Rick and Morty Stood Up For Themselves [OPINION]

Rick and Morty has never been shy of meta commentary here and there. The long awaited season four premiere utilized its commentary and really dug into this show’s fanbase. Most specifically its alt-right fanbase has caused quite a bit of controversy throughout the show’s running. From online harassment of women writers to a McDonald’s sauce controversy, Rick and Morty creators have attempted outside the show to distance themselves from these issues. One of the shows creators, Dan Harmon, put personal effort to separate the show and its fanbase. The argument from the toxic fanbase of their harassment was that the show’s writing quality has deteriorated because of the addition of women writers. These women writers were ‘ruining’  classic Rick and Morty by doing different things in the newer seasons. Moreover, they complained about these changes being too political because of show supposed political correctness since season one. They argue these points in a vain idea that they are “preserving the creators’ art” despite the creators fighting against this notion. However, this is a fool’s errand and the show shoves it in their fanbase’s face that they keep making fools of themselves. It gives an incredible stance and sets the record straight on the ideology of Rick and Morty.

These attempts to ward off the toxic trolls of their fandom were kept on the outside. In season three’s episode, ‘Rest and Ricklaxation’, it appeared there was slight meta commentary as the episode discussed being accountable for your own toxicity. The alt-right fanbase has consistently taken the character of Rick out of context to suit their own agendas. It is canon that Rick is an anarchal socialist who beat up Nazi on screen.  However, that correlation could be seen as a reach. In the season 4 premiere, there is no explanation other than direct meta commentary. Rick ends up dead from a fight with Morty and he gets uploaded to clone vats in another Rick’s dimension. The first upload is to a human version of himself. Here is where the commentary really begins. It is revealed that this Rick is a facist by the fictional paraphernalia that obviously was inspired by real facist symbols. With a new clone, facist Morty kills facist Rick claiming he was an inferior Rick who was too political. Facist Morty then goes on to say he “ wants to go on fun, ‘classic’ Rick and Morty adventures like in the old days.” It is word-for-word the idea that season one adventures were better. The new clone Rick agrees and says where he needs to go. However, facist Morty holds him at gunpoint and tells Rick that they will go where Morty wants to go. In this situation, it is simple to interpret the odd dynamic of creator and fanbase. Rick represents the shows creator as fascist Morty represents the facist fanbase that tries to place a chokehold the show to force it This representation continues to a scene in their space car.  Rick argues with fascist Morty saying that “it would be really help if you said anything other than what you don’t want.” Another common issue in the fanbase. Fascist Morty responds that he enjoys Mr. Meeseeks. Mr. Meeseeks is from season one episode, Meeseeks and Destroy. The character was an instant hit and probably one of the most notable characters in Rick and Morty merchandise since. It is a character the alt-right fanbase really latched on to and always wants to bring back. It is no coincidence that this is the only adventure that fascist Morty likes. 

These back and forths in the dialogue of this scene express directly that the creators and writers of the show have heard what is popular, but they are intent on telling their fanbase to shove it. This is a fantastic stance and something to be commended to the writers. Rick obliges fascist Morty and brings out a Meeseeks box and immediately tells Mr. Meeseeks to kill “this Nazi prick”. They all die after the struggle sends them into space. Rick wakes up in another clone body. This time it is a shrimp version of Rick. Clone Rick jokes with Shrimp Rick that he is doing him a solid by not being fascist. Shrimp Rick turns out to be fascist. As clone Rick runs in a down the street of a fascist shrimp world chased by militant shrimp men and shrimp dogs he says “God damn it, when did this shit become the default?”. A fantastic question, Rick. This should never be the default. This calls to the fact that fanbase for some reason associated Rick with themselves despite the canonical evidence that Rick’s ideology is the opposite of theirs. It is even more than the opposite but actively works against neo- fascist ideology these alt-right fans hold. 

The correlation between the season four premiere and the show’s fanbase is actually astounding. It took a stand against their own fans because it does not belong with the show at all. The toxicity of the fanbase has become a common aspect associated with the show for some time. The show had a choice to make. It could have stayed silent on the subject entirely. It could have kept their distancing attempts outside the cannon of the show as it had been. It took a bold and very admirable choice to make it cannon in their world that they do not like this part of their fanbase. It is a significant take on in television. The lines of communication between creators and fans has been accelerated by social media. This creates a strange circumstance of interchange between the two. Interchange that impacts art and artists. Rick and Morty took it a step further to actually having their art stand against their associated fanbase. Other shows and future creators need to take note of this stance Rick and Morty has made despite it being against loyal viewers.