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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 saves the planet, this time with more or less intention to do so. This week’s third episode of Season 5 is titled, “A Rickconvenient Mort.” Rob Schrab serves as the writer, while Juan Meza-Léon serves as the episode’s director.
In this spoiler review, I will discuss and analyze the details of the episode. Please beware if you have not seen it yet.
Plot Summary
Here is a short description of this week’s episode.
Morty learns that it may be too late to reduce and reuse after he falls in love with an environmental superhero. Meanwhile elsewhere, Rick and Summer go on an apocalypse bar crawl.
Roiland voices both elderly mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty Smith. Sarah Chalke and Spencer Grammer star in their respective voice roles Beth and Summer Smith. In a smaller role, Chris Parnell appears as Jerry Smith.
Three guest stars make appearances. Community alumna Alison Brie stars in the voice role of Planetina, the “conservationist superperson” of the episode. Steve Buscemi voices Eddie, one of the four Tina-teers, while Jennifer Coolidge voices Daphne, an alien from Planet Slartivart.
Dan Harmon, Brandon Johnson, Tom Kenny, Rob Schrab, Fred Stoller, and Lauren Tom also appear in voice roles.
Discussion
“A Rickconvenient Mort” brings in Dinamita Animación to help bring this episode to life. Joining Dan O’Connor and Jason D. Warnesky in storyboard artistry are Lauren Andrews, Kyounghee Lim, and Steve Yurko. Returning from the season’s premiere episode are Robbie Erwin as the art director, Kendra Melton as character design lead, and Vance Caines as the background design lead. Anthony Alfonso is credited as the episode’s production manager, while Nick Reczynski serves as the animation’s editor.
Like Episode 304, this week’s episode provides a blatant critique on the superhero genre. It is no secret at what Schrab, Siobhan Thompson, and the other crew members are trying to accomplish with the narrative here. Brie’s character is an obvious parody of the cartoon icon, Captain Planet. In this interpretation of the character, the number of kids who conjure the hero is reduced from five to four.
In the same fashion as Amazon’s The Boys and Invincible, the episode examines the turning of heroics into capital. The public (the media and fans alike) treats Planetina as an object to throw around rather than a concept to genuinely live by. In the end, it is Morty who teaches us the bigger picture. We all hold the power in our hands. Saving the planet comes at a cost, and it’s meant to be passed down to the younger generation.
Performances and Character Development
Brie delivers a terrific voice performance as Planetina. This is no surprise, however, since voice acting is a talent for which she is often praised. Part of me wishes she will return to the series in a future episode, or even in The Vindicators spin-off. I have high hopes that it may happen.
On the other hand, this is my first time seeing Coolidge in a voice role. I didn’t even notice that it was her as Daphne because the scenes she appears in are much too hilarious.
Sanchez and the Smiths return to their roots of the show’s first few seasons. Morty embarks on a life journey outside of his own family (see Episode 107 – “Raising Gazorpazorp”). He establishes a relationship with a woman he enjoys being around despite his parents’ (in this case, parent’s) warning. Although, this reaches a point that he can no longer handle.
Summer continues to bond with her grandfather, which happens only fewer times in the series than when the scientist spends time with Morty (such as Episode 107; and Episode 501 – “Mort Dinner Rick Andre”). Rather than helping other planets’ civilizations live longer, the two Earthlings watch (under various influences) as these foreign worlds crumble.
Final Thoughts
The price to pay for the salvation of the planet is high, and for Planetina, no control over her means a resort to dangerous matters. Eco-terrorism is a real and terrifying idea. It does happen in the world that we live in today. We see Morty initially accepting her actions. This includes her bringing power and electricity to a town using nearby wind turbines and even scare off white men from killing elephants and other endangered animals in the safaris of Africa.
Then the hero takes it to a point where she slashes people’s tires to reduce traffic and air pollution by walking. To make matters worse, miners have to make money because they’ve no other choice. As a result, Planetina resorts to murder. It’s like she says, “There’s no time left! Can’t you hear the Earth screaming, you filthy murderers?”
“A Rickconvenient Mort” reduces, reuses, and recycles an old concept of tackling the superhero genre. There is no doubt about that. This time, however, it’s the message that’s told that is crucial. Rather than blaming Rick Sanchez for bad things that happen, it is also the everyday humans that are at fault. As Planetina states: “There’s only one solution to Earth’s polution: you!”
The first three episodes of Rick and Morty Season 5 are now on Adult Swim!
Do you plan to see this new season? If you’ve seen these first few episodes of the season, what are your thoughts? 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.
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