Exclusive: Shocking Twist in Rick & Morty Season 7 Could Change the Show Forever!

Rick and Morty currently adheres to a storytelling rule established by series co-creator Dan Harmon, but moving forward, the popular Adult Swim show must deviate from this approach. Since its debut in December 2013, Rick and Morty has undergone significant changes. Initially, the series was a dark and anarchic sci-fi comedy that parodied genre clichés. While these elements persist, as the show progressed into its sixth season, it delved deeper into character development and provided viewers with reasons to care about the protagonists. With a reduction in shock humor and an increase in poignant monologues, Rick and Morty's later seasons possessed a more overtly dramatic tone.

However, this was not always the case. The greatest misstep of Rick and Morty season 6 was its choice to commence with an explosive episode that unveiled Rick's true arch-nemesis, his motivations, and his tragic past. While this decision appropriately followed the similarly groundbreaking finale of season 5, it left season 6 without a clear direction to follow. The subsequent episodes of season 6 were mostly standalone adventures devoid of any real consequence, making them feel anticlimactic compared to the gripping series premiere. Regrettably, it appears that season 7 of Rick and Morty will persist with this flawed formula.

Dan Harmon’s “Big Story” Rule Works For Rick & Morty (Usually)

In an interview with Premiere, Rick and Morty's executive producer Steve Levy and Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen confessed that only one episode per season focuses on the show's overarching narrative. This creative decision was made by series co-creator Dan Harmon, who believed it would incentivize viewers to continue watching. This approach proved successful in seasons 1-4, delivering surprisingly emotional finales. However, starting from season 6, this formula has resulted in the majority of episodes feeling like filler.

Recently, Justin Roiland, the other co-creator of Rick and Morty, was terminated from the series following domestic abuse charges. This unfortunate situation means that the show is unlikely to deviate from its existing structure during a time of significant changes. Roiland's absence has also impacted his other series, Solar Opposites, but the lighter comedic tone of that show may make it easier to overlook.

With all the behind-the-scenes upheaval, Rick and Morty season 7 should still consider abandoning the "Big Story" rule, as it has proven detrimental to the series in seasons 5 and 6.

Where Rick and Morty’s “Big Story” Rule Failed

In Rick and Morty season 5, the balance between lighthearted episodes with no consequences and more serious episodes was thrown off. The extremely silly episodes, like season 5, episode 6, "Rick & Morty's Thanksploitation Spectacular," stood in stark contrast to the darker and more character-focused episodes, such as episode 8, "Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort." The series premiere and finale, which delved deeper into the show's overarching story, felt out of place alongside the disliked episode 4, "Rickdependence Spray." While these comedic episodes may have succeeded in earlier seasons, they became pointless when the more serious episodes of Rick and Morty continued to hint at a more important storyline to come.

In the earlier seasons of Rick and Morty, there were rarely hints of a larger story arc for the series. If there were, it was usually centered around the development of the characters. Seasons 1 and 2 briefly alluded to Rick's struggles with suicidal thoughts, but this was more of a character trait than a plotline that was guaranteed to be resolved later on. In contrast, viewers could reasonably expect that Rick's feud with Rick Prime would eventually lead to a confrontation between the two, and the anticipation of this showdown made the low-stakes episodes feel frustrating. Episodes like "Something Ricked This Way Comes," a parody of Stephen King's works, only worked when the overarching story was not a distraction.

Rick & Morty Season 6 Proved The “Big Story” Rule Is Done

Rick and Morty season 5 initially presented an issue, but it was in season 6 when the problem became impossible to ignore. Only the first and last episodes of the season, "Solaricks" and "Ricktional Mortpoon's Rickmas Mortcation," focused on the bigger picture, introducing Rick Prime and confirming his ongoing search. As a result, the remaining episodes felt like interchangeable filler, missing opportunities for potentially interesting developments like Dr. Wong's return. The constant presence of the "Big Story" overshadowed the insights into Rick and Morty's characters until the season finale.

The situation reached its lowest point in episode 9, "A Rick in King Mortur's Mort," which received harsh criticism. In this episode, Rick finally showed some humility by helping Morty solve a problem he caused, instead of criticizing him as usual. However, the absence of the dynamic interplay between the show's titular heroes made it less appealing. Subsequently, in "Ricktional Mortpoon's Rickmas Mortcation," it was revealed that Rick had replaced himself with a more emotionally stable clone, which meant that one of season 6's adventures was without the show's co-lead. These unexpected twists further reinforced the lack of investment in most episodes of Rick and Morty.

Rick & Morty Season 7 Needs More "Big Story" Episodes

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The unpopularity of Rick and Morty season 6, episode 9 highlights the larger issues within the entire season. Ignoring the significance of Rick Prime and Evil Morty after addressing their motives in previous seasons is problematic. The revelations of Rick's backstory and the main antagonists have made the usual adventures feel meaningless. The show cannot undo its biggest twist, and its attempt to do so results in a mixed reception and inconsistent storytelling in season 6.

To shake things up, Rick and Morty season 7 should change its usual formula. Instead of saving a single episode focused on Rick Prime for the finale, the majority of season 7 should contribute to the overarching "Big Story" of the series. It can still include a few light-hearted comedic adventures to provide a refreshing break. This approach would give season 7 more weight and satisfaction, making the occasional comedic episodes even more enjoyable. By deviating from the norm, Rick and Morty season 7 can prove that less frequent occurrences can be truly wonderful.

Source: Premiere