Rick and Morty Season 1 Ranked

It's no secret that Rick and Morty is one of the best adult animated shows out there. With it's clever use of improvisational retroscripting, intelligent writing and an amazing voice cast, Rick and Morty quickly became a fan favorite show. I myself watched all of season one and am currently working through season two. But still, here are my rankings for each of the eleven episodes of season one, where I will be giving in depth reviews on why I like and dislike these episodes. Granted, there are no episodes of this show that I hate, but some are better than others. And even the worst episodes of this show outrank modern Family Guy or the Simpsons. This is really a test to see how good my reviewing skills are, so please sure to let me know what you think! So sit back, get out your transdimensional portal gun and get your liquor flasks ready as I review the first season of Rick and Morty!

- Watchable
- Good
- Great
- Favorite


Oh and by the way I'm going to be spoiling some of these episodes, so I highly recommend you watch the series before reading.


11. Rixty Minutes– Alright, I admit that the B-plot of this episode is brilliant. It tackles a very sensitive subject when Morty’s sister Summer learns her parents were originally going to abort her, and she sees how improved her parents lives would’ve been had they gone through with it in alternate timelines. This episode is all about the question most couples will face: are they together because they are happy, or because they had to? This leads to one of the series most memorable quotes; “Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everyone’s gonna die.” This episode shows how much Morty cares for his sister, and adds dimension to both of their characters. There’s a lot of good build-up and emotion here between Morty’s parents and the ending is very touching and powerful.

 

The biggest problem with this episode is that the A-plot is really insubstantial. Rick sets up an interdimensional cable box, and the majority of the episode is spent watching shows from different realities. However, the problem is that most of these “shows” feel like really bad improv (and they state them as such.) Despite getting a few good chuckles, a lot aren’t very funny or interesting and overstay their welcome. There is literally one show that is just a straight-up cliché of cop dramas, with no subversions except that the main character has baby legs. Another is a trailer for a movie that just meanders from point to point. This is bad since this show normally relies on fast-paced humor; a lot of the jokes fall flat and go on forever.

 

But even so, when the “worst” episode of the first season is not only emotional, but is far above even the good episodes of lesser shows, you know you have a good thing going.

 

10.  Raising Gazorpazorp– Here Rick and Morty tackle parenting tropes and gender politics. Overall, it could’ve been done better. This is one of a few episodes where we see Summer and Rick team up in the A-plot. What I really like about this show is that they don’t restrict the interactions to just Rick and Morty; Rick is able to go on adventures with the other members of the family. Rick and Summer do make a good team up, but sadly they don’t share the same kind of chemistry that Rick and Morty have. Most of the plot is your typical “Battle of the Sexes” episode, with Summer trying to convince Rick that women are just as good as men, while Rick believes females are subservient to males. This eventually leads them to discovering a ruling class consisting of female Gazorpazorps. What I hate about these “gender war” episodes is that characters have annoying sexist values in service to the plot, and each gender is represented with the same old stereotypes we see in all cartoons. Sadly Rick and Morty falls into the example rather than the exception. The moral in this episode is really dumb too, basically it surmounts to a man made a woman’s top, and so men are just as worthy as woman. I really wish this episode didn’t fall into the clichés of the “Boys vs. Girls” category, but sadly it does.

 

Meanwhile Rick buys Morty a sex robot, which he impregnates with his horny 14-year old DNA. His offspring turns out to be one of the male Gazorpazorps, and Morty tries to prove to his parents he can be a responsible parent. Morty constantly attempts to steer his love child away from his natural violent tendencies, all while his parents watch with cynicism. This leads Morty Jr. growing up to be an angst riddled teen, which I admit is pretty funny. Watching Jr. going through the mood swings of puberty (albeit with a more violent and bloodthirsty edge) is rather interesting, and it ends with a heartwarming reconciliation (and him writing a book about his terrible father.) It’s watchable, but not particularly memorable.

