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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.
Following the previous episode of Dan Harmon’s Rick and Morty Season 7, Rick Sanchez (voiced by Ian Cardoni) and Morty Smith (voiced by Harry Belden) finally get down to business to stop Rick Prime (Cardoni) once and for all. This is a story arc that has been in the making for the past several seasons, so ending it now is a better choice made sooner than later.
The seventh season’s fifth episode is titled, “Unmortricken”. It is written by series executive producers Albro Lundy and James Siciliano, and directed by Jacob Hair (King of the Hill, The Stanford Prison Experiment).
In this review, I will discuss Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 5. As the title of this article suggests, there will be spoilers present here. References to previous series episodes may be made as well!
Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 5 Logline
According to WarnerMedia Press, here is the logline for Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 5—“Unmortricken”.
Rick and Morty wilding out, broh. They getting up to stuff.
WarnerMedia Press
Discussion
Given the state of the past couple of episodes, Dan Harmon’s award-winning black comedy sci-fi series continues hitting some excellent notes in terms of the way the writers craft the narrative of their episodic stories. “Unmortricken” is no different as evidenced by its neat writing, brilliant animation, and gut-wrenching themes of revenge.
Executive producers Albro Lundy and James Siciliano present an astonishing act structure consisting of what is expected in basic plots. There’s sort of an exposition, which is followed by an intense rising action, an even more brutal climax, and a fine falling action. The episode doesn’t present a concrete resolution to the conflict at hand. However, this is completely reasonable what with the new inner conflict that hits Rick Sanchez (Cardoni) like an asteroid-heavy brick.
What sets this episode apart from many others in the entire series thus far is how it urges for a sense of finality in things for the protagonists. The episode briefly follows Evil Morty’s (Belden) origin and backstory from the infinite murder of Ricks and theft of Mortys, his rise in the Citadel of Ricks, and his conspiracy within that is foiled. The episode also finds its way to what currently appears to be the final confrontation with Rick Prime (Cardoni).
Creative Style
The series’ animation team put so much effort into the character designs, background designs, and even the prop designs of the episode that it would be wrong to ignore the magnificent visual appeal. Hearing musical composer Ryan Elder’s sci-fi retro scoring as Evil Morty treks through the colorful crystalized corners of the vast cosmos is outright beautiful, even if momentarily. It’s almost intriguing to see this character interact with the main protagonists and Rick Prime, especially in the last three-quarters of the runtime.
The meticulous attention to detail in these characters is unique—the aesthetic comparison between Rick’s and Evil Morty’s portal guns; the battle-damaged Rick with swollen eyes and blood all over the abdomen and kneecaps, as well as the right side of his mouth and left side of his forehead; not to mention the cinematic action sequence during the latter half of the episode.
Rick’s space station possesses a lurking interiority and exteriority in how the artists design the architecture and the background. Silence fills the space here, as the narrative displays Rick continuing his quest for vengeance. This scene juxtaposes profoundly with the scene of Evil Morty in the cosmos. The latter is loud through its demonstration of the color palette across the frames.
The End of an Era… Mayhaps
The juxtaposition between Rick Prime’s Saw-like trap sequence—which is more severe an homage to the horror franchise in terms of the gravity than that of Season 3’s Vindicators episode—and the sequence in Rick Prime’s hideout is representative of how the plot structure progresses.
Watching the main characters in a box with different Ricks, forced to shoot one another, is one thing. Yet, the icing on the cake is how Rick Prime unleashes the suspenseful fire that cleanses the box. It’s a thrilling moment to see Rick, Morty, and Evil Morty rush to escape the box. What makes this juxtaposition interesting is how they are pushed to think outside of the box. When they finally exit that box to transition to the next part of the story, the possibilities of the narrative feel endless.
Everything about the sequence is epic, from Rick Prime catching Rick’s bullets and loading them into his handgun to the gigantic cyborg Diane Sanchezes that are summoned around the platform of Rick Prime’s hideout to Evil Morty scanning Rick Prime’s actions until a Kuato (from the original Total Recall) comes out of that Rick’s body to the ripping out of a right arm or leg from either Rick—a string of moments which could have been extended a bit more during the fighting sequence—to Prime Rick put the pieces of his body together as if a Terminator.
Does Batman Kill?
Although indirectly, the episode’s theme of revenge is subtly similar to iconic portions of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. The exchange towards the end between Rick Prime and Evil Morty—“We could be like Batman and Robin!”; “Eh, I don’t need a Robin.”—offers a context hinting at this theme. A pairing of any Rick and Morty implies a chaotic and oftentimes toxic dynamic. Moreover, the storytellers design Rick Prime, literally, as a narrative mixture of Harvey Dent/ Two-Face and the Joker, with the series’ protagonist Rick as someone akin to Batman.
Character design lead Adam Burnier and his team exhibit the minutiae of the two characters. On one hand, there is Rick Prime who takes a bullet to the face. The ensuing blast is an appearance strikingly similar to that of Two-Face. It’s a battle wound that tears away at Rick Prime’s surface countenance to briskly showcase his inner personality.
On the other hand, there is the scene of Rick beating his enemy to a pulp, very much like Batman’s interrogation of an apprehended Joker. Even upon first viewing, the dialogue between the two is haunting. Rick Prime tells Rick that they are nothing without each other and that he gave Rick the life that could have been his own.
The specifics of Diane Sanchez’s (voiced by Kari Wahlgren) death are more drastic than what was revealed in the series’ April Fool’s Day 2017 episode. Diane is pretty much the Rachel Dawes whose existence is effaced before she ever discovers her identity. Wiping her across the infinite realm of universes is an act that defines Rick Sanchez as a psychologically and emotionally broken human being.
