Rick and Morty

[Reply #520 on:]

Are Roiland stands tanking the scores or do people genuinely not like it?

It is 100% Roiland fans review bombing the episodes. The first episode was a bit of a dud, but the last two have been pretty good imo.

[Reply #521 on:]

Solar Opposites season 4 has stupidly low IMDb scores across the board, too.

I've only started watching it as it only came to the UK yesterday and, while it isn't great, it seems about on par with past seasons give or take.

[Reply #522 on:]

I'm not going to lie, the latest episode was one of the best episodes of the show since Season 4 to me. It feels like forever ago since we got an episode like this one. Gonna have to agree with cyber-T on this; the latest season has been very strong so far minus the first episode, and I'm thrilled that they aren't saving the canonical stuff for the end of the Season anymore like they've been doing since Season 4. Feels alot like Season 3 of R&M which is a huge step up from what we've gotten the last, what, 2 or 3 seasons now? Loving the consistency as well, like how Rick reversed Morty's jab at him from episode one in the latest episode (the one that goes "I knew you'd say that so I didn't do it anyways") While I really liked episodes 2 & 3, this one undeniably shines the brightest in my eyes. First ten out of ten episode for me since the vat of acid ep. I'm just really hoping the latter half of the season keeps the same level of consistency as this beginning half.

[Reply #523 on:]

I loved this one. The fucked-up plot revolving around spaghetti of all things is wild. Also glad to see they've finally had an episode focusing on the Rick/Morty pair.

It's funny you mention the Vat of Acid episode, SolidSnake. I was actually thinking about that one while watching this; specifically during the very long montage of that old guy's life which seemed very reminiscent of Morty falling in love during his time-freezing adventure.

I'm fully on board with the new season now.

[Reply #524 on:]

So what you're saying is that it's OK for me to start up with my R&M again? I got into a funk a while back and didn't finish S2. Stopped in S3 or S4 of Archer, too.

I'll get back on the wagon, I swear!

[Reply #525 on:]

You should; it's a wonderful ride.

I eventually got sick of Archer as well, although I think it was maybe more around S6.

[Reply #526 on:]

I agree with the sentiment that this was the best episode in some time. Probably my favourite since the season 3 premiere.

It's funny, I just wanted more weird, fucked up science fiction adventures. I always assumed it was Harmon driving the continuity stuff, and the wacky space adventures were Roiland, but now it seems all Roiland was bringing to the table besides the voices was the weird fetish stuff like the incest space baby.

While Rick's voice is pretty spot on, Morty's is very noticeably off. I think it's a touch too deep. However, it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the show overall. If you look at characters like Homer or Bender, their voice noticeably changes over the years as well. Small changes are normal even when the voice actor is not changed.

[Reply #527 on:]

Newest episode was bananas. It felt like a season finale!

Show spoiler

It seems somewhat fitting that the kind of intentionally anticlimactic killing of Rick's enemy is only halfway through the season. I don't think anybody expected this at all.

[Reply #528 on:]

Not usually huge on the canon stuff, but I thought the relationship between Rick and Evil Morty was really good in this one. Even if the next half of the season is pretty meh, I'm comfortable in saying this has been the best season of the show for some time. I can't remember the last time there were four straight episodes of Rick and Morty I liked.

[Reply #529 on:]

I too am not normally a big fan of Rick and Morty's lore-heavy stuff, but it was a great episode. This season in general is tits.

[Reply #530 on:]

That Rick Prime episode was amazing, definitely one of the show's best lore-heavy episodes.

The episode that came after it was pretty good as well, the anthology segments were pretty consistent in-quality to the Morty Mind Blower episode's anthologies, which is good enough for me as both eps had segments that hit or missed with me

Wasn't a fan of the latest episode tbh.... I like the Morty and Summer sibling rivalry that rarely appear in the newer episodes anymore, but the whole Kuato thing was executed really poorly imo. Everything else was fine, the humor was good, but it just didn't hit all the right notes on a thematic level for me. Post-credits segment was great, though. I consider this ep to be the second-worse of the season, if not the worst.

[Reply #531 on:]

The clip show episode was great. I always preferred this style over Interdimensional Cable.

Newest one was so-so; probably the weakest besides the first episode. That being said, Rick constantly interrogating the wrong people was hilarious.

[Reply #532 on:]

Agreed that the latest one was the weakest since the first episode. It was still OK though.

It has to be safe to say Roiland was having a negative effect on the show at this point, right?

[Reply #533 on:]

It has to be safe to say Roiland was having a negative effect on the show at this point, right?

Reports say Roiland didn’t have a single input on the show (outside of providing voice work) since around about 2017. He apparently didn’t even come to the studio; they’d send him the scripts & he’d perform it all in his home & send it over. Supposedly him & Dan Harmon hadn’t spoken in 2 or 3 years, even before all the allegations came out.

