yet some of the series’ greatest moments have come from self-contained episodes that had no repercussions for the rest of the show.
Rick and Morty is an adventure/Sci-Fi animated series that follows the intergalactic, inter-dimensional adventures of super-genius Rick Sanchez and his less-than-average grandson Morty Smith. Rick's daughter, Beth, his granddaughter, Summer, and his hated stepson, Jerry, also take center stage more often than not. Hailing from creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, the series blends comedy with science fiction as a way of exploring a wide variety of themes aimed at an adult audience.
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
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