Good to know the pilot isn't a representation of the whole show then! I had wondered a bit why the hype was as extreme as it was. Looking forward to getting into the rest of it knowing what I now do though! Thanks for the testimonies all.
Good to know the pilot isn't a representation of the whole show then! I had wondered a bit why the hype was as extreme as it was. Looking forward to getting into the rest of it knowing what I now do though! Thanks for the testimonies all.
Like most shows, the first episode is just it finding its footing. With that said, it isn't a show that everyone is going to love. It does that thing where it is high concept sci-fi but also has no problem dipping into toilet-humor throughout. So that dichotomy isn't going to be for every person.
Good to know the pilot isn't a representation of the whole show then! I had wondered a bit why the hype was as extreme as it was. Looking forward to getting into the rest of it knowing what I now do though! Thanks for the testimonies all.
Like most shows, the first episode is just it finding its footing. With that said, it isn't a show that everyone is going to love. It does that thing where it is high concept sci-fi but also has no problem dipping into toilet-humor throughout. So that dichotomy isn't going to be for every person.
It should be fine for anyone that's on this forum.
I've had a passing familiarity with this show but finally binged the three available seasons in the last few weeks, inspired by the news of the new podcast, of course. Here's a metaphor: this show, to me, was like one of those fruity malt-liquors: it went down sweet but left a bad taste in my mouth (and is also basically trash being marketed to children).
Here's my issue: Rick is a fucking reprehensible piece of shit, but I challenge anyone here to point to one instance where the show has a laugh at HIS expense. See, shitty characters exist in comedies so that we can laugh AT them, not be continually impressed by them. The show (or showrunners) really seem to see, and present, Rick as the infallible badass superkewl genius that the character is always patting himself on the back for being, as if I'm supposed to actually be enamored with his half-baked nihilism and comedy-styled-alcoholism. Holy shit is it tiresome. I don't like the term "mary sue," but fuck that mary sue motherfucker. I think it was the Vindicators 3 episode that really killed it for me, but the distaste was building pretty much throughout the series. I can't get past it. Don't know if I'll even care to watch season four, which sucks because some of the sci-fi concepts they play with are interesting. The paradox, for me, is that this is a very smart show, but it doesn't have anything intelligent to say.
I've had a passing familiarity with this show but finally binged the three available seasons in the last few weeks, inspired by the news of the new podcast, of course. Here's a metaphor: this show, to me, was like one of those fruity malt-liquors: it went down sweet but left a bad taste in my mouth (and is also basically trash being marketed to children).
Here's my issue: Rick is a fucking reprehensible piece of shit, but I challenge anyone here to point to one instance where the show has a laugh atHIS expense. See, shitty characters exist in comedies so that we can laugh AT them, not be continually impressed by them. The show (or showrunners) really seem to see, and present, Rick as the infallible badass superkewl genius that the character is always patting himself on the back for being, as if I'm supposed to actually be enamored with his half-baked nihilism and comedy-styled-alcoholism. Holy shit is it tiresome. I don't like the term "mary sue," but fuck that mary sue motherfucker. I think it was the Vindicators 3 episode that really killed it for me, but the distaste was building pretty much throughout the series. I can't get past it. Don't know if I'll even care to watch season four, which sucks because some of the sci-fi concepts they play with are interesting. The paradox, for me, is that this is a very smart show, but it doesn't have anything intelligent to say.
I’ve never felt like Rick was supposed to be this infallible hero. I don’t know Dan Harmon but it feels like he has made Rick a Super version of himself. Everything that makes Dan Harmon who he is is amplified by 100. An alcoholic maniac that is a nihilist but also thinks he’s extremely smart. I don’t think werent meant to root for or against him. I think Morty is the real lense we are supposed to view the show from. Thus his constant struggles with following Rick but also knowingly calling out Rick for being a major dick. The vindicators episode is a good example of this and funny you specifically mention this one. Morty spends the entire episode calling Rick out for his issues and at the end we’re supposed to believe that Rick has a soft spot for Morty but it ends up being satire on the concept with nub nub being the one he “loves”. Another good episode that calls out Rick is the one with the alternative reality where the council of Ricks “run” the planet and we watch the episode through another Morty who’s taken on a police ride. Not to mention a lot of the situations throughout the series they get into is because Rick fucked up in some way. See the episode where they have to bury themselves because they destroyed the world. Honestly if you are viewing the series as Rick being a Mary Sue then I don’t think we are watching the same show.