Also, Roiland recorded dialogue for the entirety of season 7, the new guys had to dub over all of it.

[Reply #534 on:]

Also, Roiland recorded dialogue for the entirety of season 7, the new guys had to dub over all of it.

Massive props to the new actors in that case. Getting their own dialogue to sync up with the already-done animation, including Roiland's distinct stutters and pauses can't be easy.

Roiland's involvement with the later seasons, or lack thereof, as well as his weird relationship with Dan Harmon makes me wonder if he was still doing any of the ad-libbing that was definitely happening in the first two seasons. Honestly, Harmon is an excellent writer so I don't feel like it was neccesary in the first place.

[Reply #535 on:]

It has to be safe to say Roiland was having a negative effect on the show at this point, right?

Reports say Roiland didn’t have a single input on the show (outside of providing voice work) since around about 2017. He apparently didn’t even come to the studio; they’d send him the scripts & he’d perform it all in his home & send it over. Supposedly him & Dan Harmon hadn’t spoken in 2 or 3 years, even before all the allegations came out.

I wonder how true some of that is though. It's easy for them to say Roiland had little to do with the show anymore to try and avoid getting sucked into the controversy when his personal bullshit came to light, but I'm at a loss to explain the turnaround in quality if that's the case.

[Reply #536 on:]

It has to be safe to say Roiland was having a negative effect on the show at this point, right?

Reports say Roiland didn’t have a single input on the show (outside of providing voice work) since around about 2017. He apparently didn’t even come to the studio; they’d send him the scripts & he’d perform it all in his home & send it over. Supposedly him & Dan Harmon hadn’t spoken in 2 or 3 years, even before all the allegations came out.

I wonder how true some of that is though. It's easy for them to say Roiland had little to do with the show anymore to try and avoid getting sucked into the controversy when his personal bullshit came to light, but I'm at a loss to explain the turnaround in quality if that's the case.

I think the turnaround in quality can be easily explained; when the crew started working on Season 3 or 4 (don't quite remember) alot of writers from Community came to work on the show and it's allegedly one of the reasons Roiland and Harmon weren't on good terms since 2019. Essentially Roiland felt like Harmon was hogging the spotlight with the show, which I think is completely understandable from Roiland's point of view. At the same time though, I believe he could have handled it in a more mature manner where he still had creative influence over the show and it's direction without everything feeling awkward. Apparently Roiland did do just that during the fifth and sixth season, but who knows how true that is? It does make perfect sense though; ever since Ridley, Kauffman and McMahan stopped writing for the show it's taken a completely different direction and form dare I say it than what we saw in the first 2 or 3 seasons.

It's also important to note that McMahan started working on Solar Opposites with Roiland around the same time period R&M started going downhill, with Ridley also coming in to voice Gordon and another character during the most recent season, so it isn't hard to imagine that this sudden shift could also very well be a result of Harmon & Roiland's 'creative differences' so to speak. On top of those writers wanting to pursue other avenues, I suppose.

[Reply #537 on:]

It has to be safe to say Roiland was having a negative effect on the show at this point, right?

Reports say Roiland didn’t have a single input on the show (outside of providing voice work) since around about 2017. He apparently didn’t even come to the studio; they’d send him the scripts & he’d perform it all in his home & send it over. Supposedly him & Dan Harmon hadn’t spoken in 2 or 3 years, even before all the allegations came out.

I wonder how true some of that is though. It's easy for them to say Roiland had little to do with the show anymore to try and avoid getting sucked into the controversy when his personal bullshit came to light, but I'm at a loss to explain the turnaround in quality if that's the case.

I think the turnaround in quality can be easily explained; when the crew started working on Season 3 or 4 (don't quite remember) alot of writers from Community came to work on the show and it's allegedly one of the reasons Roiland and Harmon weren't on good terms since 2019. Essentially Roiland felt like Harmon was hogging the spotlight with the show, which I think is completely understandable from Roiland's point of view. At the same time though, I believe he could have handled it in a more mature manner where he still had creative influence over the show and it's direction without everything feeling awkward. Apparently Roiland did do just that during the fifth and sixth season, but who knows how true that is? It does make perfect sense though; ever since Ridley, Kauffman and McMahan stopped writing for the show it's taken a completely different direction and form dare I say it than what we saw in the first 2 or 3 seasons.

It's also important to note that McMahan started working on Solar Opposites with Roiland around the same time period R&M started going downhill, with Ridley also coming in to voice Gordon and another character during the most recent season, so it isn't hard to imagine that this sudden shift could also very well be a result of Harmon & Roiland's 'creative differences' so to speak. On top of those writers wanting to pursue other avenues, I suppose.