A Prime Example
“Unmortricken”, like any narrative centered on revenge, provides a universally known moral in what should otherwise be the resolution. Rather than bring full closure to this storyline, the result of Rick’s actions—having seemingly beaten Rick Prime to death—is a weight that supplements the emptiness of his whole being. The lyrics sung in the song during the epilogue, “Everybody seems so far away from me. Everybody just wants to be free,” rings true.
Emptiness is already an attribute tied to Rick. However, it is felt even more now that that emptiness comes with an explanation. The realization that Rick feels nothing and remains unchanged by his actions is not necessarily, or at least, not totally, character development. It could be argued that this can be what pulls him back to his old ways. By this, I mean we might see the return of Rick’s Season 1 and 2 personality.
The Crew Behind Rick and Morty
Rick and Morty is co-created by Dan Harmon (Community).
The series’ main theme and score is done by Ryan Elder (HarmonQuest). Hunter Curra serves as the supervising sound editor.
Wes Archer (The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Bob’s Burgers) is the supervising director. Alex Song-Xia and Cody Ziglar are story editors, while Grace Freud is the staff writer.
Jeremy Gilfor is the writers’ assistant. Michael Kellner and Jax Ball are 2nd writers’ assistants.
Lee Harting and Claire Levinson serve as the editors. David Seger is the assistant editor.
Ruth Lambert and Robert McGee are the voice casting directors. Katelyn Semer and Amanda Ray are casting associates. Sara Jane Sherman is the additional casting director.
Amy Chapman and Nick Reczynski (Mike Tyson Mysteries, Solar Opposites) are voice-over consultants.
Animators
James McDermott (King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-Head) is the art director. Philip Vose serves as the assistant art director. Carol Wyatt is the color supervisor. Michael LaBash is the storyboard revisions director.
Adam Burnier serves as the character design lead. Liza Epps is the background design lead. Brent Noll serves as the prop design lead, while Kelly Yoo is the assistant prop design lead.
Sander Goldman (Big Mouth), Eugene Huang, Heather Langley, and Joe Wierenga serve as the storyboard artists. Rufino Roy Camacho II (Futurama, Sausage Party, Disenchantment, Harley Quinn), Eric Hoff, LaVon O’Bannon, Dan O’Connor, and Steve Yurko (Robot Chicken, HarmonQuest) are additional storyboard artists.
Alexa Hanson, Kari Kilpela, Maneen Mehta, Khang Nguyen, Elisa Phillips (The Venture Bros., HarmonQuest), Maya Shavzin (Final Space), Amy Sherrier, Ken Siu, and Tony Weinstock work on the character design.
Jackie Cadiente, Paige “PJ” Hankins, and Alex Picar work on the character design clean-up.
Chris S. Bolden (The Simpsons, Disenchantment), Lauryn Danae Bremner (Solar Opposites), Phillip K. Burrows Jr., Vance Caines (Regular Show, Close Enough), Leasa Epps-Eisele, Alex Steven Martin, Erik D. Martin, Tommy Scott, Alycea Tinoyan, and Tuo Tsui work on the background design.
Tyler Justice and Ashley Nolley work on the background clean-up.
Corey Booth serves as the color design lead. Matthew-Ryan Benzinger, Jack Cusumano, Dresden Douglas, Stella Longfish, and Doreen Nguyen serve as the color designers.
The Voice Cast Behind Rick and Morty
Ian Cardoni voices Rick Sanchez, the genius scientist of the series. Harry Belden voices Morty Smith, the teenage grandson of the series.
Spencer Grammer is credited as the voice of Summer Smith, Rick Sanchez’s granddaughter and Morty Smith’s older sister. Chris Parnell and Sarah Chalke (How I Met Your Mother) are credited as the voices of Jerry and Beth Smith, Summer and Morty Smith’s parents. Chalke also voices Space Beth.
Kari Wahlgren voices Rick’s Space Cruiser/Car, inspired by his late wife, Diane Sanchez.
Troy Baker, producer and editor Lee Harting, Erica Lindbeck (Pacific Rim: The Black, Smiling Friends, God of War: Ragnarök), Chris Romano, and Debra Wilson also make voice appearances.
Loss or Gain: What is Ahead for Rick Sanchez as a Character
Revealing Diane Sanchez as the voice behind Rick’s Star Cruiser changes things. The fact that this voice is the only piece of Diane that Rick has left is painful. Imagine all of your valuable possessions have been taken from you. You do not quite have a home to your own, and in your pocket, everything that you have to your name, is loose change. In a time even before the series pilot, the sole remains of Diane through the Cruiser’s voice is that pretty penny for Rick.
The final shot of Rick at the dining table with his family might suggest emptiness. Conversely, this shot should also be a reminder that he is surrounded by loved ones who are also invaluable to him. Who knows what a life beyond Rick Prime will entail…
Final Thoughts on Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 5
The narrative doesn’t have much to do with the Smith household, and instead, we’re introduced to knock-off Jetsons families as well as the family of a late Season 1 character, Slow Mobius. Fans and viewers are teased with a potential future storyline involving Mobius’s widow that, in a way, mimics the revenge plot of HBO’s Barry Season 3. The 56-second end tag leaves the door open in the likelihood that it might mean something for the fate that lies ahead for Rick Sanchez.
While “Unmortricken” is filled with a strange balance of action-packed sequences, a juicy half-hour narrative, and its theme of substance, the episode does leave room for uncertainty, like the emptiness of space. Five episodes are left in the season, and no one knows exactly what comes next.
Rick and Morty Season 7 is now airing on Adult Swim via Cartoon Network. The season will stream via Max (formerly HBO Max) next year!
Have you seen the series yet? If so, then what are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know! For more adventure, animation, comedy, and science-fiction-related news and reviews, do not forget to follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
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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.
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