The highly anticipated ninth season of Adult Swim’s critically acclaimed animated series, Rick and Morty, has launched with its premiere episode, "There’s Something About Morty," immediately plunging viewers back into the intricate and perilous fallout of the Citadel arc. The episode meticulously reintroduces the enigmatic and formidable Evil Morty, a character who has consistently served as a destabilizing force within the multiverse. This season opener doesn’t shy away from the complex legacy of Rick Sanchez and his recurring, eye-patch-wearing nemesis, setting a tone of high stakes, existential dread, and the signature dimension-hopping chaos that fans have come to expect.
The episode swiftly establishes Evil Morty not just as a formidable antagonist, but as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous elements within the Rick and Morty universe. His unique position, born from a deep-seated resentment of the systemic exploitation of Mortys by Ricks, has driven his actions for seasons. Unlike the vast majority of Mortys, who are often characterized by their subservience and anxiety, this particular iteration possesses an intellect that rivals his grandfather’s and harbors a fervent desire to dismantle the oppressive structures that govern their shared reality. His pivotal act of punching a hole through the Central Finite Curve, a multidimensional barrier engineered by the most intelligent Ricks to isolate themselves and their universes, was a defining moment. This audacious move not only liberated him from this self-imposed prison but also led to the demise of Rick Prime, the arch-nemesis of Rick C-137.
The narrative picks up with a startling revelation: Rick Sanchez (voiced by Ian Cardoni) has been engaging in clandestine communications with Evil Morty. This clandestine relationship is brought to light when Morty Smith (voiced by Harry Belden) discovers the messages. The implications of this connection are profound, given Evil Morty’s history and motivations. Having secured the Omega Device, a weapon capable of permanently eradicating every iteration of an individual across infinite dimensions, Evil Morty has leveraged this terrifying power. His current objective involves utilizing the device to force Rick into his service, holding the entire Smith family hostage as collateral and threatening their very existence. This dire predicament forces Rick and Morty into a series of perilous adventures, mirroring their familiar dynamic but under the shadow of existential threat.
A crucial clarification of familial relationships is provided within the episode: Morty Smith is the biological grandson of Rick Prime. Rick C-137, on the other hand, is established as having no remaining biological family. Evil Morty, in contrast, is identified as a standard, albeit exceptionally capable, Morty who has transcended his origins.
The central conflict of the premiere revolves around Evil Morty’s urgent need for Rick’s assistance in confronting "The Collective" (voiced by Tilda Swinton), an entity with a voracious appetite for consuming and absorbing entire universes. This high-stakes mission, fraught with near-fatal encounters, is nearly jeopardized by Morty’s own actions. However, a cunning maneuver by both Rick and Evil Morty leads to the entity inadvertently absorbing itself, a development that clearly unsettlls Morty, who harbors a palpable animosity towards his grandfather’s burgeoning association with his most dangerous adversary.
Following this interdimensional escapade, the trio convenes at a diner. In a move designed to provoke, Evil Morty openly alludes to his developing rapport with Rick, much to Morty’s chagrin. Rick vehemently denies any genuine camaraderie, attributing his compliance to blackmail. This exchange quickly escalates into a heated argument, culminating in Rick and Morty storming out, while Evil Morty retreats to his stronghold.
The subsequent turn of events is a testament to Rick’s unparalleled strategic genius. Upon returning to his lair, Evil Morty discovers it has been obliterated. The reason for this destruction is revealed to be Rick’s ingenious gambit: he embedded the plans for the Omega Device within the device itself. Consequently, when the Omega Device was neutralized, its blueprints were erased from existence, leaving Evil Morty without the very tool that gave him leverage. This act of cosmic-level deception leaves Evil Morty enraged and, for the first time, demonstrably cornered.
Recognizing the gravity of having provoked such a powerful and now desperate adversary, Rick and the rest of the Smith family, including their house, relocate to a secure bunker dimension. This attempt at evasion proves futile, as an incensed Evil Morty is already in pursuit, his fury undiminished. The ensuing confrontation is brutal and visceral. Evil Morty unleashes a torrent of extreme violence upon Rick, employing methods such as melting his flesh with magma and dismemberment, yet Rick’s resilience prevents his permanent demise. The mutual inability of these two nemeses to achieve a definitive victory over each other highlights their relentless animosity and mutual frustration.
During this intense conflict, Morty intervenes, directly confronting Evil Morty. He challenges the notion that Evil Morty’s actions are purely strategic, suggesting instead that they stem from loneliness and a genuine, albeit perhaps unacknowledged, attachment to Rick. This observation appears to profoundly affect Evil Morty.
In a surprising twist, Evil Morty retreats to the Smith residence, only to be met with physical resistance from Beth, Summer, and Jerry. The entire Smith family subsequently engages in a physical confrontation with him, culminating in Evil Morty freezing time.
It is during this temporal stasis that Evil Morty voices his long-held observation about the absence of Ricks engaging in time travel. This moment is immediately followed by the dramatic arrival of numerous fourth-dimensional Time Cops, including characters voiced by GaTa and Keegan-Michael Key. These temporal enforcers apprehend Evil Morty, preventing him from enacting further harm. Morty delivers a final, symbolic slap as Evil Morty is taken away.
Rick’s reaction to these events is characteristically nonchalant. As he sips a beverage, he remarks on the seemingly endless nature of their predicament, stating, "Season 9, baby. Only… an indefinite number more."
What Does This Mean for the Future of Rick and Morty?
The events of the Season 9 premiere mark a significant turning point in the overarching narrative of Rick and Morty. For the first time since his introduction, Evil Morty finds himself stripped of his ultimate leverage. Throughout his tenure on the show, he has consistently operated with an unparalleled foresight and strategic advantage. His escape from the Central Finite Curve, his ability to outwit entire collectives of Ricks, his elimination of Rick Prime, and his successful blackmail of Rick C-137 via the Omega Device all positioned him as an almost untouchable force.
The Season 9 premiere fundamentally alters this dynamic. Rick’s audacious maneuver of eradicating the Omega Device’s plans from existence effectively neutralizes the primary threat that Evil Morty held over him. This act not only diminishes Evil Morty’s immediate power but also forces a reevaluation of his capabilities and limitations.
Simultaneously, the episode introduces a vulnerability in Evil Morty that has not been previously explored: his emotional entanglement. Morty’s direct accusation of Evil Morty’s attachment to Rick clearly strikes a nerve, suggesting a complex emotional landscape beneath his ruthless exterior. This revelation is particularly significant given Evil Morty’s established narrative of complete rejection of Rick’s influence and the inherent danger that arises from such a character, already possessing formidable intelligence and a lack of moral restraint, becoming emotionally compromised.
Heretofore, Evil Morty’s storyline has been primarily defined by his rejection of Rick and the systems he represents. However, the Season 9 premiere subtly blurs the lines between animosity, obsession, and genuine emotional connection. This exploration of his psychological state opens up new narrative avenues and poses a significant threat, as an emotionally volatile individual with his level of power and intelligence could prove even more unpredictable and dangerous. The question now is whether this emotional vulnerability will lead to his downfall or a further evolution of his already complex character.
The future of Rick and Morty appears poised to explore the consequences of this power shift and the potential unraveling of Evil Morty’s carefully constructed persona. The series continues to air on Adult Swim on Sundays at 11/10c.
