Why Rick And Morty Will Never Be The Same Show Again After Season 7

Although Rick and Morty’s season 7 finale feels nothing like a season 1 outing, this change was gradual and subtle. Seasons 2 and 3 incorporated more elements of the show's recurring canon, slipping a few storylines that contributed to its continuity between standalone episodic outings. Season 5’s finale famously upped the ante, revealing Rick’s tragic backstory and his villainous nemesis. Although Rick Prime’s death came before the upcoming outing, it is still clear that Rick and Morty season 8 will not be a return to the consequence-free stories of the lighter, zanier seasons 1 and 2.

Season 7 Confirmed Rick & Morty Will Continue To Embrace Overarching Stories

Season 7’s Biggest Episode Ended A Two-Season Plot

According to an interview with Variety, Rick and Morty season 8 will have the same blend of canon-centric storytelling and standalone episodes found in seasons 6 and 7. Per co-creator Dan Harmon and showrunner Scott Marder, the writers aim to balance episodes that flesh out the continuity of the series and build on overarching storylines with episodic narratives that exist on their own. The latter episodes, wherein things return to their usual status quo by the end of each outing, tended to resemble the approach of animated sitcoms like The Simpsons, South Park, or Family Guy.

This was how Rick and Morty operated throughout much of seasons 1 and 2. Rick and Morty’s first Christmas episode introduced Morty’s first love interest, Annie, but she was long forgotten by the next outing. Whether the title characters were partaking in the Purge on an alien planet, fighting the demonic owner of a pawn shop, or battling against Cronenberg-inspired body horror monsters, they always ended up right back where they began. This initially shifted when Rick was arrested in the season 2 finale, and fell apart entirely when Jerry and Beth’s marriage briefly ended before their eventual reconciliation.

Rick And Morty’s Next Seasons Will Combine Canonical And Standalone Episodes

Rick And Morty’s Upcoming Outings Continue To Balance Storytelling Styles

As Rick and Morty continued into seasons 4 and 5, the show’s tone shifted substantially. A growing number of late-season episodes expanded on the lore of Rick and Morty’s world, either by reintroducing supporting characters or expanding on Rick’s backstory. Comparing the show’s first Christmas episode to Rick and Morty’s season 6 Christmas special underlined just how dramatic the shift was. In season 1, episode 3, “Anatomy Park,” Rick spends Christmas with Morty exploring a microscopic theme park he built in the body of a homeless person.

In season 6, episode 10, “Ricktional Mortpoon’s Rickmas Mortcation,” Rick spends Christmas isolated from his family so that he can work on tracking down his nemesis, Rick Prime, and killing him as revenge for murdering Rick’s wife, Diane. The former is a standalone episode that makes perfect sense even for viewers who have never seen an episode of Rick and Morty before. The latter is a lore-heavy outing that requires viewers to know and care about Rick’s backstory to get invested in its plot. Season 8's plans prove Rick and Morty is unlikely to return to the episodic tone of season 1.

Rick And Morty Might Never Be The Same Show It Was In The First Few Seasons

Rick And Morty’s Original Tone Is Not Necessarily Ever Going To Come Back

Although Rick and Morty’s classic adventures will continue apace in season 8, it seems like the show’s writers and creators will never abandon the canonical storylines like Evil Morty’s arc or Rick Prime’s role in the show. Rick and Morty’s movie spinoff could bring one of these plots to an end, much like the action-packed season 7, episode 5, “Unmortricken,” permanently killed off Rick Prime. However, this doesn’t amount to ending the show’s canon storytelling approach itself.

Rick and Morty season 8’s continued embrace of canon-centric storytelling makes sense, as much as it may annoy viewers who prefer the show’s early, sillier seasons. The characters have been around long enough for viewers to get invested in Rick’s arc, Beth and Jerry’s struggling marriage, Mr. Poopybutthole’s tragic personal life, and Morty’s growing independence. As such, it makes sense for Rick and Morty to never return to the tone of seasons 1 and 2. Although episodic fun might be enjoyable in the short term, combining canon-focused episodes with standalone outings gives Rick and Morty the best of both worlds.

Source: Variety