The Mysterious Intrigue of Evil Morty in Rick & Morty

Rick and Morty fans have long been intrigued by the enigmatic character known as Evil Morty. Making his debut in season 1, Evil Morty shocked viewers when it was revealed that he was controlling an evil version of Rick. However, it wasn't until two seasons later that the show delved back into Evil Morty's storyline, showcasing him as President Morty, the leader of the trans-dimensional Citadel of Ricks. Despite this, Evil Morty was mostly absent from the show for the next two seasons, until he made a triumphant return in the season 5 finale, where he appeared to achieve a major victory over Rick by destroying the Citadel and leaving the Central Finite Curve behind.

As fans eagerly await the upcoming seventh season of Rick and Morty, Steven Levy, the show's producer, has been fielding questions about the show's choices and decisions. In a recent interview with Premiere (via Collider), Levy shed light on why Evil Morty is used sparingly and why the show doesn't frequently explore what appears to be its main storyline. Levy's insights on the scarcity of Evil Morty can be found below.

Dan Harmon, the co-creator of the series, grew up watching classic sitcoms from the 70s and 80s that had standalone episodes. There was no overarching storyline, which allowed those shows to have long runs. However, for Rick and Morty, it would be too challenging to write a series with a continuous narrative thread every week. Imagine trying to sustain this format for ten seasons! We would end up creating episodes just for the sake of it, without adding much to the story. Our goal has always been to explore different adventures in each episode.

Nevertheless, we wanted the characters to develop over time, and that's where the special episodes about Evil Morty or Rick Prime come into play. These episodes provide glimpses of their evolution, but we have to be careful not to reveal too much. If we give away everything, there would be nothing left to say! So, our rule is to have at least one episode per season that delves into the "big story." This rewards the audience for staying invested in the show. By the way, we have some exciting things planned for season 7.

Evil Morty Should Return In Season 7 (If Rick and Morty Sticks To Its Pattern)

When Rick and Morty season 6 premiered in 2022, it took a different approach by focusing on standalone adventures rather than delving into the show's overarching story. This decision was reminiscent of the co-creator Harmon's love for non-serialized sitcoms from the '70s and '80s. While it remains uncertain whether Rick and Morty season 7 will return to exploring the show's canon, it is reasonable to expect that the upcoming season will dedicate at least one episode to the enigmatic Evil Morty. This version of Morty first appeared in season 1, made a comeback in season 3, and had a significant role in season 5. Given the two seasons that have passed since Evil Morty's escape from the universes where Rick is considered the smartest man alive, it seems fitting for the character to make another rare appearance.

Rick and Morty's approach to balancing canon exploration and one-off adventures is often a hot topic of debate. While having an overarching story offers greater emotional satisfaction, standalone episodes keep the show feeling new and exciting. With the immense success of Rick and Morty, it appears that the show's producers have found the perfect balance between serialized and non-serialized storytelling. However, there will always be some fans who long for more appearances of Evil Morty.