And even if Rick “saves the day” or is always right I’ve always felt like this was just Dan Harmon’s view of himself. An imperfect asshole with a ton of faults but ultimately feels he is the best. That doesn’t mean he’s right or a hero. It’s just Dan harmon’s world and we are living in it.
The Pickle Rick episode has the most psychologically brutal moment in the entire show, delivered right to Rick.
That said, I liked this show before the fans got annoying. Before the Rick obsession. When I asked friends who their favorite character was, no one said Rick. He's not supposed to be. He's often just the plot driver and doesn't get developed, as a person. It's like saying Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Mary Sue. That label is meant to critique a protagonist, and Rick largely serves as the mentor type.
Definitely bail on the show though. You sound miserable @ken hale.
Also rick is a selfish asshole. Multiple episodes Morty calls him out for saying they only do his adventures and never want Morty wants to do. Another example of challenging Rick is the episode where they go on Morty’s quest to the giant house and we get an actual heartfelt moment when Rick realised that Morty almost got raped and blows that dudes head off at the end.
And of course there are “Morty’s Mind Blowers” where we see that Rick has erased dozens of episodes where Rick was wrong and Morty was right, or where Rick otherwise made an ass out of himself, from Morty’s memory to preserve his pride and sense of superiority.
Ya, if you come to TV for morality plays, this is not the show for you. There are no life lessons here, and no just deserts. It's like Always Sunny; it's fun precisely because of the chaos of competing egos untethered to morality or decency. Rick is the ultimate manipulative asshole, but I would say that the presupposition of the show is that other characters are simply dumber or weaker-willed than him, not actually better. Any heartwarming moment of positive emotion is just setting you up to have the floor ripped out from under you so you can fall into the nihilistic void below.
That’s an interesting comparison to Always Sunny, which is easily my favorite show. I guess the difference is those characters always get their comeuppance, instead of constantly coming up on all the idiots who try to get in their way and stop their brilliant science schemes. Despite the counterexamples offered, I don’t agree that Rick is ever sustainably portrayed in a similar critical light.
@JaimieT Not miserable, just incisive and vitriolic, always.
I think @alexander.klassen is right that there's a nihilist undercurrent to the show. Rick is no more cruel, irresponsible or misanthropic than the universe is. The show uses sci-fi to explore the absurdities of life. In the first scene of the pilot, Rick tells Summer that there is no god and to rip that band-aid off asap.
“Ya, if you come to TV for morality plays, this is not the show for you. There are no life lessons here, and no just deserts. It's like Always Sunny; it's fun precisely because of the chaos of competing egos untethered to morality or decency.”
That’s a true point, but I would argue that every work of fiction (ok, most) advances some kind of ethos or worldview. In the case of R&M, as Jaimie and others have identified, that message is roughly nihlist; nothing means anything, and the concept of morality is subjective. By positioning Rick to be validated for his actions, the show is affirming such a worldview in a way that Always Sunny doesn’t. I could wring my hands about how juvenile and harmful I think this worldview is, but I guess we can leave it at either: it’s just not my cup or tea or I’m just not cool enough for the R&M bandwagon.
@ken hale Yeah, it's like being irked that nothing happens on Seinfeld. I don't mean to belittle your opinion in making that comparison. Seinfeld was a show for people interested in interpersonal psychology, and R&M is a show for people interested in the search for meaning in a meaningless universe. Both have humor that stems from those concepts, as well as more general humor.
Can I just say... fucking FANTASTIC podcast on the pilot episode so far. This is prime Bald Move content. I can't wait for more of this. How does it feel to know that whoever found you at Starburns is getting a raise?
Can I just say... fucking FANTASTIC podcast on the pilot episode so far. This is prime Bald Move content. I can't wait for more of this. How does it feel to know that whoever found you at Starburns is getting a raise?
Honestly, I felt like the first episode was one of our weakest so I'm glad you liked it, Jaimie. They get better from here, imo.
Can I just say... fucking FANTASTIC podcast on the pilot episode so far. This is prime Bald Move content. I can't wait for more of this. How does it feel to know that whoever found you at Starburns is getting a raise?