That's interesting. I didn't know about all that drama involving the Community writers. You're right, that could potentially explain the change in quality.

[Reply #538 on:]

...Okay, what the hell is up with "Rise of the Numericons". That was quite possibly the worst episode yet, right? I have no idea why they thought a vaguely amusing gag from an old episode should be expanded into whatever the fuck this was.

It could have, at best, been a B-plot in a completely different story.

[Reply #539 on:]

I think the improvement in quality for season 7 can be chalked up to two things:

1. The writers really felt the need to prove themselves following Roiland leaving the show and just pulled it out of the bag.

2. They front-loaded the season with the good episodes to help show that they didn't need Roiland to make a good show. The last three episodes have actually been fairly weak -- there was just a four-episode run there that was amazing.

Now, if it's true that Roiland had already recorded his audio for these episodes and they dubbed him... then I'm out of ideas.

[Reply #540 on:]

Could just be a coincidence. Many shows have a rollercoaster of quality.

However, I still insist to this day that Rick and Morty has been very consistent throughout. Each season has some absolute bangers, with occasional mediocre episodes throughout. Most fans would likely put seasons 1 or 2 as their favourites, but I'd actually say that season 6 is the best one.

Unless the last two episodes of season 7 are masterpieces it won't be edging out 6 for me. It has been quite strong though, barring a few stinkers.

[Reply #541 on:]

I completely agree with cyber_turnip's opinion of this season, tbh. Began great but slowed down after that big mid-season episode with Rick Prime. I sometimes wonder if the episode production order for this season was swapped like the Comedy Central seasons of Futurama, or if maybe the writers simply wanted to give those beginning Season 7 episodes their best possible effort before wrapping up an important arc. Kind of like their way of prepping themselves for the big one, if you catch my drift.

Honestly for me personally though, I think the show has been going consistently downhill since Season 4. I remember being just 2 or 3 episodes into that season thinking to myself "Am I watching the same show?". They stopped including a season-long plot of a sort after the third season, which I personally think greatly contributed to it's dip in quality for me. Don't get me wrong, the show still had good episodes during Seasons 4-6. In fact, during it's fifth season there were some concepts and ideas where the show's best material really shined. With the season finale and certain things that were introduced like Boob World and that Clone Episode. They all feel like something that could fit into the show's second or third season without feeling any different than the rest of the episodes do. I just think that the newer episodes rip off of Marvel waaay too much these days in certain aspects, and it leaves little wiggle room for more creative ideas to flourish. (Not that it didn't before, but it's just so much more apparent now more than ever.) I will admit, however, it's sixth season is definitely as consistent as UnrealLegend said it is. I actually really liked a decent chunk of episodes from that season like the Season Premiere, the Pissmaster episode, the Night family one, and the fortune cookie one with Jerry. It gives me hope that the current set of writers have a good groove of how to write a proper episode of Rick and Morty. Especially since it's slowly getting stronger and stronger in terms of quality.

But yeah.... I also think the latest episode could quite possibly be the worst episode of the show. Both Ice-T and Goldenfold were done dirty, could have done something much better with those characters.

[Reply #542 on:]

That said, I really enjoyed this week's new episode "Mort: Ragnarick".

[Reply #543 on:]

The Ice T episode was interesting on paper, but they tried to cram too much in and it was too by the numbers(pun intended). Got a couple belly laughs, but overall it was the drizzling shits.

I liked the last episode a lot more. Not the greatest episode ever, but a very solid middle of the road episode.

I still think this has been the best season since Season 3 despite a couple clunkers.

[Reply #544 on:]

That said, I really enjoyed this week's new episode "Mort: Ragnarick".

As did I, the last scene with them "freeing" Bigfoot in the forest was amazing. 

However I am a little disappointed by the fact that the rest of the Smith family seems to have taken more of a backseat. Beth in particular has done practically nothing the entire season.

This is why B-plots need to make a comeback.

[Reply #545 on:]

I’ll take the Numbericons/Ice-T episode a thousand times over the sperm episode from season 5.

[Reply #546 on:]

It's a tough call, because they're both bafflingly bad, but for different reasons.

On a more positive note, the season finale was delightful! I'm glad it could end on a strong note after a number of questionable episodes preceding it.

[Reply #547 on:]

I'd easily take the sperm episode over the number one. The number one was just boring in a way that no previous Rick and Morty has ever managed before.

Anyway, great season finale. I feel like, despite some low spots, season 7 still averages out as the best season since 4 personally. Like I hate to say it given the forum I'm on, but it was probably my favourite show of 2023, as much as I was hoping a different animated sci-fi sitcom would be.