# Rick and Morty -- the new animated show from Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, cartoons-animation\ **Created:** [January 21, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380 "2014-01-21T17:43:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/762 "2020-05-05T00:39:33Z")
So, I’m in the middle of this story about them on the train when Rick pulls out a picture of the train and starts explaining where they are and where they have to be. Oddly enough, just a few days ago I finished watching Community and was watching some youtube videos about it. Many of them discuss how Dan Harmon writes a story using [this circle](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3b/48/2d/3b482d3884aae59ea0b6d24790b621d0.jpg). The diagram of the train and Rick’s explanation of what they need to do is a literal interpretation of the circle Dan uses to write stories, while they’re riding on a literal plot device. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/763 "2020-05-05T00:57:28Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > …And a comment on corporate activism. A rather unfocused comment, if so. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/764 "2020-05-05T01:03:16Z")
You could say it went off the rails. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/765 "2020-05-05T01:38:36Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I thought it was brilliant. > > Here’s a couple of references I haven’t seen covered in YT videos. > > There’s a Jacob’s Ladder bit. > > This isn’t so much a reference but I thought it was funny. When Morty is forced to invent a story that passes the Bechdel Test…he struggles mightily until, of course, telling a story about a woman’s period. > > LONG time ago, I used to complain that all-woman plays (And this was well before Mindy Kaling’s “Matt and Ben”) would not fail to reference their periods and their men troubles. And that except for Judy Tenuta (!) stand-up comdiennes work would unfailingly comment on their vaginas/periods…and boyfriends. Until Ellen Degeneres came along and i said “At last!!!” Me too. We watched it twice in a row it was so good. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/766 "2020-05-05T02:18:41Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > The entire thing was a commercial for the train. And a comment on corporate activism. I thought the episode was a discussion for the concept that the writers are having trouble coming up with new ideas, so there is a train with infinite story lines. Kind of a meta ‘this show isn’t easy to write for’ type storyline. The part about jesus was funny though, their marketability and likability dropped off pretty hard then. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/767 "2020-05-05T04:15:00Z")
Solid episode, if not one of their best. It was VERY meta and self-mockingly so, which made it kind of meta-meta, I guess. The Bechdel Test bit was golden, and I dug the purposely-defective spacesuit, and the alien left outside in the cold at Christmas, and Morty’s fumbling attempts to come up with stories. I loved that Rick defeated Story Lord by going full Christian (nice to have the _Veggie Tales_ guys show up, though!). I was also glad to see Evil Morty, Evil Mr. Poopybutthole, a battalion of Mr. Meeseeks, as well as Birdperson (singing a glurgey song with Rick in midflight), and Tammy and Summer having a lightsaber duel. I also thought it was funny that Cartoon Network didn’t actually bother to set up the toy train website (naturally I checked). ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/768 "2020-05-05T05:50:37Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > When Morty is forced to invent a story that passes the Bechdel Test…he struggles mightily until, of course, telling a story about a woman’s period. “Why is ‘lesbian’ part of her job description?!” ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/769 "2020-05-05T08:47:42Z")
Even more of an excuse for improv than intergalactic cable. Barely comprehensible. I don’t need my R&M to really make sense and can go all over the place, but this one, nah. Lazy. 25 odd ideas loosely bound in an excuse. Selling a train? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/770 "2020-05-05T09:53:08Z")
I liked it until they ran out of stubby conductor jokes, then it trailed off. I do actually need some sense in my Rick and Morty, and if there was any to be had here, it eluded me. If it were funnier, I might be more willing to accept the lack-of-sense. Weak opening to the 2nd half of the season. Speaking of which, I hope they have their act together and we start seeing longer seasons with less downtime, since they went all-in and ordered a ton of episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/771 "2020-05-05T14:16:29Z")
That was pretty bad. I really can’t see myself watching it ever again. It took an extra 4 months to write _that_? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/772 "2020-05-05T14:30:04Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > I liked it until they ran out of stubby conductor jokes, then it trailed off. I do actually need some sense in my Rick and Morty, and if there was any to be had here, it eluded me. If it were funnier, I might be more willing to accept the lack-of-sense. It made perfect sense as about the creative process, elements of a narrative, and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/773 "2020-05-05T16:23:29Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I thought it was brilliant. Me, too. I enjoyed it thoroughly. “I really don’t like the attitude around here. It’s a very ‘lower me into acid’ attitude.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/774 "2020-05-05T20:53:49Z")
And Abradolf Lincler! And Emperor Snowball! And Rick growing extra arms to shoot, and an extra anus to fart! And, O be still my heart, our long-awaited return to Blips and Chitz! ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/775 "2020-05-06T14:14:10Z")
“Emergency continuity deployed” This could come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/776 "2020-05-11T11:08:01Z")
I thought this episode (Season 4 Episode 7 :Promortyus) was pretty good. They made fun of Aliens and StarWars among other things. For me, the quality is still high on this show. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/777 "2020-05-11T15:22:19Z")
I loved it (Sorry, I mean _Never-Ricking Morty_, the story train episode. We’re a week behind here). _If you don’t want to be meta, stop deconstructing shit_ ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/778 "2020-05-12T11:37:50Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I loved it (Sorry, I mean _Never-Ricking Morty_, the story train episode. We’re a week behind here). > > _If you don’t want to be meta, stop deconstructing shit_ One of the things I loved about the train episode is that they burned through a bunch of stuff that fans were clamoring for: evil Morty, Snowball, Phoenix Person, poof just burned up in 30 seconds. “Is this cannon?” “It could have been!” ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/779 "2020-05-13T00:40:02Z")
> [@by-tor](#): > > I thought this episode (Season 4 Episode 7 :Promortyus) was pretty good. They made fun of Aliens and StarWars among other things. For me, the quality is still high on this show. I liked this one better than the MetaTrain one. Passing by destruction of the alien ‘Twin Towers’ in favor of committing a Pearl Harbor on the aliens, was classic R&M. The episode gave Summer something interesting to do, too. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/780 "2020-05-14T20:03:53Z")
_Promortyus_ was a huge improvement over _Never Ricking Morty_. I could do without the story-told-in-complementary-flashbacks narrative structure tho. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380/781 "2020-05-15T00:29:49Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > _Promortyus_ was a huge improvement over _Never Ricking Morty_. I could do without the story-told-in-complementary-flashbacks narrative structure tho. Yeah, I get the feeling that the regulars in the writers’ room are trying to fend off boredom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-and-morty-the-new-animated-show-from-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland/679380.md?page=40)