Summary
Rick and Morty season 7 must address the future of Evil Morty and Rick Prime, as their recasting could be disastrous for the series.
The show cannot disregard the destinies of these formidable villains, as they pose a substantial menace and demand a more intense central storyline.
Although the new actors benefit from continuity, the challenge of portraying both the humorous and intense aspects of the characters carries a certain risk, potentially leading to either great success or harsh criticism.
Rick and Morty season 7 faces the challenge of replacing Justin Roiland, which is further complicated by a problem regarding the show's villains. In the earlier seasons, the villains played a minimal role in the overall story of Rick and Morty. Characters like Lucius Needful and Prince Nebulon appeared in standalone episodes but rarely made subsequent appearances. Even when they did return, it was usually in a minor capacity rather than a significant role. However, the introduction of Evil Morty and later Rick Prime changed this dynamic.
The third and fourth seasons of Rick and Morty hinted at a crucial future role for Evil Morty, which was later fulfilled in the game-changing season 5 finale. Season 6 further embraced this approach by introducing Rick Prime as another formidable antagonist who was taken seriously by the show. Unfortunately, Justin Roiland's replacement as the voice actor for Rick and Morty poses a threat to the future of these key characters in the show's mythology. Roiland had provided the voices for Rick and Morty in seasons 1 to 6, but following domestic violence allegations against him in January 2023, Adult Swim decided to sever ties with him and promised to recast his roles.
Rick Prime and Evil Morty Share Rick and Morty’s Voice Actor
Rick Prime and Evil Morty, both voiced by Roiland, are variations of characters in the show. Initially, Roiland played both heroes and villains until season 7. However, in the upcoming season, the series will have to replace the voices of both the heroes and villains, which could potentially be disastrous. While it may be easy to make jokes about the main characters' voice changes, it will be much more difficult to justify the same change for the villains in Rick and Morty season 7. The show will need to find a way to explain these new voices within the show's universe.
The whereabouts of Rick Prime and Evil Morty are among the key unanswered questions that Rick and Morty season 7 must address. These mysteries cannot be ignored any longer. Although Rick and Morty season 6 began on a strong note, with the introduction of Rick Prime and the promise of Rick's search for his clever nemesis, the rest of the season disregarded these characters. Instead, the focus was on unrelated episodic adventures with one-off villains. This oversight was frustrating and will only exacerbate the challenges of recasting in Rick and Morty season 7.
Rick and Morty Season 7 Will Struggle To Replace Its Villains
While many online imitators excel at impersonating Rick and Morty, it is much more challenging to imitate Rick Prime and Evil Morty due to their lack of overt comedy. Most impersonations of Roiland's voice work emphasize his silliest and most exaggerated traits. However, Rick Prime and Evil Morty stand out among the extensive cast of characters in Rick and Morty because they are not particularly funny. They are rare examples of serious villains in a predominantly comedic series, posing difficulties for imitators trying to capture their personas. Nevertheless, Rick and Morty season 7 must eventually address this significant storyline.
Rick and Morty season 7 cannot avoid addressing the fates of Rick Prime and Evil Morty for too long. Previous seasons could get away with featuring only a few episodes that touched on the overarching story because the show had not yet introduced its most serious villains. However, now that viewers are aware of Evil Morty and Rick Prime, the show cannot simply go back to standalone comedic adventures. The threat these villains pose makes the lighthearted storylines of Rick and Morty season 6 feel out of place and insignificant. Therefore, the show must confront this issue head-on and fully embrace its darker central narrative.
Rick and Morty Season 7 Can’t Avoid Its Biggest Villains
In season 6 of Rick and Morty, the show made a major mistake by not addressing the storyline involving Rick Prime except in the first and last episodes. This oversight affected the season as a whole, as it was difficult to fully invest in the lighthearted adventures of Pissmaster while the looming presence of Rick Prime remained. The season finale's unexpected twist acknowledged this flaw and revealed that Rick had actually replaced himself with a clone in the previous episode due to being preoccupied with hunting Rick Prime.
Even the hero of the show, Rick, admitted during episode 10, "Ricktional Mortpoon's Rickmas Mortcation," that he was distracted by the revelations from the season premiere. This admission served as evidence that the series needed to revisit this storyline. While episode 9 of season 6 faced criticism from both critics and fans for its handling of Rick's character, this backlash was also a result of an entire season that disregarded its own promising plot. By the end of season 6, it became clear that the next installment of the series must focus on Rick Prime, even if it proves challenging with Roiland's replacement.
Rick and Morty Season 7’s New Actors Have One Advantage
The potential positivity lies in the fact that the new actors voicing Rick and Morty will also likely voice Rick Prime and Evil Morty. This consistency will lend credibility to the new actors' interpretation of the characters, allowing them to fully explore both the comedic and dramatic aspects of Rick and Morty through these alternate versions. However, it is important to note that this strategy is undeniably risky. It took several seasons before the original actors were able to bring depth to their performances, and expecting the replacements to portray both heroes and villains from the start is a significant demand. Despite the risk, if season 7 of Rick and Morty confronts its main challenge head-on by focusing on Evil Morty and Rick Prime, it may provide long-awaited revelations that could overshadow any criticism of the new voices. On the contrary, if season 7 consists of low-stakes adventures for the central antiheroes, the new actors will likely face scrutiny.