Want to hear more from the actors and creators of your favorite shows and films? Subscribe to The Cinema Spot on YouTube for all of our upcoming interviews!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Rick and Morty returns for a fifth season after a good year (and then some) of patient waiting. I was given the fortunate opportunity to see the premiere episode a week ago, and I thought now would be the right time to talk about it. The episode that starts off the new season is titled, “Mort Dinner Rick Andre.” Jeff Loveness serves as the writer, while Jacob Hair serves as the episode’s director.
In this review, I will discuss the major themes and concepts of the episode. However, I will not give away any major details of the narrative aside from the general plot.
Plot Summary
All seems to be well as there is a fresh start for mad scientist Rick Sanchez (Justin Roiland)’s family, but that is never the case. He and the Smiths have his old nemesis over for dinner. As it turns out, he is a king of the ocean named Mr. Nimbus (Dan Harmon). Meanwhile, Morty Smith (also Roiland) has his crush, Jessica (Kari Walgren) over for a little date. Although, things go awry when Sanchez and Nimbus quarrel over a treaty between the habitats of land and water. And what is Rick and Morty without matters getting worse? What seems to be a simple fetching of wine becomes a war with another unknown world for Morty.
Chris Parnell and Sarah Chalke star in their respective voice roles, Jerry and Beth Smith. Spencer Grammer has small screen time as her character, Summer Smith.
Jim Gaffigan appears as Hoovy. Brandon Johnson, Tom Kenny, Maurice LaMarche, Jeff Loveness, and Vanessa Marshall also appear in voice roles.
Discussion
“Mort Dinner Rick Andre” shows us something we haven’t seen before, as the show tends to do. Additionally, it continues to carry on the complexities that I believe the previous season made it what it was. We’ve seen the show take the old man’s issues to space and time, which we’ve seen via new planets and universes. The series has countlessly explored different genres of storytelling, such as fantasy, superhero, and heists, to name a few. It has even gone far as to poke fun at the concept of storytelling as well.
This time around, Season 5 Episode 1 examines the known unknown of the unknown. That is, what we think we believe about the deep blue sea and its mythological creatures. Recent films and television such as Aquaman, The Little Mermaid, and Spongebob Squarepants are to blame for this result. To my knowledge, I don’t think we’ve seen this examination before in an episode of Rick and Morty, so that was fun to see.
The premiere episode calls into the discussion topics such as the Marianas Trench and global warming. Again, what is Rick and Morty without matters getting worse? Rick, being himself, reminds us that he does not care for any type of civilization or the living organisms thereof. He will lay ruin upon it because he is Rick Sanchez. There is a moment where ties between him and Nimbus are placated, but we can sea past that. Pun intended.
Performances and Character Development
Rick rarely changes in this episode, but at least we know he has an enemy from the water. Roiland delivers a better performance here in his role of Morty Smith. Walgren’s character Jessica has shown up more often than in the first two or three seasons of the show. I can only guess that somehow, he is definitely going somewhere in his relationship with her. Of course, time will only tell, and Jessica can tell the time that told that time will only tell greater than any other character.
Jerry and Beth begin to grow in their marriage. In Seasons 1 and 2, they’ve had issues, resulting in a falling out and resolution in Seasons 3 and 4. Season 5 transitions into their exploration of something only acceptable with adults. Note that I didn’t say they’re mature, but let’s assume that they are.
Final Thoughts
We’ve seen the series poke fun at the fantasy genre before, so that isn’t new to us. Although, this episode specifically examines the logic of popular fantasy franchises such as The Chronicles of Narnia and perhaps Game of Thrones. The episode’s main focus on this part of the plot overshadows something spoken in Sanchez’s dialogue with Nimbus. While it is one thing to laugh at sealife, it is a completely different thing to look at the issues that are part of it. I believe that’s something that is done well in this episode, as it goes with previous episodes of the show. More important matters of discourse are swept under the rug.
Other subtle references included here are minor racism from police, the portrayal of sex in the media, as well as callbacks to Susan Sarandon’s character, Dr. Wong, from Season 3 and Season 4. Overall, you will either love this new season of Rick and Morty, or you won’t. It’s as easy as that, and “Mort Dinner Rick Andre” is a good means of discourse for important subject matter. Leave it to Jeff Loveness and staff writers, Brandon Johnson and Siobhan Thompson, to do top-notch screenwriting. We also have Jacob Hair and Lee Harting to thank for direction and editing, respectively.
Rick and Morty Season 5 premieres in a few days!
Do you plan to see this new season? Let us know! For more animation, adventure, comedy, fantasy, and science-fiction-related news and reviews, follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
3 Comments on “‘Rick and Morty’ Season 5 Premiere Review”