 

9. Anatomy Park– This episode is mainly a jab at Jurassic Park with a more bodily twist. There’s a recurring joke involving Rick trying to market “Pirates of the Pancreas” which I feel gets beaten into the ground. Most of the plot resembles your Jurassic Park formula: rogue viruses are on the loose, the team tries to find their way out, there’s a betrayer, a few people sacrifice themselves and Morty tries to get it on with the girl. I do admit the visuals are really nice and they do a lot of creative things with the anatomy. Also I’m not going to spoil how it all ends, but essentially the Earth gets covered by blood and guts and a giant penis destroys the Rocky Mountains. You figure it out from there.

 

The B-plot to the episode is kind of weak, it mainly revolves are Jerry’s parents coming to visit, who just so happen to include another man named Jacob. Jacob is that insufferable nice-guy, the one who’s always positive and optimistic to the point of irritation. And that irritation is shown through Jerry. He’s clearly uncomfortable by this scenario and by extension, so are we. There’s also some human counseling that feels kind of awkward. It also turns out that Jacob is in a polygamous relationship and has sex with Jerry’s mother while his father watches. The plot very much resembles the Family Guy episode “The Tale of Two Brians” and feels rather out of place. I admit the ending was pretty funny though.

 

8. Something Ricked This Way Comes– One the primest examples of Jerry Smith’s insecurity is found right here in this episode. Jerry, being insecure about his intelligence, agrees to help Morty with his science fair project, only to learn Pluto isn’t a planet. Jerry, being stubborn, refuses to accept this and he and Morty are captured by Plutonians. What I like about this is that we really get to see Morty and his father together, something we haven’t really gotten to see in any of the previous episodes. The Plutonians hail Jerry as their top scientist for calling Pluto a planet, which of course goes straight to his head. However, the corporations are draining Pluto of its resources, and Morty’s attempts to stop his father, who neglects him in favor of fame. Overall, this part of the episode feels like it’s building to something but chickened out part way through.

 

Meanwhile we have an epic B-plot as Summer gets a job in an antique shop that is literally run by the Devil, selling cursed objects. The best part of the episode comes from Rick outwitting the Devil at his own game by using his science to remove the curses from the objects. It is really funny to see the literal devil go against the devilish Rick, and once again this show subverts tropes found in Twilight Zone and modernizes it into something hilarious.

 

I would be remised if I didn’t mention the robot who suffers from an existential crisis when he learns his purpose in life is to simply pass butter.

 

The biggest issue I have with the episode is that neither plot really resolves itself. Jerry feels bad for his actions and admits Pluto isn’t a planet which leads him to reconcile with Morty, Summer gets “Zuckerberged” by the Devil, and Rick burns down his curse shop. Rick and Summer then get really muscular and beat up the Devil (and anyone else who is a douche.) The endings don’t feel very satisfying, and I was especially disappointed the Plutonium plot didn’t go anywhere.

 

7. Ricksy Business– The season finale of Rick and Morty really needed to stand up and end the series on a high note. And it does, frankly enough. Morty has finally had enough of Rick’s irresponsible behavior after the latter throws an interdimensional house party, and decides he’s had enough of his grandpa. Unusually for Rick and Morty, this episode really delves into the characterization of our show’s protagonists. Morty finally shows that he’s tired of dealing with Rick’s crap, but we see he really does enjoy his time with his grandpa and losing the chance to go on adventures with him would devastate him. And we are exposed to the dark side to Rick’s personality; the lonely and pained man who numbs himself with apathy and alcohol. This is an intricate build up for the characters we’ve gotten to know and love over the past ten episodes and it pays off to get some real characterization from them. Overall, it stands as a perfect ending to round up an excellent season, and it all leads up to the season 2 premiere “A Rickle in Time,” which too is fantastic. Now everyone, do the Rick Dance.

 

This episode also features one of the show’s best characters: a fusion of Adolf Hilter and Abraham Lincoln’s DNA to create a morally neutral leader named Abradolf Lincler. And he is hilarious.

 

However, the B-plot of this episode is really strange. It involves Jerry and Beth vacationing on a recreation of the Titanic; however Beth isn’t interested so Jerry shares the experience with a maid named Lucy. I do like the joke where the ship malfunctions and doesn’t crash into the iceberg. However it takes a rather weird turn when Lucy tries to rape Jerry, and Beth ends up saving him, which ends in a Cape Fear parody. This plot doesn’t really have anything to do with the A-plot, and while it’s entertaining I didn’t really see much point in it.