Honestly, I felt like the first episode was one of our weakest so I'm glad you liked it, Jaimie. They get better from here, imo.
Might have to indulge in a cocktail or two for Meeseeks and Destroy. It does drop on Friday, after all.
In "Anatomy Park," Rick tells Morty he dodged a bullet because the young scientist girl had a "puffy vagina." J & A broached this topic in their podcast today but did not discuss... how did Rick know this personal detail about her? Creepy.
First post, bitches! Long time listener, first time subscriber.
I just had a weird moment...I started up another podcast on Avengers easter eggs (because I've got no new Bald Move ones left), and I heard A.Ron's voice. I had to look at my phone to see if I started Pickle Me This up by accident, but nope, it was a freakin' advertisement for Bald Move and Pickle Me This.
Weird, but so awesome. Can't wait for tomorrow's (Edit: Friday, not Thursday, duh)episode, Meeseeks is what finally sold me on this show. I love both A & B stories.
In "Anatomy Park," Rick tells Morty he dodged a bullet because the young scientist girl had a "puffy vagina." J & A broached this topic in their podcast today but did not discuss... how did Rick know this personal detail about her? Creepy.
First post, bitches! Long time listener, first time subscriber.
What'd I miss?
That's a fucking great point.
However, I think Rick is most likely just making an assumption on something he might personally find distasteful to dissuade Morty from pining after her.
So the bigger question is, based on J&A's discussion, does Rick fuck? Was Beth's mom just the longest one and done ever?
In "Anatomy Park," Rick tells Morty he dodged a bullet because the young scientist girl had a "puffy vagina." J & A broached this topic in their podcast today but did not discuss... how did Rick know this personal detail about her? Creepy.
First post, bitches! Long time listener, first time subscriber.
What'd I miss?
That's a fucking great point.
However, I think Rick is most likely just making an assumption on something he might personally find distasteful to dissuade Morty from pining after her.
So the bigger question is, based on J&A's discussion, does Rick fuck? Was Beth's mom just the longest one and done ever?
According to the fine folks at Pornhub he does.
Seriously though, I'm pretty sure he has sex with Unity. Just don't know how much that counts since she's a hive mind alien. I mean, if somebody fucks a pillow, are they really fucking? Alright, now what about a tree? It is alive, after all. Now what about an alien species?
In the Rick Potion #9 episode. Rick doesn't seem to care about ruining the world and then moving to another. But what if his absence mentioned in the pilot is because thats not his original world and he just chose one that was missing a Rick like he chose the new world at the end of the episode
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It should be fine for anyone that's on this forum.
And even if Rick “saves the day” or is always right I’ve always felt like this was just Dan Harmon’s view of himself. An imperfect asshole with a ton of faults but ultimately feels he is the best. That doesn’t mean he’s right or a hero. It’s just Dan harmon’s world and we are living in it.
That said, I liked this show before the fans got annoying. Before the Rick obsession. When I asked friends who their favorite character was, no one said Rick. He's not supposed to be. He's often just the plot driver and doesn't get developed, as a person. It's like saying Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Mary Sue. That label is meant to critique a protagonist, and Rick largely serves as the mentor type.
Definitely bail on the show though. You sound miserable @ken hale.
Rick is not the protagonist.
That’s an interesting comparison to Always Sunny, which is easily my favorite show. I guess the difference is those characters always get their comeuppance, instead of constantly coming up on all the idiots who try to get in their way and stop their brilliant science schemes. Despite the counterexamples offered, I don’t agree that Rick is ever sustainably portrayed in a similar critical light.
@JaimieT Not miserable, just incisive and vitriolic, always.
In "Anatomy Park," Rick tells Morty he dodged a bullet because the young scientist girl had a "puffy vagina." J & A broached this topic in their podcast today but did not discuss... how did Rick know this personal detail about her? Creepy.
First post, bitches! Long time listener, first time subscriber.
What'd I miss?
However, I think Rick is most likely just making an assumption on something he might personally find distasteful to dissuade Morty from pining after her.
So the bigger question is, based on J&A's discussion, does Rick fuck? Was Beth's mom just the longest one and done ever?
https://jinguru.com/track/1604/starburns-industries-its-a-good-show