1. Rick and Morty Film Studies
Episode Total Recall S4 Ep 2:
Thisepisode starts withregularfamilymeal,itstartsall normal withan unfamiliarcharacter. Rick
shootsthe unfamiliarcharacterandaddressesthe charactersandviewers the storythe mainenemy
of thisepisode.
The story wheel:
1. Rick andMorty at the familydinner./charactersconfrontable.
2. Rick istryingto stopthe aliensappearingtohishome dimension./theyenteran
unfamiliarsituation.
3. The characters from the flashbackare appearingtothe presentandthe family
adaptsthem./ Adaptto it.
4. Rick getsuspectthe flashbackcharactersare aliens./findwhattheywant
5. AfterRickgetscapturedby the disguisedcharacters./paythe price
6. Rick,Morty and the familyall satback eatingdinner/backto theystarted
7. A character getszappedandendsup inhospital /havingchanged
The theme of thisepisode isaspace horror/science fiction,itparody’ssome monstersand alien’s
moviesand really playswiththe genre. Yousee aliens disguised ascharacters,theyalsoaddsome
famousmonstersoundeffectsonce the aliensare zapped. Duringsome partsof the episode it
parody’ssome dramatics movies where acharacterpointsa gunto the protagonistorenemy.
The story usescutaways/flashbacks while acharacterisdiscussingastory,similartoover showslike
FamilyGuy.This episode parody cutawaysbecause,acutawayusuallyareference somethingnot
part of the storybut inthisepisode whenacharacterremembersacharacter it appearsto the main
presenttothe story.
Episode Rickmancingthe Stone,S3Ep 2
Thisepisode startsRick,Morty andSummerabout tostart onanotheradventure,the
divorceddadcomesin,the familyignoresthe dadandfocuson the adventure.This episode
focuses onthe character endingupina weirdplace whiletryingtoignore the parents’
divorce butlaterinthe storythe characters starts to adaptsto the weirdplace lifestyle.The
characters eventchallyhave tolearntodeal withthe parents’divorce.
The whole episode it’sbasedonthe charactersdealingwithJerryandBeth’sdivorce.
Morty exhibitteenage angst,because he isdealingthe factthathisparents’isdivorce and
becomesmadat hisdad for notmanningup. Duringthe episode Mortygetsa giantarm
calledArmothy,thisisaphysical representationtoteenage rage.
Morty is horrifiedatfirstbutthenusesthe powerfortherapyto threw hisparents’divorce.
Summerusesexapism, she justwantstogoanyway,whichisthe one of the mainreason
whyshe joinedRicktohis adventure.
Summerendsupwitha relationshipwith Hemorrhage,afterherrelationshipbreaksdown
she wantsto go back to her ownuniverse.Inthispoint,she thenrealisesthatrelationships
are noteasyand can just breakdown,thismade herwantto forgive herdad. Fromher
experience she thenconnectstoherdadmore.
2. Ricksis unaffectedtothe situation of hisdaughterdivorce,he hasnoconcerned.
He doesn’treallylike Jerryandhappierthathe isthe leadof the family.
Later inthe episode,Bethhasa breakdown,Rickdoesn’treallyknow how todeal withreal
humansand emotions,inascene withherdaughterhe justtellstotry cry 15% less.
The story wheel
1. Rick,Morty and Summersetreadyto go off an adventure while the dadcharactercomes
and visitbutgetsignoredbySummer /characters confrontable.
2. Rick,Morty and summerare runningfroman enemychase ina Mad Max universe /they
enteran unfamiliarsituation.
3. Morty and Summeradaptsin the Mad Max environmentandwantsbe scavengers/ Adapt
to it.
4. Rick findsthe greenrockwhichhe needs/find whattheywant
5. Rick triestoconvince Morty andSummerto go home / paysthe price
6. Rick helptogive electricitypowertothe Mad Max universe,Rick,Mortywatchestvwhile
SummerandHemorrhage are havinga marriage argument./ back to theystarted
7. SummergoesvisitherDad./ havingchanged
8.
The theme of thisepisode isanSci fi adventure/comedy.Theyexplore itbyaddingfilms
referencesto mostpopculture classics, thisepisode practicallyparody’sthe film Mad-Max
withthe character’sdesigns,the car chasesscenesandthe locations.The character
Hemorrhage isa reference tothe characterThe Humungus fromMad-Max 2. They change
the headdesigntoa buckettogive it more humour.
The episode alsoparody’sanotherfilm(Romancingthe Stone) whereRickfindsagreenrock
whichreference the pricelessgem.Theyevenuse the filmsname fortheir episode title.
Production Context
JustinRoiland originallycreatedashortshow for Channel 101 calledDocand Marty. A parody of the
Back to the futurescharacters - Doc Brown and Marty McFly. Thisshow enventchally became the
maininspiration tothe nowshow Rickand Morty. The lookof the characters andthe voice workare
verysimilar.
The showsanimation wasmade by usingToon BoomHarmony.The show alsousedAdobe after
effectsforthe post-production andusedAdobe Photoshopof the backgrounds.
The producersof the showRickand Morty is JustinRoiland andDanHarmon
The shows distributorisWarnerBros, Television.
The showsnetworkis AdultSwim.
3. Fan Engagement
Rick andMorty hadbroughta lotof fandom.
The fans have demonstratedtheirlove of the show bycreating:
Rick andMorty fanFacebookspages, fansites.
Rick andMorty fan YouTube videos
BuyingRickand Morty merchandise.
CreatingRickand Morty fan arts
Rick andMorty cosplaysincomiccons
Rick andMorty hashad a lot of positive fanimpact,the show has beennominatedforan Annie
Awardfor BestGeneral Audience AnimatedTV/BroadcastProduction andaTeenChoice Awards for
Choice AnimatedTV Show.
Rick andMorty hashad 100% on rottentomatoesforall 3 seasons. The show holdsaMetacritic
score of 85 basedon eightreviews.
The Character: RickSanchez
Rick isthe leadingprotagonistof the show alongside with Morty,Rick isrepresentedtobe a genius
scientistwhoinventsandgoesoff in crazy adventures.AninspirationtoDocBrownfrom Back to the
future.A stereotype of manyscientistswithanEinsteinhairstyle andalabcoat.
Rick Sanchezisa 70s oldmale,he’sstereotypeasanopposite of elderlygrandpa,insome of his
adventuresrickbecomesalot badassE.g. Pickle Rick. RickSanchezhumourisveryadultand don’t
expecttosee froma grandpa character.
Rick ispersonalityhasarecklessbehaviourwholikestomake funa lotto the family.The characters
alsowhose alcoholism anddrinksalotinsome of the scenes.