 

6. Pilot– Ironically, this is the last episode I saw in full. I remember seeing the first half on TV but never finished it until I watched the rest of the series. So, to be fair on this episode it is the pilot of the series, and you can definitely tell they were still trying to find their sweet spot. Rick is a lot more drunk and stumbling; Morty is a lot wimpier and whinier. But still, even with the first episode they knew what they were trying to accomplish. At no point does this show wander about, wondering what it wants to do. This episode really shows how unique and special this show is, and it led the way for the other episodes to follow in its path. The jokes they tell fit in the style that the series works best with, such as the guards being “robots” because they’re bureaucrats. There isn’t much of a B-plot here, basically amounting to Morty’s parents upset that he’s been skipping school to go on adventures with Rick. And just like Rick says at the end of the episode, I hope this show goes forever, for 100 years, because it’s great.

 

5. Meeseeks and Destroy– In this episode Morty, tired of dangerous and traumatizing adventures, makes a bet with Rick that he can have a fun one. Most of the A-plot revolves around Morty trying to have a successful adventure while Rick groans behind him. This is really more of the fantasy quest plot, which Rick and Morty usual brand of subversions, such as them getting arrested and taken to giant court. Where the plot really surmounts in its in climax, there is an attempted rape scene, which I admit is kind of uncomfortable to watch. But this is an episode that really shows Rick’s rarely-shown caring side and his strong relationship with Morty, and it feels genuine.

 

It’s this episode’s B-plot that really makes this episode shine. Rick gives the family a “Meeseeks Box” which spawns a creature called “Mr. Meeseeks” (look at me!) It has one purpose in life: to do whatever job it has been given before it ceases to exist. Jerry asks Mr. Meeseeks to help him with a relatively simple task: to take two swings off his golf game. Of course, being Jerry, he’s unable to do it, and the Meeseeks grow more irate as they continue to exist, eventually spawning more and more to eventually solve their dilemma. This is brilliant, the Meeseeks are really funny characters (mainly due to Justin Roiland’s voice acting), a showcase of how frustrating and incompetent Jerry is, and they way they eventually all go crazy once again makes for an excellent episode.

 

4. Rick Potion #9– Now we’re getting to the episodes that I love through and through. And there’s no better way to start than the episode that cleverly subverts the love potion trope. In this episode, Morty wants something to make his crush Jessica to fall in love with him. Rick calls out Morty for trying to make what is essentially a date-rape drug, but gives in. However, the serum piggybacks onto the influenza virus, which causes a whole chain of madness. This episode’s strengths lie in its deconstruction of the love genre. In these types of shows, the boy goes through zany scheme but eventually gets the girl. Not only does that not happen, but it ends with the whole world not only wanting to have sex with Morty, but they also want to eat him as well. Morty and Rick also call each other our for their involvement in the catastrophe, and both admit fault. This episode definitely features one of the darkest endings of the show, which I won’t spoil but it’ll leave a really deep impact on you as it did on Morty.

 

The B-plot of this episode involves Jerry being insecure about his marriage with Beth, and goes out to talk with her, only to caught up in the middle of the genetic apocalypse, which somehow revitalizes the spark in his relationship with Beth as they fight off the creatures. A clever use of a formula we’ve all seen before, this episode puts its own twist on it the way only Rick and Morty can to create one of the most epic, disturbing and hilarious episodes of the series.

 

3. Lawnmower Dog– This is the first episode I saw on television and it’s the episode that got me hooked on the show. What makes this episode so great is that they parody Inception and Nightmare on Elm Street. However, instead of being lazy and referencing them, they use the tropes found in those movies to further their story. This is what separates Rick and Morty from a lot of other shows; they use references as a means to tell a good story rather than just pointing them out. This episode’s A-plot is solid gold, as Rick and Morty go deeper into dream character’s dreams, even getting into the weird and perverted, but never so much that it’s disturbing. They do a lot of jokes and subvert a lot of expectations to deliver a lot of classic lines and scenarios. Hell, even the freaking Freddy Kruger monster is likeable!

