Rick and Morty: The Story Behind Pop Culture's Favorite Anti-Heroes

The Origins and Premise of Rick and Morty

Rick and Morty is an adult animated sci-fi sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon in 2013. The show revolves around the misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his goodhearted but easily influenced grandson Morty Smith, who split their time between domestic family life and interdimensional adventures.

Developing the Main Characters

Rick is characterized as a genius inventor but also a sociopathic alcoholic who drags Morty along on dangerous experiences across alternate universes and planets. Morty is a good-natured but insecure 14-year-old who struggles to keep up with his grandfather's unpredictable behavior while attending high school.

Supporting Cast

Other prominent characters include Morty's family: his unfulfilled genius father Jerry, mother Beth, and teenaged sister Summer. They provide an anchor into Morty's domestic life and react to the chaos caused by Rick's influence.

Signature Style and Humor

The animation style of Rick and Morty is influenced by co-creator Justin Roiland's earlier show House of Cosbys. It combines elements of absurdism, cynicism, existentialism, and dark comedy to depict the misadventures of a bored genius dragging his grandson across cosmic horrors.

Improvisational Creation Process

The show is largely improvised by its creators, with a focus on sci-fi parodies and embracing cartoon physics for sight gags. This lends an unpredictable frenetic energy to the show's humor and narrative.

References and Homages

Episodes make references to pop culture, philosophy, and real theoretical science. For example, the show satirizes heist movies and includes an alien hivemind named "Unity" in homage to French existentialist novelist Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre.

Impact and Controversies

Despite its niche premise, Rick and Morty has had an outsized impact on pop culture and fandoms. Its focus on nihilism and anti-hero protagonists connected with many viewers while alienating others.

Toxic Elements of Fandom

Unfortunately, a minority of vocal fans harassed female writers and propagated alt-right interpretations of Rick as an objectivist hero. This sparked debates about the show's responsibility for an extreme faction of its fandom.

Merchandising and Commercial Success

However, most fans connected with Rick and Morty's humor and characters rather than extremist interpretations. This has fueled an explosion of merchandise and catapulted the show into mainstream fame beyond its initial following.

The Future of Rick and Morty

5 seasons into its run, Rick and Morty remains a powerhouse series with an enduring if controversial impact on entertainment and culture. Upcoming seasons promise more meta, self-referential commentary woven into the misadventures of this dysfunctional family dynamic.

Possibility of Spinoffs

The show's creators have floated the possibility of spinoffs focusing on supporting characters. But for now Rick and Morty's cynical adventures will continue - hopefully with more awareness about keeping its fandom and impact healthy rather than toxic.

FAQs

What is the appeal of Rick's character?

Rick Sanchez appeals to viewers for being an incredibly intelligent and competent scientist who nonetheless leads a chaotic life. His cynicism and dysfunctional family dynamic make him an anti-hero that some viewers find cathartic or darkly funny.

Why is the show's humor so absurd?

Absurdism and subverting expectations are core parts of Rick and Morty's appeal. Much of the show's humor thrives on taking sci-fi tropes to illogical extremes while embracing cartoon physics and parodying pop culture through random tangent conversations between characters.

How did the show break into the mainstream?

Despite its bizarre premise, Rick and Morty connected widely beyond niche audiences through its blunt humor, memorable catchphrases, and focus on evergreen themes like family dysfunction. Memes and merchandising then further boosted the show's popularity.

What controversies has Rick and Morty faced?

The most prominent controversy has involved fringe elements of Rick and Morty fans harassing female writers or propagating alt-right, anti-feminist interpretations of characters. This highlighted issues of shows being responsible for toxic parts of fandoms.