 

The episode’s B-plot is just as good as the A-plot. Rick creates a device to make the family dog more intelligent. We watch as Snuffles goes from being self-aware to full-on intelligent, eventually to the point where he builds a mechanical suit and takes over Morty’s family (and asking Summer where his testicles are.)  I love the humor in this episode, there’s a pee joke that made me laugh hard, and the testicle line is great as well. But what I love is how the two plots are intertwined, and how they managed to bring together the two ideas present in the episode into a coherent narrative. This episode is great and I highly recommend it to those who have never watched the show before.

 

2. M. Night Shaym-Aliens!– Oh man where do I start with this one? This episode definitely has the best story and plot of season one. The plot twists are actually surprising and meta, and are cleverly used to subvert your expectations to deliver a really awesome final twist that makes your head explode. Rick is put into a simulation by Zigerian scammers to learn his secrets. The head alien is voiced by David Cross, and the aliens have an extreme aversion to nudity (which is very similar to Cross’s character Tobias Funke from Arrested Development.) Of all the episodes, this is the one that I don’t want to spoil, since it’s best when experienced first hand.  

 

The B-plot is also one of the funniest in the series. Somehow Jerry also ends up in the simulation, so the aliens put the settings on minimum to conserve power. Jerry, being the insecure sadsack he is, manages to sell an ad campaign, make love to his unmoving wife, get fired, then promoted and eventually win an award, all while the people around him repeat the same phrases and glitch into objects. It is so funny how Jerry is so pathetic that he manages to have the best day of his life in the barest minimum of a functioning simulation.

 

One of the things that also make this episode brilliant is its rewatch value. The episode gives us subtle hints and clue to the plot’s twist, and when you go back and watch it again you pick up on those things now that you know what’s going to happen. Any good mystery knows how to mislead and trick the audience without making them feel like they’ve been duped, and the episode knows how to handle the lead in. Both plots are brilliantly written, laugh out loud funny, subversively clever and features a better plot twist than any of Shymalamadingdong’s films. This is truly an amazing episode, but there is still one that manages to outshine them all.

 

1. Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind– This is my favorite episode of Rick and Morty hands down. This episode has everything, a good plot, an interesting mystery, lots of great humor, and emotional resonance. A Rick is going around killing Ricks from other dimensions and stealing their Mortys, and Rick is blamed by the council of Ricks, and is under suspicion because he didn’t join with the council of Ricks (you wanted to escape government persecution so you became a government.) And if that wasn’t insane enough, Rick and Morty go on the run while Ricks from different dimensions set up in his home for a stake out. Here, Morty learns he is essentially a cloaking device, as his brainwaves can hide Rick’s “genius” waves. This provides a major backdrop for the drama in the episode, as Morty is upset when he realizes Rick doesn’t really care about him.

 

The humor in this episode is fantastic, there’s a gag they do three times that builds on each other previous renditions. There’s a joke involving OJ Simpson that made me laugh until my stomach hurt. And there’s a joke where the Ricks prank call Jerry.

 

But not only is this episode funny, it’s heartwarming as well. Rick and Morty confront the real Rick killer, who lets him know the universal truth: “Ricks don’t care about Mortys.” However, the episode cleverly shows that Rick does maybe care about his Morty, although it’s followed immediately by a cover-up joke. In his own words, he is the “Rickest Rick” and Morty is the “Mortiest Morty.” The B-plot revolves around Jerry’s interaction with “Doofus Rick,” who unlike all the other Ricks, is kind and considerate. They take this part of the plot seriously, and at no point do they pull the rug out and claim it was all in jest. Their scenes are very touching and it brought something of a tear to my eye.

 

I love this episode for being able to deliver Rick and Morty’s unique style of humor, tell clever storylines, as well as create emotional scenes that don’t feel forced. Also, this episode has an amazing twist ending that I won’t spoil, but it definitely left my jaw hanging. It’s for these reasons that Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind is my favorite episode of season one of this amazing show.


So that's my list! How would you rank these episodes? Which ones did you like, and which ones did you no like as much. Leave your comments below! Until next time, I'm pokemonmanic and thanks for reading!